LCD vs. plasma: Which is better?

Technology has advanced greatly in recent years so that an innovative, superior class of televisions has now been developed which older sets can not compete against. This new generation of televisions, Plasma and LCD, have amazing pictures, but there are some distinctions between them.

Both Plasma and LCD TVs have large screens that produce bright, clear images with superior color pictures encased in similar flat screen housings. With high definition, the pictures from these sets are spectacular and superior to any other television. Although the picture quality in the LCD and Plasma sets is comparable, the technology is immensely different.

How LCD TVs work

The liquid crystal display (LCD) technology is based on the concept that when electric current is applied to the liquid crystals in the screen, they will move around producing vibrant colors and a great picture. With this technology, screen burn isn't a problem.

How plasma TVs work

Plasma technology involves running electricity through a series of pixel cells that stimulate gases that are in the set. This creates a glow and color that produces a superior picture. The plasma picture is extremely lifelike and realistic.

Sony Bravia LCDs

The Sony Bravia is a premium LCD home entertainment system that was introduced in the summer of 2005, replacing their Trintron and Wega series TVs and is only available in LCD models. Current brands are improved with 1080 pixel color resolution which is a great improvement over the 720. Color accuracy on these sets is excellent and viewing angles are good up to 130 degrees. LCDs claim to have a screen life of between 50,000 to 65,000 hours.

Panasonic Viera plasmas

The Panasonic Viera, available only in plasma models, is a premium plasma home entertainment system that was introduced in March of 2008. It comes with an amazing 1450 pixel color resolution that makes it a leader in this category. With a viewing angle of an amazing 160 degrees, it is a leader in this category also. Some past problems were experienced with sets making a buzzing noise at high altitudes but that issue has been resolved. Their screens are rated to last up to 60,000 hours without any major picture deterioration.