Plasma vs LCD Which is better?

The big game is fast approaching and you want to watch it on your brand new TV. The problem is, you haven’t even bought it yet. And with all the choices out there, you’re really not sure what to go for. The big decision to make is whether to go for a plasma screen or an LCD TV. Of course, every person you ask you get a different response, so how do you even begin to decide between the two?

Both plasma and LCD technologies have come on leaps and bounds in recent years and continue to advance at a rapid pace. As a result of this, prices across the board have dropped dramatically since both were introduced and you can find some real bargains out there.

The first thing I imagine you’re going to look at – other than how much lighter your wallet is going to feel after buying the TV – is its size. At the moment, plasma TV’s are able to offer larger screen sizes than LCD TV’s. While some LCD manufacturers are developing the technology to make LCD screens up to 54 inches, the largest you’re likely to encounter at a reasonable price right now is a 40 inch screen, although this is set to change down the line. Plasma manufacturers, on the other hand are able to offer larger screen sizes at more reasonable prices.

If size matters to you, then you’re no doubt going to want the best quality picture you can get. After all, what’s the point of having a bunch of life-size men chasing, kicking or hitting a ball through your living room if you can’t see every drip of perspiration on their foreheads? Right now, there isn’t too much to choose between plasma and LCD screens. Whereas LCD’s previously weren’t able to render as dark blacks as plasma screens and suffered from slightly inferior color saturation and brightness, the technology has caught up fast. In fact, many of the newest LCD TV’s available display clearer color and contrast than plasma screen TV’s when it comes to watching in a very bright room, which might be something to think about if the sun streams through your living room windows on a summer afternoon. As well as this, it’s probably worth considering that at the moment a greater number of LCD screen TV’s currently support HDTV. And if you’re worried about being able to see all the action clearly, note that LCD TV’s have also outgrown their tendency for blurred images when watching fast-moving sports or movies, which would certainly have hampered your enjoyment of that match-winning touchdown.

So now you’ve got an idea of the size and quality comparisons, we’d best talk about price. At the moment, plasma screen TV’s have the edge over their LCD counterparts. This is principally because more of them are produced than LCD TV’s. Add to this the greater availability of larger screen sizes and per inch, you’re going to find better value with a plasma screen. But again, the LCD is hot on the plasma’s heels. With improvements in LCD technology has come increased production, which means lower prices.

And there you have it. Whether you watch your team tear apart a hapless bunch of losers through thousands of tiny plasma cells or via a liquid crystal and glass sandwich, one thing’s for certain: there’s more out there than your standard cathode ray tube.