Plasma vs LCD
Plasma vs LCD: What is the Best type of TV?
You may be in the market for a new television set, and are wondering what is the Best type of TV you can buy? If you like the benefits which a flat screen provides, then you’ll be looking to purchase either a LCD or Plasma television set. Yet, how can you know which one is better, after all don’t they look about the same? To help you answer that question, let’s look at the pros and cons of each in more detail below.
Plasma televisions were developed from the concept of a fluorescent light bulb. How so? Behind the screen the unit is broken up into cells, with each one consisting of two panels of glass with xenon gas sealed inside. This gas is charged to different electrical levels to create the colors which you see emitted from the screen.
Now that we know the basic science behind Plasma technology, let’s look at specific pros and cons of the device. This will help us discover if it is the Best type of TV you can buy. On the upside, Plasma TVs generally produce superior home theater image quality as compared to LCD units. Also, they allow for generous wide viewing angles. A third benefit which they provide is their better resolution for fast motion shots. Finally, though the prices of LCD and Plasma TVs are nearly the same, very large Plasmas are still cheaper. So, if you want a super sized TV of 50 inches or more, then Plasma is the right choice for you!
Does this mean they are the Best type of TV? Well, let’s look at a few of their less sparkling qualities. Plasma flat screens tend to be bulkier than comparable LCD models. Also, they are well known to drain more power as well. When set side by side with an LCD of similar size, they can sometimes have a lower built in resolution. Finally, the glass screens used in their construction can become distracting when they reflect light from the room. As a side note, you may have heard about the dangers of burning an image onto your Plasma screen. This has been greatly exaggerated, and as long as you are careful during the first 100 hours of use, you should have no problems with this.
Now let’s turn to the LCD TV design, and see how it functions to see if it is the Best type of TV for you. These televisions use a dual layer of transparent material, which has been polarized and fused together. A polymer is laid on one of these layers, which keeps the liquid crystals in place. Electricity is then sent to those crystals, causing them to either block or allow light to pass through. A light source is still needed, as the liquid crystals don’t create their own, and often fluorescent bulbs are used for this purpose. This process is very power efficient, and is also free from harmful radiation.
So, are LCDs the Best type of TV? On the positive side of the scale, LCDs are available in a variety of screen sizes. Also, their matte screens don’t reflect light as much as a Plasma screen does, meaning you will experience less glare. As mentioned above, these are very energy efficient, beating out the more power hungry Plasma models. Finally, new advances in their design, like LED and 120 Hz mean their picture quality is better than ever.
LCD televisions have a few downsides as well, the first being their narrow viewing angle when compared to Plasma TVs. Also, when serving as your home theater, the image quality may not be up to your standards. Plasma can still boast a lead in this area.
Well, there you have the two models of flat screens available today. To know which is the Best type of TV for your needs, you need to examine your specific situation. Do you want a truly large screen? Then a Plasma television may be the right option for you. Do you want to save power? Then an LCD model may be a better fit in your home. With their comparable prices, it is really down to personal preference. The good news is, with the advances in technology, both sets will give you good viewing experiences!