TV time!

[numbnutz48]

What is a good, all around size TV to put into my cabinet?

I'm thinking 25" - 27", but not sure if that's just too much. don't wanna overkill this bad boy.

[bungy]

27" is about the max size that still looks good.  But you should probably decase it before installing.  Remember you'll need to fit that cabinet through a doorway.

[zelony]

Anything smaller than a 25" monitor/TV in a full size cabinet looks odd to me.

[numbnutz48]

That's what i figured.

Isn't decasing a tv a pretty big issue? i'm not super technical and wouldn't wanna screw anything up.

The cabinet i built is the "Lucid Cabinet" straight from the plans, so it is only 27 1/2" wide total (26" inside diameter). Most 25" tv's will fit inside with the case still on and a couple 27" ones will as well. Just trying to find out what is the "norm"

[nickynooch]

I used a 27 inch tv and it worked great.

[torcer]

I will be building a Cab this Winter, and there’s a problem that didn’t happen when I built my first attempt several years ago – where the heck can you even get a 25 inch TV these days??

[Ginsu Victim]

Anything smaller than a 25" monitor/TV in a full size cabinet looks odd to me.

Then you must really hate the classics.

[EvilTwin]

The best thing to do is scour Craigslist and Kijiji for old tv's, and if you keep your eye out you can find what you're looking for.

This is the television that I used in the cabinet I'm building:

http://www.savinglots.com/lotprod.asp?item=AV27D305-SL

I found it on craigslist used for $75. It's worked well so far and has component and S-video inputs, which is great.

I decased it, which was a bit of a pain but not that big of a deal. It had speakers on the sides so I kind of had to. Even though it's about 24" wide I ended up making my cabinet 30", as I wanted a fair bit of room for two people to be able to play side by side and didn't like a ton of overhang on the sides from the control panel. It's nearly done and I'm happy with how it looks.

[nickynooch]

I will be building a Cab this Winter, and there’s a problem that didn’t happen when I built my first attempt several years ago – where the heck can you even get a 25 inch TV these days??

About a year ago I got my 27 inch at walmart.

[DJ_Izumi]

As usual, I'll champion the Sony Trintron/WEGAs from the last of the CRT generation.  Mine is 27, totally flat faced tube, component input, BEAUTIFUL picture.  I'm pretty confident that the SDTV Trintrons from about 2002 and onward were the height of SDTVs.  (Granted the technology had essentually plateaued by 2000 and improvements were minimal).

Only downside is that a flat faced tubed is HEAVY.  My 27" Sony Trinitron weighs in at 99lbs.

[Epyx]

As usual, I'll champion the Sony Trintron/WEGAs from the last of the CRT generation.  Mine is 27, totally flat faced tube, component input, BEAUTIFUL picture.  I'm pretty confident that the SDTV Trintrons from about 2002 and onward were the height of SDTVs.  (Granted the technology had essentually plateaued by 2000 and improvements were minimal).

Only downside is that a flat faced tubed is HEAVY.  My 27" Sony Trinitron weighs in at 99lbs.

+1

Also, most of the later Sony Wega SDTVs had component input so you will get the best NTSC pic to boot

[doctorhifi]

can't go wrong with a Sony tube, IMO.

[DJ_Izumi]

Also, most of the later Sony Wega SDTVs had component input so you will get the best NTSC pic to boot

It's great, Xbox and PS2 on component are BEAUTIFUL and if you use the PS2 for PS1 games you get the same image quality.  Namco's Point Blank on a 27" Sony Wega over component is as close to arcade grade as you'll ever get without using a true arcade monitor.  And the Wega's a lot cheaper.

[Ummon]

I was very surprised how light the black flat tube Samsungs were. They were not as deep as other CRTs, as well. That was the one I was looking for, in particular, when I wanted to check out component display.

[numbnutz48]

So if you have a tv with component inputs, and a video card with S-Video out, how do you make the transition for the best picture? Or, do you have to have some kind of component out video card?

The S-Video is a pretty good picture, and I'm ok with that being my source of video input, but i keep hearing about how much better component is!

[DJ_Izumi]

A lot of graphics cards with S-Video output also support component.  If you look, the s-video port frequently has 7 or 9 pins instead of just 4.  This is because different output dongles can be attached, including component dongles.  Of course it's best to research your card first.

[bkenobi]

Both Component and SVideo are analog signals based on the same source.  I'm not sure how much benefit you will get in terms of display quality on a standard SDTV set.  The primary benefit will be compatibility for your connections to different sources.  That said, you will definitely see a benefit from either over composite (RCA) since that transmission is all mushed into a single signal.

I personally use an SVideo signal to connect my PC to a 27" JVC.  I have a video card that can output component and the set has the correct inputs.  I didn't see a significant improvement in video quality, so I simplified things again (made connecting the guns easier).

If you want better info than what I can provide, you'd be best to check out AVSForums since they are basically the authority on all things videophile.

[TOK]

Both Component and SVideo are analog signals based on the same source.  I'm not sure how much benefit you will get in terms of display quality on a standard SDTV set.  The primary benefit will be compatibility for your connections to different sources.  That said, you will definitely see a benefit from either over composite (RCA) since that transmission is all mushed into a single signal.

I personally use an SVideo signal to connect my PC to a 27" JVC.  I have a video card that can output component and the set has the correct inputs.  I didn't see a significant improvement in video quality, so I simplified things again (made connecting the guns easier).

If you want better info than what I can provide, you'd be best to check out AVSForums since they are basically the authority on all things videophile.

The difference between Component and S-Video is huge on my setup. The reds and blacks are noticeably better via Component.

The cable supplier Bluejeans has a nice breakdown about why:
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/s-video-vs-component.htm

[DJ_Izumi]

Both Component and SVideo are analog signals based on the same source.

Yeah, their source is an RGB digital image being fed into a digital to analog converter. o.O  S-Video however has less bandwidth than component, so component comes out on top.  S-video is very good but I'd say component is great, second only to full analog RGB.  But S-Video itself is still an improvement over composite, especially with the elimination of bothersome composite dot crawl.

[RayB]

Not to disagree with anyone, as I do know that Component SHOULD be better than s-vhs, but it might depend on the source hardware too. I've connected my Wii to a JVC 27" tv via s-vhs and also via component and there was no discernable difference.

[bkenobi]

I wasn't aware that SVideo only used 2 signal wires.  The cable has 4 conductors, so I assumed it was 3 signal wires and 1 ground at a minimum.  I use component on my HDTV to carry hi def signals and the quality difference is definitely noticeable, but on my SDTV JVC set, the difference was not significant enough to be worth while.

I have only used the one SD CRT with component, so I can't really say how all sets work (obviously).  That's why I was suggesting people try it on their own and definitely check with others that have more experience.  Turns out those people are here too!   

[DJ_Izumi]

S-Video is certianly very good for 480i.  My cable box is on S-VIdeo while my Xbox on component for my 27" Trinitron.  Composite is pretty terrible and you see a vast improvement just going to s-video.  But component does offer better color and sharpness of the colors, though the change isn't as noticable as when compared to composite.

[RandyT]

Not to disagree with anyone, as I do know that Component SHOULD be better than s-vhs, but it might depend on the source hardware too. I've connected my Wii to a JVC 27" tv via s-vhs and also via component and there was no discernable difference.

IIRC, some early and/or inexpensive implementations of component "cheat" and use the same circuitry as the S-Video.  There was a lot of controversy about it at one time, as the two would indeed look the same, simply because the component was being mixed back down to S-video early in the circuit.

There should be a discernible difference between the two on a good set.

RandyT

[Ummon]

Not to disagree with anyone, as I do know that Component SHOULD be better than s-vhs, but it might depend on the source hardware too. I've connected my Wii to a JVC 27" tv via s-vhs and also via component and there was no discernable difference.

But was either any good?

[RayB]

Not to disagree with anyone, as I do know that Component SHOULD be better than s-vhs, but it might depend on the source hardware too. I've connected my Wii to a JVC 27" tv via s-vhs and also via component and there was no discernable difference.

But was either any good?

Oh Yes! Although the TV was standard def, the Wii graphics looked amazingly crisp with either cable.
(I'm speaking in past tense as I no longer have this tv and upgraded to an LCD HDTV last year)

[Ummon]

Not to disagree with anyone, as I do know that Component SHOULD be better than s-vhs, but it might depend on the source hardware too. I've connected my Wii to a JVC 27" tv via s-vhs and also via component and there was no discernable difference.

But was either any good?

Oh Yes! Although the TV was standard def, the Wii graphics looked amazingly crisp with either cable.
(I'm speaking in past tense as I no longer have this tv and upgraded to an LCD HDTV last year)

Hardware and the signal format it puts out. Although, it seems saturated 3D graphics tend to blur the distinction of quality on an SDTV, whereas golden age arcade games tend to highlight it. Or did you run MAME on it?