Plazma TV vs LCD TV: Similar but Different

Whether it is for home theatre or a business display, choosing between Plazma TV and LCD TV can be quite a tricky task. Despite their massive popularity, most consumers know very little of these two technologies. Hence when it comes to choosing between the two consumers often rely on the sales associates for advice, which can be very helpful, but without some background knowledge these people can easily take one for a ride. They may sell something that is not quite right for the customer or forget to mention other alternatives if they do not carry them. So here are quick comparisons between Plazma TV and LCD TV, including some buying tips:

While both Plazma TV and LCD TV give high definition picture that cannot be beat, Plazma TV has better contrast than LCD TV. In addition, Plazma TV also has better colour accuracy and tracking motion. For colour accuracy, Plazma TV is simply exceptional. Thanks to the advances in both plasma panel technology and digital video processing, Plazma TV can display an overall picture quality that is extremely lifelike and realistic. Generally, Plazma TV boasts the best colour reproduction of any flat panel TV technology, and advances are made with each new model year in plasma production.

Another main advantage of Plazma TV is the size. Both types of televisions are capable of displaying high definition content, but for larger models Plazma TV is a better option. This is because in general LCD TV does not come with models that have screen sizes that are above 50 inches. Further more, Plazma displays usually offer better viewing angles (up to 170°) than LCD displays, allowing a bright and clear picture for anyone in the room, no matter where they are sitting. However, recent improvements in quality have made LCD televisions comparable to Plazma TV with regards to their viewing angles. The latest LCD displays of certain brands, such as Sharp, have just as good viewing angles as Plazma TVs.

One can expect to use Plazma or LCD monitors in many capacities for many years, although the lifespan of an LCD display is generally longer than that of Plazma display with similar size. The average lifespan of an LCD display is 60,000 hours, which means if one were to watch TV 24 hours a day it would take them close to seven years to wear out the LCD display.

One of the key things to consider when buying a Plazma TV or LCD TV is the resolution. A higher resolution allows for an increase in quality from HDTV sources, as well as much better display of super high resolution computer signals, especially with text or numeric data displays that may be distorted and unreadable if not scaled properly. The size is also another thing to consider. Nowadays, with Plazma TVs and LCD TVs becoming more and more popular and cheaper, people can hardly resist the temptation to buy the largest screen possible. A proper distance between the viewing area and the television screen is a must in order to maximize the viewing pleasure. In addition to floor plan, it is also important to determine the right screen size based on one’s budget.

Ali Yucel is author of this article on Plazma TV.
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