Do you know which TV is better: LCD or Plasma? Which TV is better: LCD or Plasma

Despite the outward resemblance, various models flat panel TVs are very different from each other. Some are meant to be seen cable television, others can successfully replace the monitor when connected to a computer, media player or game console, and still others, in their own way huge set capabilities, they themselves can give odds to many computers.

This choice of technologies raises questions: which TV is better? Plasma or LCD?

To opt for one of the TVs, first you need to decide on the type of screen that best suits the requirements of the buyer.

To date, most manufacturers offer four main technologies, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Optimal choice flat-panel TV is a rather difficult task, therefore, in order to learn about all the nuances and technologies used in the manufacture of modern TVs, you will need to spend more than one day studying manufacturers' websites and viewing thematic forums. Or just read this article.

LCD TVs

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology became widespread back in the distant 70s, when the electronics market first appeared digital clock. Liquid crystal displays are a liquid squeezed between two boards, and changing under the influence of an electric current.

In other words, LCD televisions rely on the ability of certain liquids to reveal certain properties of crystals when they enter an electromagnetic field and polarize the light passing through them. In this case, the matrix cells become either transparent or opaque, that is, their transparency can be controlled by obtaining various gray gradations. When using color filters, a color image is obtained.

For the manufacture of the matrix, microtransistors are used that close and open each of the 3 pixel cells of a color image. TFT thin film transistors, which are control elements, are made using the screen deposition method. The number of transistors in a conventional LCD display can be as high as 1.5 million. It is even hard to imagine how complicated the matrix manufacturing process is, which requires ensuring the coordinated operation of all transistors.

For a long time, only black and white LCD TVs existed on the market, and more recently, multi-colored LCD displays used the same technology. It is no secret to anyone that in order to see the time in the dark on the LCD clock, you must first press a special button. The LCD TV screen is no different from the LCD watch screen - both devices need additional backlighting, as they themselves cannot emit light.

There are several methods of backlighting used in LCD TVs these days:

• CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) - illumination using a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.
• HCFL - backlight using a hot cathode fluorescent lamp
• LED (Light Emitting Diode) - illumination based on LED indicator.

Most often, CCFL technology is used to backlight liquid crystal LCD TVs. Such a backlight consists of many cathode ray tubes, which are located horizontally along the entire screen.

Now that it has become clear what lcd is and what it is eaten with, let's move on to the next important part of choosing a TV.

Benefits of LCD TVs

• low power consumption.
• modern design in Hi-Tech style.
• small thickness and weight.
• ideal image geometry.
• LCD TVs emit virtually no harmful electromagnetic waves because they operate at low voltage.
• there are no problems with screen burn-in or see-through, due to the fact that the liquid crystals found in the LCD are actually used only in the solid state.
• worked great when connected to a computer. LCD-TVs display the image from the computer without flickering, the TV can be used as a display.
• resolution in LCD TVs can exceed the resolution of plasma.
• LCD TV screens do not attract dust.

Disadvantages of LCD TVs

• low black depth.
• a small viewing angle, at which, during viewing from the "side places", color distortions appear and contrast is lost, the level of which depends very much on the quality and type of LCD matrix used (for example, TN + film is worse than IPS matrix) and the type of backlight (LED or CCFL). However, it should also be taken into account that good image quality is very dependent on this parameter - the brightness of the image, as well as the variety of shades, deteriorate with increasing viewing angle.
• long time response, which may cause “loops”, as well as reduce the clarity of moving objects during dynamic scenes.

However, even despite the above disadvantages, TV manufacturers consider devices with "liquid crystals" more promising, so they are constantly working on improving specifications LCD screens. Already today flagship models LCD TVs have near-reference picture quality, providing many advantages over screens made using other technologies.

LED TVs

Technology LED backlight first appeared in 2004 and is not the new kind displays, but only a variety of LCD technology. The only difference between the technologies is that in LED TVs, the backlight lamps made on the basis of a cold cathode have been replaced with LEDs. The huge advantages of such a replacement were a reduction in the thickness of the TV to three centimeters or less, a reduction in power consumption, as well as an improvement in the contrast and color reproduction of the image.

Modern LED TV models use two types of LED placement:

• direct placement (Backlight LED)
• contour placement (Edge LED)

With direct placement, a more expensive option, the backlight is set according to traditional way- behind the LCD-matrix. In the second type of placement, more compromise, the LEDs are located around the perimeter of the screen. The flow of light from the LEDs is delivered to the central areas of the screen using a system of reflectors. TVs made using this technology easily fit in ultra-thin cases that are only a couple of centimeters thick.

Speaking of LED-TVs, one cannot but mention the Local Dimming technology (local brightness control), which is successfully used in new models of LED-TVs.

Since the low image contrast in conventional LCD TVs is due to the fact that liquid crystals are not able to completely block the light source, the black color turned into a dark gray, especially noticeable when watching TV in the dark. The solution to this problem in LED TVs is the ability to complete shutdown groups of LEDs located in the dark part of the picture, due to which this area began to transmit the maximum black color. Local dimming is implemented on TVs with direct backlight placement, during which the diodes are located directly behind the image. The implementation of this technology is not possible on models with contour placement of LEDs.

Most of the manufacturers that produce only edge-lit LED TVs used a different technology - Micro Dimming. It works on a different principle, changing the brightness parameters of the diodes directly in the LCD matrix. The use of this technology also improves image contrast and deepens blacks.

Benefits of LED TVs

• minimum thickness, power consumption and weight.
• Huge selection of screen sizes - from 15" to 80".
• long service life with no restrictions during operation.
• comfortable viewing of TV programs in any lighting conditions, thanks to high brightness.

Disadvantages of LED TVs

• the depth of black is often inferior to similar models plasma TVs.
• long response time, critical when viewing dynamic scenes in movies or games.
• high demands on the quality of the incoming signal - low-resolution transmissions on LED TVs do not look the best in the best way showing their shortcomings.

OLED TVs

The advent of televisions made according to OLED technology(Organic Light Emitting Diode), users have been waiting for more than 5 years. In such TVs, the image is created by a matrix made on organic light emitting diodes.
Microscopic elements were created on the basis of light-emitting organic materials, so they do not need additional illumination, thanks to which manufacturers were able to create super-thin displays based on them, having a thickness of only a few millimeters.

OLED TVs feature the highest levels of contrast, pitch black (when turned off, the cells emit no light at all), excellent viewing angles, improved color reproduction, and instant response times.

However, the difficulties encountered in the production of large OLED panels, for a long time hindered the development of their use in televisions, although for screens mobile devices this technology has been successfully used for a long time.

In the fall of 2012, LG and Samsung launched new 55-inch OLED TVs. The cost of such TVs is still very high - about $10,000.

Benefits of OLED TVs

• excellent color reproduction.
• perfect black.
• maximum viewing angle.
• ultra-thin display thickness (less than a centimeter).

Disadvantages of OLED TVs

• very high cost.
• limited choice.

Plasma TVs

Plasma PDP (Plasma Display Panel) TVs appeared more than 10 years ago, and got their sonorous name due to the screen design, consisting of a whole array of cells, each of which contains an inert gas.

When a voltage is applied to such cells, the gas contained in them turns into a plasma, and the transition to such a state is accompanied by the emission of bright light. This light is directed into the transparent part of the chamber, which is coated with one of the three main phosphors. RGB colors- red, green or blue, and forms an image.

The difference between plasma and LCD

Due to the fact that each cell of plasma TVs emits light independently, such TVs do not need additional backlighting circuitry, which is typical for LCD screens. The resulting picture on a plasma TV is very soft and pleasing to the eye, and has a very realistic feel. color scheme. Plasma TVs also boast excellent contrast, the widest viewing angles and high speed screen updates.

However, due to the fact that plasma cells are quite large, it is simply impossible to create a plasma TV with a small diagonal and high resolution. That is why PDP TVs are never smaller than 42 inches.

When choosing a plasma TV, you should be aware that during operation it consumes much more electricity than other types of TVs and may become warmer when viewed for a long time.

Features of the technology impose restrictions on viewing time, since when a static image is shown on the screen for a long time, so-called “residual traces” may appear, in which the ghostly contours of very bright objects can remain on the TV screen for a long time.

In terms of brightness, plasma TVs are significantly inferior to LCD and LED TVs, and in bright daylight, images on PDP screens can appear more faded than on LCD models. This must be taken into account when TV viewing is planned in a well-lit room.

Although plasma TVs are inferior to LCD TVs in some respects, their new models give a great picture, and if you analyze their characteristics in the lower price segment, they have much the best ratio screen diagonal to the price than other TV models.

Benefits of Plasma TVs

• very rich black.
• high-quality picture with excellent color reproduction.
• wide viewing angles.
• high image refresh rate.
• improved transmission of dynamic scenes.
• tolerance for low quality signals.

Disadvantages of Plasma TVs

• heating during prolonged viewing.
• high power consumption.
• appearance afterimages on static elements.
• no models with large diagonal.
• brightness, inferior to LCD TVs.

So which is better plasma or LCD?

If the user needs a TV with the largest possible diagonal, which will be used mainly for watching on-air TV programs and movies, and at the same time it must have a minimum cost, then the best choice will be plasma.

If the owner of the TV plans to connect to the TV various devices such as computer, media player, game console etc., as well as play content of various formats on it, for example, digital television, images from a computer, etc., and one of the requirements is a diagonal of no more than 32", then it is better to buy an LCD TV.

Sooner or later, we all face the problem of updating our fleet of devices to display video information. And we ask ourselves the question - which technology, plasma or liquid crystal, should be preferred? This is especially true when choosing TVs with large screen sizes. Today, the most "advanced" two technologies - plasma and liquid crystal display. Both technologies (plasma and LCD) are quite good, but they have a number of differences.

Thus, both technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you need an uncompromising picture with natural color reproduction and as close to reality as possible, plasma is your choice. If most of the time you watch news and other broadcast programs on TV, without putting forward special requirements for the quality of colors and pixel response speed, you are in the world of liquid crystal technologies. Good luck choosing!

Not every adult can answer the question: what is the difference between a plasma and an LCD TV. Their capabilities, interface and characteristics have become very similar. Despite this, there are significant differences between these types of devices.

Before talking about how LCD differs from plasma, one should understand the principle of their operation and technology. Plasma (PDP) is a plate transparent color, between which there are electrodes and inert gases such as xenon and neon.

The screen is divided into special cells, which are filled with a substance that turns into a light source under voltage. The cells are separated by partitions with a special coating. With the help of an electric discharge, a plasma is formed that emits ultraviolet light.

Experts have proven that among all TVs, plasma panels provide the greatest comfort for the eyes and tire them less. It is also worth mentioning the appearance of a static image in plasma. This causes inconvenience to viewers and threatens to completely burn out pixels. Although the newer models are equipped with a modern coating that eliminates this problem, such a moment does occur when viewing plasma. Its disadvantages also include the problem of the noise of the cooling system. Over time, the fan will begin to make a characteristic sound.

LCD TV device

The liquid crystal display consists of two transparent plates. Electrodes are located along them, through which voltage passes. Liquid crystals are located between these plates and conduct light radiation.

The backlight is a fluorescent lamp and a three-color filter. LCD displays have a thin body and light weight, so they have long gained popularity among buyers. Due to their size, they can be easily placed on the wall. Installation and delivery of such a device is much easier and cheaper.

LCD TVs have exceptional functionality. You can connect a PC, various video equipment, and game consoles to them. Devices larger than 32 inches support Full HD.

Thus, the difference between these types of TV is that between the plates near the plasma there are microchambers with gas, and at the LCD - crystals. Because of different principles work follows and the difference between LCD and PDP device.

Differences in characteristics

For those who know how a plasma differs from an LCD TV, it is no longer so difficult to make a choice in favor of one or another type of device. Depending on the specific parameters, differences can be distinguished, as well as the pros and cons of one or another type of device.

Energy consumption

Plasma consumes several times more energy due to the fact that its cell is active at a voltage of 250 V, and 10 V is enough for an LCD monitor. This is due to the fact that an LCD TV screen is illuminated by special lamps, and for a PDP this glow is consumed from energy.

Screen resolution

A 42-inch plasma screen has a resolution of 860 by 420 pixels, while an LCD screen with the same diagonal has a resolution of 1280 by 768 pixels. This is because the elements of the PDP display are larger and the distance between them is more significant.

Viewing angle

The plasma monitor is almost always visible from any point, and the viewing angle of the LCD panel is usually barely up to 160 degrees. Moreover, the deviation from the viewpoint in any direction from the axis perpendicular to the screen makes the image more faded.

Contrast

A TV with liquid crystal technology does not display blacks as clearly and deeply as a plasma. This significantly affects the quality of the picture. Usually LCD TVs have a contrast ratio of 500:1, and for a PDP panel it is quite normal indicators are 2000:1 and 4000:1.

Lifetime

Both types of devices have almost the same service life - about 10,000 hours, only the brightness decreases in different ways over time. Thus, in plasma, it decreases in the first 5 years, and after changes it decreases almost imperceptibly. For LCD panels, the screen brightness decreases gradually and smoothly during the entire period of service.

Response speed

Plasmas have a very fast response time due to the lightning-fast transmission of electricity through the xenon. LCDs from yesteryear had problems with this. Modern technologies allowed to reduce the response speed in them to 8 ms.

Price

The cost of PDP panels is inversely proportional to their screen size. The larger the diagonal, the smaller the TV. With the LCD device, the situation is quite the opposite. The smaller its dimensions, the cheaper it is. Previously, plasmas were much cheaper than LCDs. After the latter gained great popularity, their price was almost equal.

Summing up, we can say that best quality pictures, unequivocally, at PDP-TVs. They offer excellent dynamic image reproduction and brighter, more vibrant colors that work well in a dark room. To watch TV both during the day and in the evening, it is better to purchase an LCD device.

Today, PDP TV models are being released less and less, and buyers prefer to choose LCD and LED technologies. Most likely, the market will not stop selling plasmas at all in the near future, and many users are very upset because of this, because they are satisfied with the picture quality and other advantages of this technology.

At some point, each of us is trying to solve the question "LCD or plasma TV, which is better, which model to choose, which manufacturer to prefer?". It is very difficult to unequivocally answer the question posed, since each technology is good in its own way, has its admirers and the right to life. Since the choice still has to be made, let's try to deal with the features of both.

A television is a device designed to receive signals accompanied by sound from an antenna and other offline devices for later display on the screen. Modern TVs they also play the role very well. home theater and a playing field for lovers of various computer games. At present, thanks to interesting design and the small thickness of the panel, such devices can be easily placed anywhere in the apartment.

In order to decide which TV is better than plasma or LCD, you should understand these two concepts.

The basis of LCD or LCD technology is liquid crystals. Since they do not glow on their own, backlighting is necessary to obtain an image. The outer layers of the liquid crystal panel are most often made of glass, inside between the polarizing filters and the panels, there is a thin film transistor, a color filter panel and a layer of crystals with back or side illumination.

Light coming from LEDs, fluorescent or fluorescent lamps passes through a layer of liquid crystals, the molecules of which are constantly moving. The image is formed by pixels painted in different colors - indivisible dotted or rectangular elements. Each pixel has a red, blue, and green subpixel. These three colors are considered the basis of color television, and by combining them you can achieve any shade. Image quality depends on the power of the lamps: the stronger the lamp, the better the color.

Advantages

• thanks to the lightness and slim body the TV can be placed on the wall, saving space in the room;
• Not big sizes, high pixel density guarantee high device resolution, respectively, excellent image clarity;
• equipment of the fifth, sixth, seventh series, which has a diagonal of 32 inches, supports Full HD format (the TV can be used as a monitor, the resulting picture is characterized excellent quality Images);
• game consoles, various photo, audio, video, computer and other equipment can be connected to this device without any problems;
• a wide selection of diagonals allows you to choose best option for rooms of any size (from the kitchen to the huge living rooms);
• a sufficiently large viewing angle of 178 degrees allows you to watch programs in a large room from almost anywhere;
• low power consumption;
• the screen practically does not attract dust;
• long service life (over 75 thousand hours);
• acceptable prices.

Flaws:

• after some time, the screen brightness decreases;
• insufficient black depth.

Features of plasma panels

To understand how plasma differs from LCD, consider how plasma panels work.

Plasma is a matrix consisting of a huge number of geometric cells (pixels). The device works like discharge lamp. Each pixel consists of microlamps (subpixels) filled with neon and xenon. The voltage is applied by means of an electrode connected to the lamps. The walls of the latter are treated with a special compound. The voltage, after exposure to the gas, emits ultraviolet light and turns it into plasma. The final shade depends on mixing the primary colors: red, green and blue. The voltage is controlled by the electronic module: the higher it is, the brighter the glow.

• the image is clear and bright colors;
• saturation and good contrast of shades;
• conveys black color well;
• a wide view that allows you to enjoy viewing from anywhere in the apartment;
• sufficiently large screen sizes can reproduce widescreen images;
• lines of uninterrupted service is about 30 thousand hours or 17 years;
• 3D support;
• no flicker.

• significant weight makes it difficult to mount on the wall;
• consumption more electricity;
• surface vulnerability;
• over time, the intensity of the glow of some elements may decrease;
• fan operation is often accompanied by noise;
• the cost of technology.

What is better LCD or Plasma?

Today, both liquid crystal and plasma technology continues to develop. As seen earlier, both options are not perfect, which means that each has certain pros and cons. So what is the difference between a plasma TV and a liquid crystal TV, which one should be preferred, what criteria should be followed when choosing?

1. Owners of a small apartment should opt for a liquid crystal model. The reason is simple: plasma panel technology does not allow the production of TVs with a screen size of up to 32 inches. So if you want a lightweight, compact device for watching TV, an LCD TV is the way to go.
2. The plasma panel differs from the LCD in the level of emitted noise. Those wishing to acquire a less noisy unit better fit liquid crystal model. It is possible that a fairly loud fan of a budget plasma can cause irritation. In addition, such TVs heat up less, which makes it possible to install them in specially equipped niches.
3. The uptime of the LCD model is twice as long. Unfortunately, plasma cannot boast of durability.
4. LCD TVs are considered more economical as they use less power;
5. Those who want to buy huge TV(for example, from 42 inches and above) they will not do without a plasma panel. Even with the same size, it is somewhat cheaper.
6. The risk of "dead pixels" in plasma panels is lower than that of opponents. dead pixels It is customary to name cells that are always filled with the same color. The reason for the appearance of this defect is directly the manufacturer's defect, miscalculations in the technological process.
7. Consumers who prioritize image color and contrast should be aware of the following: the color level of both models is not much different, the contrast ratio of plasma panels is better, the images are clearer. LCD TVs have a softer, slightly blurry picture.
8. The turn-on time of a plasma panel is shorter than that of an LCD TV.
9. The quality of the resulting image also depends on the illumination of the room in which the TV is installed. The LCD device guarantees quality viewing in a well-lit room. Fans of watching TV with the lights off are more suitable for plasma panels.
10. Plasma's viewing angle is better than LCD models.

Thus, to sum up: the picture on the plasma is much more realistic than on the LCD TV screen. However, if you're looking for a lower price point with more detail, an LCD TV is the way to go. As it were, final decision always accepted by the buyer.

Electronic developments are rushing forward with huge strides, offering us ever newer, more advanced and technologically advanced TVs. The image quality and resolution is getting better, the design is getting thinner, the “brains” are “smarter”. And the buyer has the widest choice, which lies not only in brands, but also in technologies: LCD, ice and plasma are offered on the market. What is better and how they differ, now we will figure it out.

Perhaps these TVs were pioneers from the world of new technologies. Even when "plasma" entered the market, mass sales still fell on cathode ray tube televisions, since the novelty was initially quite expensive.

Technologically, a plasma panel consists of two glass plates, between which there is a matrix of cells filled with gas. Transparent electrodes conduct current to the cells, from which the gas turns into plasma and begins to glow. The ultraviolet radiation of the plasma causes the illumination of the phosphor red, green and blue flowers. It is these colors in different ratios that the computer controls that we see on TV.

Today, this type of TV is considered obsolete, and plasma models are becoming less and less. However, some manufacturers continue to produce plasma panels, improving their quality. Plasma diagonals are large, since it is impossible to make a high resolution on compact models due to large pixels.

The advantages of plasma can be called:

• deep and bright colors;
• excellent contrast due to perfect black color;
• wide angle view up to 180 degrees;
• long service life, the longest among TVs - up to 30 years;
• 3D technology has also reached plasma.

But there are also disadvantages:

• the highest power consumption;
• the panel sometimes rejoices in the sun;
• the panel is quite heavy, problems with mounting on the wall;
• pixels burn out on static images.

If we said that plasma panels were the pioneers of new technologies among TVs, then liquid crystals were at the origins of all electronics in general. The first LCD display appeared back in the 1970s. Then it was monochrome screens on watches, calculators, and various devices. A little later, the first laptops with an LCD display appeared, but they were primitive developments at the very dawn of the LCD era.

The first LCD TVs began to appear at the beginning, and became massive in the mid-2000s.

Thanks to small diagonals from 14 to 32 inches and affordable price, they quickly became popular and bypassed plasma in sales, although at that time they were much inferior in image quality.

The LCD screen is based on liquid crystals, which are located between layers of glass or polymer plates. This layer of crystals forms a matrix with a huge number of pixels. The backlighting behind the panel provides the glow, while the RGB matrix provides the colors.

LCD TVs can be fully called the reason for the exit from the CRT market (these are those thick boxes with a flickering kinescope). And although CRTs were much better in image quality, new technologies took over. Since then, a lot of time has passed, and the quality of the LCD has improved quite a bit.

Let's list their advantages:

• low power consumption (think of a watch that runs on a single battery);
• no static voltage - does not attract dust and does not shock;
• even a small screen can be made in Full HD resolution;
• low price;
• light, and today - very light.

And disadvantages:

• contrast worse than plasma and ice;
• limited viewing angle;
• insufficient black depth and contrast;
• the only "regular" screen resolution;
• response time, i.e. image change time is not the best.

Of course, the pros and cons vary depending on the cost. specific model and manufacturer level. For example, premium brands will show excellent contrast ratio, wide viewing angle, and all other data will be on high level. And the cheapest models, on the contrary, will exacerbate the shortcomings several times, and their work time is also limited. In general, LCD TVs last 7-10 years.

In 2010, the so-called LED TV began to spread. In fact, this is an ordinary LCD TV, but with some changes. They use LED backlighting, which has a brighter light, due to which the brightness of the picture is increased and the color reproduction becomes more natural. If the LED is off, then it does not create any glow, hence the image contrast has become better, and the black color is completely black. In general, in almost all respects in the field of image quality, LED is ahead of the LCD. Plus, the power consumption has been improved.

It should be understood that the mere presence of LED screen backlight does not give one hundred percent advantage. As in the previous cases, the quality of the image depends on the manufacturer and the technologies implemented by him. The most famous brands, of course, have latest developments and use the best GPUs. Second-tier firms have past-generation technologies in stock.

The advantages of such TVs can be considered:

• brightness and clarity;
• excellent colors, excellent contrast;
• at high resolution, for example 4K, the picture acquires amazing quality and volume.

Flaws:

• as on LCD, limited viewing angle;
• the price usually bites.

But here it is worth making a digression and revealing the marketing secret. True LED TVs are not exactly what you just read about. Yes, in all stores by "ice" they mean ordinary LCDs, but with LED backlight. However, true LED displays have a completely different technology. In such devices, each pixel is illuminated by a separate LED. The first such TV was invented back in 1977 and has not yet received mass distribution. The fact is that it is extremely difficult to make a compact TV with hundreds of thousands of LEDs at an affordable price. But large panels are quite common in outdoor advertising.

There is probably no unequivocal answer, which is better - LCD, plasma or LED. As we can see, everyone has both advantages and disadvantages. If you prefer to watch movies in a small room, and sometimes use your TV as a PC monitor, then you should definitely look at the LCD. If you have a large dark room, you often watch football matches, and in general you prefer not to turn off the TV, then a large plasma is perfect option. If you are chasing perfect quality, then you have to fork out for LED. But in any case, you choose, and we just gave you a direction.