2nd hand TVs, what to check for

[Ricardo]

Really need a TV and a Sony Bravia 40" came up on Gumtree very local to me for £180 (could wangle a bit more off maybe)

This is the actual model of it

Sony Bravia KDL 40 s5550

Obviously 2nd hand so apart from it being Sony which I think is a reputable make, is there any way of checking things out to make sure it's all good like how many hours screen time. Maybe buying 2nd hand is a grey area but I can't afford to buy an equivalent new, they retailed at over £500 new.

Cheers :)

[DaveL485]

You have no way of knowing how its been treated, its extremely risky buying 2nd hand electricals. Caveat Emptor and all that.

It's a false economy at risk of....dead pixels....not knowing how many hours are on it...screen burn....anything really. My fifty "appears" brand new, literally I havent even peeled the plastic protective layer from around the edges, no wear on the remote, not a mark on it anywhere. I could sell it as unused, easily....yet it has just over three years service on it.

Save up and buy new is the only advice I could give responsibly.

[Hoolio]

The S series were entry level, this model introduced about 2009. TV's tend to be faulty out of the box or they carry on till major non repairable failure so should get a few good years out of it. It had a few issues but If you can get it for 150...............

[Ricardo]

Thanks chaps, as it's only literally 10 minutes from where I live I might as well go and have a look.

[car.crash]

Check it has a plug

[JRP]

I'd check it on, and on a dark screen in a film see if its blotchy and hazy etc

[Ricardo]

Check it has a plug

It has 2 pins :crap: :D

[Hoolio]

Ignore :)

[TopCat]

For an extra £100 I'd go and get a display model from Currys or something.

Most second hand things are being sold for a reason.

[Goobie]

I'd check it on, and on a dark screen in a film see if its blotchy and hazy etc

This and put some thing on which is bright or white screen and turn the brightness up high, this will show up any burn mark in the screen. :agree:

If possible and abit over the top, stick a full 1080hd blu ray on, this will show up any blur defect. :)

Ps, or just save the money for a certain rwd! ;) :laugh:

[Ricardo]

Just been on the Argos site as they're doing a decent sale, so 40" Alba with Freeview for £229, a price drop of £100. Any good?

[safehands]

I bought a repaired toshiba from Comet nearly 5 years ago and it's still going. Make sure it switches on n off. Check the remote works. Volume buttons n stuff. If it does dont worry ;)

[Ricardo]

I ended up buying the new 40" Alba from Argos on the way home from work :)

And then moving all the furniture round in the room i rent to get a decent viewing position :D

All Freeview channels up and running, just need to work out how to get Sky working. I have a Sky+ box rigged up, downstairs only has a Sky box, at the moment it recognises Sky but no signal. Is this just a case of ringing Sky to register the Sky+ box for multiroom or do i need just a Sky box the same as downstairs (and register for multiroom)

Cheers :)