LCD vs Plasma

High-definition and flat panel TV’s are taking out old fashioned tube TV’s and their poor picture quality at an amazing rate. More and more people are trading in their old, bulky TV’s for state of the art LCD and Plasma screens. Besides their sleek and thin look, LCD and Plasma TV’s have lots of additional features and perks that you’re missing out on with an old CRT (tube) TV. So you’ve made the decision to upgrade but should you go with an LCD screen or a Plasma TV? This LCD and Plasma TV guide will walk you through all the key points and factors in determining which one to buy.

The best way to compare these two high tech TV’s is to simply compare and contrast them. Let’s start by looking at the features and advantages of LCD TV’s.

LCD & Plasma Similarities

Although LCD & Plasma TV’s have some important differences, they have quite a few characteristics in common that you should be familiar with when shopping for a new TV.

• Resolution – Both types of TV’s have similar possible resolutions. They explain their resolution in horizontal by vertical like 1024×768.
• Dot Pitch – When comparing the dot pitch of two different TV’s, the smaller the number the sharper your picture is going to be.
• Response Time – This is another characteristic that you should prefer a smaller number. The response time shows how quickly the pixels can change color and brightness.
• Brightness – This represents how much light is emitted from the TV. The name can be deceiving; it also measures the quality of the dark colors.
• Contrast Ratio - This is one of the more important characteristics to compare. A high contrast ratio will give you the best picture when displaying dark and bright colors together.
• Aspect Ratio – Most LCD and Plasma TV’s come in widescreen (16:9) but there are other options available.

LCD

LCD stands for liquid crystal display. These types of displays have been around for awhile and are commonly used with computers. One reason for their big popularity is the ability to produces a better picture than CRT monitors but also being much thinner.

Pro’s

• Low Energy Consumption – LCD monitors use very low amounts of power. This is why it is very commonly used in battery powered devices.
• LCD screens also reduce the amount of glare on the screen which can be very beneficial if your TV is in a room with lots of light.
• If an image is left on the screen too long, LCD screens are less likely to experience the image being burned into the screen. If this does occur, it’s easier to repair than other types of TV’s.

Con’s

• The viewing angle of an LCD TV is typically not as great as Plasma but the difference is not great enough to make a huge difference.
• LCD TV’s can sometimes get dead pixels which aren’t typically covered under warranty. Although they are very small, they can become very annoying.
• Brightness levels aren’t as great as Plasma and it’s not possible to display darks quite as dark.

Plasma

Plasma technology hasn’t been as widely used as LCD in previous years but has become very popular in large HDTV’s. Although they have historically been more expensive than LCD TV’s, they are becoming more comparable in price.

Pro’s

• Brightness and color are the major advantages of Plasma TV’s. They produce rich colors along with very deep blacks.
• Their wide viewing angles allow more people to be able to watch TV comfortably.
• The pixels of Plasma TV’s are lit individually unlike LCD screens. Because of this feature, the pixels can be completely turned off to display truck black colors.

Con’s

• The lifespan of a Plasma TV is typically shorter than other types of TV’s. The lifespan can be extended by turning down the brightness of the screen.
• Plasma TV’s are more susceptible to screen burn-in where an image is “burnt” onto the screen when left on the screen too long such as a network logo in the bottom right corner of the screen.
• Plasma TV’s require a panel of glass to cover it. This glass can reflect light and make it difficult to see the picture. If placed in a dark room, this typically isn’t an issue.

Summary

Some of these key points can help you in deciding which type of TV to purchase. Review your personal situation and determine which one is best for your household. Is your TV going to be in a room with lots if windows or light? If so, a LCD may be a better option due to the reduced glare. Are you looking for the best possible picture with the richest colors and darkest blacks? Then a plasma TV is probably the direction you want to go. Although both TV’s have their advantages and disadvantages, either type will give you a substantially better picture than a conventional TV. One of these TV’s paired up with an HD signal will give you the ultimate TV watching experience.