Plasma Vs. LCD TV A Difficult Choice
If you are looking for a flat screen TV for your home theatre, then you need to consider your options. You may have thought about CRT projection TVs and DLP projection TVs but rejected both of them because CRT projection TVs are too bulky and are very prone to burn-in (especially if you use one for gaming), and because the flicker effect of DMD projection can cause migraines and eye strain. You now have to decide between a plasma vs. LCD TV. When trying to settle the question of plasma vs. LCD TV, you need to consider a number of issues, as both types have their advantages and disadvantages.
Plasma TVs use many little fluorescent lights which emit light as the atoms inside them are excited (hence the name plasma). LCD projection TVs use the same liquid crystal display system that appears in a basic form inside a digital watch or calculator, but in a much more elaborated and complex form (an LCD projection TV has colour, for example - and that's just the start of the differences). Because of the physical properties of liquid crystal, an LCD projection TV can work in odd ways if the temperature changes greatly. This temperature sensitive colour-changing nature of LCDs is fantastic for use in thermometers and for fun items like mood rings, but is terrible if your projection TV will be exposed to a wide range of temperatures. This will not make your viewing experience a good one, so if you are likely to have your home theatre system exposed to temperature changes (e.g. if you want to take your flat screen TV outside for some reason), then this is a big consideration for you in the plasma vs. LCD TV question. Other issues in the plasma vs. LCD TV debate are size, the issue of burn-in, brightness and, of course, thinness. Regarding size (meaning width), plasma screens win the plasma vs LCD TV race. Plasma TVs readily available on the market these days range in width from 32 to 63 inches, while LCD TVs range from 13 to 45 inches. However, when it comes to thickness/thinness, LCD displays win the plasma vs. LCD TV stakes - the minimum thickness of an LCD screen is 2 inches, while a plasma TV is at least 3 inches thick. What you choose depends on whether width or lack of bulk is more important to you. Plasma TVs are more susceptible to burn-in than LCD TVs, especially if they are used a lot for gaming. LCD projection TVs, however can suffer from "ghosting", where traces of an image are left on a screen temporarily, or from "stuck" pixels. If you use your TV screen for gaming, then LCDs should win the plasma vs. LCD TV stakes. Plasma TVs have better contrast than LCD projection screens, but both types are on a par when it comes to brightness. When it comes to the plasma vs. LCD TV issue, you really need to consider where you will be keeping your flat screen TV, what your expectations for contrast and clarity are, and what you will be using your screen for. |