Loewe or Toshiba HDTV ready?

Panasonics in general have a problem developing solder cracks on their main PCB, very poor workmanship for the last ten years. The toshiba is a very good product well designed and engineered, pix is outstanding. THe loewe is like a ferrari, you won't be able to get it repaired at ther corner Fixit shop, but hopefully it won't be your main
source of entertainment.

All direct view televisions have an invar or shadow mask. It is situated behind the screen and is in place to prevent the electrons from bouncing back into the crt. If you drive the crt too hard, the invar mask will overheat. This results in Blooming od the picture. It will seem overely bright and incoherent. It has nothing to due with a dark picture overall. Also, if it were not there, the crt would take full beam current and the phosphor would be darkened very quickly, thus ruining your new tube.