LCD Vs Plasma Televisions
While plasma and LCD televisions might look fairly similar - slim and stylish, with superior picture quality compared with an average analogue TV - the technology behind both of them is actually quite different. It's worth being aware of some of the key distinctions when shopping for your new TV screen.
Plasma
Plasma screens consist of thousands of pixels containing xenon and neon gas plasma sandwiched between two sheets of glass. Behind each chamber are red, blue and green phosphors. When electrical current reacts with the plasma it gives off an ultra-violet light which, in turn causes the coloured phosphors to glow.
LCD
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) consists of a network of thousands of individual liquid crystal pixels with red, blue and green components that allow light from a florescent backlight through.
Advantages of LCD and Plasma TVs over traditional sets
Attractive space savers
Not only do LCD and plasma TVs offer better picture quality, their slim line design makes them easier to fit into your home than old style (CRT) television sets. Both can also be mounted on a wall, giving you more living space than previous bulkier sets allowed.
Sharper images
Plasma and LCD screens will generally have more pixels per square inch than a standard (CRT) television set which means you'll be able to enjoy crisper and clearer pictures.
Home cinema
Plasma and LCD TVs come with a widescreen aspect for a more enjoyable, realistic experience, meaning you can watch superb quality widescreen images.
Plasma Vs LCD
Picture difference
LCD can generally produce brighter pictures than plasma however plasma may have the advantage of obtaining a higher contrast ratio. If you intend to use a large screen TV in a dedicated viewing room where a very low ambient light level can be obtained, then plasma may be the best choice. However, where a set is intended for an average living room then LCD may be more appropriate.
Size and weight
With a screen size of up to 71 inches, plasma TVs tend to be larger and heavier than LCDs. LCDs are usually no bigger than 46 inches.
Energy consumption
An LCD TV uses slightly less power than a similar size plasma screen and both consume up to 60% less energy than a traditional CRT television of the same size.
Future of screen display
Nothing stands still for long in the world of consumer electronics and new display technologies are already on the horizon. Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), Surface conductor Electron emitter Display (SED) and Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Display (FLCD) are all new techniques under development.