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RE: Plasma TV

Posted by cfraser on February 9, 2016 at 11:17:49:
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 it matters since they usually have a 40k hour minimum lifetime, and many are rated for a 100k hour useable lifetime...maybe more important if 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 improperly 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/dead 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, high demand still. 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 sustained/unvaried 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/dead pixels, or even one :), in the middle of the screen is incredibly annoying to me, I can't NOT see them.]