What is the major difference between a Plasma and an LCD TV?

Answer 1

LCD displays are lit be a bright light behind the screen. The LCD acts like a small little door that, depending on how much it is open lets through different amounts of light, that then passes through a red, green, or blue filter.

A Plasma generates it's own light right at the screen.

This results in higher contrast ratios on Plasmas. Blacks are blacker, because on a plasma, when the pixel is off, it produces no light, but on a LCD when the pixel is closed, the light is still on behind it, and some still comes through.

Answer 2

If you are asking about the difference in picture quality and performance, here is a summary based on recent information:

Picture quality of plasma is brighter, better color, better blacks than LCD.
But LCD pictures can look quite good; we’re not talking huge differences.

Sharpness is the same for equivalent pixel counts. Some newer LCDs have 1080 x 1920 resolution, most plasmas are still in the 768 x 1024 range.

Plasma is heavier and uses more power than flat panel LCD.

There are reports that plasmas are not as reliable or they don't last as long, but that is no longer true with the latest models. (Both LCD and plasmas have 60,00hr expected lifetime.) Plasma phosphors dim slowly over time (but not as fast as CRT phosphors); but direct view LCDs use flourescent lamps which also dim and eventually burn out (some are replaceable). Projection LCD sets have bulbs of limited life, but are replaceable and the lifetime is a few thousand hours of viewing.

Plasmas are subject to burn-in. A stationary image left on the screen for a long time could produce a permanent ghost image. The most risk is when viewing a lot of 4:3 ratio pictures (non-HD), which are displayed with vertical dark areas on the left and right to fill in the wide screen. Newer plasma designs have minimized this problem and here are ways to avoid it: many sets have a "stretch" mode which widens the picture to fill the whole screen, or will use gray bars instead of black bars. Burn-in also be a problem with extended playing of video games if there is a background image that remains stationary.

Plasmas come in larger sizes, although large flat panel LCDs are coming out, but they are expensive. LCD projectors can be 70".

LCD contrast and brightness can be reduced when viewing from off-center (both flat and projector, but sets will vary). At present, plasmas have very reflective front surfaces which could be a problem in room with lamps and windows that can be reflected by the screen. LCDs look better in bright environments, while plasmas look better in darker rooms.

Answer 3

plasma tv's are filled with gas, lcd are liquid crystal display,(big computer screens) besides all that i am guessing you want to know the differences and which one is better. Most of the myths and the technology have gotten alot better, you still get the burn in from the plasmas, but not as bad as it use to be, for me, and i install these for a living, plasmas have a better picture, but you do get what you pay for..i think the pioneer elite is the best hands down, but a lot of other brands are still very good, lcd's are better with glare problems, especially if you want to put them outside most of them you cannot tell the diference unless they are side by side, cost is a issues, but i can tell you whichever one you purchase make sure to get a service warranty, it will pay for itself...go to a store that has both types on display then look at the pic quality and the price, personally i woudl get a plasma, or if you are putting it in a wall unit i like the dlp's

Answer 4

Plasma uses gas. LCD uses Liquid Crystal Display.

Go to this link:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lcd.htm