Looking for a new TV - advice about CRTs and high pitched noise

[Txiasaeia]

Some of you might know what I'm talking about: that high-pitched sound that whines in the background when a TV is on, audible three rooms away even if the volume is completely off. That buzzing noise that whips through your head when the TV is turned on, piercing the tranquil evening like a mosquito in a cathedral. If you know what I'm talking about, read on. If not, and you think that people who can hear the TV are crazy, this thread isn't for you.

I've got an older Samsung 19" TV that is just begging for a replacement. I'd like to get something in the 27"-32" size, but I'm having a really difficult time justifying an LCD TV purchase. For starters, I've got young kids in the house, and an LCD TV would last possibly a week before being pushed over and shattered. Second, what's probably more important to me is the price difference between an LCD and CRT, with an LCD in some cases being 4x or 5x the cost of a CRT. At this time, I can't justify spending $2000 on a new TV, so unfortunately an LCD is out.

At the same time, I've discovered that there are CRTs out there that do not emit such a loud buzzing sound when the set is active. What I'm wondering is whether any of you out there are as sensitive as I am when it comes to CRT noise, and whether you've found a good CRT set that doesn't bother you too much. Quality's important, of course, as are a few other features (S-Video/Component inputs are essential, a manufacturer with a good reputation for handling warranty concerns would be nice, and price, of course - looking to spend $400-600), but the most important one to me at the moment is that high pitched voice. I'm not going to go out and spend *any* amount of money on a set that's as bad as the one I've got, no matter what the price or how many inches it has.

So, what do you think, fellow denizens of RFD? Any thoughts on the matter?

[TurboRegal]

Well, when I got my Zenith a few years back, just an average 27 inch TV, the high pitched noise was insane, and we had to have a tech come in and replace a capacitor or something that had a problem, after that, it seemed to be fine, but I think that TV was probably annoying dogs miles away. Anyways, my new 26hf85c toshiba doesn't seem to have any problem, I love it, nice picture, HD ready (GT4 looks great) but a 26 inch may be a little small for normal tv viewing in a living room, maybe look at the 30 inch.

[Paolo]

i think somethings weird with my hearing, no one in my family can hear this noise, but me... they think im weird too, but i can even tell if a TV is turned on in another room away by just hearing the high pitch whine. I think its emitted from the tube or some crap like that

[Txiasaeia]

i think somethings weird with my hearing, no one in my family can hear this noise, but me... they think im weird too, but i can even tell if a TV is turned on in another room away by just hearing the high pitch whine. I think its emitted from the tube or some crap like that

It's the same with me. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I can distinctly hear the noise. The current set I've got is so cheap that if I mute the TV and turn away from it, I can tell when stuff is moving around on the screen.

I'll definitely keep the Toshiba in mind. Anybody else have any experiences they'd like to share?

[TotallyKiller]

i think somethings weird with my hearing, no one in my family can hear this noise, but me... they think im weird too, but i can even tell if a TV is turned on in another room away by just hearing the high pitch whine. I think its emitted from the tube or some crap like that


Same here. I can tell if a TV has been left on as soon as I walk in the door regardless of the sound. Drives me nuts. My current CRT doesn't seem to make this noise at all though.

[terrybear]

my vote Sony Trinitron 27" CRT @ FS I seen it recently for like $399 .. made me wished I held out longer to buy mine ... :|

[x86asm]

Some of you might know what I'm talking about: that high-pitched sound that whines in the background when a TV is on, audible three rooms away even if the volume is completely off. That buzzing noise that whips through your head when the TV is turned on, piercing the tranquil evening like a mosquito in a cathedral. If you know what I'm talking about, read on. If not, and you think that people who can hear the TV are crazy, this thread isn't for you.

I've got an older Samsung 19" TV that is just begging for a replacement. I'd like to get something in the 27"-32" size, but I'm having a really difficult time justifying an LCD TV purchase. For starters, I've got young kids in the house, and an LCD TV would last possibly a week before being pushed over and shattered. Second, what's probably more important to me is the price difference between an LCD and CRT, with an LCD in some cases being 4x or 5x the cost of a CRT. At this time, I can't justify spending $2000 on a new TV, so unfortunately an LCD is out.

At the same time, I've discovered that there are CRTs out there that do not emit such a loud buzzing sound when the set is active. What I'm wondering is whether any of you out there are as sensitive as I am when it comes to CRT noise, and whether you've found a good CRT set that doesn't bother you too much. Quality's important, of course, as are a few other features (S-Video/Component inputs are essential, a manufacturer with a good reputation for handling warranty concerns would be nice, and price, of course - looking to spend $400-600), but the most important one to me at the moment is that high pitched voice. I'm not going to go out and spend *any* amount of money on a set that's as bad as the one I've got, no matter what the price or how many inches it has.

So, what do you think, fellow denizens of RFD? Any thoughts on the matter?


I know of that sound as well. It doesn't bother me though. It does come from the physical vibrations of the larger components in the CRT since CRT's need very high voltages to operate.

[joshmxpx]

I've had my Panasonic 32" for a couple years now, and I have always been able to hear that noise, even as a young kid. My TV doesn't make enough noise to bother me, but I can always hear it, no matter where I am in the apartment.

I have never seen a CRT where I don't notice that noise, so good luck in your quest.

[Paolo]

there has to be some sort of scientific explanation why some of us can hear it and some of us cant, this will lead into an interesting topic of discussion

[itsyours]

there has to be some sort of scientific explanation why some of us can hear it and some of us cant, this will lead into an interesting topic of discussion
Not hard to understand. That noise is from the vibration of a coil and the circuit around it that produces high voltage for the tube. Before filtering into a DC Voltage it was an AC and has a frequency of around 20 Khz which is at the end of human hearing spectrum. The coil make high voltage from signals taken from the sweeping and refresh rates of the screen. The higher resolution a TV is, the higher that frequency is and you'll hear it lesser than the cheap ones. No way we can eliminate that sound completely from CRT TVs. The computer monitors has that sound too but it is way out of our spectrum so we hear nothing from monitors. With an CRT HD TV you won't have that sound too because of its high resolution.
Because the frequency of it near the end, some can hear it, some can't. Even with people can't hear it, their brains still receive it and it still harm their health. Needless to say, I hate that sound with passion. I actually can't stand for long in the video department of stores. It's harmful to people's health but no ones seems to care. Thanks to LCD technology, that sound now is in the past.

[hamhead]

in addition to the tv noise, i can even hear the monitor noise. now that was annoying.. super loud brain piercing high pitched sound. almost blew up my head! it happens when i turn up the refresh rate on my monitor. i just lower it to like 75Hz and its fine.

[hightech]

My Sony Wega is dead quiet and no noise.

As for the guys.. set the rules of the house down.. they break it, they gonna getta hurt realll baaaaddd :D

[akosh]

i think somethings weird with my hearing, no one in my family can hear this noise, but me... they think im weird too, but i can even tell if a TV is turned on in another room away by just hearing the high pitch whine. I think its emitted from the tube or some crap like that

Are you the youngest in your family? As people age, their ability to hear high frequency sounds decreases, so that could be a possible reason why only you can hear the noise. Here's an interesting article that’s somewhat related.

http://www.mimnotes.info/news/20051205themosquito/

[Txiasaeia]

Time to resurrect an old thread. I took the plunge a couple of weeks ago and picked up one of the new Panasonic Viera LCD TVs - 32", the LX70 (cheaper version, not the LX700). Picture quality is terrific, great SD and HD display, nice colours -- but wouldn't you freaking believe it, it's got a bloody high pitched noise too! It's quieter than a CRT whine but higher pitched. I get a headache just watching the TV for longer than five minutes!

I'm new to LCD TVs, so I need to ask those of you with extra-sensitive hearing (those who can hear CRT whine, anyway) whether this is normal with LCD TVs. I've got a couple of weeks before I can return it, so I need to make up my mind fairly quickly whether to just return it and wait a while until prices come down even further, or exchange it for another Panasonic set.

[sunnybono]

Some of you might know what I'm talking about: that high-pitched sound that whines in the background when a TV is on, audible three rooms away even if the volume is completely off. That buzzing noise that whips through your head when the TV is turned on, piercing the tranquil evening like a mosquito in a cathedral. If you know what I'm talking about, read on. If not, and you think that people who can hear the TV are crazy, this thread isn't for you.

I've got an older Samsung 19" TV that is just begging for a replacement. I'd like to get something in the 27"-32" size, but I'm having a really difficult time justifying an LCD TV purchase. For starters, I've got young kids in the house, and an LCD TV would last possibly a week before being pushed over and shattered. Second, what's probably more important to me is the price difference between an LCD and CRT, with an LCD in some cases being 4x or 5x the cost of a CRT. At this time, I can't justify spending $2000 on a new TV, so unfortunately an LCD is out.

At the same time, I've discovered that there are CRTs out there that do not emit such a loud buzzing sound when the set is active. What I'm wondering is whether any of you out there are as sensitive as I am when it comes to CRT noise, and whether you've found a good CRT set that doesn't bother you too much. Quality's important, of course, as are a few other features (S-Video/Component inputs are essential, a manufacturer with a good reputation for handling warranty concerns would be nice, and price, of course - looking to spend $400-600), but the most important one to me at the moment is that high pitched voice. I'm not going to go out and spend *any* amount of money on a set that's as bad as the one I've got, no matter what the price or how many inches it has.

So, what do you think, fellow denizens of RFD? Any thoughts on the matter?

You could probably find a Sony or Toshiba 32" CRT for around $400, however, you can get a 32" Viewsonic LCD from costco for $649.

sk