Plasma / LCD - Which is better for 36"+ TV?

[Devilman]

Looking to buy a new TV soon, 36" or approx, but dont know which is better, LCD or Plasma? Whats the pro's and con's of each?

Cheers

[Jonny M]

LCD, LCD!

Brighter, sharper, uses less power.

The only advantage plasma has, is that it can be used to make larger screens. If you have the choice, go for LCD.

[unrealrocks]

Its not quite that simple ...

Plasmas have much better colour depth - there blacks are much blacker, there whites are much whiter. (What I'm saying is there contrast ratio is much higher).

Because LCDs subtract colours away from white, rather than using a backlight and then just imposing the exact colours its harder to get accurate colours (you can still have bright colours, they just might not be quite as true to the original).

Plasmas have a much bigger viewing angle.

For fast moving video etc. LCDs still aren't as good as plasmas - they still have higher response times and still ghost and trail from time to time.

Although there is still the burning problem with plasmas where static images burn into the screen - this has improved but its still a problem. Also LCDs will tend to last longer.

[Jonny M]

The thing is, IMO they both still look awful, cause the res is so damn low.

[unrealrocks]

With LCDs - when watching TV its no higher, it simply interpolates the image upto all the pixels (like TFTs).

[Rave]

I like Plasmas personally. The thing is though, watching the SA test match on my wife's uncle's 42" Samsung on Boxing Day showed up very clearly the limits of the PAL source feed.

Your best bet is to find a decent dealer and get a comparison.

Rich :¬)

[Stoo]

A local shop here has one of those new HDTV ready Pioneer plasma screens, when running the high-res source it looks *amazing*, but then at £3000 it should do..

[Jonny M]

But £3000 plasmas were common even just 1 year ago. Prices will drop.

Can't wait for HDTV broadcasting though in the UK.

[Mr Meltdown]

I have an LG 44" DLP LCD (RE-44SZ21RD) and I am impressed with it overall, but the reviews are right, ...fan noise and fast dark scenes can be a bit messy, but the whites are VERY white and the blacks pretty darned black and once I'd adjusted from the transition from my 29" CRT Sony it's a damn fine TV. I'm selling it if anyone fancies it BTW as I'll have my DIY projector set up soon

SO that's a thumbs up for LCD from me, but mines a RP DLP LCD so not sure that counts or not?

CHeers,

MM