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When one goes shopping for a new HDTV, he or she is often confronted with a hard question: What are the differences with LCD TV vs Plasma TV? Although this question may seem simple to answer on the surface, it is in fact a question with a very complicated answer that ultimately means a choice must be made by each consumer. This article will discuss the differences between an LCD TV and a Plasma TV and hopefully make that decision a little easier for you to make.
When comparing the two different types of high-definition televisions, it is best to start out with the basics; in this case what exactly is an LCD or Plasma TV?
An LCD TV is literally a television made from a Liquid Crystal Display, hence the name LCD. It produces a picture by electrically charging the liquid crystal display and causing each liquid crystal molecule to twist light from a lamp mounted behind the screen creating just the right shade of the desired color. A Plasma TV, on the other hand, is a screen made from cells containing inert gases which are electrically charged to form plasma. These plasma-filled cells produce light and color when charged to create the image seen on the screen.
Now that you know the basics about how these different types of televisions produce the high-definition picture that is so desirable, we will move onto the important issues, such as which produces the better picture and which version costs less.
As the two different types of televisions have become more popular and more affordable, many of the issues that plagued early versions have been corrected, making the differences between LCD vs Plasma TVs less noticeable. However, there are still differences in the picture and all the pros and cons should be carefully weighed before making such a large purchase.
In general, the Plasma TVs have a higher contrast ratio and are slightly better at producing the vivid lifelike colors that are so desirable, as well as the deep blacks often found in movie scenes.
Unlike LCD TVs, Plasma TVs do not have a problem displaying images at large angles. However, Plasma TVs also have the problem of burn-in, which happens when a static image is left on screen for a long time. They also have issues at high altitudes and problems with glare due to the glass screen. Overall though, Plasma TVs are a better value when buying exceptionally large screen sizes for a home theater, simply based on price.
LCD TVs, in contrast, often have a higher resolution and can produce better high definition images. They are also more energy efficient, last longer, and have recently taken the lead in the screen refresh rates, meaning they are able to reproduce moving images at faster speeds without a noticeable blur. Although the costs have significantly decreased for an LCD TV within the past year, they still cost more than the large Plasma TVs. That being said, the new LCD TVs are still a great buy, and at the very least, on par with their large Plasma TV rivals. Generally more versatile and reliable, LCD TVs definitely offer the best value and quality for mid- to small- sized HDTVs.
Overall, there is no clear-cut winner with LCD vs Plasma TVs as the new advances in technology make either choice a good choice. Price wise, Plasma seems to be the better deal for large screen HDTVs, although LCD is definitely the winner at sizes below 50″ inches. With improvements constantly being made to LCDs though, I would personally choose an LCD as it provides more flexibility for multimedia applications and the higher resolution allows better high-definition playback.
