What is better...Plasma or LCD?

Question

Thanks everyone, this really helps!

Answer 1

In general, LCD is better than Plasma. In the past, plasma did have an edge, with a better picture and wider viewing angle, but LCD technology has closed the gap on both of those.

LCDs are best for small to medium screens - up to about 50". Over that, Plasmas are good, but while the picture may be a bit brighter, there are drawbacks. The little light cells on a plasma screen only get so small, so they cannot make an HD plasma set smaller than about 50". If you are looking for a very large set, then you could consider a plasma.

The specs to look for on an LCD screen are:
- resolution. 1080p is the best, which is 1920x1200 pixels. The higher the resolution, the sharper the picture.
- contrast ratio. The higher the better. Good LCDs are up around 7000:1 or more. This means the blacks look blacker.
- refresh rate. 8ms or less is standard. This means motion on the screen won't blur.

Plasmas may suffer image burn-in, and LCDs don't. Plasmas also run hotter and consume more energy, and are heavier.

I own a Sony Bravia XBR 40" LCD HDTV and highly, highly recommend it. The picture is bright and vivid, the specs are top-notch, and the unit looks good all by itself. It comes in 46", as well.

Happy shopping!

Answer 2

I would strongly advise you to avoid plasma technology. The reason ?
Just on this forum alone, there have been more complaints about plasma TVs only 2 years old getting colored pixels showing up, among other things. Sony got out of the Plasma & DLP technology a while back, because they saw the future, at least for now is in LCD. Sony &
Samsung, I think, make the two best LCDs, with a little nod going to Sony. That's what my humble opinion is anyway, so I wish you luck in yuour decision.

Answer 3

Do not believe everything that you read! Sure everyone says hey, look at Sony, they don't sell plasmas anymore - only LCD's so LCD's must be better. Sony is in business to make money. They can make much more selling LCD's than they can with plasmas. Thats the real reason why Sony sells LCD's.

BTW... Sony still sells Plasmas. Only industrial models. Wanna know why? Because of a better profit margin on industrial models.

http://www.activelight.com/products/manufacturer_page.asp?MFR=Sony

http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/subcategory/displays/plasma-pro-series

Answer 4

In Picture quality wize, the plasma will always have the better picture, more sharper,vivid, deeper contrast. Heavier in weight, more fragile. Has a reflective glass screen, light can cause an irritance. almost 180 degree viewing angle. Both can be hang on the wall.

LCDs are getting closer to plasma specs which is good. Lighter in weight. Non-reflective screen, viewing angle is not as good as the plasma. Both can be hang on the wall.

If planning on buying one, these are the brands I recommend.

Sony-LCD TVs
Pioneer Elite-Plasma Tvs
Toshiba-LCD,Plasma,DLP

Answer 5

LCD - Plasma screens can sometimes have an image burned on to the screen and then it is forever there. LCD does not have this problem.