LCD vs. Plasma TV: The Facts

The biggest question that faces aspiring flat panel TV owners is whether to buy an LCD or a plasma screen TV. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer -- each technology has its pros and cons.

Fortunately you can't go too wrong -- either technology will impress your friends, unclutter your TV room, and forever change the way you think about television. That said, understanding the differences between LCD and plasma will ensure that you get the most out of your new TV.

This guide takes a simple approach -- just answer the following seven questions and you'll quickly get a sense of which technology will work better for you:

· How Much Does Price Matter?

· How Long Will You Keep your TV?

· Do You Watch TV in a Well-Lit Room or a Darkened Area?

· Are You a Home Theater Fanatic?

· Do You Worry about Energy Efficiency?

· Do You Want to Mount Your TV Yourself?

· Do You Watch TV with Small or Large Groups?

How Much Does Price Matter?

Just because you're willing to spend thousands of dollars on a TV doesn't mean that you don't deserve to get the best bang for your buck. In terms of cost per square inch of screen, plasma screens are less expensive than LCD monitor --if you're looking for a screen over 30 inches, plasma TVs currently win the price war.

That is changing, however. New LCD production factories are springing to life around the world, and this added manufacturing capacity is certain to bring the price of LCD TVs down -- look for their cost to decline steadily in 2004 and 2005. For now, however, the best value per inch lies with plasma.

How Long will You Keep Your TV?

Because the gases that fill a plasma screen degrade over time, LCD TV screens have a longer lifespan than their plasma counterparts.

Whether or not this should influence your decision depends on how long you intend to keep your TV. While flat screens' lifespans differ by brand, a rough rule it that a plasma screen will last approximately 20,000 to 30,000 viewing hours, while an LCD screen will deliver roughly 50,000 hours of service before it's ready for retirement.

This translates into approximately ten years of six-hour-a-day viewing for a plasma set, and fifteen years for an LCD screen. This may seem like a long time, but the fact remains that both plasma and LCD TVs eventually degrade, and you must factor this in your decision. If longevity is an issue, then choose LCD, which offers double the lifetime of plasma.

Contrary to popular belief, the gas inside a plasma TV cannot be refilled after it has degraded.

Do You Watch TV in a Well-Lit Room or a Darkened Area?

LCD screens, which have a brighter picture than plasma TVs, are better suited for watching in well-lit areas, as they are less prone than plasma screens to being washed out by surrounding light.

Plasma screens, which have a slightly less bright display, excel in darkened areas. If you know that you will be doing the bulk of your channel surfing in a bright room, then an LCD screen may suit you better; if you plan on dimming the lights every time you turn on the tube, then you will likely be happier with a plasma screen.

Are You a Home Theater Fanatic?

Video buffs use the term contrast ratio to describe a screen's ability to accurately display the darkest colors in the spectrum -- the higher the screen's contrast ratio, the better able it is to differentiate between the darkest shades of grey.

In the battle of the contrast ratios, plasma TVs take the trophy. Plasma technology can display darker blacks and a greater range of grays than LCD TVs, which have a lower contrast ratio and are thus less sensitive to shades of gray and black.

So what does this mean for you? It is generally accepted wisdom that TVs with darker and more accurate blacks and grays are better suited for home theater use -- movies just look better when blacks objects are really black, and the audience can differentiate between shades of grey.

So if you're a movie fanatic looking to create the ultimate home theater setup, then a plasma TV may be the right choice for you. If you're an average TV viewer like the rest of us, then either an LCD screen or plasma will suit your purposes equally well.

Do You Worry about Energy Efficiency?

LCD screens are very energy efficient -- they run cooler and use up far less power than plasma TVs. This means that LCD sets are more environmentally friendly and produce lower power bills every month, especially for dedicated channel surfers.

If you want to minimize your TV's impact on your monthly bills and the environment, then you should opt for an LCD screen.

Do You Want to Mount Your TV Yourself?

Despite their slender proportions, plasma TVs are heavy pieces of equipment that require careful handling so as not to damage their fragile internal components. LCD TVs, on the other hand, are remarkably light and rugged, and do not require the delicate treatment demanded by plasma screens.

If you want to mount your TV on the wall, then weight and durability make a difference. While mounting a plasma screen will almost certainly require professional assistance, hanging an LCD screen is possible for anyone with a little know-how and the right tools. If you rent an apartment or anticipate moving in the near future, then an LCD may make more sense than plasma; if you plan on mounting your screen and never moving it again, then the money spent on professionally mounting a plasma screen would be worthwhile.

Do You Watch TV with Small or Large Groups?

Whether or not you like to watch TV and movies with lots of friends can affect your choice of technology. Plasma screens have a wider viewing angle than LCD screens, which means that they are easier to see from the side and therefore better for big crowds. LCD screens still have a pretty wide viewing angle, but their picture begins to degrade as you move well off to one side or the other. If your TV room is set up so that viewers are off to the side of the TV, then plasma is a better option.

Hopefully you now have a sense of which technology is best for you. Whether it's plasma or LCD, you're in for a treat -- the only thing left to do is shop!