42 inch or larger HDTV, is LCD or PLASMA the better choice?
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at
11:12 am
in case i take the plunge this holiday
Tagged with: Better • Choice • Hdtv • Inch • Larger • Plasma
Filed under: Question & Answer
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Alright I sell Tv’s for a living so i can def help you out here…First off do you have alot of natural sun light in the room your putting it in? Plasmas have a horrible glare due to this and if that’s the case hands down go with an LCD. The difference between the two is in a plasma TV they’re is a glass tube filled with plasma gas, the light then is reflected through this tube to give you your picture. Where as an LCD is a complete digital screen compared to that of a computer monitor. If you lay a plasma tv on its back it’s possible to ruin the tv, because this puts pressure on that glass tube and cracks it, then your screen is ruined. So if you are plan on moving the TV alot also stay away from plasma. If neither of these problems concern you then you can go either way, Plasma’s are known to have brighter more vivid colors (unless you go with a Samsung, Sony, or even Philips LCD) where as LCD is known more for a longer lasting picture and smoother transitions between frames. Also now they have what’s called 120hz technology. This basically means that the tv’s frame rate refreshes twice as quick as a tv without it. The normal frame rate is 60hz. This is only really noticeable when your watchin bluray movies or playing on a high def gaming system. It basically takes all the jerkiness out of the image allowing a smoother transition between frames. Contrast Ratio is another thing you have to look at, BUT DONT BE AN IDIOT AND BASE YOU DECISION OFF OF THIS NUMBER! To be honest with you this number doesn’t mean a damn thing…Companies use two different readings : Static and Native…Static is when the picture is moving, this is when they take the reading, this causes the contrast ratio to be a little lower…Native is when the reading is taken during a still image causing the number to be alot higher…if you see a number reading Contrast Ratio 35:000 to 1 this basically means the each pixel is 35000 to 1 times brighter…but which reading did they use? you’ll never know…so just take a step back and look at the screen…which ever one looks better go with that tv because ultimately that’s what your gonna have in your house not a stupid number…anyways i hope this helps!
Plasma advantages:
1. Deeper, richer black colors.
2. No blurring on very fast action (good for sports and video games).
3. Very wide viewing angle.
4. Generally less expensive than an equivalent LCD set.
Plasma disadvantages:
1. Risk of “burn-in” on the screen with non-moving images.
2. Very heavy compared to equivalent LCD set.
3. Draws about 50 to 75% more electrical power than an equivalent LCD set.
4. Reflective screen a problem in lighted rooms.
LCD advantages:
1. Brilliant colors on the latest models, as good as plasma.
2. Draws significantly less electrical power.
3. Weighs about half of an equivalent plasma set.
4. No burn-in hazard.
5. Minimal reflection in lighted rooms.
LCD disadvantages:
1. Slight blurring on very fast action (even with 120 hz refresh rate)
2. Narrow viewing angle
FWIW, my choice was a 46-inch Samsung LCD, and I’d buy it again.
People will have various answers depending on who you ask but lately the advances in technology have made there not be that much difference between what you decide.
Previously LCDs generally did not have as good color contrast as plasmas and blacks looked more of a dark gray. Plasmas tended to have issues with burn-in and did not have as long of a lifespan. Now the plasmas and LCDs have changed enough that there is not that big of a difference. It is interesting to note though that Sony no longer makes Plasma televisions as they believe LCD is the way to go.
My personal opinion is to go LCD. I purchased a high end Samsung LCD TV and love it. LCD is also not affected by changes in elevation, as Plasma is.
HDTV gives a terrific, sharp picture, better than LCD. Plasma still has its problems, and it’s not as economical as HDTV. LCD is the lower cost option, but for a 42 inch or larger, high def does make a huge difference. My 21″ is LCD, and that’s fine for a smaller set…smaller sets have sharper pictures. My 42″ is HDTV (a Samsung), and it’s fantastic.