Buying a new HDTV – Plasma Vs. LCD

Buying a big screen, high-definition television is becoming more of a must as time goes by. As we gradually shift to a digital age, that old 15-inch portable TV sitting on top of a pile of books in your front room just isn’t going to cut the mustard any longer. But where do you begin? And, with the current economic crisis making every purchase one filled with risk and a necessity to get it right first time, what mistakes do you need to ensure you don’t make when deciding which HDTV to buy?

Plasma Vs. LCD

This is one debate which needs your full attention if you are currently looking to buy a new television. A big HDTV is not going to come cheap, so you really cannot afford to make a mess of it. You can decide on the size and the make at any time up to the moment you slap your hard-earned cash on the counter of the local store you’re buying from. Because as much as these factors are decisions that have to be made at some point before buying, they won’t mean the difference between an enjoyable next few years of television watching or otherwise.

Size will be determined by the relative size of the room the TV will be situated in and the positioning of furniture in that room. It’s no good buying a 50-inch TV if you are going to be sat three feet away from the screen. Use common sense and you won’t go far wrong. As for the make of the television, this really comes down to what you can afford to spend. Have a budget in mind, and then choose the make which offers most for your buck. The cheaper brands may be slightly poorer quality, but the majority of people will hardly notice the difference.

The Plasma Vs. LCD decision is another kettle of fish altogether. The difference here is that it could have a huge impact on your viewing pleasure for years to come. Which is why it’s essential to know the differences between the two types of television, and choose your weapon of choice accordingly. This buying guide will give you a background to both Plasma and LCD televisions, and help you decide which to go for in order to suit your own individual needs.

Plasma Televisions

Plasma TVs work by screens made of individual pixels. These pixels contain phosphors of the primary colors, red, green, and blue. A tiny chamber filled with gas, a mixture of neon and xenon, sits behind these phosphor pixels, with an electrical source positioned further back. When the television is switched on, the electrical source ionizes the gas, generating ultraviolet light which then excites the phosphors into glowing in the colors required for a crisp and clear picture.

Advantages

Price – Plasma televisions are generally cheaper at the moment than their equivalent size in LCD. This advantage is becoming less pronounced though as LCD technology becomes more mainstream and cheaper to produce.

Viewing Angle – Plasma and LCD TVs have both improved in this field over the last few years, and many LCD manufacturers market their products as having viewing angles of close to 180 degrees. But in reality, the picture quality suffers greatly at any obtuse angle. Plasma maintains its PQ (Picture Quality) and integrity at a wider viewing angle (a guaranteed 160 degrees) so if you have a big family who all sit around watching television together, Plasma is a good option.

Vivid Color and Contrast Levels – Plasma televisions can offer a much more vivid color palette than their LCD contemporaries, and the same goes for levels of contrast in dark areas of the screen. An LCD’s back light means there is always the risk of light bleed, leading to a very washed-out picture on some television or movie content.

Response Time – This is the amount of time it takes for a pixel to move from active to inactive and then back again. This is essential in ensuring a fluid, jerk-free picture and it’s an area where Plasma wins hands-down. LCDs can sometimes suffer from judder on fast-moving or panning shots, while Plasma offers a generally more smooth and lifelike image.

LCD Televisions

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. LCD TVs contain two transparent panels filled with liquid crystals, each of which can be controlled and manipulated individually. When a power source is applied to the liquid crystals, they align themselves in order to let the requisite amount of light through in the correct places. The light is provided by a fluorescent tube located directly behind the panel. The alignment and positioning of the liquid crystals create the pixels which end up creating the final image on the screen.

Advantages

Power Consumption – LCDs are much more energy-efficient than Plasmas. There is such a large discrepancy that the EU (European Union) is actually considering banning the sale of larger Plasma televisions due to the harm they are doing to the environment. If having a low electricity bill and being green as a result is of concern to you then LCD it is.

Weight – LCDs are much lighter than Plasmas. While one person could probably handle anything up to a 40″ LCD comfortably, it would take two people to move an equivalent-sized Plasma around. It’s also not recommended that you move Plasma TVs around too much in the first place anyway due to the delicate nature of the phosphors inside. An LCD is therefore a much more stable choice for those who move regularly.

Lifespan – Let’s be clear here, an internal component on your TV will probably break well before the lifespan of the screen becomes an issue. However, for those who can think long-term, a Plasma screen can last for between 30,000 and 60,000 hours of television watching, while an LCD screen can manage between 60,000 and 80,000 hours before needing to be replaced.

No Risk Of Screen Burn – Plasma TVs can suffer from screen burn. This is when a strong and stationary image appears on screen for an extended period of time. When the picture changes, rather than the image disappearing as it should, a ghostly after-image can remain. The risk is greater on high-definition pictures or video games, meaning LCD is probably a better option for anyone who will be using the TV for either of these activities.

Individual Needs

Choosing between an LCD or a Plasma television comes down, in the end, to your own individual needs. Plasmas can handle SD (Standard Definition) pictures much better, so at least until the switch is made to digital-only, Plasmas are a good option for those who watch a lot of normal television or SD DVDs.

On the other hand, high-definition formats tend to look better on LCDs. So if you have a Blu-ray player or are looking to future-proof your system for the next decade, LCD is a better option.

This also goes for gamers who own a PS3 or Xbox 360. Although the situation has improved, screen burn can still be a problem on Plasmas, particularly in the first few months of use. So if you play video games for extended periods at a time, an LCD is probably more suited to your needs.

The Final Decision

Both LCDs and Plasmas have distinct advantages over the other one, and you will get analysts on both sides claiming their choice is the superior one. It really comes down to individual needs, what the TV will be used for, and what is important to you. What is key to remember is that neither technology is brand new, with a certain level of maturity for both now having been reached. This means that many of the problems and issues that affected early models of both are now much-improved or have disappeared altogether.

Make your choice, buy your new HDTV and enjoy it to the max. If my experience is anything to go by, it’ll make a world of difference to your viewing pleasures.