Home Theater projectors using CRT technology, the pioneer of tried and true hi def picture quality.

Back when home theater projectors first hit the market, CRT Projectors were the first type introduced. Just like a television, this technology was based on the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), on which the viewer sees the television image. The technology may have been around for a while, but it is still interesting to see how it works.

Three small CRTs (one for each primary color), coupled with a light magnifying lens, can project a color image onto a large screen in a darkened room. With the proper video processing circuitry, CRT size, and lens combination, a CRT projector can produce excellent high resolution images. To this day, the clarity and detail of a CRT projector still can hold its own; however, DLP and LCD can match it, and at a fraction of the cost.

Although this form of projector is still in use in some commercial and industrial settings, it is generally unavailable and no longer marketed for the home consumer. The market has moved in the direction of LCD and DLP projectors.