Why Sony PVMs, scanlines, and analog glory still matter in retro gaming
There’s something magical about playing a retro game on a CRT. It’s not just nostalgia — it’s how the games were meant to be seen.
In the modern era of 4K displays and HDMI-perfect pixels, it’s easy to assume newer is better. But when it comes to retro gaming, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Games from the 70s, 80s, and 90s weren’t designed with flat panels in mind — they were built around the limitations and quirks of cathode ray tube displays.
Today, I want to dive into why CRTs — and in particular, Sony PVMs — are still the gold standard for experiencing classic games. Whether you’re a collector, a MiSTer FPGA enthusiast, or someone rediscovering the games of your childhood, understanding the CRT’s role will transform how you experience retro gaming.
CRTs Aren’t Just Old TVs — They’re Part of the Design
Game developers in the 8-bit and 16-bit eras designed their games around CRT behavior. The flicker. The blur. The glow. The way scanlines tricked your brain into thinking a sprite had more detail than it did.
Modern LCDs are crisp and sterile — they show every pixel raw and unfiltered. But classic games weren’t meant to be seen this way. On an NES, for example, a sprite might only be 16×16 pixels, but viewed on a CRT, the scanline spacing and natural blur helped those few pixels appear softer, smoother, and more vibrant.
Games like Chrono Trigger, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Castlevania used CRT quirks as a canvas. The artists knew how colors would bleed together, how dithered gradients would blend. Without a CRT, you lose the illusion — and the art suffers.
Enter the Sony PVM: The Holy Grail of CRTs
If CRTs are the soul of retro gaming, Sony’s PVM line is its cathedral.
PVM stands for Professional Video Monitor — high-end displays originally used in broadcast studios, editing bays, and hospitals. Unlike consumer CRTs that relied on composite video (and often had image distortion), PVMs were built for absolute image fidelity, with support for RGB, S-Video, and component inputs.
Why do retro gamers love PVMs?
- Crystal-clear RGB input — perfect color separation and zero signal degradation.
- Sharp scanlines and excellent geometry — your sprites look razor-sharp but still analog.
- Durable, industrial-grade build — most PVMs from the ’90s still work today.
- Smaller screen sizes (9”–20”) — low resolution looks great, not stretched.
My personal setup includes a Sony PVM-14M4U, and it’s nothing short of stunning. Hooking up a MiSTer FPGA to this display over RGB feels like plugging a SNES into a portal to the ’90s. The image is vibrant but never harsh. Scanlines are clean but subtle, and every movement feels immediate and alive.
Playing Super Mario World or Metal Slug on this thing is like seeing the game as the developers saw it — not through digital filters, but in pure analog clarity.
Why CRTs Still Beat Modern Displays for Retro
You might think that emulators and shaders on a modern screen can replicate this, and to some extent, they can try. But here’s what CRTs still do better:
| Feature | CRT (e.g. Sony PVM) | LCD + Emulator |
|---|---|---|
| Input latency | ~0ms (with analog signal) | 2–4+ frames |
| Scanline accuracy | Native, real phosphors | Approximate |
| Motion clarity | Full persistence | Blurred or interpolated |
| Light gun support | Fully functional | Rarely works |
| Color & contrast | Organic, rich tones | Often oversaturated |
| No resolution scaling | Native 240p or 480i | Scaled artifacts |
The MiSTer FPGA enhances this even more. Unlike a Pi or PC emulator that outputs digital HDMI, MiSTer’s analog output via I/O board means you can feed a true 15kHz RGB signal directly to a PVM. No lag. No frame conversion. It just works — and it looks sublime.
Playing Retro Games the Way They Were Meant to Be Played
This isn’t about being a purist. It’s about preserving the experience.
Games like Contra III, Zelda: A Link to the Past, or Street Fighter II weren’t just about gameplay — they were experiences shaped by hardware. From the chunky controllers to the buzzing CRT, the entire ecosystem was part of the magic.
Using a Sony PVM with a MiSTer isn’t just about the best picture — it’s about accuracy, emotion, and honoring the design. The picture glows the way it did when you were a kid. The scanlines fall naturally. The motion is fluid. And your muscle memory kicks in — because it feels right.
🛒 Where to Find a Sony PVM or CRT Today
Unfortunately, Sony stopped making PVMs in the early 2000s, and they’ve become collector’s items. Still, you can sometimes find them:
- On Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree under “broadcast monitors” or “PVM”
- At university or hospital equipment auctions
- In retro gaming groups or forums
- Or through restored resellers (though prices can be steep)
Expect to pay $300–600+ depending on condition and size — but it’s a forever display. PVMs are built like tanks, and if well cared for, can last another decade easily.
If a PVM isn’t available, don’t worry — many consumer CRT TVs with S-Video or Component input still offer a great experience. MiSTer can output analog signals tailored for those, too.
👾 Final Thoughts
The CRT isn’t just a display — it’s a time machine.
It completes the illusion. It connects the dots between memory and reality. And if you’re serious about retro gaming, especially on a MiSTer FPGA, investing in a quality CRT like a Sony PVM is one of the best ways to reclaim the magic.
So if you ever stumble across one, grab it. Fire up your favorite core. Let the phosphors glow. And remember what it felt like to play games the way they were meant to be seen.
Rethink. Reboot. Repeat.
— Chris Freeman
