I'm not very tech savy, but I want to understand the differenced between plasma & lcd tvs?
I have been told one is a little better than the other, but that there is special maintenance with a plasma tv and they don't last very long? I need to upgrade a couple of old CRT TVs in my house, and I want to be informed. Please advise. Thanks!
Best answer:
Answer by scrow_80
better go for the LCD. Plasma has liquid in it and if it busts your screwed. you can at lest get an lcd replacement or get it fixed.
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Plasma is a screen filled with something or other, which can get burn it, runs very hot, uses lots of electricity and weighs a lot. Over time, the chemicals it is filled with fade and the picture quality is dimmed. They also have glass panels so are very reflective. Two makers have left the tv business in the past few weeks. In my opinion, plasma’s will be phased out within a year or two.
LCDs are lighter, less expensive to power and easier to live with. Some have plastic, non reflective screens, some have glass, reflective screens. So you can choose what you need for the light conditions in your rooms.
Samsung makes the best LCDs. We are now at the model year end and some very good prices are available on their tvs. Their A550 is their entry 1080p level, (go with 1080p), and go up from there with more features.
I’d go with LCD over plasma. I have two and like them very much.
i actually work at best buy so i know TVS
LCD TVS work by light. plasma works by a gas. its not liquid. it is a gas.
if money is not an problem i would go with plasma. plasma TVS run by a special gas and produce amazing picture quality. the picture is sharp. also, plasma SCREEN TVS do not get brighter and dimmer at different angles.
i would rather have a plasma TV but they will cost a fortune
although LCD TVS dont give glares in sunlight.
if you would rather have a TV with a back light then choose LCD. if you would rather like a TV thats sharp, choose plasma.
I have a Vizio 46 inch lcd that is the 1080p and the picture quality is very nice. The plasma tv’s were less expensive (I bought this at Walmart) but the extended warranties were twice as much for the plasma…so I decided to go lcd. The lcd is like a very large computer monitor and the 1080p resolutin makes for a perfect picture. The plasma is more or less a flat picture tube, gas filled, that does run warm and subject to problems just like the older picture tubes. Hence the extended warranty for plasma cost twice as much.
Plasma technology consists hundreds of thousands of individual pixel cells, which allow electric pulses (stemming from electrodes) to excite rare natural gases-usually xenon and neon-causing them to glow and produce light. This light illuminates the proper balance of red, green, or blue phosphors contained in each cell to display the proper color sequence from the light. Each pixel cell is essentially an individual microscopic florescent light bulb, receiving instruction from software contained on the rear electrostatic silicon board. Look very closely at a plasma TV and you can actually see the individual pixel cell coloration of red, green, and blue bars. You can also see the black ribs which separate each.
Whether spread across a flat-panel screen or placed in the heart of a projector, all LCD displays come from the same technological background. A matrix of thin-film transistors (TFTs) supplies voltage to liquid-crystal-filled cells sandwiched between two sheets of glass. When hit with an electrical charge, the crystals untwist to an exact degree to filter white light generated by a lamp behind the screen (for flat-panel TVs) or one projecting through a small LCD chip (for projection TVs). LCD TVs reproduce colors through a process of subtraction: They block out particular color wavelengths from the spectrum of white light until they’re left with just the right color. And, it’s the intensity of light permitted to pass through this liquid-crystal matrix that enables LCD televisions to display images chock-full of colors-or gradations of them.
Plasmas produce better black levels like the Pioneer Elite Kuro or the Panasonic Viera. They also tend to have better contrast ratios like the Viera which is 1,000,000:1. This deals with the range of lights to darks and colors. But LCDs are catching up. (check out the Sony XBR series LCDs) Plasmas tend to get hotter than LCDs and use more power. They are also more susceptible to screen burn ins.(But LCDs can get them too, it’s just not as prevalent.) But newer Plasmas should have orbital pixelators that will resolve this issue that older ones suffered. Some sets do have screen saver modes like a computer monitor which is good.
LCDs can be a few hundred bucks more than Plasmas of the same size. LCDs use a plastic screen whereas Plasmas have glass so glare can be an issue depending on the lighting in your room.
Servicing Plasmas can be difficult. Life expectancy and disposal can be an issue.
Both sets have their ups and downs. Look for a set with a more reputable name for whichever set you decide to go with. Brands like Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba, Philips or LG. And know that while these are top brands, they aren’t without their faults. It’s always a good idea to set a little extra on an extended warranty plan. And stay away from names you haven’t heard of or don’t trust. You will get what you pay for. (Personal experience)
Look for features like refresh rates. LCDs have anywhere from 60hz to 120hz. Plasmas have subset refresh rates that go up to 480hz, which is awesome. This deals with resolving stairstepping effects (blocky imaging) on fast moving pictures. Response times also help with this but it is more for resolving color smearing. The average response time is about 6.5 ms. Anything below this is optimal. This will help with transitions of colors of changing scenes. Also, check inputs. How many sources (i.e. Satellite, cable, DVD, etc.) do you plan to connect to your set? You want to get one that has just enough or more connections for what you need. Also, check to see if your set has a USB for firmware that you can upgrade. Some brands will have software you can put onto a jumpdrive and then download to your set to resolve certain issues, like Philips.
For resolution, you want to get a 1080p set if your going big. Anything over 37 inches. Anything below that, you can usually get them with a 720p rez and it will still give you quality images. They do make sets with 1080p on 32 inch sizes but my opinion is that it is overkill and a waste of money if you’re on a budget. You might as well get a larger screen. Also, this site http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/09/ 1080p-charted-viewing-distance-to-screen… will help you determine which size screen will be optimal for your viewing environment.
I would recommend checking out some sets, before making a final decision, in a home theater environment. Sets that are usually on display usually have the brightness set high and don’t really give you a good idea of picture quality. Some stores will calibrate their sets professionally or using a Home Theater tune up DVD so that the picture quality is optimal. These are the sets that are in the dimly lit areas.
I hope this helps. It’s a lot but when spending x amount of dollars you want to get more bang for your buck, especially in these times.