Here's Why Retro TVs Are All The Rage, And The Best Place To Score One For Cheap

The days of old box TVs are long gone, replaced by larger, thinner, and more technically advanced televisions. However, some folks are still itching to get their hands on retro TVs, and for a specific reason. For people who have a passion or fascination for retro games and gaming systems, cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs are sometimes a must, and at minimum, a want for the way they can view their games. Some people believe that older games look better on this type of TV. Plus, some systems require an adapter to work with anything but a CRT TV — and while it's easy to get one, why not skip that step if you can find an affordable older television on a site like Facebook Marketplace? In fact, local marketplaces, like FB and Craigslist, are your best options for finding CRT TVs for as low as ... well, free, or at least under $100. We think adding a cool retro CRT TV is a fun design idea for your game room, too.

Before you invest your gas money to pick up a free CRT TV to hook up to your gaming system, there are some things you'll need to know. While older systems will look better on this old TV, newer gaming systems will look better on newer TVs or at least require an HD TV. If you can find an HD CRT TV, your Xbox 360 and PS3 will look great, but these TVs are more rare. Use a classic CRT TV for anything that existed before those consoles (including the Nintendo Wii which predates HD technology). CRT TVs are also great if you want to keep an authentic retro aesthetic in your home.

So, now that you know local online searching is the way to go to get the best deal on a retro TV (avoid sites like eBay, where people are tagging them at over $100 a piece), let's look deeper into why these TVs are so popular for those who have a love of retro gaming. Whether you're still addicted to the original NES system, have an Atari 2600, or you've always preferred Sega, your gaming experience will be elevated, as well as nostalgic, if you're sitting face-to-face with a CRT TV. Many modern flatscreens don't have the proper hookups to accommodate these systems and require a converter. Plus, if you enjoy shooter games, like Duck Hunt for NES, and have a light gun, you may find many of them don't work with modern TVs, as they were explicitly designed to work with a tube screen. 

Not only are there some components that only work with CRTs, but the visual aspect of using one of these vintage TVs is another reason they are all the rage for retro gamers. While there are different speculations about why these games look better on older TVs, the bottom line is that these games were made with CRT TVs in mind. Some think the grainy visuals hide imperfections in the game design, while others speculate that the images were made smaller, and when stretched on a more modern TV, they appear more pixilated. Of all the retro design trends right now, this one is functional rather than simply aesthetic, and a great way to bring back those happy childhood memories.