LCD TV vs Plasma TV

Making a well informed purchasing decision while shopping for a flat screen TV is a must, with all the technical novelties that assault us nowadays. Questions concerning the right choice, seeing the battle LCD vs plasma in full display in retailer shops and not only there, are only natural, and this article is intended to throw some light on the matter. The first question that may pop into your mind is: “Which one is better: LCD or plasma?”, but the answer is not an easy one. Just imagine; if one technology would be better than the other, than the loser will be simply obsolete. The truth is that you need to know more on what areas LCD excels in, as well as those in which plasma performs better, along with their particular drawbacks. According to your own specific needs, comparing them with the pros and cons LCD and plasma have, will give you the extra edge for making the best choice. Now, let’s see what both technologies have to offer and how they score in different areas.

Talking picture quality

When it comes to evaluating how LCD and plasma deliver for a customer’s expectations on picture quality, most voices say that plasma has the edge. For the unadvised the differences may not seem so important, but experts give their word for it. These differences are a result of how the two technologies work, but we will not go into technicalities here, as this is not the point.

The fact is that plasma is considered to be better because of the accuracy of the image and the deeper blacks it has. The colors are more vivid, which makes for a better movie experience, for the enthusiast. On the other hand, take into consideration the fact that the qualities of plasma are shown better when the light in the room is dim. When the lights are on, you will be able to see why LCD TV has its own die hard supporters. The technology used allows for more adaptation to bright light, so you will not experience any loss of quality.

The qualities of LCD are more appreciated by gamers, because of its adaptability, even though there are many that prefer the same vivid colors of plasma for their video games.

So, when talking picture quality, which of LCD and plasma is the winner?

Plasma is the winner, if you intend to use it in a room intended as a home cinema.
LCD is the winner, if you want to organize game tournaments in your living room.

LCD vs Plasma Screen Lifespan

Depending on the model you want to purchase, the screen will have a certain lifespan. Numbers have the word in this one, and most plasma TVs last for 30,000 – 60,000 hours before the image starts to appear faded, while LCD TVs have the advantage of being capable of running for more than 60,000 hours without losing picture quality.

Seeing that the money invested in an LCD or a plasma TV should be placed on the winner, the natural answer to which one is better is LCD. But, thinking about it, and calculations show that 60,000 hours equal keeping your TV on non stop for almost seven years, we can see that this aspect does not differentiate the two to a concerning level. Chances are that after ten years of using your LCD or your plasma, you would want a different, more capable model than your old one.

A long lifespan is characteristics for both LCD and plasma, even if LCDs are designed to keep the same picture quality for about double the time a plasma would.

Watching HDTV

The main advantage of new technologies meant to allow us watch high definition television is that they provide the means for seeing a more tridimensional picture. LCD is considered to be the winner in this area, as well, as it can show more pixels on the same amount of screen than plasma can. More pixels mean a higher resolution, and, for watching HDTV, you will need at least a resolution of 1280×720 pixels to have a full experience of this technology. Such a resolution is available for 50 inch plasmas and smaller models of LCD, so you may want to consider this aspect as well when you want to make a buy.

Larger screens make for more visibility, but keep your eyes on the resolution, for your perfect HDTV experience.

Sports on Plasma vs LCD

Many people are passionate about sports, and the many sport television channels support this idea. If you are among those that want to buy a new TV set in order to improve their sport television experience, you may want to hear what we have to say.

LCD and plasma, both, have what are called response time and refresh rate. The response time is the amount of time elapsed when a pixel on the screen changes its color or its state, while the refresh rate represents how fast the screen refreshes what is shown. When we make our comparison of LCD vs plasma, we can tell that that LCDs have a higher response rate with a small refresh rate, while plasma behaves exactly the opposite.

How does that change things for you, the football fan? Let us tell you how. Because of the high response time in LCDs, you will get a blurry image when watching sports, where the image changes rapidly. On the other hand, plasma will perform excellent, with a crisp, accurate image, even when rapid movements are shown on the screen.

If, up till now, you were decided for an LCD, and this conclusions mess up with your decision, we can tell you one more thing: newer models of LCDs are now more reliable as far as the response time is concerned. LCD manufacturers are trying to keep up the pace with plasma manufacturers, and they do not intend to lose their potential customers that are passionate about sports.

Sports are seen best on plasma TVs, but newer LCDs are designed with a response time to match their counterparts.

Video Games

Using LCD TVs and plasma TVs as computer monitors is nothing out of the ordinary. Because of their ease for hooking up to a console, they are the perfect choice for the game enthusiast. Still, as shown earlier, LCDs are usually preferred by gamers because of the anti-glare technology that allows for the same picture quality in a bright lit room as in a dark one.

Enhance your game adventure with a new LCD; but remember, if you are fond of plasma vivid colors in your games, then you should buy one.

Convenience

Flat screen television has been invented as a result, among other things, of the need for convenience. Old tube televisions are harder to accommodate in a room, due to their volume and the space they need. With the new technology that gave birth to LCD and plasma, people have more possibilities for where to place their new TV set. Flat television brought us the ability to mount our TVs on a wall, hang them on the ceiling or whatever we wish to do with them. Still, it seems that in the confrontation of LCD vs plasma, the balance is heavier on the first one, as LCD TVs are designed to be thinner and lighter which makes for more convenience. But, when we compared both models, LCD and plasma, with older TV sets, such petty differences are hard to even conceive.

In terms of convenience, a flat screen TV is easier to accommodate in any room. LCD TVs are usually more convenient, as they are lighter than plasma.

Prices of LCD TV and Plasma TV Models

Nor LCD, nor plasma come with a cheap price tag. That being said, differences in prices may count a lot for the budget minded consumer. One measurement often used when making such comparisons is evaluating the price per inch depending on model and brand.

The largest gaps in prices are best seen in larger models. While you can get a 42 inch plasma TV can offer you about the same amount of visible screen as would a 37 inch LCD TV, both have the same prices. Still, largest models of plasma tend to cost less than their LCD counterparts.

Price is one aspect when making the decision to purchase a flat screen TV. But performance, picture quality, the purpose for which the buy is made, count more. The best thing that you can do is to search for a model that scores closest to your needs, and then compare prices offered by different retailers. The truth is that, if you want a cheaper model, you can buy one under $1,000, but, for more expensive models, you may even have to pay over $3,500.

The bottom line is that we cannot draw a thick line between LCD TV and plasma TV, even when it comes to comparing prices. Usually, a higher price comes with better performances, but do not let yourself fooled and misdirected. Buy only the model that fits best your requirements.

When you have several hundred dollars to spare, you can take a cheaper flat screen TV for a test drive. But, for the best LCD or plasma experience, spending a few thousand dollars is a must.

Conclusions

LCD and plasma are both based on the newest technologies, that are constantly improving. No matter which choice you make, you cannot go wrong, but, if you have something clear in mind, about how you want to use your new acquired TV set, then you will need this information that has just been presented to you.

So, here are our conclusions, tailored exactly on you:

• If you are a movie enthusiast, go for a plasma model. With its reach, crisp colors, you will get a movie experience you will never forget. And you can always invite your friends over, in your own personal home cinema.
• If you are more of a video gamer, and you can hardly wait to hook up your console to your newly acquired TV, then LCD would be the name of the game (or of your partner, so to speak).
• For a sports fan, plasma would be the right choice. But, remember, newer models of LCD are coming from behind, so, if you are keen to the idea of getting one and still be able to watch your favorite sports, you can see what the manufacturers have to offer.
• As far as general purpose is concerned, both technologies come with advantages that you cannot ignore: flat screen, convenience, great picture quality.
• For the budget minded consumer, there are models, both LCD and plasma, that go as low as $800. If you are looking for a better quality make or model, then you may consider taking more money out of your pocket, as quality usually does not come cheap. Even with the announced drop in prices for both LCD and plasma, the cost still remains high if you want the newest model to find its nest in your home.