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You can also report exclusive stories as Admanya Citizen Journalist and get rewarded for bringing a consumer related story to light. Contact newscenter[@]admanya.com to publish your story. Tips and Advise How to Choose Between an LCD and Plasma TV?
The raging war between plasma and LCD flat-panel TVs continue and almost certainly you've heard the propaganda from both camps. While LCD has traditionally been more expensive than plasma, that gap is narrowing, making other factors such as performance and features more significant. This article takes you through the pros and cons of each technology to help you make the important decision: whether to buy a plasma or LCD TV?
Plasma Flat Panels Pros: Better contrast- Plasma displays are known for their deep black levels, which result in better contrast and a more three-dimensional picture. But in comparison, LCDs have a more difficult time “turning off” their backlighting mechanisms for a truly dark image. No motion blur on action- LCDs are often victims of motion blur or image smearing which results in fast-action or sports footage looking blurry or smeared across the screen. In a very bad scenario, if a cricket ball is flying over the stands from Yuvraj Singh’s bat, you might see a comet-like trail behind it. Unlimited viewing angle- Unlike LCDs, viewing of a plasma set from any angle will look the same as if you were looking at the plasma sitting directly in front of it. Cost slightly less than LCD sets- While the difference in price is shrinking, plasmas are slightly less expensive than LCDs, especially at larger sizes. However, this is not necessarily true for top-end models. Cons: Image retention- Plasmas have always gotten a bad reputation for burn-in or image retention: When an image, such as a channel logo, remains on the screen for too long, you may see a faint ghost of the image after it disappears. For most good plasma displays though, this is a non-issue, and any ghosting that appears should quickly go away. Screens glare- Plasma TVs' glass panels are known to reflect light and make them harder to watch in a bright room. Many manufacturers are using special techniques such as anti-reflective filter to minimize reflections and improve performance in brighter rooms. Look for antiglare options when you are buying a plasma TV. Other factors- Plasmas consume slightly more power per square inch of display than LCD TVs and are not available in all sizes like the LCD counterparts. LCD HDTVs Pros: Brighter images- LCD panels offer brighter pictures than plasma, making them great TVs for viewing in a well-lit room. No screen reflection- LCD TV’s matte screens don't fall prey to screen glare like plasma displays do. No image retention- Unlike plasma, there is absolutely no fear of image retention on an LCD display. Power Saver- In a world that is becoming more energy-conscious with every passing day, LCD TVs score a brownie point by consuming less power than a Plasma set. Cons: Limited viewing angle- LCD TVs' viewing angles are not as wide as plasmas. This means that if you are sitting off to the sides of the TV or below it, the image may appear somewhat off in terms of color, contrast, and brightness. Blacks are not as deep- LCDs don't compare with plasmas in the black-level department. However, there are some new LCDs that use LED technology to more effectively “turn off” the black parts of the image during dark moments. Motion blur- While motion blur or image smearing can be a factor when watching fast-moving action on an LCD, now most manufacturers have introduced frame-interpolation technology into their LCD sets that add frames to double or even quadruple LCD's 60Hz frame rate. Consumer should demo the LCD using sports source material if motion blur is a concern. The bottom line While we could form the view that both technologies are equally good, and the choice is up to your personal preference, we won't go for the easy way out. The fact is, plasmas have a slight edge when it comes to a truly cinematic picture. If you are a cinephile who likes to watch a lot of different film sources such as Blu-ray discs or DVDs, plasma is your best bet, especially if you have some control over ambient light. While LCDs have a slight disadvantage when it comes to watching cinematic content, they do have their benefits. They can stand up to almost any viewing environment, such as watching a cricket match during broad daylight in a room flooded with natural light. Additionally, if you are looking for an HDTV at a smaller screen size, then LCD is the only way to go, as plasmas are not manufactured below 42 inches. The leading brands of Plasma TVs are Panasonic and Pioneer where the LCD ones from the stable of Samsung, Sony and Sharp are particularly good. |
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