Which TV is better: plasma or LCD?

Features of work

Plasma panels and LCD TVs differ in a number of criteria, and the main one is their operating features.

Plasma panel

Each pixel in the plasma consists of 3 microlamps filled with ionized gas. An electrode is connected to these cones, through which voltage is supplied. Under the influence of electrical voltage, the gas in the cones causes the phosphor to glow (covering each subpixel). And the brightness of the image depends on the level of supplied electricity.

LCD TV

Based on the principle of operation, LCD displays resemble window blinds, allowing the amount of light through them to be adjusted to the angle of openness. However, blinds do this synchronously, while LCD cells do this separately.

Behind the array or on the side of the cells are light sources, often light emitting diodes (LEDs), and directly in front of them are 3-color RGD filters that give the transmitted light the desired color.

Advantages and disadvantages

It's time to compare the plasma panel and LCD screen according to technical parameters and find out which TV is better:

1. Screen diagonal. If earlier LCD TVs were inferior to plasma in terms of maximum screen size and rarely exceeded 35 inches, now the situation is different. In stores, LCD TVs with a diagonal of 60 inches and a minimum number of dead pixels. Therefore, there are no winners in this comparison.
2. Brightness. In terms of brightness, LCD TVs with LED backlighting are superior to plasma panels, which have restrictions on maximum brightness. Therefore, under equal conditions, the LCD will reproduce a picture of a more saturated color on the screen.
3. Contrast. Contrast level determines the difference between the darkest and lightest areas of the screen, so it is a very important indicator that affects image quality. The contrast of plasma panels is higher due to the fact that gas cells directly emit light to display the image, while pixels in LCD only simulate it using crystals.
4. Response time. Gas cells in plasma display the desired color almost immediately on the display, while the response time of liquid crystals takes longer due to their design features.
5. Viewing angle. Initially, the viewing angle of plasma panels was at least 160 degrees, which made it possible to watch TV without loss of quality from any angle. The LCD, in turn, could only boast an angle of 45 degrees, and when the viewer changed his position, the picture quality deteriorated. However, now plasma is not much superior to LCD TVs in terms of maximum viewing angles.
6. Screen resolution. The main advantage of LCD screens over plasma is their higher screen resolution. Stores are full of 4K LCD TVs because it's much easier to reduce pixel size than the size of a gas cell. With a strong advantage in maximum screen resolution, LCD wins.
7. Lifetime. The average service life of a plasma panel does not exceed 60,000 hours, while an LCD TV will last up to 100,000 hours. This figure is achieved through the use of more modern technology.
8. Energy consumption. LCD models consume almost 2 times less electricity than plasma panels. This is due to the fact that fans are additionally installed in plasmas to remove heat. Additionally, HID cells require more power than LED TVs.
9. Compatibility. Both LCD and plasma, due to their functionality, have good compatibility with game consoles, audio systems, etc. However, in this comparison, LCD TVs win because they are better suited for working with a computer for displaying various diagrams and graphs. One area contains more pixels than gas cells, which means that the image will be more detailed.
10. Uniformity of display illumination. In plasma, uniform illumination of the screen is ensured by the fact that each pixel is a light source that glows in the same way as the others. In LCD screens, uniformity depends on the lamp used. However, even with a good lamp it is difficult to achieve perfect uniformity. According to this criterion, plasma wins.

According to the comparison results, approximate equality. LCD TVs are captivating due to better compatibility, low power consumption and increased service life. In turn, plasma is superior to its analogue in terms of contrast, low response time and more uniform illumination.

Which is better: plasma or LED TVs

It is quite difficult to answer this question, because everyone has their own needs and finances. TV receivers with LED and OLED technology are not inferior to plasma panels in picture quality. They also benefit in terms of energy consumption. However, their price is much higher.

The most inexpensive are conventional LCD receivers. If the device will be used in a small room, and sometimes as a monitor, then you can safely choose an LCD. If you need to watch movies and sports programs, you should give preference to plasma, since its response time is much higher. The highest quality and the largest set of available functions are available on LED and OLED TVs. As you can see, the choice of the appropriate option depends on the personal needs of the consumer, since each technology has its own pros and cons.

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Image quality

It is impossible to answer unequivocally where the image quality is better, in LCD or plasma. LCD screens have better brightness and higher resolution compared to plasma panels. However, the plasma is equipped with an optimal black level and ideal contrast. Therefore, you should choose based on your own preferences, because... Some users like TVs with high brightness, while others prefer screens with good black depth.

The answer to the question of which TV is of higher quality can be as follows: LCD is suitable for viewing a more saturated and bright picture, while plasma displays blacks much deeper and more clearly, because on a liquid crystal screen you cannot completely turn off the backlight.

LCD TV

LCD TV is a multilayer structure. Between two parallel glass plates, onto which thin-film TFT transistors and electrodes are sputtered, there is a thin layer of liquid crystals, forming an array of a huge number of pixels. An RGB stencil is placed in front of each pixel. Both plates are covered with polarizing filters, the axes of which are perpendicular to each other. Backlighting is provided by cold cathode fluorescent CCFL lamps.

LCD TV Toshiba 32LV933

When voltage is applied, the crystals change their shape and begin to polarize light. By changing the voltage on the electrodes, the light transmission of the crystals (gray gradation) is controlled. Transistors open one of the three cells of the RGB stencil. The formation of a color image occurs by combining the basic colors: red, green, blue.

The initial popularity of LCD panels was due to their compact design, correct image geometry and lack of flicker, which means additional comfort when watching programs.

Advantages:

• low power consumption;
• the screen does not generate static voltage and, therefore, does not attract dust;
• The LCD TV can be used as a Full HD monitor;
• long service life - 75,000 hours of uninterrupted operation
• the cheapest.

Flaws:

• LCD TV has a lower contrast compared to LED and plasma panels;
• the brightness and hue of the image deteriorate as the viewing angle increases;
• low depth of black.

Expert opinion

In order not to make a mistake when choosing between these types of TVs, we advise you to listen to the opinions of experts. Below are reviews from an experienced sales consultant and service center technician.

Victor, sales consultant with 10 years of experience

I think it is incorrect to compare plasma panels with LCD TVs. Still, their operating technology is different, and their purpose is no less different. Plasma is ideal for watching movies in low light, with excellent contrast and deep black levels. The backlight can be turned off. In this regard, LCD is more versatile; it can be installed in any room and viewed in any lighting. I can say that LCD displays are in great demand among consumers. They are cheaper and have superior performance characteristics to the plaza.

I have a plasma in my apartment because I like to watch movies in low light with deep blacks. And because of its structure, plasma is better suited for home cinema.

Alexey, has been working in a TV repair service center for 15 years.

I will not compare plasma panels with LCD TVs in terms of screen quality and other characteristics, because there is no friend in taste and color. But as a service center specialist, I can say that plasma panels are brought to me for diagnostics and repair more often than LCD TVs. This means that the service life of LCDs is longer.

A good plasma will work properly for at least 10 years, if the apartment does not have frequent power failures and other factors that reduce the life of gadgets. But even so, the LCD looks more profitable, and a high-quality model will last up to or more than 15 years without breakdowns. Recently I made a comparison in terms of energy consumption between a 60-inch plasma and an LCD with the same diagonal. Plasma “eats” almost 2 times more electricity due to its technological features. This is why I recommend choosing LCD. For a low cost, you can find a high-quality and economical model that you won’t have to take frequently for diagnostics.

What is better to choose

The choice between a plasma panel or an LCD screen should be based on the operating characteristics. The main difference between these 2 types of TVs lies in the particular influence of illumination on picture quality. Plasma is optimal for viewing dim images in a dark room. Therefore, if you want to create a home theater and want to get the best image quality, then you should definitely choose a plasma panel. If the TV will be used in the living room, and you are going to watch it both during the day and in the evening, then an LCD panel will cope with this task more effectively.

Now let's look at the cost of these TVs. Just 20 years ago, the price of an LCD TV was higher than the cost of plasma. This was explained by the novelty of the technology and the lack of mass appeal. However, every year the demand for LCDs has increased rapidly, which has led to a decrease in the cost of these devices. Therefore, now an LCD TV is cheaper than a plasma panel with the same screen diagonal and basic characteristics. If the cost of a TV is of great importance to you, then you definitely need to choose an LCD, because you can save a lot on it or for the same amount you can buy a model with better parameters than plasma. In addition, LCD consumes less electricity, which is another plus in favor of the efficiency of liquid crystal models.

LCD panel - the best TV for gaming

Most buyers of LCD panels use them primarily as Smart TVs and computer screens. After all, in fact, PC monitors are produced using the same technology. Yes, undoubtedly, the cost of LCD is higher than that of plasma, but for a larger amount the user receives a huge number of advantages: a bright screen, excellent color rendition, high contrast and clarity. In addition, LCD panels are more compact and thinner than plasma TVs. Thus, the Sharp company has already put into mass production a 1 cm thick TV. The only disadvantage of panels produced using this technology is the high price.

What to choose: plasma or LED? Considering the development of modern technologies, preference should be given to LED panels, because they are the future. It is quite simple to determine what technology a TV is made of: when turned off, the plasma screen is gray, and the LCD panel, regardless of the backlight technology, is black.