Consumer Electronics: Plasma vs. LCD

There have been difficult questions tackled by scholars through the ages. What came first, the chicken or the egg? Why is the sky blue? How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? And what should I buy, Plasma or LCD?

Well I can offer some insight to at least one of these. I give to you this comparison of the two greatest TV technologies on the market. While this is a very informative tool, remember that you will be happier with your purchase the more research and shopping you do for this product. Don't hesitate to walk into your nearest electronics store and see which picture suits you best. Later on, I will help you find the best deal for these products. But let's figure out what we are shopping for first.

PLASMA VS. LCD TELEVISIONS

Screen Size

Plasma: Screen sizes range from 32" to 63" (sometimes larger). Larger plasmas, like a 103" unit from Panasonic are being produced, but are still prohibitively expensive for consumer use.

LCD: Sizes range from 13" to 45". As with plasmas, there are larger LCD TVs made. LG has recently come out with a 100" display. Unfortunately, displays of this size are not readily available for the buying public.

Advantage: Plasma TV's have the current edge in size. Look for this to change in the near future due to the inability to produce glass large enough for the plasmas.

Viewing angle

Plasma: Up to 160°

LCD: Up to 175°

Advantage: This one of course goes to LCD's. Keep in mind that 15° is not a major difference and there are a lot of flat panel mounts that would allow you to easily "swivel" your tv to the desired viewing angle.

Burn In/Stuck Pixels

Plasma: Plasma TVs can suffer from burn-in produced by static images. After extended periods, stationary images "burn in" and produce an after-image ghost which remains permanently on the screen. With technologies such as 'pixel orbitor,' new plasma TVs have addressed burn-in and significantly reduced the issues of older models.

LCD: LCD TVs do not suffer from burn-in, but can have a "retained pixel charge" which may also produce ghosting. Stuck pixels are also possible with an LCD display.

Advantage: With the latest plasma technology, this is less of an issue than ever before. "Pixel orbitor," for example, is one method of reducing burn in used by plasma manufacturers. It requires no additional programing from the end user as some older burn-in prevention techniques did. If you plan to use a plasma for gaming, some games with permanent 'dashboards' may still cause some burn-in.

Life Span

Plasma: Plasma TVs have a reported half life of 30,000 to 60,000 hours; although I believe this to be a little exaggerated. Half-life is the time it takes the lamp to fade to half its original brightness.

LCD: LCD TVs also have replaceable backlights, but the expense of replacing one when the time comes may be greater than simply replacing the entire TV.

Advantage: Both Plasma and LCD technology should more than adequately satisfy most consumers. The average CRT TV (the kind most of us have at home) has a half-life of around 25,000 hours. If the average American household watches an average of four to six hours of television a day, even a 30,000 hour lamp would give you over 16 years of use. Not many people get 16 years of use out of a tv.

Weight, Durability, and Installation

Plasma: Due to the usage large pieces of glass in production, plasmas are very heavy and fragile making them tricky to ship and install. Plasmas are best installed by a professional, and should be installed on a wall that can bear a good deal of weight.

LCD: The absence of glass in the production of LCDs makes them much more durable than plasmas. End users can easily mount an LCD TV themselves if desired.

Advantage: LCDs are lighter, easier to install, and take more of beating than plasma TVs

Brightness/Contrast

Plasma: Plasma TVs report higher brightness and contrast levels than LCDs. Under ideal conditions (no ambient light) this is a true advantage of plasma technology, because LCD TVs are backlit and therefore light must be blocked to create blacks. Plasmas have individual pixels that are either on or off, creating deeper blacks and better contrast.

LCD: LCD TVs can often look better in 'real-world' situations. Plasmas are made with a special glass surface that can reflect light, which dulls the brightness and contrast of the image. LCD TVs reflect very little light, allowing them to maintain levels in well-lit rooms

Advantage: Both LCD and plasma TVs will meet the brightness expectations of most consumers. In 'real world' situations with ambient light, LCD TVs will generally look a little brighter. However, in a darker setting, plasma TVs will give one of the most brilliant pictures known to man.

So there you have it. After this comparison, LCDs seem to come out a little ahead of plasmas. But do keep in mind that technologies are changing, it seems, almost daily. The best advice I can always give is to shop, shop, shop, and then maybe shop once more. Look aound at as many different models you can and find the one that suits you and your viewing environment the best.