LCD vs. Plasma – Contrasts & Comparisons
Digital televisions have completely changed the home entertainment viewing and sound experience. Larger than life images captivate you in a home theater environment you previously could only experience as a theatergoer.
Narrow depths allowing for mounting on the wall have helped make your tube television obsolete. No longer are you forced to place your television in a generic slot in a faux wood grain, particleboard entertainment center. Your cinema-quality television can fit almost anywhere in your home.
Among all the advanced technology available to you is a shopping list of choices and variables to consider when selecting your new digital television. Let us guide you into the future of digital television entertainment by comparing LCD and plasma TVs. From there you can get rid of your old (fat) television and step into the digital (flat) world of televisions.
Before we put LCD and plasma into head-to-head competition, let’s first explain what digital television (DTV) is and identify the three different digital formats that you can choose from.
WHAT IS DIGITAL TV?
DTV is the sending and receiving of moving images and sound via digital signals as opposed to traditional analog signals. Since DTV is more efficient and flexible than analog, broadcasters can provide DTV with much higher-quality images and sound. One of the biggest assets to DTV over analog is more programming choices. This is because broadcasters have the ability to multicast, or the ability to simultaneously broadcast multiple channels over the same signal.
One common misconception is that DTV and HDTV are the same thing. Not true. HDTV is DTV but so is EDTV (enhanced digital television) and SDTV (standard definition television). The chart below details the DTV type, screen resolution, aspect ratio, and audio capabilities available for LCD and plasma displays:
What does all this mean to you? Better picture, better sound, and additional programming choices! Now that you know what DTV is and what it can do for you, find the remote and let’s get started!
WHAT IS PLASMA TV?
Most people know plasma TVs as those unbelievably thin display monitors that can be hung on your wall just like pieces of art. Even turned off, any plasma TV looks cooler than a projection TV. However, when it comes to technology there is nothing thin about plasma TVs.
The displays of plasma televisions function differently than any other TV technology in that they actually produce light independently at each pixel on the screen, as opposed to projecting a separate light source through, or off of other elements (such as mirrors) to conjure the picture you see on the screen.
A plasma screen displays hundreds of thousands of individual cells, three for each pixel of the display. Of the three cells per pixel, each one is externally coated with colored phosphors (one red, one green, and one blue – collectively known as RGB).
During manufacturing, each individual cell is impregnated with the same mix of two non-flammable inert gases – neon and xenon. Each cell, which is now full of gas, is individually connected to an electrode. When the electrode for a given cell receives voltage, the gas is converted to a plasma state and emits a burst of ultraviolet light. This in turn causes the phosphors to react and produce bright, visible light at the pixel level.
Each of the three cells in every pixel is essentially an individual microscopic florescent light bulb, receiving instruction from software contained on the back electrostatic silicon board. By varying the voltage and intensity of the electrical charge, the proper combination of RGB light is displayed in each pixel of the screen to combine into a bright, colorful composite image. All of this happens right before your eyes!
A plasma TV will perform exceedingly well under most ambient light conditions. A very bright light in the room does not washout its picture, nor does backlighting cause a glare on the screen. Plasma’s accurate pixel structure produces a picture that is geometrically perfect from edge to edge and corner to corner. Plasma televisions also offer superb color realism and exceptional gradations among colors with uniform light output which displays crisp, lifelike images. In the eyes of many consumers, these color-saturated images are what give plasma displays an edge over other types of video displays.
Due to the direct way it produces light, plasma can be especially susceptible to burn-in from static images such as television network logos and video game gauges. However, newer displays have begun to incorporate pixel-orbiting technologies that shift images, nearly imperceptibly, to limit the occurrence of burn-in.
A plasma display is a multi-functional television monitor capable of displaying HDTV, regular TV, and home video. It also can perform duties as your computer monitor. In the case of newer plasma televisions, their longevity is rated at approximately 60,000 hours (varies by manufacturer). If watching television was your full-time job and you did it eight hours a day, it would take you more than twenty years to wear out your plasma display to half the original brightness from the day you removed it from the box. That’s a lot of reruns and game shows!
Plasma TVs are available in sizes from about 40 inches up to 70 inches plus. Keep in mind that not every plasma TV comes with a tuner or speakers. You may need to purchase a separate HDTV tuner and a separate speaker or home theater system.
Other than outstanding picture quality, the best advantage to owning a flat-panel television is an ultra-thin display (less than 6 inches deep). In addition to looking cool and sleek, flat panels might also be categorized as being part of the space saving age – they fit almost anywhere! Flat panels are versatile and can be placed on a stand or mounted on just about any flat surface. Before you envision one of them on the walls of every room in your home, be aware there are installation issues to consider. This often involves running cables and wires behind walls and through ceilings – something that should be done by professionals.
WHAT IS LCD TV?
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) TVs use a screen similar to the type you’d see on a laptop computer. LCD TVs typically measure a very narrow 3-4 inches in depth making them very lightweight for mounting on a wall. LCD displays are significantly brighter and feature higher contrasts than standard cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions.
An LCD TV will perform exceedingly well under bright light or direct sunlight conditions. Even a heavily illuminated room won’t washout its picture, nor will the lamp just behind your favorite chair reflect a glare on your screen. The beauty of these flat screens is that you don’t have to turn out the lights to see the image clearly and easily. Nor do you have to worry about eyestrain, since there is no screen flicker like your old-fashioned television.
An LCD’s high brightness comes at the expense of deep colors and blacks; hence, its typical contrast ratio cannot match those produced by direct-view or even rear projection sets. Early versions of the technology had relatively slow refresh rates, causing slight but noticeable blurring or smearing of fast-moving images such as sports and action movies. Recent advances in LCD technology have increased the refresh rate to 120 Hz to place LCD in direct competition with plasma for refresh rate image smoothness. The new and improved refresh rate means no more screen door effect caused by the distance between the pixels in an LCD display.
In the case of newer LCD televisions, their longevity is rated at approximately 80,000 hours (varies by manufacturer) if kept under restricted environmental settings such as constant room temperature and out of direct sunlight. If an LCD television was left on 24/7 at the 80,000 hour predicted lifespan, it would take nearly ten years to wear it out.
Many LCD televisions are compatible with multiple systems, such as using them with your PC or gaming console. Hook up an LCD screen to your PC and play a game, answer e-mails, or share your digital photos. LCD televisions are available in many sizes, from pocket-sized models to widescreen HDTV showpieces of 70 inches or more.
LCD strengths include great color and high brightness, plus resistance to screen burn-in from video games or other types of sustained images. Their slim, sleek, and lightweight design allows them to be placed or mounted almost anywhere in the home, including spots where you might not have considered placing a TV – like hanging from a kitchen cabinet or above the fireplace. One person can easily transport them from room to room (with the exception of the largest screen sizes), and no matter where you put them, the latest models allow uninhibited viewing from angles as severe as 170 degrees off-axis.
PROS & CONS
If the majority of your television use is watching movies or television, you may opt for a plasma display. However, if you or your children use the television to play video games or the TV is located in direct light, an LCD is the better choice.
Sometimes the choice is not always black or white, other factors could play into your decision such as weight, wall mount options, lighting, power consumption, etc. Use the pros & cons chart below to carefully determine which is right for your needs: LCD or plasma.
FINAL THOUGHTS
So, what should you do now that you understand LCD and plasma? If television means a lot to you or if you old television has seen better days, it is time to go DTV. A widescreen HDTV with an LCD or plasma monitor will allow you to experience the most incredible sights and sounds of your life – right from the comfort of your home.
With any DTV (HDTV, EDTV, SDTV), you can still watch standard television, and are equipped for the ever-growing assortment of HDTV programming available from your local cable or satellite provider. Plus, getting a digital HDTV set will ensure that you can still receive all types of programming when broadcasters switch to digital-only transmission on June 12, 2009.
Still have questions? – feel free to speak with an hhgregg associate. We offer the best-educated associates in the business who are smart enough to make it simple. Price and Advice Guaranteed!
