Plasma, LCD or LED?

TweakGuides.com - A Guide to HDTVs

A Guy

P.S. I'm a TV tech

A Guy said:

P.S. I'm a TV tech

Great...come fix our's buddy...

From what I've seen in the local stores, it looks like plasma is not only cheaper (for now), but has a warmer picture. So when we get a new TV we'll go with that probably.

Of course it's my wife that wants a new TV. The thing is, we watch almost all our stuff on the PC....

Thanx for the link A Guy

Thanks for all the info here guys.
I'll go with a Plasma, will take order tomorrow. :)

Wishmaster said:

I have both a 60" Plasma and a 46" LCD.
I would say, go with a Plasma if you can. Its far superior Picture-wise.

Both have very good picture quality, unless comparing side by side.
In which case, Plasma is a clear winner by a longshot.

Plasma has better color accuracy IMO. For example:

Flesh tones look more natural. LCD seems to have a orangish tint to them.
Its something you may not notice (I never did) untill compared to a Plasma image.

Plasma seem capable of showing more detail in dark areas as well.

The Plasma does have really dark blacks, dont get me wrong, but its just different. You can see the wrinkles in a black jacket for example, where as they tend to blend in on the LCD.
Hard to explain what I mean .... but LCDs sometimes tend to have reallly dark blacks, but to black at times.

Look at them side by side and you will see.

I agree with what you are saying and would like to add another reason to pick plasma if you have children. If you have ever seen a damaged lcd screen you see that most of the pixels in the damaged area are destroyed in the damaged rows of pixels. I chose to get a plasma because kids throw things and glass is less likely to break from small things hitting it. Six Grandchildren that are prone to throwing toys haven't hit the TV yet.

Heyyou said:

I agree with what you are saying and would like to add another reason to pick plasma if you have children. If you have ever seen a damaged lcd screen you see that most of the pixels in the damaged area are destroyed in the damaged rows of pixels. I chose to get a plasma because kids throw things and glass is less likely to break from small things hitting it. Six Grandchildren that are prone to throwing toys haven't hit the TV yet.

Seen my share of Wii'd LCD tv's as well



Requires panel replacement costing as much as a new TV. Usually it's a slipped Wii controller or a thrown toy.

A Guy

djl47 said:

Zepher said:

LED and LCD are the same (both use LCD Panels, just different backlighting).
Plasma has the most natural picture and colors.

Plasma uses a little more power than the other tv's but they have gotten very efficient in the last couple of generations.

To clarify, the flat screens advertised as LED refer to the backlight. LED's have replaced fluorescent tubes as the light source in LCD screens. The only direct LED unit I know of was a madly expensive OLED TV sold in Japan.

Plasma screens have a better picture and they are faster than LCD so when you're watching an action flick you don't get the ghosting you might see on an LCD. As noted they draw more power, they are heavy and the phosphors will eventually degrade just like the phosphors in your old CRT.

Here's a great video on how flat panel LCD displays work

Interesting video. Thanks. :)

Yes the plasma screens are best for colors and blacks which is crucial for a great picture. The power consumption and heat generated they are far less efficient from today's greener LCD - LED/LCD's.