Used Flat Screen TV

Shopping for a used flat screen TV can be exciting--but a touch confusing. After all, there are many features and terminologies to decipher in the process. Though you don't need to know all the technical terms to purchase a flat screen, there are a few that may make your shopping experience easier and more likely to result in the purchase of a used flat screen TV that truly suits your needs.Contrast ratio is important when purchasing a used flat screen TV. This ratio depicts the lightest and darkest values a TV screen can display simultaneously. Generally, a higher contrast ratio is considered optimal. The aspect ratio of a flat screen TV is important as well. This ratio is used to indicate the width of a screen in relation to its height. A traditional set is likely to have a 4:3 aspect ratio, while a wide-screen TV may be 16:9. Wide-screen sets are gaining in popularity, as they tend to allow for improved DVD viewing. Likewise, HDTV sets use wide-screen formats.Resolution is another important factor when choosing a used flat screen TV. With plasma and LCD TVs, resolution is the number of columns by rows. For example, a resolution can be specified as 1,280 by 720. A combination of resolution and contrast ratios are determinant of screen detail. A TV may be considered high definition if it boasts a pixel count that is near one million; 1,280 by 720 is indicative of a high definition (HD) display, and so is 1,366 by 768. A TV with a resolution of 1,280 by 720 is considered good for viewing both DVD and HD content. Standard definition (SD) screens may be 640 by 480 or 720 by 480. An enhanced definition screen could feature a resolution of 852 by 480.