Judging this TV on its general merits, I think it rocks. Speaking as a guy with the conflicting traits of being both a perfectionist and bargain hunter, I was drawn to this model because it's the best way to get a high-definition picture, widescreen profile, and good sound, in the 26" size, on the cheap ($40 on Craigslist, w00t). Sony never went below 30", and hours of research revealed that the only other brand name 26" HD CRTs came from Toshiba, which Consumer Reports said were mediocre, and which the Internet masses reported to break often. So that pointed to this 2005 CT-26WX15, the only 26-incher Panasonic ever made (the entire electronics world dropped the CRT on its fat ass once 2006 came around).
According to both Consumer Reports and me, this TV has probably the second-greatest CRT picture next to the apparently unbeatable Sonys. Sound quality is satisfying -- fuller and richer than any LCD TV in 2011 (and lag-free). While there's only one HDMI connection, it's got 2 component video inputs and 4 more old school ones for a grand total of 7 AV inputs (plus an output). As long as you don't mind the 85-pound weight (not that heavy), the boxy body (which is useful for stacking a receiver & speakers on top of), or its lack of 720p support (1080i only), this TV's only real drawback is that it's classified as "HD ready." That means if you get your TV for free over the air rather than through cable, getting an HD picture entails buying an expensive HD converter box, which are rarely sold anymore (most of the converters sold since the great analog-to-digital frenzy of 2009 have been low-definition). But hey, back in 2005 you couldn't really hold that omission against it.
Basically, I'd be giving this TV at least 4 stars except for one thing: like a lot Panasonic's stuff, it just drops dead after a couple years. Luckily, I found a discussion thread at AVSForum pointing to the common culprit: a single tiny fuse that has a tendency to blow up, thereby taking down the whole system. So if you find this TV not turning on one day, just pick up a 6.3A, 125V, 20mm slow-blow fuse somewhere on the Internet for 3 bucks, open up the back of the TV, look for the dead fuse on the circuit board that houses the power cord, replace it and BAM, you're back in business.
Yes it's an easy fix, but the average person wouldn't know that, so stars must be docked for Panasonic's low quality standards.
| Brand Name | Panasonic |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 86 pounds |
| Package Dimensions | 28.7 x 19.5 x 19.2 inches |
| Item model number | CT-26WX15 |
| Special Features | Flat |
