It might be the picture tube - but my guess is that it's a failed component - tubes don't make a popping sound and the Sony tube is very reliable - more likely a component and possibly a capacitor blowing up (given the sound) and likely to be in the power supply but that's just a guess too...
Tubes no longer made - This from Wikipedia...
Sony has completed production of all Trinitron CRT models at its Singapore manufacturing plant. Trinitron CRT production ceased in Japan at the end of March 2008.
Peccavi
November 2008
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