Plasma Vs LCD TV - What is Better?

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So, you have decided to go in for that big high-definition television you always wanted in the living room. But you're still confused about whether to go n or a plasma TV or an LCD TV? Here are a few pointers that might help you decide.

But before we get to the pros and cons of both plasma and LCD TVs, we should understand the technology that goes in behind the screens. While LCD screens are thinner than their plasma cousins, both kinds of TVs are extremely slim, not exceeding four inches in depth. They are also available in similar large screen sizes. A plasma TV screen is made up of a matrix of millions of gas-filled cells which emit light when electricity passes through them. LCD TVs, on the other hand, have liquid-filled crystals for a screen.

One of the major factors we take into account while buying a TV is the image quality. In this department, plasma TVs score over the LCD type, providing sharper, clearer and more colorful images. Plasma TVs are also capable of allowing a far broader viewing angle than LCD TVs, which suffer from image distortion if one sits too far wide of the screen. Also, LCD screens are more liable to develop damaged pixels which can cause an irritation in viewing pleasure.

LCD TVs, on the other hand, are lighter and more portable, which means you can virtually hang them up anywhere in the house you want. LCD screens are also thinner than plasma screens. LCD TVs, which are backlit, are also known to consume a lot less power than plasma screens.

In terms of length of service, LCD screens have also been found to have a longer utility life. LCD screens can ideally last for 60,000 hours of more, while that figure represents the upper limit for plasma variants. Also, LCD TVs are not prone to the problem of image burn in, which continues to be a difficulty in plasma TVs, as it has been in conventional TVs for a long time. LCD screens, however, do suffer from image sticking, which can also render them opaque over long periods of use.

Moreover, LCD TVs are available in a broader range of screen sizes. But while, plasma TVs may have to compromise on the range of sizes they are available in, they are a little in models with screen sizes of over 42 inches. Also, plasma screens rate higher on performance factors like screen image response, which make them more suitable for high end gaming and sports viewing.

So, while these few comparative pointers may only be the tip of the iceberg in your quest for the perfect HDTV, this can stand as a small beginning and an early guide to the right choices.