Which TV is better: LCD or plasma. Which TV is better: plasma or LCD or ice
Production technologies modern TVs empower them different characteristics So there is a significant difference between LCD panel and plasma. If you are faced with a choice in favor of one model or another, it is important to evaluate all the pros and cons of each type. Household devices of this type are purchased for a long period of time, and full awareness of exactly how they differ will help prevent an annoying mistake.
Types of LCD Panels
The answer would not be complete without an overview of the types of LCD TVs. Modern market offers three leading technologies. Each differs in both operating principle and cost. The latest developments are the most “advanced”, budget models the simplest ones, they are obsolete, but to this day they are in great demand due to their affordability and practicality.
For a complete understanding, it should be clarified that only those models of LCD TVs that are currently sold will be analyzed. They are significantly superior to samples from earlier years of production.
Like any new product, an OLED panel is more expensive than previous types, and the difference can reach 10 times the size. This is compensated by an excellent image, as well as an impressive diagonal of more than 55 inches.
Practical differences between the two technologies
The difference between an LCD panel and a plasma TV can be boiled down to a few key points; in fact, these are what buyers are guided by. Sales consultants in stores can provide similar information.
- Brightness and Contrast. For LCD TVs (except OLED), these figures are lower than for plasma. The reason is that the backlit liquid crystals transmit light into adjacent speakers, making the black color more like dark gray. Plasma, in turn, does not need backlighting, providing a bright, rich and contrasting picture.
- Saving. The plasma panel consumes significantly more electricity, about 300-450 W, the LCD device consumes 10 times less. Knowing this, you can save a lot of money.
- Overheat. All plasma panels are prone to this. The cooling in them is forced, which is why the sound of the fan is heard. This is compensated by the fact that such TVs are large in size, they are watched from afar, at a distance of 3-4 m.
- Viewing angle. For an LCD panel, it is limited to 160-180° vertically and horizontally. When the angle is exceeded (viewed from the side or from below), the contrast drops and the screen becomes lighter or darker. Plasma has no limitations.
- Duration of work. The plasma panel is designed for 40,000 hours of operation, after which the screen burns out, all the advantages of a rich picture are lost, and liquid crystal displays do not lose quality (conditional service life of 80,000 hours). But, if you look at the reviews of plasma users, the first signs of color loss can be noted after 4 years of intensive use.
- Safety for humans. Both technologies are completely environmentally friendly and safe for the human body.
- Reliability. In terms of mechanical reliability, “plasma” wins somewhat.
- Price. Quite a lot of LCD TVs at a price that everyone can afford. In the general assortment, LCD devices cover all price categories, and “plasma” devices cover medium and high prices.
These are all the main characteristics that distinguish an LCD panel from a plasma TV. Manufacturers may be the same, for example, Panasonic produces both liquid crystal and plasma displays.
Functionality of two technologies
If we consider only modern developments, then both liquid crystal and plasma TVs equipped with all advanced options. This may include permission Full screen HD (1080p, 1080i) or ; support for 3D, HDTV and major television standards.
Important to know! For watching regular TV: cable or antenna, budget LCD TV models are suitable, while more technologically advanced OLED or plasma panels are designed for watching DVDs or movies from media. Their high resolution significantly exceeds the quality of the broadcast analogue television: It appears blurry and unclear on large displays.
Plasma devices, having large sizes, always combine a variety of functions. LCD budget models may differ in resolution (720p, 1080p), support basic video formats, have a USB connector, but in general they are quite simple TVs. However, it is not entirely appropriate to compare such devices with plasma panels. OLED panels They can easily compete with “plasma” in size, cost, and picture quality. But they are distinguished by a lower price and economical energy consumption.
Plasma panel Panasonic TH-85VX200W
To sum it up
Plasma panel - large premium TV with standard specifications and excellent images. Assessing the diagonal and functionality, we can conclude that such panels are inexpensive, but their range in stores is too narrow. However, if you want to organize, then plasma will be justified.
LCD displays presented rich choice, diverse functionality, wide price range. You can find both budget and premium models. They are produced in various colors (mostly black or white). The set of options can be anything, from the maximum to the simplest, understandable to people who rarely use electronics or are poorly versed in them.
This way everyone can choose optimal model TV among plasma or LCD TVs.
Nobody needs old TVs with picture tubes anymore: low screen resolution in combination with overall impressive dimensions and a very limited set of functions are uncompetitive qualities in modern world. Stylish thin TVs are now on store shelves. But which one should you buy? Which is better: LCD or plasma? What advantages and disadvantages do they have?
Features of plasma TVs
Plasma panels work on the principle gas discharge lamp. Their surface consists of a huge number of small lamp cells filled with gas (xenon and neon are most often used, helium and argon are sometimes used). One pixel represents three such cells, each of which is “responsible” for one of the primary colors: red (R), green (G) and blue (B). In order for a pixel to glow, it is coated with a phosphor.
While the TV is operating, an electric charge is supplied to the gas-containing cone through the electrode. After that, ultraviolet radiation occurs in the plasma formed from the mixture of gases, and colors appear visible to the human eye. The brightness of the pixels depends on the voltage. The picture displayed on the TV screen is easily formed from three available colors: such a “palette” is enough to obtain almost any shade.
How LCD TVs work
LCD or LCD displays operate on the basis of liquid crystal matrices. The TV design is roughly the following diagram: there are two glass plates on which thin-film TFT transistors and electrodes are sputtered. Between these plates there are liquid crystals from which the pixel array is formed. Each pixel has an RGB stencil in front of it, thanks to which the image appears on the display. Similar to plasma, all shades are formed from three basic colors.
Since liquid crystals themselves cannot glow, backlighting is necessary. It is provided by fluorescent or fluorescent lamps. To ensure that the light flux is distributed evenly across the screen, a special diffuser is located in front of the display. True, in this case you have to sacrifice a little on the contrast and brightness of the image.
A subtype of LCD TVs are LED models. They appeared relatively recently and, in fact, are not new, but simply improved LCD display technology. Basics difference LED The problem is that the illumination of such screens is provided by LEDs. Moreover, in this case, the backlight can be side (the “simpler” option) or back (considered to be of higher quality, which affects the increase in the price of the TV). Backlighting involves placing colored elements behind the LCD panel, thereby maintaining high level image contrast and brightness.
Plasma or LCD: which is better? Pros and cons
Both LCD TVs and plasma panels have the right to take “honorable” place in the apartment. Difficulties in choosing are associated with maneuvering between the advantages and disadvantages of these models: it can be difficult to determine which properties of a TV are fundamental, and which negative characteristics you can turn a blind eye to.
| Screen type | Pros | Cons |
| Plasma |
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| LCD |
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| LED |
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When choosing a TV, you should not chase only the picture quality “no matter what it takes.” Most viewers do not notice color rendering errors and live quietly without excellent brightness, being content with simply good performance.
If you give your last money for expensive model, flattered by the “full immersion” and excellent reproduction of color depth promised by the manufacturer, you can fall into a trap. Modern TVs often fall into disrepair, as they consist of many parts, the breakdown of one of which entails expensive repairs. Therefore, there is a considerable risk that after several months of watching films in excellent quality, you will be left without a TV at all, since there will simply be no money for its “treatment.”
LCD or plasma: which is better to buy for home?
Deciding on the most suitable look TV, you need to answer the following questions:
- How much do you plan to spend on the purchase? Depending on the budget, you should “dance” further.
- Which room should I buy the TV for? The minimum plasma size is 32 inches, so it can only be placed in a large room, for example, in a hall. LCD models are better suited for kitchens and bedrooms: among LCD and LED, you can choose both a “crumb” 16-inch model and the basis for a real home theater 80 inches or more.
- What are you planning to watch? Dynamic scenes work better with plasma, so sports fans and action movie connoisseurs should buy it. For viewers who are just going to watch TV, an LCD model will be enough.
- How will children and pets get along with the new TV? Many plasma panels went into the “other world” due to the fact that a small child threw a toy at the screen. Subsequently, a characteristic “cobweb” appears on the display, making viewing impossible. As a rule, the cost of repairs is such that it is easier to buy new TV. Therefore, if potential “pests” live in the house, you need to look for a model with a protective screen.
In fact, both LCD and plasma do a good job with their main function - showing movies and TV shows. So don't hesitate too long. If you want excellent quality and a little style for the wall - you should buy a plasma panel, a good enough picture without overpaying - you need to choose an LCD.
10 months ago
From time to time we buy household appliances and electronics, including a TV. After all, sometimes you need to update it. What if old TV burned out, then there is no need to spend money on repairing it. It's better to buy a new one right away. But which one exactly? Which model should you prefer?
We must admit that choosing a TV for modern man can be difficult. In the sense that the store offers so much of everything. TVs different manufacturers. Their characteristics are different. And therefore the price can vary greatly. A variety of technologies are used for their manufacture.
However, it is very important for the buyer to decide right away which technology is better? LCD TV or plasma? Or maybe LED? To help the buyer with the choice of a TV, then we will go into some detail about what needs to be taken into account when buying a TV, which TV should you choose?
Plasma panel
What does a consumer value most in a plasma TV? Research has shown that what he values most is excellent quality pictures. Consumers also like the depth of color rendering.
It is not difficult to explain how this quality is obtained. The point is that for plasma technology It is inherent in an image that each cell has its own color. And it acts as an independent microscopic kinescope.
The basis of the TV is a pair of glass plates of high transparency. Between these plates there is a space in which special vessels are located. It is in them that electrically charged gases are concentrated. When exposed electric charge the gas begins to glow.
The surface of each vessel is coated with a fluorescent phosphor composition. Each pixel of a plasma TV consists of three vessels, which are filled with red, green and blue phosphor.
Please note that if you control the level of three colors, you can achieve reproduction of any color. In order to control the level of electrical charge acting on the vessel, a computer is needed.
Nowadays there are many ratings of plasma panels. Moreover, they are very contradictory. From the point of view of some, the technology has already outlived its usefulness. And as an argument, the fact is given that there are not so many manufacturers now who continue to produce plasma.
IMPORTANT! However, no matter what anyone says, such technology is always of the highest quality. And we must admit that such quality is not available to other technologies.
ADVANTAGES such models
In contrast and bright intense colors;
- in a clear image of high quality;
- 3D support;
- in a wide viewing angle;
- in a wide range of large TVs, with a diagonal of up to 80 inches.
- large size screen;
- in a realistic image.
IMPORTANT! Each frame is smoothly replaced by another, there is no flickering or unpleasant color “waves”. On average, a plasma TV lasts about twenty years.
FLAWS
Surfaces are vulnerable to damage;
The surface is highly reflective, and therefore the anti-reflective coating does not always cope;
You will have to pay a lot to buy a plasma TV. Anyone who cannot afford the extra costs will certainly not be able to buy such a TV.
Devices that operate using plasma technology can, in some cases, consume a lot of energy. In particular, the power consumption of a model with a diagonal of 42 inches can be about 350 W.
When a static picture remains on the screen for a long time, individual pixels fail. They may stop burning altogether. Or they can burn constantly. Neither one nor the other will bring pleasure to the viewer.
There are also models of plasma TVs that are heavy. Sometimes it is 90 kg. You cannot do without a powerful bracket if you are going to securely mount the TV on the wall.
LCD TV (LCD technology)
Why is it difficult for the average consumer to choose between LCD or plasma? This is because technologies have a lot in common. The design of an LCD TV is a structure that has many layers.
Electrodes and TFT thin-film transistors are deposited onto parallel glass plates by sputtering. The space between them is filled with liquid crystals, which form a thin layer. Thanks to them, an array of many pixels is formed.
An RGB stencil is placed in front of each pixel. Polarizing filters are applied to the plates, the axes of which are perpendicular to each other. Fluorescent CCFL lamps are required for backlighting.
When voltage is applied, the shape of the crystals changes and they polarize the light. In order to control the light transmission of the crystals, it is necessary to change the voltage on the electrodes. With the help of transistors, one of the three cells on the RGB stencil is opened. To form a color image, you need to combine the basic colors: green, red, blue.
IMPORTANT! Please note that if you purchase digital set-top box to the TV, the picture quality will improve.
It's hard to choose between LCD or plasma TVs. However, many LCDs still have POSITIVE DIFFERENCES:
Compact design;
- There is no flickering;
- Energy consumption is low;
- There is no static voltage at the screen;
- The price is inexpensive;
- Low noise level;
- Long term operation. It can be twice as long as plasma (75 thousand hours versus 30 thousand hours).
FLAWS
Contrast is lower;
Black depth is low. Black color is not saturated enough. It is not perceived as black, but dark blue. This can be explained by the specific technology of manufacturing liquid crystal screens. However, you won't notice this when you watch TV in a room where there is good lighting;
If the viewing angle is increased, the brightness and hue of the image deteriorates;
Compared to plasma LCD TVs, there are no problems due to static images. They consume less energy. Prices are low. At the same time, image quality suffers.
IMPORTANT! So, which is better, plasma or LCD TV? For an avid film fan who values clarity and dynamism of the picture, we can recommend plasma. Accordingly, the LCD can be recommended to those who often watch news and other broadcast programs. After all, there is no point in spending a lot of money on this.
LED panels
There is one and only difference, and it is the replacement of fluorescent backlighting with LED arrays. These arrays include both white and multi-colored RGB LEDs. It is these innovations that consumers value. They see many positive changes in this.
Types of LED backlight:
Edge, quite simple and inexpensive. It has LEDs located around the perimeter of the screen. To ensure that the backlight is distributed evenly, a special film is used for dispersion. She is behind the screen. The main advantage is that it is possible to produce very thin panels. Up to 1 cm!
Direct, in which the LEDs are distributed evenly throughout the entire volume.
ADVANTAGES technologies:
Perfectly conveys contrast, brightness and colors;
- Realistic display and three-dimensional image;
- It is possible to adjust the brightness in different areas.
FLAWS technologies:
Worst viewing angle. That's why it's difficult to choose which is better - LCD or LED TV;
Brightness is sometimes distributed unevenly across the screen;
Colors occasionally appear unnatural and incorrect;
Great cost. Perhaps this is the only reason why LED TVs have not yet replaced LCD and plasma on the market.
There are few models with a diagonal of less than 40 inches. If you want to buy a small TV, then you need to choose from plasma or LCD TVs.
IMPORTANT! The characteristics of these TVs are such that, as a result, they are a cross between plasma and LCD. The image quality is much higher than the first ones. You need less energy than the second one. However, the prices of LED TVs are high. Not everyone can afford to buy such a TV.
How should you choose a TV for your home?
First of all, the buyer must clearly understand for what purpose he is making such a purchase? That is, what the TV will be used for. For example, someone needs it in order to watch news and television programs on the air. But some people need it to enjoy concerts and action films. And you need to determine where it will be?
1. SCREEN TYPE
It’s not hard to guess that the kitchen and living room require completely different screens.
The living room usually contains a wide variety of household appliances. Here they install, for example, speaker systems, DVD and Blu-Ray players and more. Therefore, experts believe that full-scale plasma would be appropriate here.
The role of TV in the kitchen is different. Here, according to tradition, he serves as a background. Therefore, a compact LCD TV can fit well in the kitchen.
In the bedroom, as a rule, it is customary to watch cable TV and Internet content. IN in this case This good option not only for plasma, but also LCD or LED, which correspond to the size of the room and how the format equipment is located.
2. SIZE
If you choose a TV, you must immediately determine where there is a place for it in the house. Before you choose an LCD or LED TV, you need to know in which room it will be located? In a brightly lit room? In a darkened room?
IMPORTANT! Please note that the distance to the place from which the viewing will take place is also important. Let's say from a chair. It is generally accepted that the best value is 2.5-3 meters.
3. PERMISSION
This characteristic is directly related to the diagonal of the device. A couple of these parameters have a very strong impact on how the image is perceived.
If the screen resolution is high, then the ability to see the smallest details and effects more clearly becomes greater.
Every time the resolution gets lower, you have to accept that there are small errors in the image, and they are very noticeable if you look at it from a close distance.
What are the results?
So which is better: plasma, or LCD, or LED?
Image quality. In first place are LED and plasma. LCD TVs are significantly inferior because the level of clarity and contrast is not high enough.
Economical. And here the leaders are again models with LED technology. In second place are LCD TVs. The most “gluttonous” participant is considered to be a plasma device.
Price. LCD TVs are the cheapest to buy. In second place is plasma. In third place are LED TVs, which are inaccessible to many.
Durability. For this characteristic, no one can compare with LCD. In second place are plasma and LED TVs.
IMPORTANT! This means that if someone needs a device that can be used for almost decades and the image quality is not very important, then we recommend buying an LCD TV. Aesthetes and film buffs who have low incomes can recommend a plasma model.
For those who like to watch movies and have money for expensive purchases, we can recommend an LED TV. And not a simple one, but one that has a 3D image effect.
If you want to buy a modern TV model, then you need to choose the model especially carefully, since today there are many types. Mostly, buyers are interested in which TV is better: LCD or plasma? Before making a choice, you should not only compare all the advantages and disadvantages of these types of TV, but also find out. This is exactly what we will talk about today.
Once cathode ray tubes became a thing of the past, and televisions themselves became thinner and lighter, each manufacturing and display technology began to try to prove that it was the best. This competition, in turn, led to higher quality televisions and an attempt to lower prices. However, it is worth saying that the latter does not always work out, since what more modern device, the more there is in it various functions, interfaces, etc., and this automatically increases its cost, whatever one may say.
Plasma TV
Today there are not many companies involved in the production of plasma TVs. Fujitsu from Japan was the first to use this technology. Modern models of monitors, panels and displays are manufactured based on their technology. To date this technology is in great demand among buyers.
Before purchasing equipment, you should understand the difference between a plasma TV and a plasma panel. The plasma panel is a monitor to which you can connect DVD player or a flash drive for watching videos. At the same time, such equipment is not provided with a TV tuner, so if you want to buy a full-fledged TV, it is better to choose a model that does have it.
When buying a plasma TV, choose models from well-known companies that provide a one-year warranty on their equipment. The greater the guarantee, the better device. It is also important to consider whether there is service center of this manufacturer in your city.
LCD TV
LCD displays appeared 20 years ago and quickly became popular among users. Today there are many models with a large diagonal, low weight and screen thickness. These parameters of the TV allow you, if desired, to install it using a bracket on the wall, on a special hanging shelf, or to build it into furniture and walls.
Such TVs are cheaper than plasma TVs with the same dimensions. In addition, such displays often have noticeably better color rendering and brightness than plasma models. This is due to the fact that such TVs have fairly good resolution.
Technological features of LCD TVs
Such a display consists of two plates and liquid crystals placed between them. Transparent polished plates have the same transparent electrodes through which voltage is transmitted to the matrix cells.
Liquid crystals between such plates are arranged in a special way. A beam of light passes through a polarizer installed near the plates, which turns at a right angle. This design is complemented by backlighting and a light filter with RGB colors.
To increase the speed of operation in these devices, special thin-film transistors, better known as TFT, are produced. Thanks to them, each cell is controlled separately. Because of this, the response speed can reach 8 milliseconds.
Technological features of plasma
Plasma also consists of the same plates with electrodes as LCD monitors. The difference is that instead of liquid crystals, the space between them is filled with inert gases such as argon, neon, xenon or their compounds. Each cell is colored with a specific phosphor, which determines the future color of the pixel. One cell is separated from another by a partition that does not allow ultraviolet radiation or light from the other cell to pass through. Thanks to this it is achieved maximum level contrast, regardless of the intensity of external lighting.
When voltage is applied to a certain cell, it begins to glow with the color in which its phosphor is painted. The difference between such TVs and LCDs is that each of the cells itself emits light, so the backlight of such a display is not required.
Comparative characteristics of plasma and liquid crystal panels
|
Characteristic |
Winner |
Details |
| Screen size | Not so long ago, large-diagonal LCD TVs practically did not exist, and plasma TVs were the undisputed winner, so the question of choosing plasma or LCD did not arise. But time passes and today LCD models have almost caught up with plasma. Therefore, the difference according to this criterion has disappeared and it is very difficult to determine the winner. | |
| Contrast | This happens due to the fact that plasma TVs themselves emit light, which makes the image better and more saturated. | |
| Glare in bright light | The brightness of the lamp backlight allows you to see the image on the screen even under bright lighting conditions or direct exposure sun rays. Plasma panels will produce glare. | |
| Black depth | The reason for the loss of an LCD TV in this parameter is the same. Due to the additional illumination, the black is less deep than that of plasma, where its depth is achieved due to the fact that this cell There's just no electricity coming through. | |
| Fast response | Electricity is transmitted almost instantly through inert gas, so there are no problems. But with older models of LCD displays, shadows could appear when the picture was moving quickly. But today, thanks to TFT technology, the response speed in such TVs has decreased to 8 milliseconds. Therefore, if you choose new model TV, you won’t notice any artifacts. | |
| Viewing angle | Plasma TVs started with a viewing angle of 160 degrees, but an older LCD TV model can have a viewing angle of only 45 degrees. But if you choose one of modern models, then you shouldn’t worry, since today the viewing angle is LCD TVs and plasma – the same. | |
| Illumination Uniformity | In plasma TVs, uniformity of illumination is ensured by the fact that each of the pixels is itself a light source and glows in the same way as the others. On LCD TVs, lighting uniformity depends on the lamp, but uniformity is still difficult to achieve. | |
| Screen burn-in | Screen burn-in mainly threatens plasma displays when viewing a static image. Over time, all objects may develop non-existent shadows, which is actually fixable. This common problem for devices containing phosphorus. IN LCD monitors it does not exist, and, therefore, such a problem does not threaten them. | |
| Energy efficiency | LCD TVs consume almost 2 times less electricity than plasma TVs. This is due to the fact that the main amount of energy in plasma TVs is spent on cooling and powerful fans, but in LCD panels, practically nothing is used except the lighting lamp. | |
| Durability | For LCD TV, the service life can reach up to 100,000 hours, while plasma has no more than 60,000 hours. In addition, for LCD screens this figure means the resource of the backlight lamp, and for plasma - the resource of the matrix. If you choose plasma, by the time those 60,000 hours have passed, the screen brightness will be half as bright. | |
| Compatibility | In principle, both plasma and LCD modern TVs have a variety of functions and interfaces. This may also be the ability to connect various game consoles, audio systems, Smart functions TV and 3D. However, LCD displays win due to the fact that they are best suited for use with a computer. They make various diagrams and graphics easier to see because they use more pixels per inch than plasma monitors. | |
| Price | Plasma TV on at the moment cost significantly more than liquid crystal models with the same diagonal. |
As a result, we can say that plasma panels have better color reproduction and response speed, while liquid crystal models are more energy efficient, durable and not subject to screen burnout. Therefore, before choosing what you need: LCD or plasma, decide what is most important for you in such a device.