If you are buying a new TV, then this is very much a common question that will cross your head. Quite a tough call, but all I have to say is, it is up to you to decide whether to buy an LCD TV or a Plasma one. Both have their pros and cons. Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages and take a call to see what suits best in your living room…
Advantages of Plasma TVs over LCD
* Enhanced contrast ratio
* Improved ability to display deep blacks
* Increased depth of color
* Better motion tracking
* Increased availability in very large screen sizes
Disadvantages of Plasma TVs over LCDs
* More likely to be affected by burn-in (but in recent few years, this has reduced, owing to improvements in technology)
* Increased heat generation
* Performance is below par at heights
* Shorter life span of the display (this is also being increased now thanks to technology enhancements)
* Heavier
* More difficult to ship
Advantages of LCD TVs over Plasma TVs
* No burn-in
* Lower operating temperature
* Less glare on the screen
* Much better performance at heights
* Longer display life (though significant improvements are happening with regard to the life of Plasma screens)
In addition to these advantages, native pixel resolutions of LCD TVs have been significantly increased. Nowadays, several sets have 1080p displays with screen sizes starting from 37 inches. These sets are quite reasonably priced. But, there are only a few Plasma TVs offering similar native pixel resolutions. In addition, they are more expensive than LCD TVs.
Factors to favor LCD over Plasma
* If you intend buying a Blu-ray disk, HD-DVD, or an upscaling DVD player, LCD is a better option, since a 1080p LCD set with a screen size of 37 to 42 inches is priced lower than a Plasma set with a 42-inch screen and a resolution of 1080p.
* LCDs are usually lighter than their Plasma counterparts, thereby facilitating wall installation.
Disadvantages of LCD TVs
* Lower contrast ratio
* Low ability to display deep blacks
* Low quality of motion tracking (even though this is being improved at present)
* Low availability in larger screen sizes such as above 42 inches (this number is also growing now)
Though LCDs do not have the problem of burn-in, the individual pixels can burn out, leading to small, black or white dots on the screen that are visible. Such pixels cannot be rectified. The entire screen needs replacement in such cases, if the pixel burnout becomes annoying. Moreover, LCD televisions are more expensive than an equivalent-sized Plasma television, although the price gap is diminishing.
The Mercury Concern
Manufacturers of Plasma TVs are raising concerns about LCD TVs with regard to mercury being used in the fluorescent lighting used to illuminate the screen surface. But, this is a diversionary tactic to favor the former. In LCDs, the quantity of mercury used is quite small; also, it does not come in contact with the user. You must also remember that high-efficiency fluorescent lamps do use mercury.
Since mercury is an element that occurs in nature, it has its advantages as well as disadvantages, just like any other element or chemical compound. Eating fish that may contain traces of mercury twice a week is more likely to prove hazardous than watching or touching an LCD TV. Moreover, with the production of Mercury-free LED lighting sources, this issue will become non-existent soon in the future.
Most LCD TVs come with standard TV tuners (HDTV tuners usually need to be added externally, but nowadays they are among the standard features of the TV sets). But, most Plasma TVs are only monitors and are likely to need both external standard as well as HDTV tuners (even though NTSC and/or HDTV tuner are at present being included in these TVs). This is an important factor to consider during your budgeting decision.
Conclusion
Visit a dealer and check the various Plasma and LCD TVs available. Compare them based on the points discussed so far and choose one or two in each type. Think about which one will offer you the best image and ease in connection and is well within your budget. But, do remember that both TV types are considerably good for home use. With prices being reduced and features and quality being enhanced, both are certainly good value for customers.
******************************************************
Other questions in this LCD TV Vs Plasma TV series are :
1> What is an LCD Television?
2> Should I Buy an LCD TV or a Plasma TV?
3> Are LCD TVs Available in Larger Screen Sizes, Like Plasma TVs?