What is the difference between Plasma and LCD? And which one is better to buy?

Answer 1

For the technical differences see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_display
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lcd_display

As far as performance is concerned there is not big difference any more, but the pictures do look different, so it is a matter of taste.

In summary:

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 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 2

Plasma is a gas and it's excited by the electronic signals sent through it thus producing colors and a picture. Most plasmas are 1080i wich is an interlaced picture and dosen't look as good as 1080p wich is a progressive scan picture that moves as the picture changes on the screen. Combined interlaced and progressive makes for the best picture results. I digress sorry. LCD or liquid crystal display is in some cases rear projection meaning a bright lite bounced off of a processor or non rear projected meaning it's picture is sent through the LCD processor that splits out each color mainly the primary colors RED GREEN and BLUE. I hope that helps. I currently own a 20 inch LCD and wow much better picture and sound then my old CRT 13 inch. CRT is the old cathode ray tubes or them bulky older tv's. How do I know all these terms and such. Well I'm a former Dish Network installation trainee.

Answer 3

I think the answers to the differences are listed here, the techie differences.

Because I am an IT guy for the day job a lot of people ask me the question of which to buy. The answer I give is, whichever looks best to you.

If you are not planning on mounting it on the wall I think the best choice right now is DLP (digtal laser progection). The picture is less distorted and does not have the drawbacks of the LCD and Plasma technology.

Remember when you are looking in a store that they set things up to look good. Go to your favorite stores that sells them and look at the picture, then write down the model number and read what people are saying about the TV's.

I have done this and have narrowed down my purchase in the coming weeks to a Samsung DLP.

Answer 4

I went via the equal factor simply the opposite day, and after speakme to a few salespeople, we made up our minds to get the forty two inch LCD. The essential change is what you propose to make use of them for. If you do plenty of gaming or watch plenty of TV, the LCD is the bigger purchase due to the fact that with a plasma you've got a greater hazard of photo burn at the television. Also, plasma television bulbs pass out approximately each and every 6 months, in line with the salespeople we talked to, and so they price from $a hundred and fifty-$250 to interchange. One salesman we talked to mentioned he is identified humans who've needed to substitute the bulbs of their plasma tvs as much as five occasions a yr. Given the ones details, and that we play Playstation plenty, we made up our minds to move with the LCD. I love our new television!

Answer 5

Plasma has a definitive life span, it will burn out! LCD runs cooler but the resolution may but be as sharp as plasma. I have a DLP set and it looks great!!!! You can change the tubes int he DLP yourself if they ever burn out, try that with a plasma!! And the DLP is much cheaper than plasma and LCD!

Answer 6

Plasma technology uses gas encapsulated between glass.

LCD is liquid crystal display.

Plasma is sharper, LCD is less sharp.