Okay, I have seen the other threads here about buying TVs but they don't seem to fit my needs. I'm moving soon and am thinking of getting a new TV as the one I have now is almost 10 years old.

I am looking for a medium sized screen (27 - 32 inches), with a preference for a flat screen. I do not want to spend the money for a plasma or LCD, so I'm still looking at CRT units. I would like to spend less than $400.

I would be hooking up a DVD player and DVR unit to the TV. I want the best video quality I can get. I would like a reliable product.

I'm leaning toward the Sony 27" FD Trinitron WEGA TV - KV-27FS120. It's rated well at Consumer Reports and I have read mostly positive user opinions at CNet.com.

Anyone have any advice for me?

We have a non-HDTV 36" Sony WEGA flatscreen, we bought it about 3 years ago. Very, very good picture quality. My in laws just bought a 36" WEGA with HDTV capability. It blows our TV away. I don't know what the pricing is on these guys, though, but we're extremely happy with them.

HDTV is way more than I want to spend, plus it's early in the technology. I'm sure I'd love it if I saw, but I really don't want to spend several hundred dollars on top of the cost of a conventional set.

Thanks for the feedback though. I guess CRT TVs aren't sexy enough for most people to discuss. :p

HDTV is way more than I want to spend, plus it's early in the technology. I'm sure I'd love it if I saw, but I really don't want to spend several hundred dollars on top of the cost of a conventional set.

Thanks for the feedback though. I guess CRT TVs aren't sexy enough for most people to discuss. :p

The two TV's I was referring to are CRT televisions. CRT TV's (HD and conventional) are still considered to have the best picture, better than all the new widescreen TV's i.e. plasma, LCD, etc. Their drawbacks are weight and smaller screen size. I would consider CRT HDTV technology reasonably mature. Most of us have been using very high resolution CRT "TV's" for years: they're called computer monitors. Only recently have they been able to put the higher resolution into larger CRT's at a relatively affordable price.

By the way, Sony has a 32" WEGA flat screen CRT TV for $549.00 retail (bound to be cheaper when discounted). Model #KV-32FS120.

Thanks for sharing that. So in your opinion, it would be better to spend the $300+ extra now to get an HDTV capable set?

Thanks for sharing that. So in your opinion, it would be better to spend the $300+ extra now to get an HDTV capable set?

Unless you need the HDTV capability (have HDTV cable/satellite service and/or want to display digital photos), I'd say not. My in-law's flatscreen Sony is HDTV capable. It is clearly better than my (conventional Sony flatscreen) even with conventional TV signals. It also has a Memory Stick slot and can display digital photos with incredible clarity. But it's also a pretty pricey rig (> $1500.00)

That said, the conventional Sony flatscreens are still very good, and the prices are going down all of the time. It sounds like this is more in line with what you're looking for.

Unless you need the HDTV capability (have HDTV cable/satellite service and/or want to display digital photos), I'd say not. My in-law's flatscreen Sony is HDTV capable. It is clearly better than my (conventional Sony flatscreen) even with conventional TV signals. It also has a Memory Stick slot and can display digital photos with incredible clarity. But it's also a pretty pricey rig (> $1500.00)

That said, the conventional Sony flatscreens are still very good, and the prices are going down all of the time. It sounds like this is more in line with what you're looking for.Good to know. Thanks Barbossa! :) I will most likely go with the Sony, so now I need to hunt down a good deal!

Sony Trinitron TVs really are the best CRTs out there. You can't go wrong with them.

And after you buy the TV and DVD player be sure to get your hands on a copy of Digital Video Essentials. It will walk you through doing a proper calibration on the TV to give you the best picture quality and prolong the life of the set. (On a new TV the settings will shift as it goes through the initial break-in period. So you'll need to recalibrate again after a few weeks and again after a few months. Besides, the first time you calibrate it's not going to be perfect anyway, but it will still be way better than the factory preset "torch mode." ;) )

Oops, I forgot to add... Sony Trinitrons are very heavy. Our 27" Sony Trinitron weighs a ton (okay, not exactly but it's awfully close). You'll most likely need help moving it if you get a 27" or larger.

I'm able to move mine by myself, with a great deal of grunting and a very high risk of dropping it. But if available I'll still ask for someone to lend me a hand.

And after you buy the TV and DVD player be sure to get your hands on a copy of Digital Video Essentials. It will walk you through doing a proper calibration on the TV to give you the best picture quality and prolong the life of the set. (On a new TV the settings will shift as it goes through the initial break-in period. So you'll need to recalibrate again after a few weeks and again after a few months. Besides, the first time you calibrate it's not going to be perfect anyway, but it will still be way better than the factory preset "torch mode." ;) )I've got a THX set up program on some of my DVDs. Is that similar to the program you're talking about?

And as to the weight, yes, I will definitely need help getting it up the stairs. I think the specs for the 27 inch set list it as 99 lbs!

I've got a THX set up program on some of my DVDs. Is that similar to the program you're talking about?
The THX Optimode is okay for making some adjustments, but Digital Video Essentials has test patterns that make it easier to more accurately adjust black level ("Brightness"), white level ("Contrast"), tint, and especially sharpness (which should usually be turned almost all the way down, not up). But not only does it have the test patterns, it will also walk you through how to do the calibration and teach you about what those adjustments are really doing to the picture and how they affect performance and television life.

Even if you only use it once (which you won't) it's worth the purchase.

If you haven't purchased already, the issue of Consumer Reports I just received yesterday had TVs in it. (You probably received it last week, if you subscribe - otherwise ask someone at work if any of them subscribe.) I didn't read it in detail (I'm still happy with my 19" TV purchased in 1987), but lots of different sections covering different types of TV.

And as to the weight, yes, I will definitely need help getting it up the stairs. I think the specs for the 27 inch set list it as 99 lbs!
If you give me advance notice, I might be able to come by and help out.

If you give me advance notice, I might be able to come by and help out.Thanks! Know any good local places to get a deal? I'm thinking I might order from Amazon.

Not many places for good deals. I know that the woman that does our hair bought hers from Rex. She's big on finding bargains, but I haven't really compared their prices. And of course there's always the Best Buy/Circuit City megastores. It's been years since we bought a new TV, though, so I'm not sure. Sorry. Someone that works with my wife is married to the store manager for Hippo's, but I don't know how good their prices are.

Someone that works with my wife is married to the store manager for Hippo's, but I don't know how good their prices are.I went into the one at Stuyvesant Plaza, but they appeared to be catering to a higher end market. I didn't see any non-flatscreens, but no one came up to help me either. I will check out the Rex, though! Thanks.