Flat-panel TVs: Plasma, LCD, and how they compare

The biggest television technology revolution since color, flat-panel TVs will eventually replace tubes as the direct-view televisions of choice. You can hang flat sets on the wall, on the ceiling, or above the mantle in place of a trophy buck. The two major types of flat-panel TVs are plasma and LCD, so we'll go over each type separately and then compare them in a chart at the end.

Flat-panel TVs: plasma, LCD, and how they compare

The biggest television technology revolution since color, flat-panel TVs will eventually replace tubes as the direct-view televisions of choice. You can hang flat sets on the wall, on the ceiling, or above the mantle in place of a trophy buck. The two major types of flat-panel TVs are plasma and LCD, so we'll go over each type separately and then compare them in a chart at the end.

Plasma

	Upside:		Downside:		Forecast:
	As little as 3 inches thick; very good home-theater image quality in best examples; wide viewing angle.		Relatively expensive; slight potential for burn-in; generally lower native resolution than similarly sized LCDs.		Prices have fallen, and pictures have improved dramatically, perpetuating plasma's place as king of the flat-panel home-theater hill.

With prices starting around $1,000 for the least expensive models, a coveted plasma TV is within reach of most shoppers. But now that you can get a 42-inch LCD for a similar chunk of change, plasma TVs have to depend on factors other than price to remain competitive against their flat-panel nemeses. One area where plasma still reigns, however, is in very large screen sizes, say 58 inches and up. These sets are actually becoming an affordable and viable alternative to big-screen rear-projection sets.

Picture quality varies greatly between different makes and models of plasma TVs, so be sure to read reviews before you plunk down your cash. Despite significant advances, plasma panels still can't quite replicate the deep blacks that tubes can. The best plasmas produce top-notch image quality, with excellent color, wide viewing angles, and demonstrably sharper details than direct-view CRTs when showing high-definition sources. LCDs generally have a higher native resolution than plasma TVs, but in the real world the difference isn't that noticeable (more info on HDTV resolution).

Burn-in: You may have heard that plasma has a couple of drawbacks. One such downside is burn-in, which occurs when an image--such as a stock ticker, a network logo, or letterbox bars--gets etched permanently onto the screen because it sits in one place too long. In our experience, the danger of burn-in has been greatly exaggerated, and people with normal viewing habits have nothing to worry about. The potential for burn-in is greatest during the first 100 or so hours of use, during which time you should keep contrast low (less than 50 percent) and avoid showing static images or letterbox bars on the screen for hours at a time. After this initial phase, plasma should be as durable as any television technology. Many models also have burn-in-reduction features, such as screensavers and pixel orbiting, or settings to treat burn-in once it occurs, such as causing the screen to go all white.

Plasma life span: The life span of plasma TVs is another area that's improved dramatically over the last few generations of the technology. Partly in response to claims made by LCD TV makers, plasma manufacturers now claim their panels last an extremely long time. Most plasma makers today claim a life span of 60,000 hours before the panel fades to half brightness. According to a 2006 Nielsen study (cited in USA Today), the average household watches 8 hours, 14 minutes of TV every day. Even if the real figure is closer to 30,000 hours and the plasma is the only TV in the house, that works out to more than 10 years before the set reaches half brightness--about what you'd expect from a direct-view CRT.

LCD

	Upside:		Downside:		Forecast:
	Available in a range of sizes; higher resolution than comparably sized plasmas; no danger of burn-in.		Relatively expensive; home-theater image quality generally not as good as on plasma models; relatively narrow viewing angle.		Flat-panel LCD will continue to be the most popular HDTV technology, thanks to falling prices and plenty of choices.

Flat LCDs are extremely popular in all screen sizes these days, thanks to competitive pricing and the fact they can fit just about anywhere. Larger LCDs--as high as 65 inches--remain more expensive than plasma and rear-projection models, but in the popular 40- to 42-inch size range, LCD prices have dropped precipitously. As of spring 2007, flat-panel LCDs in this size range can be had for as little as $1,000, pretty much the same as plasmas.

The picture quality of LCD TVs has historically suffered from poor black levels, but the latest versions are often much improved . The best LCDs actually surpass the best plasmas in terms of delivering a deep black, but most LCDs still lag behind. That's because LCDs use a backlight to provide illumination, and there's almost always some light leaking through the pixels. Color saturation is also generally inferior to plasma's, again as a result of the inability to completely blacken (turn off) the pixels.

Viewing angle is another weakness of LCD compared to plasma. On every LCD we've reviewed, we witnessed some brightness and color shift visible when we watched from an angle that's more or less removed from the sweet spot right in front of the TV (to either side, and especially above or below). Plasmas look equally good from very wide angles. In addition, LCDs are much more likely to exhibit uniformity problems than plasmas, which can appear as lighter areas on dark screens, clouding, or even color banding on some models. These can be more or less severe from model to model, so check the individual reviews for comments.

On the other hand, LCDs will generally have a higher native resolution than plasmas of the same size. This isn't as big a deal as you might think because, in practice, it's difficult for the average viewer to discern the difference between, say, a 40-inch LCD with 1080p resolution and a 42-inch plasma with 1,024x768 resolution, especially from normal seating distances.

LCD spec sheets often talk about response time, but in our experience, almost all newer LCDs have adequate response time to deal with fast motion to the satisfaction of most viewers. LCDs also have a reputation for being brighter than plasmas, and while that's technically true, most plasmas are plenty bright for even the most demanding high-ambient-light viewing. One definite advantage of LCD TVs, however, is that their plastic screens reflect less ambient light than plasmas' glass, so they're usually better for very bright rooms with little light control.

Plasma vs. LCD

Want a quick and dirty comparison between plasma and LCD? Here it is, but for full explanations feel free to start at the top.

	Plasma	LCD
General
Screen sizes	42 inches to 65+ inches	5 inches to 65+ inches
Cabinet depth	3+ inches	3+ inches
Power consumption	Slightly less efficient per square inch	Slightly more efficient per square inch
Price	Usually less expensive for screen sizes over 42 inches	Usually more expensive for screen sizes over 42-inches
Features
PC connectivity	Less common but still included on many models	More common than on plasma TVs
Other features	Varies per model	Varies per model
Picture quality
Motion blur caused by display	Negligible	Difficult to discern on most models, although subject to more blurring than plasma. 120Hz models subject to less motion blur
Black-level performance (depth of "black" displayed)	Varies, although excellent on many models.	Varies, although generally worse than plasma on many models
Color saturation	Varies, although generally a bit better than on LCDs due to black-level and off-angle advantages	Varies, although the best models can equal the best plasma TVs
Resolutio	Typically 720p, up to 1080p on high-end models. The benefits of 1080p are not obvious at screen sizes less than 50 inches to the majority of viewers.	Typically 720p, but 1080p is more common than on plasma TVs, at more price and size points. The benefits of 1080p are not obvious at screen sizes less than 50 inches to the majority of viewers.
Off-angle viewing	Excellent from all angles	Image fades slightly when seen at extreme angles from sides or from above or below
Reflectivity of screen	Glass screens can reflect lots of light, so may be an issue in very bright rooms. Some models have glare-reducing screens that are more or less effective.	Matte-plastic screens usually reflect less light. Some models have screens that are actually more reflective than plasma TVs.
Durability
Burn-in (faint after-images left on the screen	Possible with still images left onscreen with very bright settings for hours, although new models are much less susceptible, and most burn-in is temporary and goes away after watching moving images.	Occurs only in extreme circumstances
Life span (hours until brightness fades by half)	Typically 60,000 hours, or about 20 years if used 8 hours per day	Typically 60,000 hours, or about 20 years if used 8 hours per day
Performance by program type
HDTV	Excellent, although the rare EDTV models can look a bit softer because of lower resolution	Excellent for HDTV-compatible models
Standard-definition TV	Dependent mostly on screen size. The smaller the screen, the better standard-definition sources usually look.	Dependent mostly on screen size. The smaller the screen, the better standard-definition sources usually look.
DVD movies	Excellent given a model with good black-level performance	Very good, although models with worse black-level performance are less desirable
Games	Excellent for most users, although burn-in might deter gamers who leave screens paused for hours or overnight	Excellent, although motion blur might deter the most sensitive gamers

Source: http://www.cnet.com/4520-7874_1-5108443-2.html?tag=arw