Plasma vs LCD is considered one the top questions of the day to anyone looking to purchase a new HDTV. When you begin looking for your next television, you may find yourself almost overwhelmed at the vast array of futuristic-looking choices that we have today. While all this choice is a wonderful thing, it can become a bit confusing when you start to compare Plasma vs LCD televisions. Both of these television set types are ultra flat screened and super thin, but just because they look alike does not mean they are the same inside. The two types of televisions use distinctly different types of technology to bring that super-sharp appearance to the screen, and they each have their advantages and drawbacks. We have done the research so that you can save some time — keep reading to learn the key differences between plasma and LCD televisions.
Plasma vs LCD: What Powers The TVs?
The first thing that makes plasma televisions different from LCD TVs is that the technology is very different. When considering Plasma vs LCD, you are looking at two entirely unique things. Plasma screens utilize a matrix of minute plasma cells that use electric voltage to generate a picture. LCD screens, are composed of liquid crystal that is placed in between two very thin glass plates. The image is made when electric charges are sent to the liquid crystals and the backlight of the LCD TV shines forward to bring life to the display. Both types of televisions are able to produce excellent pictures, even though the technology used to power them is so unique.
Plasma vs LCD: The Power of Plasma
Some people who have tried both types of televisions say that plasmas are superior, while others say exactly the opposite. Plasma televisions do have some advantages over LCD TVs. For example, the plasma TV will generally have a superior contrast and better picture quality thanks to its ability to display darker colors. Additionally, plasma TVs also generally have superior viewing angles when compared with LCD TVs. This essentially means that you can sit fairly far to the side of a plasma TV without seeing a downgraded image, while with an LCD TV you will tend to see distortions in color and brightness as you move farther to the side of the TV. Plasmas also have an advantage over LCD TVs when it comes to the color part of the Plasma vs LCD contest: Plasma TVs can generate deeper and more realistic looking colors, as LCDs are able to make only a specific number of color hues and plasma TVs can make nearly unlimited color hues.
Plasma vs LCD: The Lure of LCD
In the contest of Plasma vs LCD, the LCD TV tops plasma screen TVs in several ways. First, LCD TVs generally have a better resolution than plasma TVs of comparable size — this is what the number of pixels refers to. A better resolution makes for a potentially sharper image. Many people cite energy conservation as a good reason to buy LCD TVs rather than plasma TVs. An LCD TV uses considerably less power — about half as much in most cases — as a plasma TV does (which is why the plasma has a brighter picture than the LCD TVs do.) For those who are especially conscious of the size of their television overall, an LCD may be the best choice since they weigh less than a comparably sized plasma screen television. This means that you can more easily mount an LCD on a wall or move it around quite easily. The weight difference is accounted for by the use of materials: LCD screens are plastic while plasmas are normally glass.
Plasma vs LCD: The Game Changer LED LCD TV
This technology is much more vast and uses the full spectrum of visible light as well as infrared and ultraviolet waves. An LED television differs from LCD by light source, as it is back-lit using semi-conductor led lights, meaning there are both conductive and insulating materials involved in the mechanism. Once a light-emitting diode is turned on, it triggers a release of photons which will have varying degrees of energy according to the materials used in the device. These variations are what produce different colors of light.
Here’s where it get’s a little tricky. A LED TV IS A LCD TV. See LCD vs LED for more information. What you really have is a LCD/CCFL TV, or a LCD/LED TV. Both types of HDTVs use a liquid crystal display as the main display (what you actually see when watching the TV). The major difference is that a LCD/CCFL uses a cold cathode fluorescent lamp for it’s backlighting, and a LCD/LED TV use light emitting diodes to do it. And this is what TV manufactures are building on. The ability to use LEDs instead of a bulky CCFL in the TV has all sorts of advantages over it’s older LCD CCFL counterpart. And even completely evens the field against the Plasma. I’ll explain.
Plasma vs LCD LED in fast paced action
It used to be that a Plasma was the best TV for watching high action packed scenes on TV such as sports, fast paced movies, etc.. But not anymore. LED’s are now being created that actually have sensors in the light itself that can create the different colors at the same speed, if not faster than the plasma. The refresh rate is the actually faster in some models. What is a refresh rate? It’s the speed at which your TV can completely clear the previous pixels on your screen and replace them with the new pixels. If a TV didn’t have a refresh rate you would simply stare at a single picture all movie long. So the refresh rate has to be fast enough that you the viewer will not see the changeout and the image will appear natural and flowing. Plasma could do this easier at first because the plasma cells in the TV is all the TV had to go through to create the image. In the old LCD TVs the voltage had to go through the TV, be polarized by passing two plastic plates, than the liquid crystals had to change shape to allow light to pass in a certain way. That’s a lot of steps, and although it was fast, at times it make very fast scenes appear choppy. But now the LED’s actually have built in sensors to read the voltage and it sends the data much faster. So fast that it can reach speeds of 600Hz to bring 3D animation to life. So when it comes to Plasma vs LCD the Plasma has no advantage over the LED/LCD TV as far fast paced action scenes go.
Plasma vs LCD LED in Contrast Ratio
It used to be that Plasma TVs offered the best contrast of blacks and white. What this means is the TV would show really deep dark colors almost flawlessly, and really bright colors more brightly. The biggest reason for this was the old LCD model used a CCFL. This big bulk lamp that send light to the front of the TV had major flaws as it was not precise. The light sometimes even leaked out of the TV itself through the seems of the TV. And it brightened up the screen so much that truly black dark colors were being washed out by the excessive light, and bright colors were being washed out the same. When the LED LCD TV came out it used the very precise LEDs to shine in the exact place that it needed to, and the sensors in the LED told the light source just how much light to actually shine. What this did was bring the true black colors out, and made the screen jump alive with the true to life bright colors. Everything was being seen how the movie was meant to be seen. Right now there’s new technology that even gives your LED/LCD TV the ability to determine the light around the TV. So when the light is coming through your windows and you can’t see the picture, the LED TV will sense that, and use a feature called Local Dimming to change the brightness of the screen to bring you the same true to life colors, but in a manner than can be through highly bright windows. So again in the topic of Plasma vs LCD, the Plasma has the advantage of truer colors only to the LCD only TV, but hold no advantage over the LCD LED TV.
Plasma vs LCD LED in Energy Cost
Plasma use plasma cells, this requires A LOT of energy to maintain. The old LCD model uses a CCFL, which uses less energy since it has a light source and doesn’t have to create it’s own through cell energy. But the LED LCD model uses about half of what the LCD/CCFL does due to the low energy needed to power a LED, and it runs cooler than the LCD/CCFL models and runs much cooler than the Plasma. Another way to look at it, is you have three neighbors. You’re in the middle and you look out the window do the right and you see your neighbor with a 50in Plasma, you look to the left and you see that neighbor has a LCD CCFL 50in. model as well, and now you look at your TV. It’s a LED/LCD 50in. You’re all watching the same program, but isn’t it nice to know that the neighbor running the Plasma TV is actually being charged in electricity almost three times as much as your LED/LCD watching the same program. And the neighbor running the LCD only TV is being charged almost double what you are. The costs really add up over time. Electricity is not cheap nowadays. In the rivalry of Plasma vs LCD there’s no contest to the amount of energy consumed by a Plasma or LCD/CCFL Model TV over the LED/LCD models.
Plasma vs LCD LED In Viewing Angles
Another hot topic that Plasma owners love to talk about. And it was true a view years ago that the Plasma could basically be seen pretty sweetly from any angle. And it’s still holds true to the LCD/CCFL Models. However that’s simply not the case when you’re talking about the new LED/LCD Model TVs. Most LED/LCD TVs in the new 2010-2012 models have up to 178 degree viewing angle if you stand at one side. If you are standing at the center of the TV you can expect to have a perfect 89 viewing angle. What this means, is if you move to the far right of a LED/LCD new model TV you can still see the picture just fine. If you move to the far left, you can expect the same. If you go any much farther you’ll end up at the back of the TV, and of course you can’t see anything there. So when it comes to Plasma vs LCD CCFL TVs Plasma can be viewed from the couch that sitting at the far right or left much better with great clarity. When it comes to Plasma vs LCD LED TVs the superior viewing angle goes to both. You can simply see most Plasma’s and LED/LCD TVs at angle besides the back.
What Is The Lifespan of Plasma vs LCD?
Several years ago, it was a different story — plasma televisions started to lose their brightness, dropping to half of the original brightness, after being left on for around 20,000 hours (roughly 2.3 years). However, today’s plasma televisions now boast 60,000 hour lifespans (roughly 7 years), without a drop in brightness. This is the same lifespan that you can expect to get from your LCD CCFL, and LCD LED, so regardless of your choice, you can realize about 60,000 hours of use total.
Plasma vs LCD – Advanced Technology
There’s a whole of peripherals around to hook into your TV. All new innovations coming forward like Apple TV, gaming consoles, etc.. Most TVs can handle all these peripherals. However the thing you need to consider is that LCD CCFL models (you can see these quite easily because they will not say LED in the description of the TV) are not the recognized technology of the future. Plasma and LED LCD TVs are going to be around for a long time and these are the models of TVs that will get all the attention when it comes to new technology and advancement in picture quality. 2011 proved that time and time again with record sales. The best picture quality is what people are after, and the Plasma and LED LCD TVs are the ones getting these upgrades. When it comes to Plasma vs LCD you can easily choose Plasma or LED LCD, and be just fine, but keep in mind that the LCD CCFL TVs most likely will not have all the newer technology as it’s brother and sister.
Plasma vs LCD – Which is the best for me?
Simply put whether you buy a plasma TV or a LED LCD TV you are going to experience the same amazing picture quality and technological advances. The two models are very similar. The LCD only, or LCD CCFL TV will still look great to you as well. However if you put a LCD CCFL TV side by side with a Plasma or LED LCD TV you will definitely see the picture quality difference. Plasma and LED LCD are simply superior. However price may be what you’re looking at as well. Usually the most expensive will be the LED LCD simply because it’s a new technology. Plasma TV are less expensive than a LED LCD, and usually the LCD CCFL TV is the cheapest of them all. But remember this. The prices difference for a Plasma and LED LCD TV may be around a few hundred dollars. However the cost will certainly offset itself when you get your electric bill. Also remember that Plasmas run really hot, they cost almost three times as much to run, and the TV manufacturing companies are starting to faze these TVs out simply because the Newer LED LCD TVs are more green friendly and cost effective to the customer. It’s the better technology. So all things considered, when it comes to Plasma vs LCD, the LCD-LED TV is the best choice in this authors opinion.
