Large plasma. Which TV is better - LCD or Plasma

Old TVs with picture tubes are no longer needed by anyone: the small screen resolution in combination with the overall impressive dimensions and a very limited set of functions are uncompetitive qualities in the modern world. Stylish slim TVs now flaunt on store shelves. But which one should you buy? Which is better: LCD or plasma? What are the advantages and disadvantages inherent in them?

Features of Plasma TVs

Plasma panels operate on the principle of a gas discharge lamp. Their surface consists of a huge number of small cell lamps filled with gas (most often xenon and neon are used, sometimes helium and argon are used). One pixel represents three such cells, each of which is "responsible" for one of the primary colors: red (R), green (G) and blue (B). In order for a pixel to glow, it is covered with a phosphor.

During the operation of the TV, an electric charge is supplied to the gas-containing cone through the electrode. After that, in the plasma formed from the mixture of gases, ultraviolet radiation occurs, and the colors appear visible to the human eye. The brightness of the glowing pixels depends on the strength of the voltage. The picture displayed on the TV screen is easily formed from three available colors: such a "palette" is enough to obtain almost any shade.

How LCD TVs work

LCD, or LCD-displays operate on the basis of liquid crystal matrices. The device of the TV is approximately the following scheme: there are two glass plates on which thin-film TFT transistors and electrodes are deposited by the method of sputtering. Between these plates are liquid crystals from which the pixel array is formed. Each pixel has an RGB stencil in front of it, thanks to which the image appears on the display. Similarly to plasma, all shades are formed from three basic colors.
Since liquid crystals by themselves cannot glow, backlighting is necessary. It is provided by fluorescent or fluorescent lamps. To distribute the luminous flux evenly across the screen, a special diffuser is located in front of the display. However, in this case, you have to sacrifice a little contrast and image brightness.

A subspecies of LCD TVs - LED models. They have appeared relatively recently and, in fact, are not new, but simply an improved technology of LCD displays. The main difference between LEDs is that LEDs provide backlighting for such screens. And in this case, the backlight can be side ("simpler" option) and back (considered to be of better quality, which affects the increase in the price of the TV). Backlighting assumes that color elements are positioned behind the LCD panel to maintain high levels of contrast and brightness.

Plasma vs LCD: which is better? Pros and cons

Both LCD TVs and plasma panels have the right to take an "honorable" place in the apartment. Difficulties in choosing are associated with maneuvering between the advantages and disadvantages of these models: it can be difficult to determine which properties of the TV are fundamental, and which negative characteristics you can turn a blind eye to.

Choosing a TV, you should not chase only the picture quality "whatever the cost." Most viewers do not notice color errors and live quietly without excellent brightness, content with just good performance.

If you give your last money for an expensive model, tempted by the manufacturer's promised "full immersion" and excellent color depth reproduction, you can fall into a trap. Modern televisions often become unusable, as they consist of many parts, the breakdown of one of which entails expensive repairs. Therefore, after a few months of watching films in excellent quality, there is a considerable risk to be left without a TV set at all, since there will simply not be money for its "treatment".

LCD or plasma: which is better to buy home

When deciding on the most suitable type of TV, you need to answer yourself the following questions:

1. How much do you plan to spend on a purchase? Depending on the budget and should "dance" further.
2. What room do you buy a TV for? The minimum plasma size is 32 inches, so it can only be placed in a large room, such as a hall. For kitchens and bedrooms, LCD models are better suited: among LCD and LEDs, you can pick up both a "baby" 16 "and a base for a real home theater 80" or more.
3. What do you plan to watch? Dynamic scenes work better with plasma, so sports fans and connoisseurs of action films should buy it. For viewers who are just going to watch TV, the LCD model will be enough.
4. How will kids and pets get along with the new TV? A lot of plasma panels went to the “other world” due to the fact that a small child launched a toy at the screen. Subsequently, a characteristic "cobweb" appears on the display, making viewing impossible. Typically, the cost of repairs is such that it is easier to buy a new TV. Therefore, if potential "pests" live in the house, it is necessary to look after a model with a protective screen.

In fact, both LCD and plasma do a good job with their main function - showing films and TV programs. So don't hesitate too long. If you want excellent quality and a little style on the wall - you should buy a plasma panel, a good enough picture without overpayments - you need to choose an LCD.

Not every adult can answer the question: what is the difference between plasma and LCD TV. Their capabilities, interface and characteristics have become very similar. Despite this, there are significant differences between these types of devices.

Before talking about the difference between LCs and plasma, one should understand the principle of their operation and technology. Plasma (PDP) is a transparent plate, between which there are electrodes and inert gases such as xenon and neon.

The screen is divided into special cells, which are filled with a substance that turns into an energized light source. The cells are separated by specially coated partitions. An electrical discharge produces a plasma that emits ultraviolet light.

Experts have proven that among all TVs, plasma panels provide the greatest comfort for the eyes and less fatigue. It is also worth mentioning the appearance of a static image in plasma. This is inconvenient for viewers and threatens to completely burn out pixels. Despite the fact that the new models are equipped with modern coating that eliminates this problem, such a moment takes place when viewing plasma. Its disadvantages also include the problem of the noise of the cooling system. Over time, the fan will begin to make a distinctive sound.

LCD TV device

The liquid crystal display consists of two transparent plates. Electrodes are located along them, through which the voltage passes. Liquid crystals are located between these plates and conduct light radiation.

A fluorescent lamp and a three-color filter are used as a backlight. LCD displays are thin and lightweight and have become popular with customers for a long time. Due to their size, they can be easily positioned on the wall. Installation and delivery of such a device is much easier and cheaper.

LCD TVs have exceptional functionality. You can connect a PC, various video equipment, game consoles to them. Devices with a diagonal over 32 inches support the Full HD format.

Thus, the difference between these types of TVs is that between the plates in the plasma there are microchambers with gas, and in the liquid crystal there are crystals. Due to the different operating principles, the difference between LCD and PDP device also follows.

Differences in characteristics

For those who know how plasma differs from an LCD TV, it is no longer so difficult to make a choice in favor of one type of device or another. Depending on the specific parameters, differences can be distinguished, as well as the pros and cons of a particular type of device.

Energy consumption

Plasma consumes several times more energy due to the fact that its cell is active under a voltage of 250 V, and 10 V is enough for an LCD monitor.This is due to the fact that the screen of an LCD TV is illuminated by special lamps, and for a PDP this glow is consumed from energy.

Screen Resolution

Plasma with a 42-inch screen has a resolution of 860 by 420 pixels, while the resolution of an LCD screen with the same diagonal is 1280 by 768 pixels. This is due to the fact that the PDP display elements are larger and the distance between them is more significant.

Viewing angle

A plasma monitor is almost always visible from anywhere, and an LCD panel's viewing angle is usually barely 160 degrees. Moreover, the deviation from the point of view in any direction from the axis perpendicular to the screen makes the image more faded.

Contrast

LCD TVs do not display blacks as clearly and deeply as plasma. This significantly affects the quality of the picture. Typically LCD TVs have a contrast ratio of 500: 1, and 2000: 1 and 4000: 1 are quite normal for PDP panels.

Lifetime

Both types of devices have practically the same service life - about 10,000 hours, only the brightness decreases in different ways over time. So, in plasma, it decreases in the first 5 years, and after changes it almost does not noticeably decrease. For LCD panels, the brightness of the screen decreases gradually and smoothly over the entire service life.

Response speed

Plasmas have very fast response times due to the lightning-fast transmission of electricity through xenon. LCDs of yesteryear had problems with this. Modern technologies have made it possible to reduce the response speed in them to 8 ms.

Price

The cost price of PDP panels is inversely proportional to their screen size. The larger the diagonal, the smaller the TV. The opposite is true for an LCD device. The smaller its dimensions, the cheaper it is. Plasma used to be much cheaper than LCD. After the latter gained great popularity, their price practically equaled.

Summing up, we can say that the best picture quality is definitely in PDP-TVs. They offer excellent dynamic picture reproduction and brighter, more vibrant colors that look good in dark environments. To watch TV both during the day and in the evening, it is better to purchase an LCD device.

Today, PDP TVs are produced less and less, and buyers prefer to choose LCD and LED technologies. Most likely, soon the market will not stop selling plasma at all, and many users are very upset because of this, because they are satisfied with the picture quality and other advantages of this technology.

Despite the superficial similarities, the various models of flat panel TVs are very different from each other. Some are designed for watching cable TV, others can successfully replace a monitor when connected to a computer, media player or game console, and still others, due to their huge range of capabilities, can give odds to many computers themselves.

This choice of technologies raises questions: which TV is better? Plasma or LCD?

To opt for one of the TVs, you first need to decide on the type of screen that is most suitable for the requirements of the buyer.

Today, most manufacturers offer four core technologies, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The optimal choice of a flat-panel TV is a rather difficult task, therefore, in order to learn about all the nuances and technologies used in the manufacture of modern TVs, you will need to spend more than one day studying manufacturers' websites and viewing thematic forums. Or just read this article.

LCD TVs

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology has become widespread in the distant 70s, when digital watches first appeared on the electronics market. Liquid crystal displays are liquid squeezed between two boards and changed by an electric current.

In other words, the operation of televisions made using LCD technology is based on the properties of certain liquids to reveal certain properties of crystals, when, when they enter an electromagnetic field, they polarize the light passing through them. In this case, the cells of the matrix become either transparent or opaque, that is, their transparency can be controlled, obtaining various shades of gray. When using color filters, a color image is obtained.

For the manufacture of the matrix, microtransistors are used that cover and open each of the 3 pixels of the color image. Thin film transistors TFT, which are control elements, are made by the method of sputtering on the screen. The number of transistors of a conventional LCD can be up to 1.5 million. It is even difficult to imagine how complicated the process of making a matrix is, in which it is required to ensure the coordinated operation of all transistors.

For a long time, only black and white LCD TVs existed on the market, and more recently, multi-colored LCD displays used the same technology. It is not a secret for anyone that in order to see the time on the LCD clock in the dark, you must first press a special button. The LCD TV screen is no different from the LCD clock screen - both devices need additional lighting on the back, as they cannot emit light themselves.

There are several methods of backlighting used in LCD TVs these days:

• CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) - backlight using a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.
• HCFL - Hot Cathode Fluorescent Lamp Backlight
• LED (Light Emitting Diode) - backlight based on LED indicator.

Most commonly, CCFL technology is used for the backlighting of LCD LCD TVs. This backlight consists of a plurality of cathode-ray tubes, which are arranged horizontally along the entire screen.

Now that it has become clear what lcd is and what it is eaten with, let's move on to the next important part of choosing a TV.

Benefits of LCD TVs

• low power consumption.
• modern design in Hi-Tech style.
• small thickness and weight.
• ideal geometry of the image.
• LCD TVs practically do not emit harmful electromagnetic waves, as they operate at low voltage.
• there are no problems with screen burn-in or translucency, due to the fact that the liquid crystals in the LCD are actually used only in a solid state.
• have proven themselves perfectly when connected to a computer. LCD TVs display a flicker-free image from a computer, the TV can be used as a display.
• the resolution in LCD TVs can exceed the resolution of plasma.
• LCD TV screens do not attract dust.

Disadvantages of LCD TVs

• low black depth.
• a small viewing angle, at which, during viewing from "side seats", color distortions appear and contrast is lost, the level of which is very dependent on the quality and type of LCD matrix used (for example, TN + film is worse than an IPS matrix) and type of backlight (LED or CCFL). However, here it should be borne in mind that good image quality is very dependent on this parameter - the brightness of the image, as well as the variety of shades, deteriorate with increasing viewing angle
• long response times, which can cause trails to appear and the clarity of moving objects during action scenes can be reduced.

However, even in spite of the above disadvantages, TV manufacturers consider devices with "liquid crystals" more promising, therefore they are constantly working to improve the technical characteristics of LCD screens. Already today, the flagship models of LCD TVs have almost reference picture quality, providing a lot of advantages over screens made using other technologies.

LED TVs

LED backlight technology first appeared in 2004 and is not a new kind of display, but just a kind of LCD technology. The only difference between the technologies is that in LED TVs, backlight lamps made on the basis of a cold cathode have been replaced by LEDs. The huge advantages of such a replacement were the reduction in the thickness of the TV to three centimeters or less, lower power consumption, and improved contrast and color reproduction of the image.

Modern models of LED TVs use two types of LED placement:

• direct placement (Backlight LED)
• contour placement (Edge LED)

With direct placement, a more expensive option, the backlight is installed in the traditional way - behind the LCD matrix. In the second type of placement, a more compromise, the LEDs are located around the perimeter of the screen. The light flux from the LEDs is delivered to the center areas of the screen using a reflector system. TVs made using this technology can easily fit into ultra-thin cases that are only a couple of centimeters thick.

Speaking of LED TVs, one cannot fail to mention the Local Dimming technology, which is successfully used in new models of LED TVs.

Since the low contrast of the image in conventional LCD TVs is due to the fact that liquid crystals are not able to completely block the light source, the black color turned into a dark gray, which is especially noticeable when watching TV in the dark. The solution to this problem in LED TVs was the ability to completely turn off the group of LEDs located in the dark part of the picture, due to which this area began to transmit the maximum black color. Local dimming is implemented on TVs with direct backlight placement, during which the diodes are located directly behind the image. The implementation of this technology is not possible on models with LED contour placement.

Most of the manufacturers who produce LED TVs only with contour backlighting used a different technology - Micro Dimming. It works on a different principle, changing the brightness parameters of the diodes directly in the LCD matrix. This technology also improves image contrast and blacks depth.

Benefits of LED TVs

• minimum thickness, energy consumption and weight.
• a huge selection of screen diagonals - from 15 "to 80".
• long service life with no restrictions during operation.
• comfortable viewing of TV programs in any lighting conditions, thanks to the high brightness.

Disadvantages of LED TVs

• the depth of black is often inferior to similar plasma TVs.
• long response time, which is critical when watching action scenes in movies or games.
• high requirements for the quality of the incoming signal - transmissions with low resolution on LED TVs do not look the best way, demonstrating their shortcomings.

OLED TVs

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TVs have been expected by users for over 5 years. In such TVs, the image is created by a matrix made of organic light-emitting diodes.
Microscopic elements were created on the basis of light-emitting organic materials, so they do not need additional illumination, thanks to which manufacturers were able to create super-thin displays with a thickness of only a few millimeters on their basis.

OLED TVs are characterized by the highest contrast levels, are completely black (when off, cells do not emit light at all), excellent viewing angles, improved color reproduction and instant response.

However, the difficulties that arose in the production of large OLED panels hampered the development of their use in TVs for a long time, although this technology has been successfully used for screens of mobile devices for a long time.

In the fall of 2012, LG and Samsung released new 55-inch OLED TVs. The cost of such TVs is still very high - about $ 10,000.

Benefits of OLED TVs

• excellent color rendering.
• perfect black color.
• maximum viewing angle.
• ultra-thin display thickness (less than a centimeter).

Disadvantages of OLED TVs

• very high cost.
• limited choice.

Plasma TVs

Plasma PDP-TVs (Plasma Display Panel) appeared more than 10 years ago, and got their sonorous name due to the design of the screen, consisting of a whole array of cells, each of which contains an inert gas.

When voltage is applied to such cells, the gas contained in them turns into plasma, and the transition to this state is accompanied by the emission of bright light. This light is directed into the transparent part of the camera, which is coated with a phosphor of one of the three primary RGB colors - red, green or blue - and forms an image.

The difference between plasma and LCD

Due to the fact that each cell of plasma TVs emits light on its own, such TVs do not need the additional backlighting scheme typical for LCD screens. Plasma TV images end up being very soft and pleasing to the eye and have a very realistic color gamut. Plasma TVs also boast excellent contrast, the widest possible viewing angles and high screen refresh rates.

However, due to the fact that plasma cells are quite large, it is simply impossible to create a plasma TV with a small diagonal and high resolution. This is why PDP TVs are never smaller than 42 inches.

When choosing a plasma TV, you should be aware that during operation it consumes much more electricity than other types of TVs and can become significantly hot during prolonged viewing.

The peculiarities of the technology impose restrictions on the viewing time, since when a static image is displayed for a long time, so-called "residual traces" can appear on the screen, in which the ghostly contours of very bright objects can remain on the TV screen for a long time.

In terms of brightness, plasma TVs are significantly inferior to LCD and LED TVs, and in bright daylight, images on PDP screens may appear more faded than on LCD models. This must be taken into account when viewing TV programs in a well-lit room.

Although in some respects plasma TVs are inferior to LCD TVs, their new models produce an excellent picture, and if you analyze their characteristics in the lower price segment, they have a much better screen-to-price ratio than other TV models.

Benefits of Plasma TVs

• very rich black color.
• high-quality picture with excellent color rendering.
• wide viewing angles.
• high speed of updating the picture.
• improved transfer of dynamic scenes.
• tolerant attitude to low quality signal.

Disadvantages of Plasma TVs

• heating during prolonged viewing.
• high power consumption.
• the appearance of residual images on static elements.
• lack of models with a small diagonal.
• brightness, inferior to LCD TVs.

So, which is better than plasma or lcd?

If the user needs a TV with the largest diagonal, which will be used mainly for watching terrestrial TV programs and movies, and at the same time it must have a minimum cost, then the best choice would be "plasma".

If the owner of the TV plans to connect various devices to the TV, such as a computer, media player, game console, etc., as well as play content of various formats on it, for example, digital television, images from a computer, etc., and also one of the requirements is a diagonal of no more than 32 ", then it is better to buy an LCD TV.

Which is better to choose a plasma TV or an LCD TV? There is no single correct answer to this question. It all depends on the needs of the buyer and on the conditions in which he will watch TV. In order to choose the desired option, the buyer must know the pros and cons of these technologies.

In the past two years, the presenters manufacturers do not produce plasma TVs as a screen. At various times, they abandoned plasma in favor of LED technology. Then there are OLED TVs. It is these two technologies that will divide the market over the next few years.

How LCD TVs work

The principle of operation of a lcd display is very simple, liquid crystal molecules change their position in space under the influence of an electric current. If you place a layer of liquid crystals after the display backlight lamp, you can get a kind of electrical light switch.

Depending on the plane of polarization, the light will either pass through the LCD matrix or be delayed, which we will see on the screen as light or dark pixels. There are a lot of these pixels, with a resolution of 4K pixels on the screen of 8 million.

After passing through a layer of liquid crystals, the so-called blinds, the light enters the light filter. There are three sub-pixels for each pixel: green, blue and red. These colors are the basis of all color television, because by combining them, we can get almost any hue. As a result, we get the desired image on the screen, this is how the lcd TV works.

How Plasma TVs Work

In turn, the principle of operation of a plasma TV is as follows. Each pixel in a plasma display is made up of three ionized gas microlamps. An electrode is connected to the cones with gas, through which voltage is applied. An electrical discharge in a gas (plasma) emits ultraviolet radiation, which causes the phosphor that covers each sub-pixel to glow. The brightness of the glow of each cell depends on the level of the applied voltage. Thus, almost any shade can be obtained from the three primary colors.

Pros and cons

Plasma TVs cannot be less than 32 inches, this is a technological limitation. And basically plasma TVs are made with a diagonal of 42 inches or more. And LCD screens can be from very small (for example, a wristwatch) to 100 inch screens, in reality LCD TVs are produced up to 80 inches.

First difference in size... The minimum and maximum sizes for LCD and plasma are different. When choosing a TV, you need to take into account the size of the room where it will stand. For a small room, the plasma can be very large, and for a presentation hall, the size of an LCD TV may not be enough. But for popular TV screen sizes of 40-60 inches, both technologies will work.

Plasma with a large diagonal is perfect for a room with a large area and equipped for a home theater. And for a smaller room, an LCD is better, because in a small room such disadvantages of plasma TVs as increased heat generation and noise from cooling fans will be much more noticeable.

And some of the technical characteristics of plasma displays are excessive for human perception and are not an advantage over LCD TVs. The main advantage of plasma remains better contrast, which entails better color reproduction. But on the other hand, LCD TVs have a high brightness, especially for models with led backlighting, and therefore LCDs can be viewed in strong ambient light, and plasma will show good results in shaded rooms. Therefore, if in a shop window you see that the plasma shows worse than an LCD TV, then keep in mind that at home, when you put the plasma in the room, the result can be much better.

The main advantage of plasma panels is better black levels, and therefore better contrast and better color reproduction. LCD TV models that can compete with plasma in these parameters have LED backlighting and surpass similar plasma models in cost. The viewing angle is also better with plasma TVs and the response time is much faster, which gives an advantage when watching dynamic scenes. With the improvement of LED backlighting, LCD TVs are almost equal in image quality to plasma ones.

The problem of pixel burnout in plasma can arise if a static image is fed to the screen, for example, when connected to a computer or if you put a photo instead of a screensaver. During normal viewing, the problem of burned-out pixels may not arise at all, and in new models the problem of burn-in is practically eliminated. Both plasma and LCD TVs have a sufficient MTBF margin, so it is not necessary to look at this characteristic when comparing these technologies.

This information is valid for 2014. Since then, plasma has left the market and its parameters have remained the same, but models with LED backlighting have become leaders in the TV market. Their technical parameters have reached a high level and you can find models with excellent image quality. OLED TVs compete with them, but there are relatively few of them and they come at a great price.