| LCD - The Affordable Option | | | | LCD TVs are coming with LED backlighting built in. This |
| One of the key benefits of LCD Tvs over their | | | | elevates the depth of blacks that an LCD can produce |
| Plasma rivals is cost. Not only do they consume less | | | | to Plasma standards. |
| power and therefore are cheaper to run, but they are | | | | Plasma - Advantages |
| usually significantly less expensive to purchase in the | | | | The Plasma has much to offer in the way of visual |
| first place. | | | | performance. The contrast is far greater than an LCD |
| LCD - Performance Benefits | | | | TV, so you get much better shading rather than |
| If you have a room which is drenched in natural light | | | | pixellate segments of black. The blacks they produce |
| then an LCD TV would be your best choice. The finish | | | | are far richer and more solid. They also have a much |
| of an LCD TV screen makes it far easier to watch as | | | | higher natural refresh rate than an LCD TV, so motion |
| it is less susceptible to the glare from ambient light. | | | | blurring and image break up should never be a |
| LCD TVs also have a much better 'white' display than | | | | problem. |
| Plasmas. This may not be something you'll ever notice | | | | So, the overall image quality is normally greater on a |
| as too much white on the screen can make the | | | | Plasma screen. But you will have to pay a price for |
| picture look artificial and bleached. Also the colour | | | | this increased performance ... |
| display on an LCD TV is slightly more muted or natural | | | | Plasma - Disadvantage |
| than a Plasma TV, which can make colourful images | | | | The price! They are often a lot more expensive than |
| and pictures easier to watch. | | | | their LCD counterparts. And although you are paying |
| Many people also prefer to play High Definition gaming | | | | for improved performance, very often you won't see |
| on an LCD TV. | | | | a huge differrence unless you're a true Blu-Ray junkie, |
| LCD - Disadvantages | | | | or are using a very large screen. |
| Okay, onto the drawbacks. | | | | Plasma screens are also glossy, so if you have a |
| The refresh rate on an LCD TV is not inherently as | | | | naturally bright room this can lead to reflective issues. |
| good as an LCD TV. So, fast moving images can | | | | These can be resolved by breaking the TV in for |
| often appear blurred, especially on a bigger screen. To | | | | around 150 hours and then optimising the settings, or |
| combat this LCD TV makers have come out with | | | | you can simply draw the curtains. But often this is |
| higher Refresh rates, such as 100hz or 200 hz (120 | | | | enough to put people off and persuades them to buy |
| and 240 in the US). Still this is some way short of | | | | an LCD. |
| plasma. So, if you're a fan of fast action movies or | | | | So in summary if you're plumping for a larger TV. Say |
| sports, then a Plasma could be the better option, if | | | | something over 42", you'll be better off with a Plasma |
| you're budget will stretch to it. An LCD screen could | | | | screen, or with an LCD that has a higher refresh rate |
| suffice, with a higher refresh rate, but you will be | | | | and LED backligthing. |
| paying a premium for the privilege. | | | | If you're looking for a smaller TV and want good High |
| Bizarrely, although LCDs are better at producing | | | | Definition performance without excessive costs then |
| whites, they struggle to produce deep blacks | | | | an LCD TV is definitely you're best bet. |
| compared with a Plasma TV. To offset this, modern | | | | |