LCD TV or Plasma TV

If you're in search of a new flat screen TV there is probably some doubt or confusion in your mind: what is right for me, LCD or Plasma?

Plasma and LCD on the surface are very similar, especially with the flat screen and thin unit, additionally, both produce excellent images. Plasma and LCD do have differences: Plasma cells use a matrix of gas mixed with precise electrical voltages that create the image.

The LCD (liquid crystal display), some types have sandwiches made of liquid crystal in the space between two layers of glass; the images are created by varying the amount of electrical charge applied to the crystals.

Advantages of plasma TV are that they can achieve better shades of black, and thus tend to have better contrast. They also give better viewing angles (that is, when not looking directly from in front of the screen the image is distorted unless that with the LCD) and the plasma TV can produce brighter colors.

Plasma TV and LCD now have similar prices but the LCD tends to have a better image resolution than a plasma TV of an equivalent size, that is, more pixels on the screen. LCD technology consumes less energy than plasma, and are usually lighter and easier to move.

The LCD has a life of 60 thousand hours of use, new Plasma models are still only reaching between 30 and 60 thousand hours. Plasma TVs tend to "burn on to the screen", that is, if you leave an image on the screen for a long time, a "ghost" of that image will remain on the screen permanently.

In general, experts recommend that if you're shopping for a big TV (50 inches or more); the best choice (value price benefit) is Plasma. For smaller televisions (between 15 and 42 inches) an LCD is better.

Another important issue is that to enjoy the benefits of HDTV, make sure that there are sources of programming (free TV, subscription TV or DVD) are HD. If you do not have sources high definition signals, you will not see major changes the image may even look distorted.