What is better, LCD or Plasma?

[jhnsmith978]

If i will have to choose one then definitely i will go for LCD...

[bluueyee]

Hey
Both technology have pro & con
LCD come with thinner set,less problem,not burn-in,less power consumption,not glare in bright room and last longer.
Plasma come with better picture quality for dark room,smoother motion but sometime have burn-in problem.
Personally I would go with LCD tv.

[JazzGuyy]

Originally Posted by bluueyee

Hey
Both technology have pro & con
LCD come with thinner set,less problem,not burn-in,less power consumption,not glare in bright room and last longer.
Plasma come with better picture quality for dark room,smoother motion but sometime have burn-in problem.
Personally I would go with LCD tv.

Your information about plasma TVs is out of date. The power consumption is not that much different any more. Plasmas last as long as LCD sets and burn-in ceased to be a problem a couple of years ago. LCD TVs have had higher average failure rates than plasma sets, though the numbers for both technologies are pretty low. LCD has the terrible Achilles heel of bad off-axis viewing. I'd go with plasma.

[rbinck]

Well that depends. Power levels are reported as out of the box, so to speak. While it is true that once you get both displays home and adjust the controls with a calibration disc the plasma power consumption will be far less than out of the box, that's not what is being used to report. Also not what's being used for California's power ratings. Sad but true. I guess they feel like most people will just use plasmas with the out of the box settings.

As far as burn in goes it has not been eliminated from plasma technology. The occurrences have been significantly reduced especially if calibrated correctly, but not eliminated. Hook one up to a computer and leave the desktop on the display and see what happens. I know that is not a usual way a plasma would be used, but it still can not be said that burn in ceased to be a problem. In general it can be said that if you watch TV on a plasma, burn in is not going to be a problem, assuming full screen video is watched. Pillar box video probably will have an effect over a long term.

Off axis viewing of LCDs is highly overly stated, in my opinion. By the same token the 170+ degree viewing angles the manufacturers say is completely false as well. In my experience the viewing angle for most current LCD panels is about 45 degrees each direction horizontally. At 45 degrees you don't get a picture that is as good as straight on viewing, but I find it very watchable. You get much more off axis than 45 degrees and the picture is pretty distorted anyway even on a plasma. There is some merit to the vertical viewing angles being far more restrictive with my experience being about 20-30 degrees. That becomes a problem when the panels are mounted up high, but tilting them will reduce this problem. Still if I lay on the floor, my LCD will wash out a bit. That would not be a problem with a plasma.

[Oklahoma]

I just joined this forum this evening (1-5-10). I am not replying to another post. I jumped right in so I could post, not having "lurked" to examine previous posts. I would like to explain my situation and ask for advice from those with experience. I am contemplating the purchase of my first hdtv. I am thinking of going with the plasma technology. In particular, I am interested in either the "G" or "V" series Panasonic models in 50". I am leaning toward the more expensive "V" model because I have read that it has smoother movie displays. I hope I am right in believing that what many people say about plasma technology is old news, today's models having lessened past problems. I am a 67-year-old man (a widower, living alone) and am hard-of-hearing. My two hearing aids help considerably but do not make my hearing "normal." Still, I know that viewing a new hdtv requires a speaker system that goes far beyond what can possibly be inside one of these flat panels. I have spent many hours on the 'net trying to get information. I decided this is my best approach; to ask those who have such tvs and understand the importance of a good speaker system to enjoy blu ray movies as well as high definition programing (especially sports). So, the more I have learned the more expensive this contemplated upgrade in my viewing pleasure becomes! I live in a trailer (modular home, if you will) and I am thinking in terms of a five-speaker system with a subwoofer, not surround sound. The living room adjoins the kitchen--a straight-through situation. Please forgive such a long initial post. If I do end up getting a system I will share my thoughts about it on this forum, though, being hearing impaired, my impression of the sound quality won't count for much. I look forward to having my son and daughter-in-law over to check it all out. If I moved quickly, maybe a Super Bowl party with them! In any case I wish to thank all who might offer their thoughts on just which way I should go. I am not wealthy but may indulge myself in a decent system. When I am not riding my middle-weight sport motorcycle (come on, April! -- eastern PA and freezing right now) I can enjoy watching the Phillies and selections from the blu ray library I could put together. Thanks again for your help. I used Oklahoma as my user name because I enjoy that kind of movie and music.

[rbinck]

Welcome to the forum.

I would suggest looking at a Onkyo HTIB ( home theater in a box) with somewhere like 100 watts per channel.