Video Asylum

RE: Plasma TV

69.165.147.95

This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

In Reply to: RE: Plasma TV posted by tesla on February 09, 2016 at 07:19:34

You can often check the power-on hours via network or some other means, might be worthwhile to do that. At least other used plasma buyers recommend it, I'm not so sure since they usually have a 40k hour minimum lifetime, and many rated for a 100k hour useable lifetime...maybe more important in case you think the panel was a demo or used commercially, or possibly for really extended gaming.

Also related to that, watch the screen when you first turn the plasma on, not immediately but after it "stabilizes" for 10s or so. See if you see any burn-in. Also play some 4:3 material in 4:3 format and look to the sides to see if you notice any deterioration. Simple to do, it really will show a lot very quickly and won't "give away" that you're clued in.

Take a gander at the screen coatings using a flashlight, the better ones have coating of at least some type. You'll notice any glass hairline cracks at the same time, and if the coatings were scratched or poorly cleaned.

Bring a disc or memory stick (if it has USB, most do) with basic full-screen one-color test patterns. All white is good, you'll notice any stuck pixels immediately, but also all-R/G/B too.

If the used name-brand good-model plasma is even remotely close to a good deal, you won't have a lot of time if the plasma is generally advertised and not from an acquaintance. But try to find out about parts availability, especially power supplies.

Just because a plasma has a stuck pixel or shows evidence of too much 4:3 viewing etc. doesn't mean it won't still be pretty good. I'm just really picky, and bought in the days when *zero* stuck/dead pixels was the maximum acceptable number for a quality model...that quickly changed when they started manufacturing panels "elsewhere" for certain brands... [A few stuck pixels, or even one :), in the middle of the screen is incredibly annoying to me, I can't NOT see them.]

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