LCD Versus Plasma
An introduction to flat screen television technologies
Last updated: November 30, 2007
If you're looking a flat-screen TV
this holiday season one question, other than price, that plagues
consumers is which is better, LCD or Plasma?
Unfortunately, there is no
one single answer
to this question.
LCD enthusiasts will tell you an LCD
flat-screen television is better, and Plasma users will tell you Plasma
displays are better. Your own decision is mainly going to based on the television size you want, where in your
home it will be used, and, of course, your budget. To help you figure out which type of
television is
best for you, we'll discuss both technologies in terms of how it works,
and also compare common features between standard consumer-level LCD and Plasma
televisions in the 32 to 50 inch range.
How Plasma Technology Works
Plasma TV's create a picture from a gas (plasma) filled with xenon and
neon atoms and millions of electrically charged atoms and electrons,
that collide when you turn the power on. The collision
increases the energy level in the plasma and the neon and xenon
release photons of light (similar to the way neon lights work).
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definition.
How LCD Technology Works
Short for liquid crystal
display, LCD is a type of display that uses two sheets of polarizing
material with a liquid crystal solution between them. An electric
current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that
light cannot pass through them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a
shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light.
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definition.
One of the biggest problems facing
consumers shopping for either an LCD or Plasma television is old
information. Because these technologies change so often and get better
with each new model released by a manufacturer, some
issues concerning LCD televisions from even a year ago aren't much
of an issue today — and the same holds true for Plasma displays. For
example, a year ago you could expect to see a full 15 degree
difference in the viewing angles between LCD and Plasma displays. Today,
Samsung offers a 178 degree viewing angle on many of its Plasma
displays, and up to 175 degrees on its LCDs of similar sizes.
While the chart below offers some general
observations on features of both types of televisions, consumers need to
remember that the numbers and features change between each type of
display and also between exact models and manufacturers. If you're
undecided about choosing Plasma over LCD, and vise versa, the best thing
to do is read the technical specifications of each television and decide
based on the up-to-date manufacturer's specifications.
| Features
For Consumers |
What To
Expect With LCD |
What To
Expect With Plasma |
| Size |
Commonly 13 to 52 inches.
Larger sizes are available but very expensive. |
Commonly 42 to 63 inches.
More choice is available for 50 inch and above. Larger sizes are
available but are very expensive. |
| Viewing Angle & Off Angle |
Standard of
160, but up to 175 degrees (depends
on model). Slight picture fading at extreme angles. |
Up to 178 degrees (depends
on model). Off-angle viewing is excellent and better than LCD. |
| Resolution, Brightness and More |
Generally offers slightly
higher resolution than Plasma. Not as good contrast ratio. Anti-glare
makes it better for viewing in bright rooms. Newer technology offers
improved black levels, but still not as good as plasma for producing blacks. |
Higher levels of brightness
and contrast. Viewing quality best where lighting can be
controlled. Better display of black. |
| Weight, Durability, Power
Consumption |
Lighter than Plasma.
Also more durable than Plasma. Consumes 30 to 40 percent less power than plasma
of similar size. |
Very heavy and usually needs
special wall-mount brackets. Plasma are more fragile and also consumes more
power than LCD. |
| High Altitude Performance |
Not affected by
high altitude. |
Anything above
6,500 feet can affect the performance. |
| Inherent Issues |
LCD televisions
may suffer from a defective pixel (also called a stuck pixel or dead
pixel). This is a single pixel on the display that always remains lit
or dark, usually the result of a transistor malfunction or uneven
distribution of liquid in the LCD. |
Plasma can
suffer from "burn in" the term used to describe a ghosting of an image
that can remain on the screen if a stationary image has been left on too
long. Burn in has been reduced in newer models. |
Lifespan
60,000 hours is equivalent to
five years of 24/7 usage, or approximately 27 years of typical family TV
use. |
Typically you
can expect 50-60,000 hours. With some LCDs you may be able to replace
the the fluorescent lamps. Compare with older CRT televisions that
typically had a lifespan of 25,000 hours. |
Many newer
plasma displays also have reached a lifespan of 60,000 hours and higher.
Plasma displays, however, will slowly lose some brightness over a long
period of time. This brightness lose is called LTHB (Life to Half
Brightness). |
| Price |
Typically, you
can expect LCD televisions in the 42-inch and below range to be a better-price when compared to plasma televisions below 42 inches. |
Typically you
can expect plasma televisions in the 42-inch and above range to be a
better price when compared to LCD televisions above 42 inch. |
The Big Misconceptions
One of the biggest misconceptions with plasma
displays surrounds their lifespan. Many people confuse the LTHB
(Life to Half Brightness) with half-life span and assume that a
plasma with a 60,000 hours lifespan will only last 30,000 hours until
the brightness starts to fade. This is a misconception.
Panasonic, for example, is trying to get this notion out of
consumer's heads. The 60,000 hour rating is to LTHB not the entire
lifespan of the plasma display. This year Panasonic's top of the line
plasma displays are rated at 100,000 hours before reaching half
brightness. Its important to understand the difference between "Life to
Half Brightness" and "half lifespan". When purchasing a plasma display,
be wary of retailers that say a plasma display is good only for a
couple years and offer to sell you an expensive warranty upgrade to
replace your plasma in the next four to five years.
Another hotly debated statistic is the
contrast ratio, which is the difference between the brightest white and
darkest black parts of an image. The higher the contrast ratio, the
better and more realistic the image. Some displays may offer
specifications of 20,000:1 and higher. Basically this means that the
black level is 20,000 times darker than the white. The problem
is that number is realistic only so long as the set is being viewed in a
perfectly blackened room. Add so much as the light emitting from a
single burning candle and you would not notice a difference between this
extreme contrast ratio and a contrast ratio of around 500:1.
Additionally, groups who caution consumers against paying more for
higher contrast ratios say that at any given time the human eye can
see only around 800:1 in contrast detection.
Which has The Advantage?
For the most part, if you're looking round the 50-inch and under size,
the latest LCD and plasma displays will both provide an excellent picture
quality. In larger sizes, plasma will have the advantage. LCD has the
edge in smaller sizes. In viewing quality, plasma has an advantage when
displaying blacks, but the nature of plasma makes it better for viewing in
environments where
you can control the lighting. LCDs offer anti-glare and will produce a better
visual quality in brighter rooms. The latest generation of LCDs have all but
removed the "viewing angle" issue. However, some less-known and cheaper brands
of LCD displays will not have as good of a viewing angle. For a long time LCDs
were the winner when it came to resolution (pixels per screen size). Plasma,
however, is closing the gap in the 50-inch display range.
For most people, it's going to be
your budget that guides your purchase. Decide on a budget then choose
your size and directly compare manufacturer's technical specifications
for the different LCD and plasma displays that fall within your budget
and display size requirements, and consider where in the home your new
television will be used (e.g., brightly lit room, corner, wall-mounted
and so on). Terminology
Like most new technologies, the world of home theater and big-screen
televisions is full of new words, terms and slang. To get you started
on knowing the lingo, here are some of the many terms you'll encounter
when shopping for a new flat-screen TV.
Vangie 'Aurora' Beal - Writer,
www.Webopedia.com
Last updated: November 30, 2007
Webopedia's "Did You Know ... All About Digital TV . DTV and HDTV"
In the world of television entertainment, everyone's talking HDTV
(high-definition television). HDTV offers consumers much higher resolution and
better picture color and clarity when compared to standard analog televisions.
Webopedia's "Did You Know ... How Surround Sound Works"
Today consumers demand immersive entertainment and surround sound plays a big
part in delivering engaging media. To this end, there's no lack of options when
it comes to surround sound technology and systems.
All About Plasma
Televisions: A Buyer's Guide
The technology behind plasma TVs has been around since the mid-60s, but the
first displays were nothing more than points of light created in laboratory
experiments. Recent advancements in high-speed digital processing and high-tech
manufacturing processes have made compact, full color plasma displays possible,
not to mention increasingly affordable for the average consumer.
How long do plasma displays really last?
Plasma lifespan misinformation confuses and frustrates many people who want to
invest in an excellent, big flat-panel home theater display for TV, movies and
games.
Plasma TV
Manufacturers
Start here to explore offerings from all the major Plasma TV manufacturers.
What exactly
is a Liquid Crystal Diode (LCD) TV
Liquid crystal technology has given birth to those slim, cool-looking, bright
displays that are popping up everywhere from bank lobbies to living rooms. But
how does it work?
How to Fix
a Stuck Pixel
If your LCD screen has a stuck or dead pixel (a point on the screen that is
always lit or always dark), it is usually due to a transistor malfunction or
uneven distribution of liquid in the liquid crystal display (TFT LCD). This can
often be fixed.
Extending
Display Life
All LCD displays are inherently non-emissive and therefore require illumination
from a lighting source. Backlighting is the most common method for transmissive
and transflective displays, whereas reflective displays require front lighting.
LCD TV Buyer's Guide
With the amount of change going in TV technology it pays to understand at least
a little about some of the most important developments. This guide to liquid
crystal display TVs (LCD) concentrates on the particular advantages of the
technology.
ATSC Home Page
Home page for the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), an organization
involved with technical standards for advanced television systems, including
digital high definition television (HDTV). The site includes news items,
standards information, and papers and presentations.
HDTV buying
guide
Whether you want a new bedroom set or a massive home-theater
centerpiece, CNET editors' guide gives you the full picture on
shopping for a new TV. |
