| Burn-in: | No burn-in | Yes, burn-in is possible | hide |
| Thickness: | Minimum 1 inch | Minimum 3 inches | hide |
| Contrast Ratio (measure of the blackest black compared to the whitest white): | Up to 15000:1 (not as good as Plasma) | Up to 3000:1 (better than LCD) | hide |
| Screen size: | 13 - 57 inches | 32 - 60 inches | hide |
| Viewing angle: | Up to 165° | Up to 160° | hide |
| Life span: | 50,000 - 60,000 hours | 25,000 to 30,000 hours | hide |
| Weight: | Less weight compared to similar size plasma TV | Heavier | hide |
| Performance at High Altitude: | LCD TVs are not affected by high altitudes. | High altitudes (above 6500 ft) can affect the performance of plasma TV displays because the gas held inside each pixel is stressed, and has to work harder to perform | hide |
| Power consumption: | Require less power to operate compared to plasma TVs | Fairly power hungry | hide |
| Screen Refresh Rate (affects quality of video): | LCD TVs were originally designed for computer data displays, and not video. Refresh rates are therefore not as good. But LCD TVs are catching up fast. | Plasma TV displays refresh and handle rapid movements in video about as well as normal CRT TVs | hide |
| Running Temperature: | Cooler than plasma TVs | Hotter | hide |
| Screen glare: | Less glare compared to plasma TVs | More glare | hide |
| Brightness: | Brighter than plasma | Not as bright as LCD | hide |
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Comparison of Picture Quality
Plasma TVs have an edge over LCD TVs in terms of overall picture quality.[edit] Contrast in LCD vs. Plasma TVs
Contrast ratio is a measure to compare the darkest black with the whitest white. Plasma TVs score well on this parameter with a contrast ratio of up to 3000:1. LCD TVs have a contrast ratio of up to 1000:1; however, this metric is calculated differently for LCDs so it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. Plasma TVs, in general, offer a better contrast than LCDs.[edit] Burn-in
Older models of Plasma TVs can suffer from burn-in produced by static images. After extended periods, stationary images 'burn in' the screen and produce an after-image ghost which remains permanently on the screen.LCD TVs do not suffer from burn-in. However, it is possible for individual pixels on an LCD screen to burn out. This causes small, visible, black or white dots to appear on the screen.
[edit] Deeper Blacks in Plasma TVs
Plasma TVs are capable of displaying deeper blacks. Improved black levels help render better those difficult-to-define quality attributes like picture depth, scene detail - especially in television and movie scenes where lots of dark and light content is shown simultaneously, and color richness. Indirectly, a better black level also leads to better rendering of picture contrast.In comparison, the nature of LCD technology – where a backlight shines through the LCD layer – makes it hard for it to achieve true blacks, i.e. true absence of light. There is always some light leakage from adjacent picture elements in an LCD panel.
[edit] Color in Plasma vs. LCD screens
LCD TV displays reproduce colours by manipulating light waves and subtracting colours from white light. This makes it more difficult for maintaining colour accuracy and vibrancy. But, LCD TVs have colour information benefits from the higher-than-average number of pixels per square inch found in their displays.In plasma TVs, each pixel contains red, green, and blue elements, which work in conjunction to create 16.77 million colours. Colour information is more accurately reproduced with plasma TV technology than it is with any other display technology, including LCD TVs.
[edit] Screen Refresh Rates for LCD vs Plasma
Plasma TV displays refresh and handle rapid movements in video about as well as normal CRT TVs. LCD TVs were originally designed for computer data displays, and not video. Refresh rates are therefore not as good. But LCD TVs are fast catching up.[edit] LCD vs. Plasma - Other factors to consider
- Pixel Response Time: Measured in milliseconds (ms). The lower the better.
[edit] Readiness for HDTV
Most LCD televisions already have built-in standard TV tuners (HDTV tuners must usually be added externally - but more are showing up as a standard feature). Usually, Plasmas are monitors-only and may require both external standard and HDTV tuners to receive television signals (although more are beginning to include either NTSC and/or HDTV tuners).[edit] Differences in Life span
LCD TVs life span is typically 50,000-60,000 hours, which equates to about 6 years of 24/7 use. However, LCD TVs will actually last as long as its backlight does, and those bulbs can be replaced - so in essence there's nothing which can wear out.The life span for Plasma TVs is 25,000 to 30,000 hours, which equates to about 3 years of 24/7 usage before the TV fades to half the original brightness.
[edit] Differences in Technology
Plasma displays uses a matrix of tiny gas plasma cells that are charged by precise electrical voltages to emit light and create the picture image. In other words, each picture element in a plasma TV display acts as a miniature light source.Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) panels - work by trapping a liquid crystal solution between two sheets of polarized glass. When an electric current passes through the liquid crystals, they rotate causing a change in the polarization of the light passing through them in response to the applied voltage. This results in more or less light passing through the polarized glass to reach the face of the display. LCD panels do not generate light - rather they filter or subtract light produced by a backlight source to create the image on the panel surface.
[edit] Mercury Use
Plasma TVs do not use Mercury while LCD TVs do in their CCFL backlight. However, this issue is a red herring. Most common high-efficieny phosphorescent lamps use mercury and it is not a big deal. The amount of mercury used in LCD TVs is very small and besides, the user never comes in contact with it.[edit] Videos explaining the differences
Here are two videos that explain the differences between LCD and Plasma TVs.[edit] Evolution of the LCD vs Plasma war
PC magazine reported in April 2009 that several manufacturers were moving away from producing Plasma TVs, even though it is a more superior technology. The article suggests that:- Plasma TV shipments in the first quarter are down 22 percent from last year, and few industry analysts think plasma will rebound.
- Vizio, the number two flat-panel television vendor in the U.S., decided it was ending its plasma production to focus exclusively on LCD HDTVs.
- For sets under 42 inches, LCD TVs have always had an edge in terms of price. Plasmas used to have a size advantage over LCD TVs, but now LCD owns the 40-to-42-inch sweet spot, dominates all sizes under 50 inches, and seems poised to compete even at 60 inches in 2009.
- Plasma TVs have an advantage in the segment of massive 60-inch-or-larger HDTVs.
[edit] Where to buy
Most electronics retailers carry both LCD and Plasma TVs, including Best Buy, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart, Dell, Target, P.C. Richard & Son, Sears, Costco and hhgregg.com.[edit] Related Articles
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Read more: LCD TV vs Plasma TV - Difference and Comparison | Diffen http://www.diffen.com/difference/LCD_TV_vs_Plasma_TV#ixzz1Np2y4mUIhttp://www.diffen.com
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