Ok, I will admit, some may see this as really not-nice. But, the reality is, the person who sells has always been happy, and I have always been happy, so who loses?
This weekend, I needed to add a TV to a room, and my father needed a new TV for a room. So, rather then go to the big-box stores, etc. I knew that this wouldn't be a primary TV, and I could likely find something "very cheap" via Craigslist. How cheap? Cheap as in "it's broken, selling for nothing" type cheap. I've found two ways to do this... I look for one of three types:
Samsung LCD (not LED or newer technology) 52/55/60, or a WD-60735 or 65735. (60 or 65"). The trick is pretty simple:
In every Samsung LCD I've ever encountered, it always boils down to caps.. about $9 in caps or so and you're fixed. But the new thing I've stumbled across is this: On WD DLP HD Screens, the new lamps run at a higher temperature then before.. and the default setting of running a lamp "on high" causes the unit to power off after about 10-20 minutes. Solution: Go into configuration, change lamp mode to "low power" (no impact at all on picture as far as I can tell) problem solved. Unit behaves perfectly, no issues what so ever (I have, in many cases though, added or supplemented a small fan on the back, which does add about $5)
This weekend, I picked myself up a 65" DLP WD HD set for $140, and my father a 60" for $160. The seller is always happy; to them it's junk that it doesn't stay on (and in both cases, when I got there, they had already bought LCDs or Plasma sets). For me though: PERFECT basement or alternate room set for almost no cost. $140 wouldn't get me a 65" set anywhere... meanwhile, the 55" LCD Samsung in my bedroom that kept clicking rather then turning on? I paid less then $200.
Who says great entertainment or HT has to be expensive?
This weekend, I needed to add a TV to a room, and my father needed a new TV for a room. So, rather then go to the big-box stores, etc. I knew that this wouldn't be a primary TV, and I could likely find something "very cheap" via Craigslist. How cheap? Cheap as in "it's broken, selling for nothing" type cheap. I've found two ways to do this... I look for one of three types:
Samsung LCD (not LED or newer technology) 52/55/60, or a WD-60735 or 65735. (60 or 65"). The trick is pretty simple:
In every Samsung LCD I've ever encountered, it always boils down to caps.. about $9 in caps or so and you're fixed. But the new thing I've stumbled across is this: On WD DLP HD Screens, the new lamps run at a higher temperature then before.. and the default setting of running a lamp "on high" causes the unit to power off after about 10-20 minutes. Solution: Go into configuration, change lamp mode to "low power" (no impact at all on picture as far as I can tell) problem solved. Unit behaves perfectly, no issues what so ever (I have, in many cases though, added or supplemented a small fan on the back, which does add about $5)
This weekend, I picked myself up a 65" DLP WD HD set for $140, and my father a 60" for $160. The seller is always happy; to them it's junk that it doesn't stay on (and in both cases, when I got there, they had already bought LCDs or Plasma sets). For me though: PERFECT basement or alternate room set for almost no cost. $140 wouldn't get me a 65" set anywhere... meanwhile, the 55" LCD Samsung in my bedroom that kept clicking rather then turning on? I paid less then $200.
Who says great entertainment or HT has to be expensive?