Discounted older flat-screen TVs can be a practical, low-cost option for secondary rooms, but they often lack modern smart features, inputs, energy efficiency, and long-term support.
A refreshed look at JVC's mid-2000s LCD sets and how their motion and audio features compare to today's 4K, 120Hz, smart TVs.
Plasma displays used ionized gas cells to deliver deep blacks, wide viewing angles, and smooth motion. Once popular for large HDTVs, plasmas were phased out in the mid-2010s as LED/LCD and OLED technologies matured.
Plasma TVs are now legacy; today's choices are LED-LCD (including QLED), OLED, Mini-LED and emerging MicroLED. Pick based on room brightness, viewing habits and budget.
CRT HDTVs used cathode ray tubes to display high-definition signals (commonly 720p and 1080i). Once a competitive, lower-cost alternative to early plasma and LCDs, CRT HDTVs declined as flat panels became thinner, larger, and more energy efficient. Today CRTs survive mainly in retro-gaming and niche professional uses.