Sony 36HS500 Review

The Sony 36HS500 is a relic from a different era of television — a 36-inch HD-capable CRT that Sony produced in the early 2000s. If you've stumbled onto one of these at an estate sale, a thrift store, or someone's basement, you're probably asking the same question a lot of retro AV enthusiasts ask: is it still worth setting up?

The honest answer is: it depends entirely on what you want from it.

What It Actually Is

The 36HS500 is a large-format Sony Wega HD CRT — the kind of set that was considered premium home theater hardware in its day. It supports high-definition signals and features component video inputs, making it compatible with DVD players, early Blu-ray, and retro gaming consoles. The picture tube itself produces the deep blacks and natural motion handling that CRTs are still celebrated for, even compared to modern flat panels.

But this is a heavy, bulky, immovable object. We're talking about a television that typically weighs north of 200 lbs. Getting it into a room is a two-or-three-person job. Getting it out is a logistics problem.

The Audio Connection Problem (A Real Buyer Concern)

One issue that surfaced in community discussions is directly relevant to anyone pairing this TV with a surround sound system. A Reddit user reported connecting a Sony SAVA D900 5.1 system to this exact model and being unable to get audio to pass through from the TV to the speakers — even after following all instructions and disabling the built-in TV speakers.

This is a known friction point with older Sony CRT sets. The audio routing on these televisions can be non-intuitive, and the output options are limited by today's standards. If you're planning a home theater setup around this screen, budget extra time for troubleshooting audio. Don't assume it will "just work" with modern or even period-correct receivers.

Who Actually Wants This TV in 2025?

There are three types of people who genuinely benefit from owning a set like this:

• Retro gaming enthusiasts — CRTs produce zero input lag and handle 240p/480i signals from older consoles natively. For classic console gaming, this is still arguably the best display technology available.
• Vintage AV collectors — If you're building a period-accurate home theater from the early 2000s, the 36HS500 is an authentic centerpiece.
• Bargain hunters with space to spare — These sets are often given away for free or near-free because nobody wants to move them. If the picture tube is healthy, the image quality is genuinely impressive for the price paid.

If you're a casual viewer who wants a secondary bedroom TV or a clean setup — this is not your product. The weight alone makes it impractical, and the lack of HDMI means you'll need adapters for any modern source.

Picture Quality: Still Holds Up (With Caveats)

This is where the 36HS500 earns its legacy. A healthy tube on this set produces rich, accurate colors with none of the motion blur you see on LCD panels. Black levels are deep and natural. For film content with a proper component or S-Video source, the image can genuinely surprise you.

The caveat: "healthy tube" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. These sets are 20+ years old. Tube wear, convergence drift, and capacitor aging are real concerns. Before committing to a unit, test it thoroughly — check for geometry issues, color convergence problems, and brightness uniformity. Repair parts exist but finding a technician who works on CRTs is increasingly difficult.

Practical Tips Before You Commit

• Measure your floor — these sets need reinforced furniture or a dedicated stand rated for the weight
• Test audio output thoroughly before assuming any surround system will pair correctly
• Bring at least two people when picking one up — do not attempt solo
• Check the CRT for burn-in and convergence issues by displaying a white screen and a red/green/blue test pattern
• Component video is your best input option for modern sources; HDMI-to-component adapters vary wildly in quality

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the Sony 36HS500 support HDMI?

A: No. This is a CRT television from the early 2000s and does not have HDMI inputs. Your best quality connection is via component video (YPbPr), which supports HD signals up to the set's native capability.

Q: How heavy is the Sony 36HS500?

A: Like most 36-inch CRTs from this era, this set is extremely heavy — typically in the 200+ lb range. Moving it requires multiple people and appropriate furniture rated for the load.

Q: Can I connect a surround sound system to the Sony 36HS500?

A: Yes, but audio routing can be tricky. At least one user reported difficulty getting audio to pass from the TV to a Sony 5.1 system even after following instructions. Expect some troubleshooting, and verify the TV speaker switch and audio output settings carefully.

Q: Is this TV good for retro gaming?

A: Yes — this is arguably the primary reason to own one today. CRTs like this produce zero input lag and render retro console signals the way developers intended. For classic gaming, a healthy 36HS500 is a legitimate premium display.

Q: Where can I find one and what should I pay?

A: These sets frequently appear on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for free or very low cost, because most people simply want them gone. The challenge is transportation, not price. Prioritize finding a unit with a clean, undamaged tube over getting the absolute lowest price.

The 36HS500 is a niche product for a niche audience in 2025. For retro gamers and collectors, it's a legitimate treasure worth the effort. For everyone else, the weight and compatibility limitations make it a difficult recommendation. Know your use case before you commit — and definitely bring a friend when you go to pick it up.

— Home Lead Editor, CPrice