What's the diff between LCD and Plasma TV? Which is better?

Answer 1

Picture quality of plasma is still a little brighter, with better color, better blacks than LCD. But LCD pictures have improved and the latest sets can look almost as good. Some say there is now almost no difference in picture quality when comparing the best sets of both types. They do look different, and it is a matter of taste as to which you like better.

Sharpness is the same for equivalent pixel counts. Some newer LCDs have 1080 x 1920 resolution, most plasmas still in the 1024 x 768 range. Plasmas with 1080x1920 resolution have just been introduced, but they are expensive.

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). New sets coming out soon use LED illumination that does not fade or burn out.

LCD screens used to have response time problems, with bright objects moving across the screen leaving trails. This no longer happens. The newest LCD models have "120Hz" frame rate that greatly improves the response, and on these models, those trails do not occur.

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 can even "recover" from burn-in. There 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. The prices are dropping rapidly, and 46", 52" and 60" LCD panels are competitive.

LCD contrast and brightness can be reduced when viewing from off-center. Again, this has been improved greatly and is no longer a problem in most viewing environments.

At present, plasmas have very reflective front surfaces which could be a problem in a 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

Well I'm not quite as savvy as the first lad, but from what I get, the part you might want to know. If your plasma TV goes out, there is only about 10% of that TV you can replace, so you basically have to get a new one. If the LCD TV goes out, about 90% can be replaced. Get the warranty on the TV, might add about $300 to price, but well worth it on a purchase costing that much. I had a 50" TV went out 8 months after I bought it, I had warranty though.
Once you get the TV home it looks just as good in the dark as the light, unless you have a plasma and a LCD in the same room and do a comparison all the time you want notice the difference.
I have a 50 inch sony LCD, it's the wega, it has just as good picture quality from the sides as from the front. I have HD satalite and I bought the HD cables. Best picture quality I've ever seen. LCD is the best way to go, unless you have alot of money and want to throw it away.

Answer 3

1st person covered most of it. lcd is lighter, and plasma is very fragile. between the 2 id take lcd.

Answer 4

I recommend a plasma tv