- Big
Screen TVs: Plasma vs. LCD vs. DLP -
11/30/2008
If you are in the market for a big screen TV, this
information might be helpful to you. As of the date this article was published,
the three major types of big screen TV are Plasma, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
and DLP (Digital Light Processing). While they might all look very similar on
display at the store, there are several differences in the three technologies.
Rear-projections are thinner and
lighter than the older CRT rear-projection sets that are
still kicking around, but for the most part, you still can't
hang a DLP TV on the wall since they are 12-13 inches deep. By contrast, you can easily hang
a plasma or LCD TV on the wall, but they are not widely
available in very large sizes, and they cost significantly
more, inch for inch. Each type of television has its pros
and cons, but they all use a lamp that needs to be replaced
every few years, so that shouldn't be a factor.
LCD TV Disadvantages:
·One problem with LCD TV screens is that they have an
inherent delay problem. This is something that cannot be overcome. When a fast moving object moves across an LCD screen, the
delay of LCD technology causes "motion blur". Basically there are trails or blockiness of the image since the screen cannot keep up. There are newer LCD
panels that have lower m/s ( millisecond) times but there still is a delay.
The good news is that with a good name brand LCD TV the motion blur is minimal
and really won't be noticeable until you get a screen over 30 or 35 inches. At
that point the delays will be noticeable and in some cases extremely annoying.
Expect severe motion blur on cheap units to the point of making the TV
basically unwatchable .
·Black levels: An LCD display has a backlight which
shines through the LCD panels. The panels allow or block light depending on what
is required to produce an image or a color. Most, if not all, LCD TV's tend to
have difficulty going fully "black". Blacks tend to have a very very dark
grey. This is especially true on cheaper units.
·Field Of Vision: Even the best LCD TV has field of
vision problems. When you look straight on the picture looks great, as you move
to either side the picture quality diminishes and eventually disappears. Some
LCD TV makers claim up to 170o field of view. This is a complete
lie. To quote one major manufacturer "well it doesn't mean you have a great
picture for 170 degrees, but you do have a picture" . Realistically a good LCD
TV such as a Sharp Aquos will have a a 90 degree (45 each side) usable picture.
·Single Usage: There are many LCD screens on the
market but very few have good video processing. If an LCD screen is made as a
computer monitor, it is usually very poor as a video display. If you are
planning to use the unit as a TV, do not buy a computer monitor with a tuner
upgrade. Stick to a unit designed for video such as a Sharp Aquos. For dual
purpose, buy a LCD TV with a computer input, not a computer screen with a tuner!
·Extremely expensive over 35 inches.
·16/9 widescreen units expensive.
·Pixel failure: This can be a problem with LCD
screens. All the major brands have pixel policies which may allow one or two
dead pixels. These are not noticeable unless you are right in front of the
screen. A 20 inch LCD screen has over 300,000 pixels. so one or two dead could
not be seen. Cheap LCD screens have extremely poor policies which can allow
higher then 10%. This would make the unit unwatchable.
·Digital looking picture: Many LCD screens tend to
have a "digital look " to the image and therefore don't seem to reproduce colors
naturally.
LCD TV Advantages:
·Good for still images such as computer display,
Fairly reasonable pricing below 30 inches.
·Quality units have good brightness levels.
·Small footprint; an LCD TV screen hangs on a wall
and takes as little space as a picture.
·Low operating cost per hour ( over 35 inch extremely
expensive acquisition cost).
·Long Life. Expect 30,000 to 50,000 hours bulb life
according to Sharp (Please note that the picture can fade over time on a LCD
TV. I would expect prime performance to last closer to 20,000 to 30,000 hours
maximum; 13 years at 6 hours per day). Expect substantially less on a cheap
brand.
Plasma TV Disadvantages:
·Plasma screens can suffer image retention (burn in) if a still image is left on
the display for a extended period of time. For example, you would not want to
use a plasma screen for a computer display constantly. If you were to use a
Plasma TV for Video Display and occasionally use it for computer, burn in would
not be a factor. Also if you were to leave the plasma TV screen on a station
such as CNBC, which has constant ticker tape across the bottom, for 24 hours a
day, there would be noticeable burn in when you switched to a different channel.
If by error you were to burn your screen, proper name brand plasma screens do
have a "white flash" utility which eliminates the burn, however it will shorten
the life of the plasma. If your primary use of the plasma screen is for TV
viewing and DVD, image retention will not be a factor.
·Size: Plasma screens are not available below 37
inches. There were some 32 inch units available but have been discontinued. Also
60 inch and above can be very pricey but prices are coming down.
·No tuners: Most plasma screens do not have tuners
and if they do they are expensive upgrades. Some cheaper plasma TV's have
optional tuners but they usually are not the best. This is not a
disadvantage in most cases. Almost everyone who can afford a plasma will be
using satellite, digital cable or external HD boxes. So the built in tuner would
be redundant and a waste of money.
·Pixel failure: This can be a problem with cheap
plasma screens. All the major brands have pixel policies which may allow one or
two dead pixels. These are not noticeable unless you are right in front of the
screen. A 50 inch screen has over 983,000 pixels. so one or two dead could
not be seen. Cheap plasma screens have extremely poor policies which can allow
higher then 10%. This would make the unit unwatchable. If the plasma screen has
an orbiter function, this will greatly reduce the chance of pixel failure.
·Early models had poor contrast. The first generation
plasma TV screens had poor contrast and brightness. Do not buy a used plasma
screen from a online auction such as ebay. The units that have been out for the
last two years outperform the older units by miles.
Plasma TV Advantages:
·Long life: the average name brand plasma TV will
last 50,000 to 70,000 hours to half life (brightness is 50% of original, it
will still be 2 to 3 times brighter then a regular TV). This is around 20 years
at 6 hours per day. Expect substantially less for a cheap brand TV.
·Field of vision: A plasma screen TV has a field of
vision of almost 180 degrees without loss of picture quality. From any angle you
will have a great picture.
·Brightness: Plasma screens are very bright. 4 to 5
times brighter then an average TV.
·Great contrast: The last two generations (two years
or so) of name brand Plasma screens have great contrast ratios. Look for a
rating of 1000 to 1 or more.
·Low operating cost: A name brand plasma is cheap to
operate due to long life with virtually no maintenance (you cannot recharge
a plasma, and they don't leak gas).
·Instantaneous picture response: There is virtually
no delay in any name brand plasma and therefore no motion blur that is
experienced on LCD screens.
·Natural looking picture: A plasma screen reproduces
a picture in a similar manner to a standard TV. Name brand plasma TV colors tend
to be natural looking and more accurate. Cheap brands can tend to be weak or soft on
colors.
·Small footprint; a plasma screen hangs on a wall and
takes as little space as a picture.
·Wide screen, all but one or two plasma TV screens
are 16:9 wide screen format.
·Upgradeability: Many plasma screens have upgradeable
video cards that "future proof " your plasma.
DLP TV Disadvantages:
·High operational costs: The DLP TV is simply a DLP
video projector in a box. The projectors use a replaceable bulb which can cost
between 200 to 400 US dollars. The life on the bulb varies but generally expect
around 6000 to 8000 hours. However some will last substantially less.
Realistically you can expect to be buying a bulb every 2 years and possible
sooner if you watch a lot of TV. Add the acquisition cost of the unit and a DLP
TV can actually cost twice as much as a plasma over 5 or 6 years of normal use.
In the expected life of a unit it can cost 3 to 4 times as much as a plasma.
Consider a DLP TV like a computer bubble jet printer. Cheaper to acquire, way
more expensive on ink.
·Large foot print: Even though a DLP TV is
substantially thinner then a old style rear projection TV, they are still a
minimum of 12 to 13 inches deep.
·Not wall mountable: units cannot be hung on wall.
·Field of vision. Although greatly improving, DLP TVs
still do not have as good of a field of vision as a plasma TV.
·Picture quality. Although improving, the picture
quality varies on DLP TVs. Some have very poor to medium quality, none have
spectacular. Many people still complain about motion blur and blockiness in some
units.
·Diminishing bulb brightness: When a bulb gets older
in a DLP TV the brightness level reduces. When the bulb is replaced, the TV
becomes bright again.
·Early bulb failure: The bulb in a DLP can fail
instantly well before its scheduled replacement. Availability of replacement
bulbs varies with manufacturers. If you do purchase a DLP TV, I would suggest
getting a spare bulb right away. Its murphy's law that the bulb will fail 3
minutes before the Superbowl kick off.
DLP TV Advantages:
·Initially low acquisition cost. Generally offset by
high operating costs. Still cheaper then a plasma or LCD in the very large
size, 42 to 50 are not much cheaper then a plasma screen and definitely not
cheaper over the long term. They are also usually very light weight.
