Everything there is to know about LCD and plasma TV is just a click away! If you are considering purchasing a flat panel TV, here's all the advice you'll need.

Flat panel tv have evolved considerably in recent years. Even if the plasma technology retains an advantage in the rendering of more natural colors, deeper black, and very large viewing angles, LCD technology, including LED backlighting, also produces enhanced rich colors and deep blacks.

Rendering Color

Generally, plasma technology offers richer and more natural colors. However, with some upscale LCD TVs, the gap is narrowing considerably. This applies to models that offer extremely qualitative backlight , including those with LED technology (which use LEDs for backlighting instead of fluorescent tubes). However, the entry-level LCD displays a less extensive range, with drifts of color.

Deep blacks and contrast

Historically, plasma screens have a head start on the LCD on the depth and shades of black (no backlight to turn off completely pixels), and show a better contrast ratio. But from a purely visual point, this advantage can not be verified in the dark. The minutes of black may also show themselves better on LCD screens in a lighted room. Obviously, this information can be disproved by the exceptions relating to the quality of the TV.

Gloss, matte and satin

Note that the bright tiles, also called Glossy, enhance contrast and density of black in a dark room. But they are more sensitive to light reflections which can be very bothersome during the day. Matte tiles for their part restrict these reflections and accentuate the deep blacks and contrast. The right balance is found in slabs called satin which combines the advantages of two other types of tiles.

Lifespan and Consumption

In terms of lifespan, the plasma has made progress since its longevity is similar to that of LCD screens: approximately 25 years at 4 hours of use per day. It is however advisable to opt for a plasma if you live in high altitudes. The LCD is better for the average consumer especially models with LED backlighting. Count an average of 200 Watts for the 32-inch, 250 watts for the 40-inch and 350 watts for 52 inch.

Use

If you are fond of home theater, plasma is an excellent choice. It keeps the price advantage compared to LCD panels for very large (> 46 inches) screens. These are also less affected by the phenomenon as marking residue image disappears more or less quickly depending on the model (Logo channel, dashboard video games ...). This phenomenon is most marked in the first hours of use, a bit like running a speaker. You should be careful in the first six months. However it should also be noted that this marking phenomenon is reversible and that the recent television offer through their menu, tools to address this problem.

The LCD is more suited to everyday and heterogeneous use (TV, DVD, video games). But more and more technology oriented films tend to deep blacks and natural colors of plasma. It is a hard choice but hopefully, you'll make the right choice for your flat panel tv.