Each customer ponders over which screen is best: plasma or LCD, choosing a TV or monitor for home and office. To get an answer to this question it is necessary to understand what differs plasma from LCD and what they have advantages and disadvantages.
Differences between plasma and LCD TV
- The amount of energy consumed. When working with a plasma TV, you need two, and sometimes three times more energy than LCD TVs. This difference in energy consumption is associated with the technologies for creating a screen image. One cell of the plasma TV requires 200-300 volts, and the voltage of the LCD TV cells is only 5-12 volts. Thus, each pixel of the output plasma image consumes energy, and the brighter the picture, the more energy is needed. The energy costs of the LCD TV are independent of the image. The main amount of voltage of the LCD TV consumes the backlight lamp, which is located behind the LCD panel. The pixels of the liquid crystal screen modulate the light flux emanating from the lamps and consume a minimum amount of energy.
- The need for cooling. Due to increased heat generation by the plasma screen, it requires cooling, which is carried out with the help of a built-in fan. In quiet home conditions, noise from the fan is heard well, which can bring some discomfort.
- Contrast image. By this criterion, the plasma TV far exceeds the liquid crystal one. Plasma panels are characterized by high color saturation and dark tone, especially black, which can be displayed much better than the LCD.
- Viewing angle. In the plasma model, the viewing angle is practically unlimited, which allows you to see a clear image from different sides of the monitor. In LCD TVs, the viewing angle reaches barely 170 degrees, but at the same time, the contrast of the image falls dramatically.
- The service life of plasma and LCD is practically the same. And on average, with a daily work of the TV for 10 hours, he will be able to serve more than 10 years
- Price. The manufacture of plasma panels requires a special production organization, which sufficiently increases their cost over liquid crystal screens.
- Security. Both types of screen are completely harmless to human health.
- Reliability. Reflecting on what is safer: LCD or plasma, it can be noted that plasma screens that have a protective glass are more resistant to physical effects, while LCDs can easily deteriorate if you accidentally get into it by some object.
Considering different aspects in the work of these models, it will be rather incorrect to state which one is better. Also how to distinguish LCD from plasma with the naked eye you are unlikely to succeed. Therefore, with your choice, we advise you to focus on the characteristics of displays that will be important for you.