Best Screen (LCD vs Plasma)

[vana8]

Hello everyone!

Maybe this topic was already discussed, and if so I am sorry to have started a new thread.

I am not too technically informed, but have been looking forward to the Blu-Ray coming out for about a year now. I just got my Samsung player, and I am really enjoying it.

Quick question; Which is considered to be the superior hardware to play blu-ray (or any other format for that matter), LCD or Plasma screens? I have heard a lot of talk from friends that support one or the other. But I would love to get comments from you experts.

Thanks in advance!

[vick vega]

for the money, screen size, and picture quality not to mention the fact you can replace the bulb I like lcd or dlp

[AV_Integrated]

Originally Posted by vick vega

for the money, screen size, and picture quality not to mention the fact you can replace the bulb I like lcd or dlp

Don't confuse LCD flat panels with LCD rear projection - I'm pretty sure he is asking specifically about flat panel displays.

Of the two, plasma is almost always named as the one with a superior image, but it is not THAT much of a superior image with flat panel displays. Plasma is simply a bit better with motion than LCD is and it is better off axis so you get to view from more locations in the room with solid image quality. The downside is clearly that the plasma MAY suffer from burn-in if you use it extensively for video games or for a channel with a stagnent image up all the time.

So, which to buy? Well, for flat panels, it really is a toss up anymore. LCDs have come way down in price and the 40" Westinghouse LCD is a real deal. But, if you aren't playing games/etc. and burn-in is not an issue I would go with plasma over LCD.

As to the comment on rear projection with the lamps, it simply is not necessarily the case that they represent a better value. Current plasmas and LCD flat panels will run 12-15 years minimum without any issues at all. In that time you may replace 5-10 lamps on a rear projection television. That represents about a minimum of $1,500 in replacement lamps over the time, plus the cost of the rear projection TV. Not necessarily a 'deal'. As well, rear projection tends to not be as bright as LCD/plasma and it doesn't perform as well off-axis so there may be rooms that simply don't work well with rear projection. Yet, a nice rear projection setup, at say 60" or so, is far less expensive than the plasma/lcd flat panel counterpart.

[JTK]

Depends on how much you're willing to spend.

For around $1800-$2000, there's a couple of mid 40 inch HP plasmas that ownown ANY LCD anywhere near that price range.


And I'm not a big fan of plasma saying all of this.


I don't like LCD for larger screens. I just don't. Plasma has the better PQ 9/10 times and many of the early shortcomings, like the burn-in, are almost eliminated.

You just have to use common sense and know what you're doing if you buy plasma.

LCD, imo, suffers once it gets out of the 30's in terms of inches. That screen door effect and the limited viewing angles, motion blur, and the washed down colors and less than black blacks drive me nuts.

To give credit where it's due, LCD is getting better, but it just is too damned expensive for what it offers, especially if you start going into 40 inches or more. (All the new displays techs are getting better.)


If you don't want to do plasma, I much prefer either DLP or LCOS/SXRD/DILA. Better PQ all the way around more often than not.

[no_wei]

here's a sort of on topic question regarding plasma screens.

i've heard something about plasma screens utilizing compressed gases, and how the differing atmospheric pressure at different elevations can ultimately affect picture quality. that's about all i've heard, so... what's the deal with that?

thanks

/no

[theknub]

Originally Posted by no_wei

here's a sort of on topic question regarding plasma screens.

i've heard something about plasma screens utilizing compressed gases, and how the differing atmospheric pressure at different elevations can ultimately affect picture quality. that's about all i've heard, so... what's the deal with that?

thanks

/no

while i don't know the exact composition of plasma displays, essentially there are inert gases (like in a flourescent bulb) in the layers of the screen. using some of the gas laws, as you increase in altitude, the gases expand. when the gases expand (at altitude), they change the predictability and performance of the display. this is why there are altitude rated displays.

btw, just to give you a quick chem breakdown. there is so much pressure at sea level in which gases behave predictably. this changes with increases and decreases in pressure. this goes for scuba divers and their O2 tanks a hundred feet underwater (in which gas will contract due to the increased pressure) and expand at altitude (due to decreased pressure). ever notice your ears needing to pop when flying? this is the same principle. you have air trapped in your ear canal and it needs to be equalized to the pressure around you.

[J_UNTITLED]

Originally Posted by JTK

I much prefer either DLP or LCOS/SXRD/DILA. Better PQ all the way around more often than not.

Agreed.

[JTK]

I will say that those 3LCD sets are pretty darned respectable, though...