Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Buy a Plasma or an LCD TV?

The war between plasma and LCD flat-panel TVs rages on, and no doubt you've heard the propaganda from both camps. While LCD has traditionally been more expensive than plasma at the larger sizes, the gap is diminishing - making other factors such as performance and features more significant. We'll take you through the pros and cns of each technology to help you make the important decision:

Plasma Flat Panels
Benefits: Drawbacks:
  • Better contrast and deeper blacks.
  • Don't suffer from motion blur on action
  • Unlimited viewing angle
  • Cost slightly less than LCD sets
  • Short-term image retention a possibility
  • Screens can suffer from glare in bright rooms.
  • Use slightly more power than LCD displays per square inch.
  • Fewer size choices.
   
LCD HDTVs
Benefits: Drawbacks:
  • Brighter images.
  • No screen reflection.
  • No risk of image retention.
  • Slightly lower power consumption.
  • Limited viewing angle
  • Blacks are not as deep as plasmas.
  • Can suffer from motion blur.

The fact is, plasmas have the edge when it comes to a truly cinematic picture. If you are a cinephile who likes to watch a lot of different film sources such as Blu-ray discs or DVDs, plasma is your best bet - especially if you have some control over ambient light. The technology's deeper blacks, sharper contrast and absence of motion blur make it ideal for almost any application. Just watch out for image glare on untreated plasma displays, and make sure your plasma can stand up to the amount of uncontrollable light in your room.