Cathode Ray Tube - Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages and Disadvantages

Further information: Comparison CRT, LCD, Plasma

Pros:

• High contrast ratio (over 15,000:1), excellent color, fairly wide color range (gamut) and low black level.
• Can display in almost any resolution and refresh rate (within the limitations of the horizontal and vertical sweep rates supported by the complete display).
• No input lag
• Sub-millisecond response times
• Near zero color, saturation, contrast or brightness distortion. Excellent viewing angle.
• Allows the use of light guns/pens

Cons:

• Large size and weight, especially for bigger screens (a 20-inch (51 cm) unit weighs about 50 lb (23 kg))
• High power consumption. On average, LCD monitors consume 50-70% less energy than CRT monitors.
• Generates a considerable amount of heat when running
• Geometric distortion caused by variable beam travel distances
• Can suffer screen burn-in
• Produces noticeable flicker at low refresh rates
• Small color displays, less than 7 inches diagonal measurement, are relatively costly.
• The maximum practical size for CRTs is around 24 inches for computer monitors; most direct view CRT televisions are 36 inches or smaller, with regular-production models limited to about 40 inches.
• Purity and convergence, affected by the Earth's magnetic field, must be factory preset (biased) for operation in either the northern hemisphere, the southern hemisphere, or the equatorial area. Adjustment for device resale or relocation outside its preset area requires a high technical skill, as well as safety precautions associated with opening the display housing