Sony KV-28SF5
The Sony KV-28SF5 was a groundbreaking 28-inch widescreen television released in 1996 as the first television to feature a completely flat screen—flat both vertically and horizontally. This technology was initially marketed as "Super Flat Trinitron" before being rebranded as "FD Trinitron" in May 1997.
Technical Innovation
The KV-28SF5 represented a major breakthrough in CRT technology. While previous Sony Trinitron tubes were already flatter than competing shadow mask designs (being cylindrical rather than spherical), they still had curvature in the horizontal plane. The KV-28SF5 eliminated this final curvature, creating a truly flat viewing surface.
This flat screen design offered several advantages:
- Reduced reflections and glare from ambient light
- Minimized geometric distortion across the display
- Improved viewing angles
- Non-distorted picture throughout the display surface
Historical Significance
The flat-screen CRT technology pioneered in the KV-28SF5 became the foundation for Sony's WEGA television line, which launched in 1997. Sony received an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for its development of flat screen CRT technology.
The FD Trinitron series became one of the most sought-after CRT televisions among retro gaming enthusiasts due to their excellent picture quality and flat screen design.
