What is the best type of tv to buy? Plasma, LCD, DLP, or other?
By Eve | September 24, 2008
the_t_man asked:
I don’t know much about the new tv’s except 1080p is the best. What kind, plasma, lcd, dlp, or something else and what brand should i get? I also heard something about images getting burned into the screen with video games, how can i avoid that?
I don’t know much about the new tv’s except 1080p is the best. What kind, plasma, lcd, dlp, or something else and what brand should i get? I also heard something about images getting burned into the screen with video games, how can i avoid that?
Topics: TVs | 2 Comments »
2 Responses to “What is the best type of tv to buy? Plasma, LCD, DLP, or other?”
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In my opinion LCD.
So let me give you a lesson on all these types.
Each have their own Pro’s and Cons, but I’ll go over the main benefits.
LCD’s: Slightly sharper picture, can be a brighter picture, and easier to hook up to a computer.
Plasmas: Richer/Vibrant colors, no motion pixelation/artifacting, longer lifespan
DLP’s: Cheaper at time of purchase, can be brightest picture from head-on.
Overall verdict: As a salesman in a major electronics retailer, I sell these TV’s all day. Personally, I would go for a plasma because they deal with fast moving objects better. LCD’s have always had/will always have a problem with fast moving objects. On standard LCD’s, there is a bad pixelation effect (seen when cars drive by, legs running, water splashing, etc) and sometimes a ghosting effect (like motion blur). The little pixels in an LCD can’t switch fast enough to accomodate quick changes. Newer LCD’s have developed a new 120hz technology which says they have twice the frame rate. What they don’t tell you is that the 120hz has an even worse “ghosting effect”. I’ve seen many people return TV’s because of this issue. So the issue with pixelation seems impossible to fix at this point. Plasmas are pretty much perfect when it comes to fast moving objects.
Important: Don’t be fooled by the bright picture of an LCD. If you go to a store, you’ll notice the LCD’s a bit brighter than the Plasmas. This is actually a negative, NOT a positive. Plasmas will provide a richer color (blues are more blue, blacks more black, etc). This gives you an image more realistic as to what scene is supposed to be presented at. When LCD’s have their brightness turned up, you’ll see a loss in detail in lighter colored areas like skin tone or snow and desert scenes. Go turn up the brightness while you’re watching something simple like the news and look at what happens to the details: they disappear.
Plasmas currently have a bad rap these days because the original plasma TV’s (built from 1999 to 2002) were the first generation. They had short lifespans and bad burn-in. These TV’s are dying TODAY, so people are telling their friends not to buy a Plasma. In actuality, all of those problems have been addressed and are non-existant.
If you read Consumer Reports, their top rated Flat Panels are Plasmas.
In regards to DLP’s, the reason why they aren’t so popular is because of a few things. 1. They have a strict viewing angle, 2. They are not wall-mountable and 3. They have a VERY high maintenence. DLP’s require a bulb that will die out every 2-4 years. Each time it dies, it costs up to $400 to replace it. And these have to be ordered from the manufacturer, with professional install recommended.
With any TV, regardless of it being a plasma, LCD, or DLP; burn-in is possible. It does require a long time of static images (like you pause your TV, go on vacation for a week and come back), but out of the three types, Plasmas are the only ones that actually fix themselves naturally. Damages to LCD’s and DLP’s are pretty much permanent.
With 1080p…yea it is best…but you have to realize that it is ONLY acheivable through a Blu-Ray player or an HD-DVD player (which includes the PS3 and Xbox360). If you’re not gonna get any of those, then 1080p is useless cause we’re still 10 years away from the first TV channel being broadcast at that level.
I can go on forever, but the bottom line: Even though any TV is great, I’d go with a plasma. Top line LCD’s get you quality closer to a Plasma…if you have the money.