The humble cathode ray tube (CRT) was once the technology behind almost all of our televisions and computer displays. Its replacements, from LCD screens to OLED and others, are generally cheaper to make and better to look at. Old televisions were comparatively large as well, but their size can be an advantage for people like [ManicMods] aka [Jeff]. His latest build ditches the CRT from an old Bently portable TV and uses the huge space available in the case for a hi-fi audio system and some other parts that turn it into an impressive portable home theater system.
After removing most of the internals of the TV, the first part to go in is the stereo and subwoofer combo as it takes up the most amount of space. The subwoofer section points downward and the two stereo speakers are mounted to the sides. To free up the most space inside, the new display is mounted forward of the original bezel, with a new 3D printed one helping to hold it in place. Behind it goes a Raspberry Pi, loaded with the moOde audio player, a high quality DAC for audio output, and a 1 TB SSD with [Jeff]’s uncompressed audio library. Most of the ports are extended out to the case including the SD card slot so other operating systems can be loaded on the Pi, and there are a ton of options for hooking up external speakers and displays as well, making it an extremely modular and expandable portable media center.
Also added to the finished product are a few small game controllers, since the Pi is perfectly capable of playing retro games, as well as a small wireless keyboard and trackpad combo. Although the CRT’s demise will be felt harder by some than by others, the original look of the case is preserved somewhat by keeping the original tuning display and locations of the original control buttons and knobs. If preserving the CRTs are of upmost importance, though, this build used a pair of them in a VR headset.
Thank you so much for covering my passion project, Bryan! I’m a big CRT fan myself and share condolences in my recent showcase 😁 I have another build video that’s choreographed to hip hop. Suffice to stay I’m still finding my way as a creator! I’m over the moon you all shared this, and happy to answer any questions….maybe except cost for now 🫡
Dang, you beat me to it! I have literally the exact same model Bentley portable TV that I’ve been modifying, very similar to what you’ve done, but with a different purpose and functions. The thought might have crossed my mind how cool it might be to be featured here on HaD for the completed project if it turns out as I’ve planned! I’m currently trying to get the circuitry figured out to get the pi talking to the the original CRT. I haven’t seen your video yet, but was your CRT alive, or did you try going that route at all? I guess I’ll probably find out when I watch your video.
Congratulations on both an amazingly cool project and getting it picked up by HaD! This is so awesome, and it looks great! Excellent job Jeff!
Waaait so it’s just a bog standard Pi in a fancy case? Whatever.
Let’s see yours, then
“I bet you can’t shit your pants like I do.”
Bentley made all those cheap give-away prizes those Time-Share hacks used to bait suckers. Every one of them said Barbra Mandrell stayed at them. I think Bentley made rugs too.
One of the leaders of Time Share then became a lawyer to help folks get out of them
He got you going in coming.
I really need one of those Death Notes Ryuk…
. Its replacements, from LCD screens to OLED and others, are generally cheaper to make and better to look at.
I think that’s kinda subjective. I happen to like the CRT images better. Sure LCD is much more sharp and crisp and detailed. But it’s TOO sharp and crisp and detailed. Real life doesn’t look like that.
I remember when I got my first LCD TV. I had been a TV tech for two decades, so I had of course seen them, but my own first was a 3d LCD. In standard mode (not 3d), the whole scene looked… off. It looked to me like old BBC TV shows is the best way I can describe it. Everything was just… TOO much. I’ve gotten used to them over the years, of course, but … even to this day, in my shop, I still use a CRT television.
Now I’m kicking myself for discarding several surplus TV cases I purchased in the 90’s from somewhere like Chaney Electronics.