Sony KX45ED-1: the biggest CRT TV screen in the world, back in 1991?

[MegaDriver]

I just love to spend my time reading the scanned magazines from my youth related to videogames that are now available online, it brings back such good memories and it's always a good way to take note of everything I missed.

Anyway, while reading french magazine 'Joystick' number 15 (April-1991) I found this interesting article about the Sony KX45ED-1 on page 20:






According to the article, it is was first unveiled in the CES (Consumer Electronic Show) that took place in Chicago in the year 1989, but only in the 'Professional Monitor PVM-4300' variant.

Afterwards it went on sale in Japan and America, and was shown in September 1991 at the Sony World event held in the Congress Palace of Paris. Not sure if it was ever sold there, it seems there was some kind of waiting period ranging from 2 to 5 years.



Some data:

Length - 1050 mm
Height - 925 mm
Width - 767 mm
Weight - 200 Kg (careful choosing where you place it!)
Launching Price in America - 40.000,00 USD

45" diagonal (114 cm)
Pal/Secam/NTSC
Y/C
HI-8
Scart
Analogue/Digital RGB
Stereo sound with surround and spatial effects, subwoofer (integrated?)
Double-Scan conversion to make interlace picture into progressive, eliminating flickering and scan-lines (?, or at least that's how I think it translates).

Interestingly, they compare it to a very big Commodore 1084S (the Philips one) in terms of "picture definition", which they say it is "proportional". I wonder what was the dot pitch.

Good for a night long gaming session, perhaps?

[ComradeOj]

Holy hell, that's big. 40k USD is insane, especially considering this is in 1991 dollars. I never liked the image quality of rear projection displays, so I can imagine there were at least a few rich people willing to put down that sort of cash for a huge CRT.

I think I heard something about 40-50" or so being the practical limit for CRT size. Otherwise they would implode or collapse from the size and weight.

Anyone know if any of these things are still kicking around out there?

[IrishNinja]

that thing is nearly 450lbs...it's glorious, but is there even a stand that can support that?

[Leynos]

that thing is nearly 450lbs...it's glorious, but is there even a stand that can support that?

Who the fuck is even getting it on a stand?

[gamevet]

Cinder blocks and 4 sheets of 3/4” plywood would be the stand.

My 32” CRT weighs 169 pounds and I don’t know if I can still lift it at my age. I have a secondary one that needs a new voltage regulator chip, but I’m debating weather I should set it on the curb or fix it.

[Da_Shocker]

CRT's are just massive devices I can only imagine trying to deliver it and setting it up.

[Blades]

Back then, especially with Trinitrons, the bigger the tube the shorter the lifespan. All of these probably went bad a long time ago.

[IrishNinja]

Who the fuck is even getting it on a stand?

you're gonna play it on the ground, then? i mean, i've done it, but it's not for everyone, haha

Cinder blocks and 4 sheets of 3/4” plywood would be the stand.

inelegant, but functional! i respect it

Back then, especially with Trinitrons, the bigger the tube the shorter the lifespan. All of these probably went bad a long time ago.

grateful that my trinotron is still going strong!

[Segadream]

Who the fuck is even getting it on a stand?

Them, and the Trini's, we called em back breakers,
cause even when you manage to pick them up and
take it up, you still have to get it in the hole....
I just left the whole entertainment unit with the Sony
last move....
Nobody's throwing those around I can tell you...
Put that in the toughman challenge HERACLES EVENT...

[Moirai]

I just want to hook up my Coregrafx to þat TV for þe amusing contrast of giant CRT & tiny console.

[gamevet]

I set my (dead) spare 32” HD CRT on the curb about 6 weeks ago. It kept falling off of the cart, so I had to lift it a bunch of times. My shoulder hurt for about 3 weeks after moving it. Some lug came along and picked it up.

[JCU]

During the late 90's we had a huge trinitron. I can't recall the model but it was 32 in and it was more rounded rather than straight edged. Depth wise it was massive. Being that it was too good to toss, I took it and put it on top of a 6ft high dresser. Looking back, I felt like those strongmen lifting the heavy round stones and placing them on barrels. 200lbs? Easily. In terms of weight it was similar to those televisions from the 70's and 80's that resembled a large piece of furniture with a small screen.