Hardware

A console modder and retro gaming enthusiast has realized his dream of becoming the owner of what he claims to be the holy grail of CRT TVs. Shank Mods managed to save an extremely rare 43-inch Sony Trinitron KX-45ED1 from an untimely ending, as it was being kept on the second floor of an Osaka noodle shop due for demolition before getting it shipped to the U.S.

The Sony Trinitron KX-45ED1, aka the PVM-4300, is thought to be the largest CRT TV ever sold to consumers, delivering a 43-inch visible diagonal on its 45-inch tube. Shank Mods began his video by explaining how rare these TVs were, likening it to "the Bigfoot of CRTs."

There are one or two reasons why CRT TVs of such a size were/are rare. As tube sizes increased, device weights went up almost exponentially. And then there was the price. Regarding mass, a popular domestic TV set like a 27-inch model might weigh about 50kg or 110 pounds, but you would have to handle a set weighing double that for a 36-inch model. The KX-45ED1 weighs over 200kg or 440 pounds and comes with a 77kg or 170-pound stand. The stand might be advisable so you don't accidentally crush a less well-prepared piece of furniture. KX-45ED1 buyers were also warned to make sure their floors were strong enough.