Do All CRTs eventually lose focus/sharpness ?

[Vernor]

Or is it just the crappier brands ?

 

[Sonikku]

Depends on how well you take care of it. For what it is worth, a LCD will lose brightness long before your CRT Tube loses focus.

 

[kmmatney]

My wife has a 17" Toshiba CRT which still looks great after 8 years.

However, I've found that most CRTs lose some focus after 3-4 yeras. Just about every SONY Trinitron I've used was like that. My main monitor was a 19" SONY - I started noticing the loss in sharpness after 3 years, and it was very annoying after 4 years. I've seen the same things with a lot of ViewSonic and NEC CRTs we have at my work.

I have a 3 year warranty on the back light on my LCD, and if it dims after that, I will just replace the backlight:

http://www.lcdpart.com/Products/ms26390.html

 

[Xyclone]

My 19" Viewsonic PS790 looks great, and it's pretty old.

 

[CP5670]

I have a 13" NEC from 1990 that still looks sharp, although it has lost some brightness, and a 21" NEC shadow mask from 2002 that still looks perfect.

 

[bulbasuar]

Yes, my moms dell crt look so friggin blurry before she returned it (4 years later) for a new monitor... i couldent read anything at all, it seemed like i was looking at the screen thru someone esles glass's...

 

[jr9k]

It happened to an old 15" crt from 1998 than I have. I opened it and found two knobs in the back, labeled "brigthness" and "focus". Now it is sharper than new.

I used to take it to parties so I needed to readjust it sometimes.

Be careful if you open your crt, there can be lots of volts inside, even unplugged!

 

[JBT]

My old 19" Panasonic is still sharp and the color is great but it has some weird moire affect on the right side. My parents still use it daily though.

 

[xtknight]

Yup, but it's usually fixed by a knob inside the CRT (be careful).

 

[Vernor]

Originally posted by: CP5670
I have a 13" NEC from 1990 that still looks sharp,

A 15-year-old-monitor. Has to be some kind of record.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I have a 19" Envision monitor that is almost five years old. About two years ago it started to lose some of its sharpness in the upper left corner or perhaps it's the overall left edge. So far it hasn't been too big of a problem. I do think it has a flicker to it now and I'd love to pick up a new 19" or 21" monitor but I don't have enough money to justify scrapping this one yet. I'd probably pick one up if I could purchase a decent brand 19" for under $80 (not going to happen).

 

[JRW]

I let my mom have my now 5+ year old Sony 19" G400 and as of last week when I was over there it still has a very sharp / focused picture,and my current 21" Sony G520P still has a like new picture after 2 years.

We have a 20" Sony TV that was made in *1989* that still works to this day and never been repaired,however the picture has lost some of its focus and has a red tint over the screen for the first 5 minutes of being turned on ,im told the focus can be fixed by opening it up and adjusting but havent got around to it yet.,the TV isnt used much lately but just thought i'd mention it

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Xyclone
My 19" Viewsonic PS790 looks great, and it's pretty old.

I second that... The one I have is 6 years old and I think it looks better today than ever. That might be because I am wearing my glasses now though... HAHA

 

[Nickrand]

I have a 19" Orion that I bought dirt cheap about 3 years ago and it looks great. I'd like to buy a new LCD but to get one big enough to play the resolutions I currently enjoy is way too expensive. LCD's seem like overpriced IMO.

 

[kmmatney]

Originally posted by: Nickrand
I have a 19" Orion that I bought dirt cheap about 3 years ago and it looks great. I'd like to buy a new LCD but to get one big enough to play the resolutions I currently enjoy is way too expensive. LCD's seem like overpriced IMO.

Well, I payed $850 for my 19" SONY CRT in 1998, so LCDs are relatively cheap compared to that. The price of CRTs has just gone way down (as has some of their quality control).

 

[smthmlk]

any links to info/howtos on those knobs inside the monitor and precautions to take in attempting to fiddle with them? cheers

 

[CP5670]

Originally posted by: Vernor
A 15-year-old-monitor. Has to be some kind of record.

This is the one: http://www.necdisplay.com/products/StaticFiles/MultiSync3FGx.htm

I guess to be fair, it has just been sitting in my basement for the last several years. I recently took it out just to see if it actually still worked. 640x480 looks great on it.

 

[jr9k]

Originally posted by: smthmlk
any links to info/howtos on those knobs inside the monitor and precautions to take in attempting to fiddle with them? cheers

Sorry, no links. The image in my crt was so blurry that I had nothing to loose, so I just opened it and noticed the knobs. They may not be labeled (I opened others monitors to do the same thing), but still quite visible. Another monitor had two holes in the back to insert a screwdriver, so there was no need to open it.

Well, first the usual disclaimer. If you do something wrong, it is your fault. Try this at your own risk.

Turn the monitor off.
Open it.
Put it over a non metal table (Yeah, I know... but I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...)

Since you have to fiddle with the knobs while the monitor is on (to see the results), don't touch any metal parts.

The knobs should be clearly visible and accesible (they should be somewhere in the low back of the monitor, near the power and data plugs. You can look for the fuse near the power plug, another common cause of dead monitors).

The Nokia monitor test is excellent to adjust the focus.

Just turn the knobs while you check the image (you may need help if your monitor is longer than your arm, someone turning the knobs and someone checking). If you need to use a screwdriver, use a plastic one.

You may notice other knobs around the neck of the tube itself. They control some other things, like each colors intensity (R G B). If you fiddle with them (I wouldn't touch them unless needed), mark the original position.

Adjusting the focus is a very easy operation, so don't be afraid, just don't touch any metal parts.

When done, turn the monitor off, close it and that's all.

If you decide to go ahead, don't forget to tell us your experience.



EDIT: I've found a link. Go down in this page to the flyback section (that big black thing in the photo). There you can see the two knobs.