|
Use this chart as a quick guide to see the stronger or weaker points of plasma vs. LCD technology.
There are definitions about different HDTV criteria on our consumer tips page.
And you can find more specific individual details on our product details page.
If there is a clear winner in a category, then they will have a green background versus a red background.
Feel free to cheat and skip down to the overall verdict at the bottom!
We also have a fully detailed article about the choice between big screen plasma and LCD.
| Plasma | LCD | |
|---|---|---|
| Description of the Technology |
Many many many red, green, and blue fluorescent lamps are lit at varying intensities in combination to produce different colors |
Liquid crystals are charged with varying levels of electric current. They respond by changing form and filtering different waves of light from one big fluorescent bulb behind them. |
| Price for Bigger Sizes (40" or larger) |
Less expensive | More expensive because of the manufacturing process mostly. |
| Price for Smaller Sizes (less than 40") |
More expensive because it is harder to squeeze pixels in to keep resolution. |
Less expensive |
| Color Display | Plasma technology is able to generate more colors. |
Fewer colors |
| Clarity with Moving Images |
Better because of colors and refresh rates. |
Not as good. Sometimes shows "artifacting". |
| Contrast | Better black levels. Shaded areas are darker. Much better because it can actually turn pixels completely off. |
Not as good |
| Viewing Angle | Good viewing angle, even from periphery. |
Getting better, but not as good as plasma. |
| Burn-In | Newer models have anti-burn, preventing this issue. They are rated at 60,000 hours...same as LCD |
Not an issue ever. |
| Weight | Generally heavier. | Lighter, which makes LCD great for portable applications like boats or RV. |
| Brightness | Plasma technology is not generally as bright as LCD. |
Just about the brightest available. |
| Resolution (there is no clear advantage when using HD signals or computers) |
Not as good in non-HD applications. Or smaller screen sizes. |
Better when used in non-HD applications. And with smaller screen sizes. |
| Overall | The value-oriented solution when looking for HDTV with a screen size larger than 40" is plasma. It also has advantages if you view a lot of dark material, or DVD movies with outer space sequences or night scenes. |
If you need a smaller screen size but want great resolution, the value-oriented solution is LCD. It also has advantages in mobile applications because of lighter weight. And above 6,000 feet in elevation where plasma technology has problems. |
|
Employee Login
© 2007 Digitainment Surround Sound Systems Company Email |