Are Sony's CRTs Impervious to Black Bar Burn in?

[Proveritas]

I just purchased a Sony 32" HDTV, but I can return
> it in 30 days.
>
> My question:
>
> Sony Tech support tells me that the Sony Trinitron
> tube is NOT subject to black bar burn-in unlike any
> other tube out there. They claim that this is
> because the electron scanning gun only paints the
> actual image area and that because the tube is true
> black, there is no need to put any info into the
> black areas of the bars when using different aspect
> ratios.
>
> They told me to compare a Sony Trinitron with any
> other TV image at the Circuit City store where I
> purchased it and notice that there is no illuminated
> pixelization in the black bars area on the Sony.
>
> I looked and could not see any pixels illuminated on
> the Sony model, just as they said! I also looked at
> a nearby Samsung and Panasonic and did, indeed, see
> a faint glowing pixelization in the black bar area
> on the Panasonic and the Samsung.
>
> If this is true, this would be a huge advantage to
> me with a 32" Full Screen from Sony. It would mean
> that I could watch movies in wide screen mode
> without concern about black bar burn in.
>
> I understand that positive image burn in from logos
> and such is still an issue and Sony warned me about
> that issue.
>
> Have you ever heard of this?
>
> Thank you!

[57U]

I assume this is a 4:3 TV - you didn't supply a model number but say it's "full screen". What is said is true for any true HD material as well as 16:9 material coming in from a DVD player set for a 16:9 TV, since the TV does "vertical compression". The same however is true for a 16:9 TV since 16:9 images perfectly fill the screen!!! (without looking at black bars)

However, it is not true for black bars on the sides, logos, tickers, games, or 2.35:1 movies because there would be some "black" or other static image that is actually "on screen" (same as for a 16:9 TV). So, it's better than "old technology" that didn't have vertical compression, but it's no different than a 16:9 TV.

Read the FAQ on "Burn In", as well as the one on "4:3 vs Widescreen TVs".

PS, the Samsung and the Panny may not have been set up properly for vertical compression because most new 4:3 HDTVs have vertical compression, it's not exclusive to Sony.

[Proveritas]

The Sony Model #: KV-HS420 32" 4:3 TV

[Ratman]

You're being handed an SSP (Sony Sales Pitch).

The black bars are not the cause of burn in anyway! It's the difference in aging of 'used' phosphors (picture) compared to the non-aged phosphors (black bars).