For anyone who is facing the consumer decisions inherent in buying a new high-definition TV, this question nearly always surfaces: should I buy a Plasma vs. LCD HDTV? What are the important differences and the pros and cons of each technology? Which one is right for me? In this article we will attempt to distill the information and guide you to make the right decision.
Plasma TV
Plasma screens are perfectly flat and produce vibrant colors with a very high level of detail. In Plasma display technology, thousands of tiny cells containing a mix of noble gases in a Plasma panel are illuminated at once. This is very different from the way images on conventional televisions are scanned across the screen. The resulting image for Plasma TVs is far sharper and brighter. This works very well in normal room lighting and the picture can be viewed comfortably from most angles and distances. Even as you get closer to the display, the picture is not affected by changes in clarity or color quality, and this another factor to consider when deciding the question of Plasma vs. LCD.
Plasma displays are also only a few inches thick, a fact which allows quite flexible installation options. For example, in addition to being stand-mounted, they can be hung on a wall or suspended from a ceiling. All Plasma TVs come in a 16:9 widescreen format.
With respect to power consumption, Plasma displays use approximately as much power as traditional CRT televisions do. The lifespan of the latest generation of Plasma displays is estimated to be 60,000 hours of display time, which equates to something near 27 years at six hours of operation per day.
Another important aspect to consider is that Plasma displays do not utilize electron beams as conventional TV displays do. Therefore, they are immune to the deleterious effects of magnetic fields. This fact allows your home theater speakers to be placed near them without creating any audio distortion, for example.
Advantages of Plasma vs. LCD:
- Much larger display (screen) sizes available; Plasma displays range from 37-inch to 65-inch and larger. The biggest Plasma video display in the world, at least at the time of the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show was a 150-inch TV made by Panasonic
- Superior contrast ratio and has the feature to create deeper blacks
- Superior saturation and color accuracy
- Superior motion tracking (very little motion lag perceptible in fast-moving images)
Disadvantages of Plasma vs. LCD:
- Plasma vs. LCD TVs are more prone to burn-in of static images. Burn-in is when a prolonged display of news graphics or other static images over time creates a lasting, ghost-like outline of these objects
- Plasma vs. LCD definitely generates more heat due to their use of phosphors to create images, and as a result, use considerably more power. Plasma sets use no more than 400 watts for a television with 50-inch screen
- Since it utilizes millions of small yet pressurized gas chambers, Plasma sets are not suitable in places that are in high altitudes. At altitudes above 6000′, Plasma screens emit a buzzing sound
LCD HDTV
The acronym LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. LCD technology involves optical devices that can be adjusted electronically formed into a flat and thin panel comprised of a large amount of pixels that are filled with liquid crystals. These are then put together in front of the reflector. The feature is actually similar to a camera shutter which allows the light energy to go through or be prevented as voltage is applied to each individual pixel set so that they change their state to collectively create an image. Color is added to the LCD display through three main filters (red, green, and blue or RGB) that are applied to each pixel. LCD displays always produce and maintain clear, sharp pictures without being affected much by reflection from interior (artificial) light or sunlight through windows.
For the consumer, this means images that are less likely to flicker and eyestrain, even if they are viewing at close range. Another benefit is that since the static electricity is not produced on an LCD screen, it keeps a clean and mostly free of dust for optimal viewing—something to think about when mulling over the Plasma vs. LCD question.
Better LCD features than Plasma HDTV:
- Static images are not prone to burn-in
- Overall cooler running temperatures since it has less power consumption; average power use of a 50-inch LCD HDTV is approximately 230 watts
- No issues with use at high altitude
- Better image brightness
- Quicker response times (a positive for gamers; if the response time is better than 16 milliseconds then it is enough for video gaming purposes)
Disadvantages of LCD over Plasma HDTV:
- Lower contrast ratio
- Inferior rendering of deep blacks
- Inferior motion tracking
As you can see, any consumer who seeks to purchase a flat screen television today is faced with a homework assignment that he or she cannot avoid if wanting to make a fully informed decision. For a helpful chart by cNet showing a comparison of the power consumption of various brands and sizes of Plasma vs. LCD sets, you can go to http://reviews.cnet.com/green-tech/tv-consumption-chart/?tag=rb_content;rb_mtx
The reality of the issue of Plasma vs. LCD is that each of these technologies has its own strengths and weaknesses. The bottom line is that both Plasma and LCD sets produce excellent pictures. However, many feel that for basic home theater usage, Plasma displays have a slight advantage over LCD displays. This is due to the fact that Plasma screens can render and display blacks more accurately than LCD sets can, which translates to superior contrast and detail in the darker television or film scenes.
It is already the LCD’s feature that the beam from the backlight passes through its LCD layer. To simply put, that it’s more difficult for the LCD to achieve real blacks since there is always going to be a certain amount of light leakage originating from between the pixels. However, this flaw is steadily being eroded with each new generation of LCD TVs produced, which makes the decision of Plasma vs. LCD a little harder to make.
It should also be pointed out that Plasma screens provide better viewing angles than LCDs do. Viewing angle refers to how far the consumer can sit to either side of a screen before the picture’s clarity and quality is affected. With LCD sets, there is always some alteration in brightness and color when the viewer is seated at too extreme an angle, whereas with Plasma sets the picture remains fairly solid regardless of the viewing angle.
In the end, it is up to each individual alone to study the variables and decide whether a Plasma vs. LCD HDTV set is the best option for his or her particular situation.
