Anyone who has shopped for a new TV has heard of plasma and LCD screens. If you’ve researched ratings for flat screens or browsed new television reviews, you’ve been inundated with information. So, what is the difference between the different types available? What are the advantages and drawbacks for plasmas and LCDs?
The underlying concept is the same. Both create the picture by flashing hundreds of different colored pixels between twenty to thirty times each second to give the impression that the pictures are moving. It is how this process is conducted that varies between plasma and LCD TV’s.
With Plasma TVs the picture is created when gas particles are heated with electricity. These Plasma pixels actively throw the light particles off, which means that they tend to be much brighter than LCD screens, making them a better option for watching TV during the day. Also, since the pixels are able to shut completely off, the blacks that they produce are much deeper, making the contrast a good deal greater as well.
In LCD TVs light is shined through a grid of red, blue, and green color crystals (one each per pixel) that become selectively opaque as electricity flows through them. Because the pixels don’t emit their own light they’re less susceptible to burn in than plasma TVs (where a permanent after image is displayed when the exact same image has been on screen for a long time (on modern plasma TVs though, this takes weeks to months to happen)).
The potential resolution is the same in plasma televisions as in those with the liquid crystal display, which means that the image can be every bit as sharp on either. Both kinds can also be found with the complete range of high-definition resolution options available in the stores. Prices are somewhat similar, although for the largest and smallest ones, LCDs give you more value for the money.
It becomes a matter of compromise when you choose one or the other. If are looking to use the television as a computer monitor your best bet is the LCD. If you are looking for the brightest screen for an area brightly lit the plasma television is best. The LCD can be used to create rear projection televisions that allow for a very large screen. If you are looking for a monitor to create professional video work you can choose either type of screen.
If you’re looking to compare a plasma vs lcd tv, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, both come in flat-screen formats, and both use pixels to generate a picture. Plasma displays are generally brighter than LCD versions, with greater contrast. If you look through new television reviews, you’ll discover that both plasma and LCD TVs use high definition technology, and cost roughly the same amount. Additionally, according to flat screen tv ratings, both types of screen can be beneficial for different purposes (like computer monitor usage for the LCD).
- Stephan Grindley