LCD - The Affordable Option
One of the key benefits of LCD Tvs over their Plasma rivals is cost. Not only do they consume less power and therefore are cheaper to run, but they are usually significantly less expensive to purchase in the first place.
LCD - Performance Benefits
If you have a room which is drenched in natural light then an LCD TV would be your best choice. The finish of an LCD TV screen makes it far easier to watch as it is less susceptible to the glare from ambient light.
LCD TVs also have a much better 'white' display than Plasmas. This may not be something you'll ever notice as too much white on the screen can make the picture look artificial and bleached. Also the colour display on an LCD TV is slightly more muted or natural than a Plasma TV, which can make colourful images and pictures easier to watch.
Many people also prefer to play High Definition gaming on an LCD TV.
LCD - Disadvantages
Okay, onto the drawbacks.
The refresh rate on an LCD TV is not inherently as good as an LCD TV. So, fast moving images can often appear blurred, especially on a bigger screen. To combat this LCD TV makers have come out with higher Refresh rates, such as 100hz or 200 hz (120 and 240 in the US). Still this is some way short of plasma. So, if you're a fan of fast action movies or sports, then a Plasma could be the better option, if you're budget will stretch to it. An LCD screen could suffice, with a higher refresh rate, but you will be paying a premium for the privilege.
Bizarrely, although LCDs are better at producing whites, they struggle to produce deep blacks compared with a Plasma TV. To offset this, modern LCD TVs are coming with LED backlighting built in. This elevates the depth of blacks that an LCD can produce to Plasma standards.
Plasma - Advantages
The Plasma has much to offer in the way of visual performance. The contrast is far greater than an LCD TV, so you get much better shading rather than pixellate segments of black. The blacks they produce are far richer and more solid. They also have a much higher natural refresh rate than an LCD TV, so motion blurring and image break up should never be a problem.
So, the overall image quality is normally greater on a Plasma screen. But you will have to pay a price for this increased performance ...
Plasma - Disadvantage
The price! They are often a lot more expensive than their LCD counterparts. And although you are paying for improved performance, very often you won't see a huge differrence unless you're a true Blu-Ray junkie, or are using a very large screen.
Plasma screens are also glossy, so if you have a naturally bright room this can lead to reflective issues. These can be resolved by breaking the TV in for around 150 hours and then optimising the settings, or you can simply draw the curtains. But often this is enough to put people off and persuades them to buy an LCD.
So in summary if you're plumping for a larger TV. Say something over 42", you'll be better off with a Plasma screen, or with an LCD that has a higher refresh rate and LED backligthing.
If you're looking for a smaller TV and want good High Definition performance without excessive costs then an LCD TV is definitely you're best bet.
If you opt for a Plasma Tv then our choice would be a Panasonic Viera, you can view a full range of these cutting edge TVs at Panasonic Viera
For LCD there are many brands that are worthy of your consideration. You should ideally opt for a Samsung model or a sharp aquos or LG. Sony do have a good range of LCD TVs but they tend to be pricey so only consider them if they are on sale, or are really what you're after.
This article was written by Richard Havon an expert in Home Entertainment and self confessed gagdet freak. In his quest to find the perfect TV for home users he's written numerous reports for UK media, online blogs and news channels.
You can read more of his reviews at 40 Inch LCD.
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