Which to choose: LCD or Plasma screen?

Plasma screen / LCD: two distinct technologies

The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) filter light. It consists of two parallel transparent plates. A thin layer of liquid crystal is sandwiched between these plates. These crystals are oriented when crossed by electric current and then produce pixels.

The display includes a plasma emits gases (argon and xenon). Excited by electric current, gas content in the cells of the screen (pixels) produces a light radiation which is then converted to yield 16 million colors.

Practical considerations

• The distance from the screen

Consider the place of the screen at home. The plasma does not exist in small sizes. But the HD (high definition) can now watch a wide screen very closely.

• Lifetime and power consumption

Between 50 000 and 60 000 hours for LCD. Between 30 000 and 50 000 hours for Plasma. Approximately 6 hours for 14 years for both. Plasma technology consumes more energy (up to 20% more) to illuminate the pixels of the screen compared to LCD (lamps with high efficiency). The latest LCD devices are even considered "low."

• Price

Plasma screen is still generally more expensive than the LCD screen (for an equivalent size). But the gap is narrowing.

• The size

On the small screen sizes (15 to 36 inches), only the LCD technology exists. Between 37 and 50 inches, the two categories are present. In addition, there are plasma screens.

The image quality and defects

• Colors / contrast / Pixel "death" / Fluidity

The plasma screens can get deep blacks: the contrasts and more details emerge on light or dark images. On the LCD, dark colors are made less efficient (light traces), even if the technology improves. Plasma restores colors more naturally (most degraded). It also avoids the "dead pixels", which may appear black or white on LCD screens (sometimes very annoying). The sequence of images may appear more fluid on the plasma.

• The angles

Important if you are not facing the screen. Plasma TVs generally offer better viewing angles. A 160 ° or 170 ° (vertical / horizontal) LCDs distort the image more than the plasma screen.

• The effect of "burning"

This type of defect is specific to plasma display. When a static image for too long remained on the screen, pixels may be affected (especially in the first 200 hours of use). This defect is irreversible and causes loss of brightness in some places. If you use your screen to video games, LCD technology is more appropriate.

• Mirror effect

Plasma reflect external light sources. This defect may impair the quality of viewing.

• Minutes of movement

Quite deficient in LCD at first, rendering scenes hectic now equivalent to that of plasma.