| When it comes to flat TVs, two technologies come to | | | | contrast ratios which can amount up to 450:1 |
| mind, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and Plasma. A lot of | | | | compared to 200:1 for plasma TVs. |
| people are puzzled about these two types of flat | | | | Color Saturation - color saturation measures the |
| screen technologies and choosing between them can | | | | accuracy of the colors on screen based on the |
| be quite a bewildering task. If you need to compare | | | | present of gray shades, higher gray shades results into |
| LCD to Plasma TV, you may find something useful in | | | | lower saturation. Plasma TVs are famous for their high |
| the following information. | | | | color saturation due to the method it emits light. The |
| Flat Screen Technologies Compared | | | | ability of Plasma pixels to be turned off when they are |
| The LCD screen is comprised of two clear panels that | | | | not in use prevents the emission of stray light that |
| have a crystal-filled liquid between them. These | | | | diffuses color. This is why tints and hues in Plasma TV |
| crystals reposition themselves to either block light or let | | | | are noticeably more vivid and vibrant. |
| light pass through and the result of millions of crystals | | | | Size - plasma TVs are generally larger than LCD TVs. |
| doing this is the picture on the display. The action of | | | | Plasma TVs can be as big as 60 inches but can only |
| the crystals is triggered by voltage. | | | | be as small as 32 inches. LCD screens can be as |
| Plasma TV, on the other hand, is composed of millions | | | | small as 13 inches but no larger than 46 inches. Sizes |
| of small glass cells filled with rare gases such as | | | | beyond these ranges are being developed, however. |
| xenon and neon. These cells are lit by phosphors that | | | | Viewing Angle - pictures in plasma TVs are still clearly |
| are activated by electrodes. Each cell contains three | | | | discernible at about 160 degrees and even 180 |
| different colored phosphors - green, blue and red. Like | | | | degrees for some models. With LCD TVs however, |
| in the LCD screen, the combination of the millions of | | | | the picture becomes dull beyond 100 degrees. |
| cells forms the image on the display. | | | | Lifespan - Plasma TVs can last for 20,000 to 30,000 |
| Picture Quality and Performance Compared | | | | hours which means that it could run for around 20 |
| Brightness - according to independent viewers, LCD | | | | years with an average usage of 4 hours a day. LCD |
| TVs are brighter than plasma TVs. On the average, | | | | TVs last longer, with a lifespan reaching to 50,000 or |
| plasma screens have brightness ratings of about 100 | | | | even 60,000 hours, meaning it could last 40 years with |
| candelas per square meter while LCD TVs have | | | | an average daily usage of 4 hours. |
| around 450. This perception of this brightness is of | | | | Costs - since LCD TVs are generally smaller, they are |
| course dependent on where the TV is located and | | | | also less expensive compared to Plasma TVs. LCD |
| what is being watched. | | | | TVs also use less electricity |
| Contrast Ratio - contrast ratio measures the distance | | | | Flat screens are continuing to be the popular choice |
| between the darkest and whitest display of the TV, a | | | | among televisions these days. Whether it is Plasma or |
| high ratio means greater details can be discerned. In | | | | LCD, a flat TV can definitely give you a more hip |
| the real world, LCD TVs reportedly have higher | | | | viewing pleasure. |