Video Guys- Plasma, LCD? Opinions Please..

[Furious_Male]

I am looking to add a nice TV to one of my living rooms. The thing is its not a room I spend a lot of time in so it will be something that gets used maybe once a week (meaning I don't want to spend a ton). I do want to go with a LCD or Plasma though because the room is decorated and designed to accomodate a thin TV nothing big and bulky.

Whats a good TV for a room like that? The bigger the better as I am used to a 52 inch HD wide screen in my main living room.

Is Plasma out? I hear they dont last as long as LCD but I noticed the prices have dropped.

Any input is appreciated. Thanks

[Mr Pheer]

Plasma is losing its popularity because LCD is big & clear now and affordable.

But take a look at a DLP rear projection, they are alot thinner than a normal rear projection and its about the best technology out right now.

[Project-Shadow]

Pros and Cons of Each

Brightness
Brightness in LCD and plasma screens is typically expressed as candelas per square meter (cd/m2). Typically, plasmas are listed at 500-700 cd/m2, but independent reviewers say that that the brightness of plasma is closer to 100 cd/m2. Conversely, LCD TVs typically get a brightness rating of 450 cd/m2, again when measured independently.

Contrast Ratio
Contrast ratio is the measurement of the brightest white against the blackest black that the TV can create. The higher the contrast ratio, the easier it is to discern details on the screen. Current plasmas measure contrast ratios of up to 3000:1. However, independent reviewers believe that measured in real world viewing situations, contrast ratios for plasma TVs drop to approximately 200:1. Conversely, LCD TV contrast ratios range from 350-450:1 when measured using the same realistic standards.

Color Saturation
Color saturation describes the amount of grey in a color. The more grey, the lower the saturation. Plasma has the advantage over LCD in the area of color saturation because of it's method to light blocking. Plasma is able to completely turn off pixels when not in use, so that no stray light dilutes the colors. The way LCD technology works means that there is some stray light and therefore obtaining true color is difficult.

Screen Size
Right now, the plasma market offers TVs as big as 60 inches, and no plasma TV is available smaller than 32 inches. LCD screen sizes range from 13 inches to 46 inches, and because of manufacturing innovations, larger models are becoming available every year. Look for LCDs to catch up in this area soon.

Viewing Angle
Historically, plasma TVs have had a larger viewing angle, at about 160 degrees, when measured against older LCD TVs. However, the newer model LCD TVs have viewing angles up to 175 degrees.

Burn In
Burn in is what happens when an image stays on a plasma screen for an extended period of time. LCD's are not at all susceptible to burn in. While Plasma TVs are vulnerable, some newer plasma TVs have added features that combat it.

Lifespan
Typical plasma TVs have a life span of 20,000 to 30,000 hours, which equates to at about 20 years of usage if you have the set on for 4 hours a day. The lifespan of an LCD TV is typically 50,000 to 60,000 hours, or about 40 years running 4 hours daily.

Response Time
Response time is the amount of time, measured in milliseconds (ms), that it takes for a pixel to go from active to inactive and back to active again. Lower numbers mean faster transitions and fewer visible image artifacts. Plasma TVs were made to handle rapid movement on the screen more effectively. They can have response times as low as 15 ms. LCD TVs started as PC displays, and so the need to show fast movement wasn't critical; somewhere around 25 ms. LCD manufacturers have been steadily improving their response times as the demand for fast moving, full motion video has increased. Newer model LCD TVs can have response times as fast as 16 ms.

Power Conservation
Because the crystals in LCD TV do not produce light, the technology is labeled as "non-emissive," which means it does not give off radiation like the CRT. Cold cathode light sources, like fluorescent tubes, which use only a little power, are used to illuminate the image. LCDs also use less power than plasma televisions, because plasma requires powering hundreds of electrodes to stimulate the phosphors.

Conclusion
Knowing that flat TV is not going away, there is no time like the present to start enjoying all the advantages that these new technologies

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Erm.. I would go with plasma personally.

[Furious_Male]

Thanks for the info project_shadow. Saved me some research.

Pheer you have me looking at 3k-4k TVs now. Damn you

DLP rear projection does look like a nice option. Amazing how thin they are.

[FreeHugeMovies]

Plasma was just too expensive for me and they are suppose to die every 4 years. With an LCD you just have to replace the bulb every 4 years.

[Huggles]

A couple months ago I bought a 42" LCD rear projection Grand Wega III for using as a monitor for my computer gaming machine.


I HIGHLY recommend this screen. Flawless!

[Furious_Male]

Originally posted by Huggles
A couple months ago I bought a 42" LCD rear projection Grand Wega III for using as a monitor for my computer gaming machine.


I HIGHLY recommend this screen. Flawless!

Is this it.. Nice

[quiet]

i love my new 55 inch Sony XBR plasma - the most stunning TV i've ever had the pleasure of viewing films on.



http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...=KDE 55XBR950