LCD vs. Plamsa vs. DLP - The Battle of the High Definition Televisions

If you're like everyone else, you've probably been eyeing those high definition televisions you've seen at your local Best Buy or Circuit City. But which one should you buy? Plasma? LCD? Or how about a DLP? With so much misleading information regarding these televisions, lets clarify each of these technologies and hopefully explain some of the TV terminologies.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

LCD technology uses liquid crystals that are sandwiched between two glass plates. The images are produced by varying the amount of electrical charge applied to each crystal.

:: Advantages of LCD ::

- LCD televisions are available in a variety of sizes, from very tiny ones, that'll fit in cabinets, to very large home theater sizes.

- LCD television are less prone to image burn in (image retention). Image burn in occurs when an image is "etched" into the screen because it stays in one place for an extended period. (Plasmas are prone to this problem).

- LCDs tend to be lighter and thinner compared to plasmas.

- LCD televisions can also be used as computer monitors.

:: Disadvantages of LCD ::

- Horrible viewing angle. To experience the best possible picture, you must view the television straight on. Trying to view an LCD television at an angle will leave you seeing nothing or a dark image.

- Some LCD televisions yield a "pixilated" or blocky picture.

Plasma

Plasma televisions uses a matrix of gas plasma cells that are charged by electrical voltages to create a picture.

:: Advantages of Plasma ::

- Available in larger sizes. Plasma televisions have reached 60 inches.

- Plasmas can produce deeper blacks compared to LCD televisions, yielding improved picture quality (great contrast) and color.

- Plasma televisions retail at a lower price compared to LCD televisions

- Plasma televisions have a better viewing angle. You can watch a plasma television from any angle and still see a decent picture.

:: Disadvantages of Plasma ::

- Cannot replace the gas plasma inside the television when it burns out.

DLP (Digital Light Processing)

Developed by Texas Instrument, DLP televisions function by shining a light through a color wheel then onto a semi-conductor called a digital micromirror device (DMD). The DMD uses mirrors on its surface to convert the light into an image.

:: Advantages of DLP ::

- Generally cheaper than both a plasma and LCD.

:: Disadvantages of DLP ::

- Too bulky to hang on the wall.

- Prone to the "rainbow effect." The rainbow effect refers to the visual artifact associated with DLP televisions and the use of color wheels in a sequential manner rather than continuous. The artifact appears as a "rainbow" which is briefly noticeable when focusing on one part of the screen to another. It is not noticeable to all, but newer DLP models have new color wheel design that either minimize or eliminate the "rainbow effect."

Conclusion

Now you're probably asking...which lasts longer? While that question was probably valid a couple years ago, today, you can expect roughly 50,000 hours of lifetime no matter which technology you choose.

You should ask yourself a couple questions to help decide which high definition technology to buy. Do I want to hang the TV on the wall? Do I normally watch TV at an angle? Do I want to use the TV as a computer monitor as well? If that doesn't help, simply visit the electronics store of your choice, and look at all the plasma, LCD, and DLP televisions available. Which ever looks the best to you, buy it. However, with so many "no name" brands out there, it is recommended that you stick to the name brands, such as Sharp, Samsung, Philips, Sony, and Pioneer.
About the Author

Mark Pascua is the webmaster of PersonalConfuser.net, a computer how-to and tips website.