Plasma TV vs. LCD

This is a complicated topic: when choosing between LCD and plasma TVs, you're actually selecting between two competing technologies, both of which achieve similar features (i.e., bright, crystal-clear images, super color saturated pictures) and come in similar packages (i.e., 3.5 to 5 inch depth flat screen casing). To complicate the decision-making process further, price and size are two previous considerations that are rapidly becoming non-issues as LCDs are now being made in larger sizes and at competing prices with plasma TVs.

Despite all these similarities, these technologies differ in how they process and display incoming video/computer signals.

PLASMA VS LCD RATINGS COMPARISON Manufacturer / Model Picture Features Value Overall Samsung PN50C8000 Plasma 95 96 92 94.5 Samsung PN50C6500 Review 91 91 95 92 Samsung LN55C650 LCD TV 92 87 97 92/100 LG 55LE5500 LED TV 89.5 94 89 91/100 Panasonic TC-P54G25 Plasma 91 87.5 94 90.87 Panasonic TC-P50VT25 Plasma 91.5 89.5 90 90.6 Sony KDL-52EX700 LED TV 91 92 88 90.5/100 Panasonic TC-P50S2 Plasma 92 87 89 90 Samsung LN32C350 LCD TV 89 86 95 89.75/100 LG 60PK550 Plasma 86 91 95 89.5 Vizio VF552XVT LED TV 82 92 89 86.25/100 LG 50PJ350 Plasma 79 92 94 86

Plasma flat screen technology consists of hundreds of thousands of individual pixel cells, which allow electric pulses (stemming from electrodes) to excite rare natural gases-usually xenon and neon-causing them to glow and produce light. This light illuminates the proper balance of red, green, or blue phosphors contained in each cell to display the proper color sequence from the light. Each pixel cell is essentially an individual microscopic florescent light bulb, receiving instruction from software contained on the rear electrostatic silicon board. Look very closely at a plasma TV and you can actually see the individual pixel cell coloration of red, green, and blue bars. You can also see the black ribs which separate each.

TOP 10 PLASMA TVS
1	Panasonic TC-P50S2
2	Samsung PN50C550
3	Samsung PN50C7000
4	Panasonic TC-P46C2
5	LG 50PK550
6	Samsung PN50C8000
7	Panasonic TC-P54S2
8	Samsung PN58C6500
9	LG 50PJ350
10	Panasonic TC-P42U2
LAST UPDATE: APRIL 2011

Whether spread across a flat-panel screen or placed in the heart of a projector, all LCD displays come from the same technological background. A matrix of thin-film transistors (TFTs) supplies voltage to liquid-crystal-filled cells sandwiched between two sheets of glass. When hit with an electrical charge, the crystals untwist to an exact degree to filter white light generated by a lamp behind the screen (for flat-panel TVs) or one projecting through a small LCD chip (for projection TVs). LCD monitors reproduce colors through a process of subtraction: They block out particular color wavelengths from the spectrum of white light until they're left with just the right color. And, it's the intensity of light permitted to pass through this liquid-crystal matrix that enables LCD televisions to display images chock-full of colors-or gradations of them. LED TVs are a new form of LCD Television.

Picture Quality

As the advantages show, plasma technology has the better picture quality in normal to low room lighting conditions and are better in 4 out of 5 picture quality categories. Plasma technology will almost without exception triumph during night time viewing. LCD televisions are great for sunroom/breakfast room type environments. Also, LCD monitors are generally better for public display such as airport signage and retail store signage due to the bright room light environment. See full article on plasma vs. LCD picture quality.

ADVANTAGE: Plasma

Functional Considerations

COMPUTER USE

"LCD monitors display static images from computer sources extremely well, with full color detail and no screen burn-in."

LCD monitors display static images from computer or VGA sources extremely well, with full color detail, no flicker, and no screen burn-in. Moreover, the number of pixels per square inch on an LCD display is typically higher than other display technologies, so LCD monitors are especially good at displaying large amounts of data - like you would find on an Excel spreadsheet for example - with exceptional clarity and precision. LCDs are also available in many more sizes, especially the smaller sizes most often used for a computer display.

Plasma technology has increased anti burn in tactics as well as computer and static signal handling. There are still issues with each depending very much on the model and manufacturer. For example, 720p plasma televisions do not handle a computer input well and product a very jaggy image on plasma's larger sizes.

ADVANTAGE: LCD