Which big screen TV is right for you?
Big screen televisions used to be considered unjustifiably expensive for the average consumer. But as the technology has steadily progressed, 40- to 50-inch high definition televisions (HDTVs) have become more common in homes. However, TV technology has not advanced along a linear path; it has instead split off into several distinct categories, with plasma and liquid crystal display (LCD) leading the way. It can be difficult to decide between the two, but there are some basic differences that can make buying that big screen TV a little easier.
How Each Works
While it is not essential to understand the technological differences between a plasma and LCD TV before deciding which one to buy, doing so can provide some insight into which one might be better suited for your needs. The result on the screen might look very similar, but plasma and LCD TVs actually create that picture in very different ways. Plasma televisions use a matrix of minute gas plasma cells that are electrically charged individually, each one forming a color that collectively creates an entire image on the screen. LCD displays trap a liquid crystal solution between two layers of glass and rotate those liquid crystals by passing an electric current through them. Unlike plasma displays, LCD screens must have a backlight to provide the light that will pass through the crystals and create the final image.
Price
For a big screen television, plasma used to be the hands-down best choice for the price, and for a while it was actually the only choice. However, this is no longer the case. Plasma displays still have lower production costs that can often lead to cheaper retail prices, but LCDs have almost completely closed this gap. The difference in price between the two is most noticeable in TVs above 55 inches. At these larger sizes, plasma almost always ends up being cheaper. As sizes decrease to between 54 and 40 inches, this price difference diminishes proportionately.
Picture Quality
Both technologies deliver very clear and colorful pictures, and as with the price, there isn't necessarily an across-the-board winner. Because of the nature of its anti-glare technology, LCD screens tend to look better in bright light. Plasma screens look great in the dark, but exposure to direct light can result in a very annoying glare. On the other hand, plasma screens display richer, deeper shades of black that increase the overall quality of an image by quite a considerable margin when dark and light content are being displayed at the same time. This quality is noticeable enough to give big screen plasma displays a slight edge in the end.
Viewing Angle
This can be important to consider if the television will be set up in a large room with chairs or couches on either side of the screen. Plasma, again, comes out slightly ahead of LCD in this category. It should once again be noted that the gap between LCD and plasma viewing angle performance is steadily closing. However, as your angle changes from the center to the side of an LCD display, the picture's contrast and color saturation can commonly decrease, thus reducing the overall picture quality. This loss of quality is especially noticeable in cheaper, off-brand LCD TVs.
Image Retention
LCD displays used to own a major advantage in this category. In recent years, plasma has almost caught up, but LCD still wins in the end. Burn-in was a big concern for early big screen plasma TV owners. If one image was displayed on the screen for too long, that image could create a permanent imprint on the screen. Newer plasma TVs have implemented features and settings to assist in removing or preventing burn-in, but since LCD screens do not have this issue in the first place, they are clearly better for viewing static images over a long period. For this reason, LCD displays are used for computer screens, while plasma displays are not.
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