How We Prepare Our CRT TVs for Sale at RetroGamer.ae

There is a big difference between finding an old CRT TV that still turns on and preparing one properly for retro gaming or classic video content.

At RetroGamer.ae, we don't simply test a CRT, wipe it down, and put it up for sale. Every CRT that makes it through our selection process goes through a detailed inspection, servicing, cleaning, and calibration process before it reaches our customers.

We have been working with retro gaming hardware in the UAE for 13 years, and CRT restoration has become a major part of what we do. Here's what goes into preparing one of our CRT TVs.

1. Selecting the Right CRTs

The process starts long before a CRT reaches our workbench.

We source a large number of used CRT televisions and monitors, but not every unit is suitable for restoration. Many are rejected immediately due to poor condition, excessive wear, tube problems, screen burn, physical damage, or other issues that make restoration impractical.

We would rather scrap a CRT than sell one that doesn't meet our standards.

The units that pass our initial selection are then brought in for a much more thorough inspection.

2. Thorough Inspection and Testing

Every CRT is heavily inspected by our technicians before we decide whether it is worth restoring.

We check the television from both an electronic and physical standpoint, looking for problems that may not be obvious during a basic power-on test.

This includes checking:

• Overall condition of the CRT tube

• Screen burn and image retention

• Geometry and picture quality

• Brightness and contrast performance

• Color reproduction

• Focus and convergence

• External casing and physical damage

• Buttons, switches, and controls

• Internal components and circuitry

• Video inputs and connectors

• Power supply and other critical circuits

• Signs of previous repairs or modifications

A CRT that turns on isn't necessarily a good CRT. Some faults only become apparent after the television has been running for a while or when a proper test signal is used. In addition to that, we have never come across a CRT, no matter how good of a condition its in, that does not require some form of calibration, especially for colors and white balance. 

3. Recapping and Electronic Servicing

Once a CRT has been selected for restoration, we service the electronics as required.

Electrolytic capacitors are one of the components that commonly deteriorate with age. Depending on the model and condition, we replace capacitors and service other components where necessary rather than simply relying on the television continuing to work with decades-old parts.

For important restoration work, we don't just use whatever replacement capacitor happens to be available locally. Original capacitors for some weird reason DO NOT exist anywhere in the UAE. Only extremely low quality and unreliable Chinese capacitors exist in the market here, which is extremely odd for a country where you can usually find anything imaginable for sale.

When original or suitable high-quality components aren't available in the UAE, we source them internationally, including from suppliers in the US and Japan.

The goal is reliability, not simply getting the television working for a quick sale.

4. Complete Disassembly and Deep Cleaning

CRT televisions can accumulate an incredible amount of dust and grime over decades, especially in the UAE where sand and humidity makes a deadly combo for electronics. 

For many of our restorations, the television is completely disassembled, sometimes down to the CRT tube itself, allowing us to properly clean areas that would otherwise be impossible to reach.

We clean the internal components, chassis, casing, controls, buttons, connectors, and other parts individually.

Where necessary, we also restore the external plastics. This can include repairing damaged parts, treating discoloration, and even repainting the front or rear shells when the original finish cannot be restored to an acceptable condition.

The result isn't just a cleaner-looking CRT. Removing years of accumulated dust and contamination also makes it much easier for us to properly inspect the electronics and identify potential problems. Dust build up also adds a ton of heat and wears out the components inside a CRT quicker. 

5. RGB Modding for the Best Possible Picture

For CRTs that support it, we also perform RGB modifications to provide the highest and most accurate picture quality possible when retro gaming.

RGB provides a significant advantage for retro gaming because the red, green, and blue video signals are carried separately rather than being combined into a lower-quality composite signal.

Depending on the console and display, RGB can provide:

• A much sharper and cleaner image
• Better color separation
• Reduced color bleeding
• Less interference and video noise
• More defined pixels and scanlines
• A more accurate representation of the original game graphics

For systems capable of outputting RGB, this can make a dramatic difference compared with composite video.

This makes our RGB-modded CRTs particularly well suited for gamers using consoles with RGB-capable outputs, SCART setups, RGB interfaces, and other dedicated retro-gaming video solutions.

Combined with professional calibration, a properly implemented RGB modification can give you the kind of clean, sharp CRT image that retro gaming enthusiasts look for without losing the characteristics that make CRTs so special.

6. Professional Calibration

Getting a CRT to display an image is only the beginning.

A properly restored CRT should also display that image correctly.

We use specialized equipment and test patterns to calibrate our CRTs, paying close attention to factors such as:

• Geometry

• Convergence

• Focus

• Brightness

• Contrast

• Color balance

• White balance

• Overall picture performance

Where applicable, we calibrate the displays against established broadcast and video standards so that the picture is as accurate as possible.

This matters particularly for retro gaming. The way a game looks on a CRT is part of the original experience, and one of our missions at RetroGamer.ae is preserving that original gaming experience. The developers designed their graphics with the characteristics of CRT displays in mind, including their color reproduction, scanlines, contrast, and image characteristics.

Our goal is to get the display as close as reasonably possible to the picture the original hardware and software were designed around.

7. Long-Term Testing

After repairs and calibration are complete, the CRT isn't immediately boxed up.

We run the television through extended testing to make sure it remains stable and performs properly after being powered on for an extended period.

This helps us identify intermittent problems, thermal issues, picture instability, or other faults that may not appear during a short test.

A CRT can look perfect for five minutes and develop a problem after an hour. We want to catch those problems in our workshop, not after the customer receives the TV.

8. Final Inspection

Before a CRT is sold, it goes through a final inspection.

We verify the picture, controls, inputs, physical condition, and overall operation once again.

Only after we're satisfied with the result is the CRT considered ready for a customer.

Why Our CRTs Are Different

There are plenty of places where you can find a used CRT TV.

Finding one that has been properly inspected, repaired, restored, cleaned, and calibrated is a different story.

At RetroGamer.ae, we have developed our CRT servicing process specifically around the needs of retro gamers.

We don't treat CRTs as disposable old televisions. We treat them as an important part of retro gaming history and as precision display equipment that deserves proper restoration.

Our CRT customers aren't limited to the UAE either. We regularly serve retro gaming customers throughout the GCC who are looking for properly serviced CRT displays.

The level of restoration we provide is something we believe is unique in the region. Every CRT we sell represents a significant amount of technician time, testing, cleaning, servicing, and calibration.

And that work shows in the reliability of the TVs we send out. Our properly serviced CRTs are extremely reliable, and warranty claims are rare.