by Vladimir Vega 👾
◆ People often ask which is the better choice: a CRT or an LCD display. However, “better” might not be the right word when looking at the bigger picture. Each display has its own pros and cons, and the right choice ultimately comes down to personal preference so I would call this showdown “Authenticity vs. Practicality.”
CRT MONITOR/TV
This is where the word “authenticity” finds its meaning. The vast majority of retro systems are built around 240p output <~320×240 @15kHz>, with the addition of the inevitable scanline effect for a better visual display.
What are scanlines, what are they for, and why are they on CRT devices? You can find the answer here: http://scanlines.hazard-city.de/ and another phenomenal source of information is http://retrorgb.com/240p.html
Most CRT monitors/TVs do a good job, but the absolute best picture and colors are found on so-called broadcast monitors, such as the Sony PVM/BVM series, JVC, Olympus, as well as certain professional VGA monitor models based on Trinitron tube technology and high-quality aperture grills, which surpass the quality of average CRTs.
You can read more on that topic here :
If you’re after a truly authentic retro gaming experience, then you should definitely get a CRT monitor/TV. I’m personally a fan of this choice and always advocate for it, but the main downside of these devices is their size and weight <some weight over 35kg>, as well as the sensitivity of the tubes inside them. If these drawbacks aren’t a dealbreaker for you and you’re prepared for your CRT to potentially fail at some point, then a CRT is the way to go.
Although some systems do not support RGB video output, it is worth noting that RGB Scart cables provide the highest quality video for retro systems, and are considered essential equipment for CRT TVs.
You can buy high-quality RGB Scart cables here :
As for 100Hz and HD flat-screen CRT monitors/TVs, it’s important to note that light gun controllers won’t work on them due to digital processing lag. If light gun games are a must, stick to a standard 50/60Hz curved-screen TV.
LCD MONITOR/TV
Modern LCD TVs and monitors are in almost every home today, available in virtually all sizes, so it’s no surprise they’ve found their place in retro gaming. “Practicality” is the main selling point here, as LCDs are much lighter and thinner than bulky CRTs. However, when it comes to retro systems, things aren’t quite so simple. The biggest drawback of LCDs is the absence of scanlines, a visual style most people associate with classic 2D games, as well as poor handling of 240p resolution. While some LCDs do support a 15 kHz signal <Benq, Dell etc.> and deliver a solid picture, they are far less common. For all these reasons, achieving an authentic retro look on an LCD often means resorting to “faking it“.
You can check the list of 15kHz compatible LCD monitors here :
Yep, one of the key pieces of hardware is so-called “upscaler” device that converts the original 240p video to 720p/1080p HD without a loss in video quality. The image is perfectly upscaled and the output is flawless, but all of this comes at a price. A quality upscaler can cost you up to an incredible $400, which is the price of the currently best upscaler in the world, the Framemeister XRGB Mini. It doesn’t end there, because without the scanline effect, the whole point is lost so people came up with the idea of creating so-called “scanline generator” devices that create the effect of real scanlines on LCDs. For a quality scanline device, you have to spend up to €40, as is the case with a mighty SLG3000. All in all, getting a proper retro picture on an LCD isn’t exactly cheap.
Despite everything, many people still avoid quality solutions, so you have those who use awful RF cables on their LCDs or just regular composite AV cables. To me, it’s like eating pizza without cheese, you’re missing the real experience. If you have money to spend, an LCD is a perfectly fine option. You can learn more about all of this in this great video by the guys behind the My Life in Gaming YouTube channel. They even put together their own RGB Master Class, which is awesome.
Also, at the very end, I would like to mention a piece of software that many people use today to perfectly adjust their CRTs. It’s the “240p Test Suite” which was made for several retro consoles and can be freely downloaded from the official website as a ROM file to be used with an Everdrive device.
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