LCD Vs PLASMA DEBATE: When one goes for Purchasing a Large Flat panel TV((>32”) size, one is confronted with the typical Cross-roads question of which one to Go for ie PLASMA or LCD.
To complicate the issue further you are confused with HD Mumbo Jumbo like “ HD TV”, “ HD Ready”, “1080i/p”, “728p”, “ FULL HD”, “HDMI” Etc. The choice really is not that complex.
*THE FUNDAS:
Plasma technology is relatively new(1964), having been originally developed as a full color screen at in 1998 as a means of showing sporting events on larger screens than is possible with CRT or LCD technology. *It was thus developed from the ground up for showing video as opposed to static pictures.
LCD technology is actually an older technology dating back to 1904 and was primarily developed to display static images on digital calculators and watches, before being adopted by the IT industry for computer monitors and eventual development into TV sets. *Thus traveled from monochrome Fixed Displays to large screen color TV panels.
With Plasma technology, every individual pixel(3x cells or sub-pixels) contains all the elements necessary to make colors, which helps Plasma produce a wider color palette with more natural tones. *Each pixel is like a color TV.
With LCD technology, colors are made by manipulating the light coming from a constant, fixed back light then passed through color filters. *Thus each pixel is like a projection TV with color filters.
This reliance on a fixed back light source and color filters may make it difficult for some LCDs to produce consistently natural and believable color saturation and tones. The Blacks are less emphatic due to inadequate blocking of light.
*It is easy to make large Plasma Panels where as the complexity of Large LCD makes them prohibitively expensive if not impossible in sizes > 50”. .
Plasma Summary: Suitable for larger screen sizes Lower brightness, Perfect for a family room, living room, or home theater Best for typical home lighting conditions Best choice for fast motion( no lag effect unlike LCD)
Plasma Offers high contrast( > 1: 30000 is very common) . Delivers natural, true-to-life color.
Cheaper at larger sizes > 32”
170 Degrees Plus viewing angle.
LCD Summary: LCD comes with Brighter Pictures, perfect for a kitchen, bedroom or office . Best for very bright lighting conditions Produces a bright picture Better suited for Video Gaming More expensive for any given size >32” and same features .
Smaller veiwing angle, (though companies claim upto 170+ degrees, the contrast and intensity greatly comes down beyond about 100 Deg),
LCD Costs almost 50% more for given size and features/resolution**.
As regards the HD features it will take another review but one thing is clear, if you have “ Full HD” or “1080i/p “, you are having a the real Full High Definition( 1920x1080) . But you donot have 1080 or Full HD Disks/ transmissions on date covering popular content and **the cost for full HD will be almost Double for a given size.
Also HD/HD Ready is a measure of Pixels ie No of Rows x No of Columns of Picture Dots and is independent of the Display Technology used ie LCD or PLASMA. "HD ready( 1280x720)" is good enough for most home entertainment purposes including Home Theatre.
Conclusion:
If you are purchasing for home theatre use and for sizes exceeding 32” better go for Plasma. For smaller sizes go for LCD.