A cathode ray tube (CRT) socket provides for improved performance by increasing the creeping distance between high and low voltages associated with a correspondingly connected CRT. The CRT socket includes a socket body with a cylindrical central hole extending through its front and rear faces, signal connecting means arranged on a concentric circle about the cylindrical central hole, the signal connecting means engaging with signal terminals from the CRT, and an insulating cover portion arranged on the same concentric circle as the signal connecting means, the insulating cover portion having a high voltage connecting means for engaging with a focusing terminal of the CRT. The signal connecting means is constructed by forming a recessed signal contact portion in the front face of the socket. A plurality of signal contact holes are formed in the recessed signal contact portion of the front face. Each of the plurality of signal contact holes are spaced apart at a predetermined interval. The high voltage connecting means includes a recessed high voltage contact portion which is formed by recessing a front face portion of the socket and a high voltage contact hole formed on the recessed face. The holes formed in the recessed portions of the high voltage connecting means and the signal connecting means engage the terminals on the neck of the CRT. The recessed signal contact portion and the recessed high voltage contact portion are separated from each other by a groove portion which extends to the front and rear faces of the socket body. Creeping distance is increased by separating the high and low voltage (signal) portions of the socket by the groove portion.