The pros and cons of different types of flat-screen TV
If you shop for a new television, you will need to take into account the obvious things like price, picture quality and screen size. One of the important choices when getting the best out of flat screen TVs is the choice between LCD, LED LCD and Plasma. So which is better?
Plasma screen TVs use plasma gas cells to produce the picture, where electricity is applied to a matrix of cells at different levels, exciting the gas to emit different levels of light in each cell, the combination of which creates the picture in the form of thousands of pixels.Here is a full explanation of how a Plasma TV works.
LCD TVs work by aplying an electrical charge to a crystal cell has a twisting effect which renders the cell transparent - or not - allowing the back light through. The main technology in LED LCD screens is the same as with other LCD screens but the fluorescent lamp used as a back light is, instead, replaced with LEDs which give a more durable and uniform light source. Read a full explanation of how an LCD TV works.
In general terms, all of the technologies continue to improve. Broadly, the contrast ratio (the difference between the brightest whites and the blackest blacks) on a Plasma screen TV is better than that of an LCD TV. This is because a plasma screen can completely shut off the light source for individual pixels on the screen. Depending on other elements of the technology, a plasma screen has a stronger ratio of dark to light available across the screen and creates a bolder brighter picture. However, with the latest LED technology combined with the LCD crystal screen, LCD based televisions can now individually alter and control segments of the back light to arguably rival plasma screen TVs. LED LCD TVs now have a viewing angle very similar to that Plasma screens (which was historically a limitation with LCD) due to the decentralized distribution of the back light.
In theory, plasma screens can produce brighter colors and have a better display of motion on-screen because they can refresh individual cells at a faster rate than their LCD counterparts. However, the latest LCD LED screens not only double the refresh rate of the screen image, but also offer a greater breadth in terms of color ranges with red or white led back lights. LED enhanced screens also save considerable power over traditional LCD and Plasma screens, using significantly less energy than both. So the LED back light has a far longer life span than the LCD fluorescent equivalent.
It is therefore being widely suggested that LED LCD screens are superior to either of their forerunners, for energy saving and longevity and sometimes for picture quality. With high definition (HD) TV being one of the main benefits of the digital switch over, the rush is on to purchase a TV which will give you the most from the newly available digital technology.
Other than practical issues such as how long the screen will last, the only real advice in terms of a superior image, is simply to compare screens next to one another. For more information about assessing picture quality read this article How to buy a plasma or LCD TV with a great picture.
