How to Choose Between Plasma or LCD TV Screen
U.S. consumers spent more than 19 billion dollars on television sets in 2010, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, and more than 18 billion of those dollars went toward flat-panel displays. LCD televisions were the customer preference, with shoppers collectively shelling out $15 billion for the sets. At the same time, sales of large-screen plasma televisions showed a steady increase, coupled with an equally steady decrease in price. Currently, neither of the technologies can be declared as categorically superior to the other, so the question that consumers must ask is not "which is better," but rather "which is better for me?"
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Instructions
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Visit an electronics store to test plasma and LCD sets from various manufacturers. Although the specifications and prices of televisions can be compared online, there is no substitute for personally experiencing the differences in picture quality between sets. LCD televisions typically have higher native resolutions than plasma televisions, but plasma screens offer greater viewing angles and more depth of color compared to LCD sets.
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Determine the most appropriate screen size for the space the television will occupy before beginning to compare price and picture quality. LCD sets can be expensive to manufacture at very large sizes, but the biggest plasma televisions are generally the most price-competitive. If shopping for a home-theater-sized TV, a plasma set is likely to be the better value.
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Make note of the weight difference between televisions. If the new television is going to be mounted on a wall, an LCD set may be more practical; LCD televisions have plastic screens while most plasma sets come with heavier, glass screens.
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Consider the time of day during which the television will be most frequently used. Plasma screens tend to offer more contrast and detail in dark environments, while the backlights that illuminate LCD screens deliver a brighter picture that may provide a better viewing experience in well-lit rooms.
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Purchase a set that is capable of producing the highest-quality 3-D images if three-dimensional entertainment is of primary interest. Comparative testing carried out by experts at CNET revealed that plasma screen televisions offer a better 3-D viewing experience than comparable LCD TVs.
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Take the energy efficiency of each set into consideration before buying if power consumption is a household concern. LCD screens traditionally consume less energy than plasma screens, but not always. To be sure, check the box: the energy consumption information is usually listed somewhere on the packaging.
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References
- Digital America 2011: A Bright Spark for the Economy
- CNET Australia; Plasma vs. LCD, Which is Right for You; Randolph Ramsay, et. al.; June 2011
- MSNBC; Holiday TV Technology Comparison, Plasma Vs. LCD; Leslie Meredith; March 2011
- Plasma Display Coalition: Get the Facts
- Consumer Electronics Association: CEA Study Finds Dramatic Increase in TV Energy Efficiency
- Photo Credit Jochen Sand/Digital Vision/Getty Images
