With so many new innovations in televisions today, it's hard to keep up with all of the popular technologies. Each of these technologies have advantages and disadvantages. It can be confusing as to what these technologies mean and if you really want or need what they have to offer. There are many people who have a wonderful understanding of all of this, but to the vast majority of us this is almost like mastering a new language. Many of us remember how easy it once was to buy a television. In the past, all you needed to consider was the size of the screen and if you could afford it. Technology has its advantages because the picture and sound quality have advanced dramatically in recent years and continues to advance, along with the addition of numerous new features. This article is the result of quite a bit of research. In this article, I have attempted to put in the most basic terms what these technologies are and how they differ from each other. It is my hope that with this information you will be able to make a better decision about which TV is best for you.
LCD, Plasma and DLP are the most popular technologies behind displaying pictures on HDTV today. Every shopper buying a TV today needs to know what these terms mean in order to make an intelligent decision about the best TV to buy.
What is LCD? LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. There is alot of technical jargon out there that explains the science behind this in very exacting and complicated terms. For the purposes of buying a TV, all you need to know is that LCD is a television display type that uses a viscous liquid and a mesh of transistors to turn pixels on and off. Direct-view and projection television both use this technology and in both, the LCDs require a light to generate brightness.
What are the advantages of LCD TVs?
(1) Low energy consumption. LCD TVs use very low amounts of power.
(2) Cooler running temperature. The light source (florescent bulb) in an LCD television generates less heat than a Plasma or traditional television.
(3) Low amounts of glare.
(4) Quality LCDs have excellent brightness level pictures and offer more contrast. Compared to Plasma TVs, LCD TVs have an increased image brightness.
(5) LCD flat panels can be mounted on walls and don't take up much room. They are typically slightly lighter than Plasma TVs.
(6) Fairly long display life. The display life of quality LCDs is approximately 60,000 hours, after which you may only have to replace the light source.
What are the disadvantages of LCD TVs?
(1) LCDs are not good for fast moving images because when objects move quickly across the screen, the image "delays" and has a tail following it on the screen when it shouldn't. There are two ways to avoid this issue. By purchasing LCDs that are 37" or smaller you will have a better image quality since the delay is less noticeable than on the larger LCD TVs. Another way is to buy a 120hz LCD, but those models are higher in price than the 60hz models.
(2) LCD reviews indicate that brightness levels aren't as good as Plasma. Although black levels have improved, they also are still not quite up to the level of Plasma.
(3) The viewing angle of an LCD is not as good as a Plasma. If you are watching an LCD from a slanted view, the quality of the image can diminish. However, this difference between LCD and Plasma is not that significant.
(4) LCD TVs over 35" are very expensive.
What is Plasma? Sometimes all flat-panel HDTVs are referred to as Plasma screens. This is a misnomer. Plasma screens have more in common with Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) TVs than with LCDs. The plasma gas strikes specific pixels at the front of the TV and the pixel then turns to a specific color. Backlights are not needed with Plasma screens because the plasma varies the intensity of light which then produces a full range of colors which typically have an advantage over LCDs because they have deeper blacks.
What are the advantages of Plasma TVs?
(1) Great life span. Typically, at an average use of six hours per day, they will last about 20 years.
(2) Better viewing angles. Unlike LCDs, a Plasma screen has about 180 degrees field of vision without loss of picture quality, so you can watch from any angle.
(3) Excellent contrast ratios which enable the Plasma TVs to show better shadow detail.
(4) Faster picture response. Plasma TVs have an excellent picture response. There is virtually no delay like LCDs.
(5) Like LCDs, Plasma TVs don't take up too much space and can be mounted on a wall.
What are the disadvantages of Plasma TVs?
(1) Image burn-in. Plasma TVs are more susceptible to image burn-in of static images. If you were to leave the Plasma TV on for many hours, the network logo on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen would be burnt-in.
(2) Plasma TVs are not available under 37".
(3) Shorter display lifespan than other types of TVs like LCDs. Simply by turning the brightness down, you can extend the display lifespan of the Plasma TV.
(4) Plasma TVs generate more heat than LCDs.
What is DLP? DLP stands for Digital Light Processing. DLP is a method using rear projection light which has taken the place of the old Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology. Unlike CRT, DLPs are relatively thin. Like LCD, a chip is used for the actual image to be displayed on, however, the chip used in a DLP TV is different. The chip is referred to as a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). If you're not confused already, to simplify this, every pixel on a DMD chip is a reflective mirror.
What are the advantages of DLP TVs?
(1) DLP TVs are cheaper than LCDs or Plasma TVs.
(2) DLP TVs have a good variety of sets in very large sizes.
(3) Excellent brightness and color.
What are the disadvantages of DLP TVs?
(1) High maintenance cost. With DLP TVs you have to replace the projection bulb which has a limited durability. Not only can these be expensive, but they can also be hard to find.
(2) Not wall mountable. DLP TVs take up more space than LCD TVs and Plasma TVs.
(3) Poor field of vision. As with LCDs, when viewed on an angle the picture quality suffers.
(4) Poor picture quality. The picture quality does not compare to LCD TVs and Plasma TVs.
(5) Image blur. With DLP TVs scenes of fast action can cause a trail of colors.
Ultimately, what TV you decide to buy depends upon what your needs are and your personal situation. Only you can decide what is best for you and your household, but it is always best to be informed regarding what your options are.
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