| Comparison |
Plasma
Televisions |
LCD
Televisions |
Advantage |
| Screen Size |
Screen sizes range from
32 inches to 63 inches. Larger plasmas, like a 103 inch
unit from Panasonic, are in production, but are still
prohibitively expensive for consumer use. |
Sizes range from 13 inches
to 45 inches. As with plasma, there are larger LCD TVs
made, like a 100 inch display recently released by LG,
but they are not readily available or affordable at the
consumer level. |
Plasma TVs are the current
size champions, particularly when comparing TVs that consumers
can easily purchase. LCDs are catching up in size with
their developing technology, however, and may surpass
Plasmas in the near future. This may be due to difficulties
in producing glass large enough for larger plasmas. |
| Viewing Angle |
Up to 160° |
Up to 175° |
LCD TVs have the advantage
here, but by a small margin. Your viewing experience is
not going to be ideal at 160 or 175 degree angles. LCD
TVs used to have a problem in this area, primarily because
LCDs were originally used as single person computer monitors.
|
| Screen Refresh Rates |
Plasma displays refresh
and handle rapid movements in video about as well as CRT
televisions. |
LCD TVs were originally
designed for data display, and not video. Therefore refresh
rates had to be improved. LCD TVs with refresh rates below
16 ms or lower (5-15 ms) show very few noticeable artifacts.
LCD TVs are now available with refresh rates as low as
5ms. |
Slight edge to plasma
technology. |
| Burn-in or Stuck Pixels |
Plasma TVs can suffer
from burn-in produced by static images. After extended
periods, stationary images "burn in" and produce
an after-image ghost which remains permanently on the
screen. With technologies such as 'pixel orbitor,' new
plasma TVs have addressed burn-in and significantly reduced
the issues of older models. |
LCD TVs do not suffer
from burn-in, but can have a "retained pixel charge"
which may also produce ghosting. Stuck pixels are also
possible with an LCD display. |
With the latest plasma
technology, this is less of an issue than ever before.
"Pixel orbitor," for example, is one method
of reducing burn in used by plasma manufacturers. It requires
no additional programing from the end user as some older
burn-in prevention techniques did. If you plan to use
a plasma for gaming, some games with permanent 'dashboards'
may still cause some burn-in. Check user-manuals for available
solutions by model. |
| Product Life-Span |
Plasma TVs have a reported
half life of 30,000 to 60,000 hours. Half-life is the
time it takes the lamp to fade to half its original brightness. |
LCD TVs also have replaceable
backlights, but the expense of replacing one when the
time comes may be greater than simply replacing the entire
TV. |
Both Plasma and LCD technology
should more than adequately satisfy most consumers. The
average CRT TV (the kind most of us have at home) has
a half-life of around 25,000 hours. If the average American
household watches an average of four to six hours of television
a day, even a 30,000 hour lamp would give you over 16
years of use. By then you'll be enjoying your new 'Holodeck.'
|
| Weight |
Plasma displays are fairly
heavy, and may need additional supports to be |
LCD TVs weigh less than
comparably sized plasma TVs. |
LCD TVs are considerably
lighter, more portable, and cheaper to ship. |
| Durability |
Plasmas are very fragile
making them tricky to ship and install. Unlike the commercials
where plasmas are mounted on the ceiling, plasmas are
best installed by a professional, and should be installed
on a wall that can bear a good deal of weight. |
Much more durable than
plasmas. End users can easily mount an LCD TV themselves
if desired. |
LCD TVs are far less
fragile than plasmas. |
| Shipping |
Due to their fragile
nature, plasma TVs need to be shipped by specialty carriers.
Overnight or fast delivery options are not recommended.
Special shipping methods and their heavier weight add
to higher shipping costs. |
Shipping LCD TVs is not
difficult, and is not as expensive as shipping plasma
displays. |
LCD TVs are lighter and
far less fragile than plasma displays making shipping
easier and less expensive. |
| Installation |
Plasmas are heavier,
use more power, and run hotter than LCD TVs, and therefore
require more planning when mounting them. Plasmas are
generally best installed by professionals. |
End users can easily
install LCD TVs themselves, or can use them just as they
use a traditional TV using a stand. |
LCD TVs are much easier
to install than plasma TVs. |
| Brightness / Contrast |
Plasma TVs report higher
brightness and contrast levels than LCDs. Under ideal
conditions (no ambient light) this is a true advantage
of plasma technology, because LCD TVs are backlit and
therefore light must be blocked to create blacks. Plasmas
have individual pixels that either on or off, creating
deeper blacks and better contrast. |
LCD TVs can often look
better in 'real-world' situations. Plasmas are made with
a special glass surface that can reflect light, which
dulls the brightness and contrast of the image. LCD TVs
reflect very little light, allowing them to maintain levels
in well-lit rooms. |
Both LCD and plasma TVs
will meet the brightness expectations of most consumers.
However, in 'real world' situations with ambient light,
LCD TVs will generally look a little brighter. |
| Thickness |
As thin as 3 inches deep. |
As thin as 2 inches deep. |
LCDs TVs are just a bit
thinner. |
| Performance at High Altitude |
High altitudes can affect
the performance of plasma displays because the gas held
inside each pixel is stressed, and has to work harder
to perform. Some manufacturers make plasmas that are specifically
designed for high-altitudes, but they may be priced higher
than standard models. |
LCD TVs are not affected
by high altitudes. |
LCD TVs. |
