The Difference Atwixt LCD And Plasma Televisions

[Seil]

What is it?

I've the need to purchase a new TV, and would prefer to pick up something fancy - so what do I need to know before whipping out $500 - $1000 for a TV?

[Nikose Tyris]

The ADVANTAGES of Plasma over LCD are:

1. Larger screen size availability.

2. Better contrast ratio and ability to render deeper blacks.

3. Better color accuracy and saturation.

4. Better motion tracking (little or no motion lag in fast moving images).

The DISADVANTAGES of Plasma vs LCD include:

1. Plasma TVs are more susceptible to burn-in of static images. However, this problem has diminished greatly in recent years as a result of the incorporation "pixel orbiting" and related technologies.

2. Plasma TVs generate more heat than LCDs, due to the need to light of phosphors to create the images.

3. Does not perform as well at higher altitudes.

4. Potentially shorter display life span - this used to be the case. Early Plasmas had 30,000 hours or 8 hrs of viewing a day for 9 years, which was less than LCD. However, screen life span has now improved and 60,000 hour life span rating are now common, with some sets rated as high as 100,000 hours, due to technology improvements.

LCD television ADVANTAGES over Plasma include:

1. No burn-in of static images.

2. Cooler running temperature.

3. No high altitude use issues.

4. Increased image brightness over Plasma, which makes LCD TVs better for viewing in brightly lit rooms.

5. Lighter weight (when comparing same screen sizes) than Plasma counterparts.

6. Longer display life used to be a factor, but now LCD and Plasma sets both have at least 60,000 hour or higher lifespans.

DISADVANTAGES of LCD vs Plasma televisions include:

1. Lower contrast ratio, not as good rendering deep blacks, although the increasing incorporation of LED backlighting has narrowed this gap.

2. Not as good at tracking motion (fast moving objects may exhibit lag artifacts) - However, this is improving with the recent implementation of 120Hz screen refresh rates and 240Hz processing in higher-end LCD sets.

3. Not as common in large screen sizes above 42-inches as Plasma. However, the number is growing fast, with 46 and 47-inch screen sizes becoming more common, and some LCD sets having a screen size as large as 65-inches also available to the general public.

4. Although LCD televisions do not suffer from burn-in susceptibility, it is possible that individual pixels on an LCD televisions can burn out, causing small, visible, black or white dots to appear on the screen. Individual pixels cannot be repaired, the whole screen would need to be replaced at that point, if the individual pixel burnout becomes annoying to you.

5. LCD televisions are typically more expensive than equivalent-sized Plasma televisions (although this is changing).

[bluestarultor]

LCD TVs never suffer from burn-in, while I believe plasma-screens do. If you want to play games on it, go for LCD. Also, an LCD TV usually can be used as a monitor, too.

Just remember a few things: Active Matrix display makes for a better viewing angle, you'll want both composite and HDMI connections, and high-gloss produces a better picture, if you can find it.

[synkr0nized]

I'm not convinced that plasmas have better contrast ratios by such a noticeable margin.
Also, LCDs are just as big if not bigger any more. The industry has really cut back on plasmas (or stores carry them less).

It's likely because they are such a hassle relative to LCDs.


What you need to know is the following:
-- what size screen is reasonable for your living room/bedroom/office/whatever
-- how many inputs and what kind are you going to want
-- relevant mounting aspects if it's going on a wall vs. a stand
-- the primary things it will be used for (e.g. gaming? HD video? regular television?) can give weight to something over others (like perhaps the newer LCDs with 120 Hz instead of 60 Hz, like Nikose mentions, would be a focus; perhaps something that's best for DVDs; perhaps something with a better range of color)

Then go to the store and compare it in person. Yes, viewing the screens in a store isn't quite the same as having it in your home, but it's still a good idea to view it in person. I helped a friend pick a TV and he ended up selecting a different one than he had chosen via online shopping after getting to see them in person [he actually picked a plasma].



Get your budget so you know what range you have, and then compare the features of the televisions in that range. It's pretty reasonable to look at a few televisions and make a decision like, "This one is two hundred dollars more, yet I don't feel it's features are worth two hundred dollars more."

[Fifthfiend]

From what I understand the risk of burn-in on plasma is so low as to basically not ever be a thing, like if you leave the same image on your screen for a hundred hours or something, then you will get burn-in.

Nik's post is pretty thorough; many but definitely not all people find plasma screens to be a nicer picture, and for those who aren't enamored of the plasma screen picture, such sets have other drawbacks which tilt them the other way. One thing I didn't see mentioned is that plasma sets use glass screens, which contributes to the color depth people perceive and also the increased weight of the sets relative to LCD. This is strongly a matter of preference though since many people prefer the matte, low-glare screens that are common on LCD sets.

Like Synk said the big diff. between plasma and LCD is that manufacturers are hardly making plasma screen sets anymore, but Samsung I think still makes some very nice ones if that's what you're in the market for.

This is all based on the assumption that you're shopping for something 50"-class or larger; I don't think plasmas are even built anymore in sizes below that.