Plasma or LCD?

**Usarka** · 4th December 2007, 15:41

I hate tv, love music and film. But it's starting to get embarrasing watching a 12 year old 20" tv dwarfed by some good hi-fi surround sound kit.

So i've got the chance to buy a telly at a very discount rate. So i thought id ask some bikers their opinion about home electronics, as you do.

what is better, plasma or LCD???? (looking around 42")

aarrghhh too hard....

**Steam** · 4th December 2007, 15:44

TV rots yer brain. Sock!

**jim.cox** · 4th December 2007, 15:46

plasma has high energy consumption and is subject to burn-in. LCD for me

**spookytooth** · 4th December 2007, 15:52

gotta big lcd total shit with out sky digi

**007XX** · 4th December 2007, 16:01

Originally Posted by jim.cox

plasma has high energy consumption and is subject to burn-in. LCD for me

Yep definitely...I used to sell both, and quite honnestly, the rate of plasma TVs being brought back in for faults was just staggering. They are very unstable (the gas inside is), and hate being moved as well...

**Street Gerbil** · 4th December 2007, 16:01

Plasma burn-in is highly overexaggerated. LCD colors look artificial and oversaturated. Get yourself a reference DVD (or better yet borrow a blu-ray), go to EasternHiFi and ask them to show you the difference. You will be blown away.

**Deviant Esq** · 4th December 2007, 16:12

Depends on what you want. Plasma TVs have a half life: a plasma TVs brightness will decrease over time, just like those really old tube TVs your grandparents still have. They also run a lot hotter, are a lot heavier (two valid points if you intent on mounting it on the wall), and use more electricity. They're also the older, less efficient technology - they usually have a lower pixel count than the equivalent LCD.

LCDs don't lose brightness over time, but generally speaking colours aren't quite as sharp - even with the higher pixel / resolution rating, they don't seem to look quite as "nice" as a high end plasma. That said, the gap is closing very rapidly - LCD will overtake at some point in the near future.

If you watch a lot of fast moving stuff, plasma is better since LCDs have a "response time" - a delay between the input telling it what's happening, and the panel displaying that picture. That means you can sometimes see "ghosting" on fast moving stuff - though generally this is a thing of the past with the older slower LCD panels. A low quality input here doesn't help matters. Use quality cables - component video - and you should be just fine.

If it was me - LCD. I used to sell both, and that'd be my choice. If plasmas were more practical I'd go with one though - something about a high end plasma picture that's just yum - especially with a quality DVD and home theature surround sound...

**JimO** · 4th December 2007, 16:36

i have a 52inch samsung plasma was told plasma over 40 inch by several people and really dont give a shit if it goes bang because it was cheap

**Drunken Monkey** · 4th December 2007, 16:37

I use a projector for films and sport. Best option if you're looking for BIG, plus turning the lights down and watching a projected image gives you that cinema feeling that you just don't get with a TV, Plasma, LCD, Rear Proj or otherwise.

Skody old TV does fine for skody old TV shows...

**diddie17** · 4th December 2007, 16:39

Depends what you're looking for I guess, I have both, I've got a nice Pioneer 50 inch plasma and a 42 inch Sony LCD (obviously in two different rooms).

For picture quality and watchability I'd take the plasma over the LCD any day. Having said that the LCD is easier to live with in the family room, I can have consoles connected up to it without worrying about the kids leaving them on and burning the screen etc, it does run cooler and probably if I actually checked is slightly less noisy (fan noise can be an issue on plasmas).

The main reason for getting the LCD rather than the plasma for the family room was computer connectivity for media centre and moving the kids internet browsing to an environment where it could be monitored.

I guess I feel as probably does everyone else that I have the best compromise for me. If I am watching TV or a sports event or movie then I will go and watch it on the plasma. For day to day use, TV being on in the background, console use and computer connectivity then I would go with the LCD.

**EJK** · 4th December 2007, 16:46

I vote for CRT! lol!

**Paul in NZ** · 4th December 2007, 16:46

I work for a large japanese electronics company that makes top end commercial gear.... including screens.

Basically - be it plasma or lcd - cheap rubbish is cheap rubbish and there is a lot of utter crap out there on the market..... fact is - some brands ARE generally better than the others but they all drop the ball occasionally.

Others have given you good info. I'd add....

If you are planning on watching the screen at night or in well controlled light situations (ie no sunlight or reflections from large areas of glass) then plasma is OK as long as you get a good one.

If glare or sunlight or bright lighting is an issue - LCD wins every time.

Minimum in either these days is 1366 x 768 pixels. Don't worry about all the contrast figures and other bollocks as most of it is NOT measured to a uniform standard and is different between the 2 technologies anyway. DO make sure the salesman has not bumped up the brightness, contrast etc, ie all picture settings are in the middle of the range. Take in a sample of what you might watch and find a picture YOU like.

If you have SKY, freeview or saturn and a home theatre - think about getting a commercial monitor (no tuner or speakers) as they last 3 times longer. Consider what connections you have and use a decent quality cable - no need to go crazy but again - rubbish is rubbish. If possible - MAKE sure the DVD player / set top box and screen are all on the same electrical cct in the house.

If you want a few white papers (not by us) on the matter - pm me and I'll send you some.

Good luck - remember - it's your bloody money and your opinion counts!

Paul N

**Street Gerbil** · 4th December 2007, 16:55

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

think about getting a commercial monitor (no tuner or speakers) as they last 3 times longer.

I second that. I got one of them industrial plasma monitors on sale, hooked it up to the freeview box, computer, and a DVD player and I am really happy about the whole setup. Works like a charm (as long as I ignore the noise from four large cooling fans).