Press - Plasma vs LCD / TFT

LCD has almost no static image screen burn-in factors to consider. LCD (liquid crystal diode) technology uses essentially a fluorescent backlight to send light through its pixel design, which contains liquid crystal molecules and polarizing substrate to give form to light and colour. The "liquid" crystal in an LCD is actually used in its solid state.

Plasma technology does have static image screen burn-in factors to consider. Static images will begin to "burn-in" the image displayed in a short period of time, approximately 15 minutes in some cases. Though the "burn-in" can generally be "washed" out using grey images or continual full colour ranges over several hours, burn-in is a significant factor and hindrance to the plasma technology.

Advantage: LCD/TFT For applications such as airport displays with flight information, or retail static sales images displaying the same information or pictures on a continual basis - an LCD monitor will be the superior choice.

Plasma technology has come a long way in developing higher contrast images. Panasonic now boasts that its plasma displays have a 3000:1 contrast ratio. Plasma technology simply blocks the power emitted (through complicated internal algorithms) to specific pixels in order to form dark or black pixels. While sometimes hurting grey scaling, this technique does produce dark blacks.

LCD by contrast has to increase the power voltage to make pixels darker. The higher the voltage surging into and through the pixel, the darker the LCD pixel. Though there are improvements in LCD contrast and black level, even the best producers of LCD technology such as Sharp can only produce a contrast of between 500:1 to 700:1.

Advantage: Plasma For scenes with lots of dark and light shown simultaneously from film originated material, DVD content, or action in games relying on lots of black content, plasma will outperform.

LCD manufacturers claim figures between 50,000 and 75,000 hours for LCD monitors/TVs. An LCD can last as long as the backlight (and backlight bulbs can actually be changed out). This is because the light is passing through a prism effect of the liquid crystal to produce the light and colour. It's a substrate so there is nothing to effectively burn out.

Plasma by contrast uses a small electric pulse for each pixel to excite the rare natural gases argon, neon and xenon (phosphors) used to produce the colour information and light. As electrons excite the phosphors oxygen atoms dissipate. These rare gases actually have a life and fade over time. Manufacturers of plasma place a time stamp of 25,000 to 30,000 hours on the life of these phosphors and thus, the display itself. They cannot be replaced. There is no phenomenon of "pumping" new gases into a plasma display.

Advantage: LCD/TFT by double or more. Again, for applications requiring industrial/commercial use such as 24/7 storefront displays, LCD is superior for longer use, without regard to picture requirements.

In LCD, controlling light waves at different speeds to allow them to pass through long thin crystal molecules is a more difficult template for producing accuracy and vibrancy in colour. Colour information benefits from the smaller pixel design of most LCD monitors, but would not be as impressive as plasma at the same size pixel level.

Advantage: Plasma by a good margin. For video content especially fast moving images, plasma technology will excel. LCD is preferred when displaying a static computer image, not only because of burn-in, but because it will also produce nice smooth colour with this type of setting.

Since the plasma display element on a plasma TV is actually a glass substrate envelope containing rare natural gases, thinner air causes increased stress on the gases inside the envelope. This increases the amount of power required to run and cool the plasma, which causes louder buzzing or fan noise. These problems usually start to occur at around 6500 feet.

Advantage: LCD/TFT For any type of application above 6500 ft.

Advantage: Each cell of a Plasma is lit on its own allowing for superb brightness through every pixel. No backlit device (like LCD) will match up well from the angles with plasma.

Plasma is challenged with static images from computer. Though it will display them well, screen burn in is an issue as well as a "step" effect in the lower resolution panels when displaying static lettering (Powerpoint). Video images are good but there can be some flicker depending upon the manufacturer quality of the unit and the resolution being displayed. Plasma still wins out on angle viewing of course.

Advantage: LCD/TFT except at harsh angles

With LCD there can be a "trailer" effect during fast pace scenes from video as the technology is much slower reacting to colour changes. This results from the light prisms that must be produced from controlling voltages applied to "bend" the light. The higher the voltage applied to the crystal, the darker the image in that section of the LCD panel. This is also the reason for the lower contrast levels.

Advantage: Plasma by a good margin. For DVD, or any streaming video content, TV or HDTV - plasma will deliver non-distracting, high contrast (depending on the plasma), high colour saturation viewing. LCD has come a long way but is still challenged at the same size comparison while looking great at the smaller sizes.

LCD substrate material is difficult to produce in larger sizes without pixel defects. The largest LCD at this moment is a 40" commercial version by NEC. Before that Sharp stretched the LCD horizon from 20" to 22" then 30" and now is just starting to ship its new 37" diagonal wide screen panel.

Advantage: Plasma Even though costs and prices are coming down on both technologies except the very large plasma panels), plasma still holds the lower cost and higher production capacity and thus pricing advantage. The 50" plasma panel size is extremely popular and is quickly gaining market share from the previously dominant 42" size. This trend of plasma being the lower cost and price producer will likely continue for at least 2 years