Why plasma TVs

[TheAudio]

why do plasma televisions get so much respect around here over LED and LCD tvs?

 

[Adam]

Not trying to be rude when I say - try searching the forum. There are several posts about the specifics.

Each technology has it's pros and cons. I picked a Panasonic plasma in 2009 over LCDs for: better off-axis picture quality (for where I normally sit), lack of ghosting during fast motion, and better anti-reflective coating (TV specific, not technology specific). There were other reasons, I'm sure, but I can't remember them all right now.

 

[Rickster71]

It's not just around here.
I randomly picked this site LCD vs. Plasma
They mention the usual Pros & Cons of both types.

 

[Midwesthonky]

Not trying to be rude when I say - try searching the forum. There are several posts about the specifics.

Each technology has it's pros and cons. I picked a Panasonic plasma in 2009 over LCDs for: better off-axis picture quality (for where I normally sit), lack of ghosting during fast motion, and better anti-reflective coating (TV specific, not technology specific). There were other reasons, I'm sure, but I can't remember them all right now.

Ditto for me. I finally went plasma over my old HD Projection TV. My brother likes LED/LCD TV's. But I feel the plasmas just have a better overall picture quality especially for fast motion. I just have not seen an LCD/LED that has motion that I like. Actually some LCD's motion really bugs the crap out of me to the point where I refuse to watch it. It's my preference but since it's my money...

My main viewing room has large windows with lots of sunlight so the anti-reflective coatings on the plasmas are very important to me. Overall, I really LOVE my new plasma. It rocks!!

Ultimately, you have to decide what you like and are willing to spend. Yeah, I could have saved a few bucks going LCD, but if I'm not happy with how it performs, then why spend the money? Hence, I bought a plasma and I don't regret it.

 

[herragge]

I also agree, I find the plasma TV to be a bit more versatile because of its ability to be viewed better off axis. Better when you have company around and space is a constraint too.

 

[highfigh]

Most of the LCD/LED TVs I have seen look like there's a layer of plastic over the image...oh, wait- there is a layer of plastic. It just doesn't look natural and, to me, it doesn't even lool good unless it's one of the higher priced models. The cost of a plasma display is less for many sizes, too. The blur, unnatural look and ghosting makes LCD/LED a no-go for me.

 

[FirstReflection]

The main reasons are:

1) Even illumination of the entire screen.

Full array LED backlit LCDs can have nice, even illumination as well, but traditional CCFL backlit LCDs and the edge-lit LCDs all suffer from uneven illumination that often includes corners or edges that are brighter than the rest of the screen, "clouding" in the backlight, or just plain uneven lighting behind parts of the screen.

Furthermore, even the best full-array, local-dimming LED backlit LCDs suffer from "blooming", which looks like a "halo" of light around small bright objects that are on a dark background.

2) Deeper black levels.

Again, the best full-array, local-dimming LED backlit LCDs can deliver excellent black levels as well (aside from the "blooming). But the rest of the LCDs and edge-lit LED LCDs still can't match the deep black levels of the best plasmas.

3) Off angle viewing.

You can pretty much look at a good plasma across its entire 180 degree front area and the colors and brightness will not change. On LCDs - regardless of the backlighting technology - as you move off angle from dead center, the colors will shift and the far side of the screen will start to wash out and look brighter than the near side of the screen.

4) Motion.

LCDs still exhibit some blur and motion artifacts.

5) Smoothing/120Hz effect/Soap opera effect.

While you can always turn this stupid processing off on LCDs, many people don't. Plus, if you do turn it off, you often lose the dejudder processing or increase the motion blur. Some plasmas offer a "smoothing" mode as well that makes 24fps content look like it was shot on a camcorder, but you typically have to go into the menu and turn it ON, rather than how most LCDs make you search through the menu to turn it OFF.

6) 3D

Plain and simple, 3D on LCDs looks like *** because of the cross-talk that is a result of LCD panels not being able to refresh fast enough to avoid it (same reason LCDs have motion blur). The best plasmas deliver the best 3D experience - and that includes 3D in a movie theater.

7) Price to performance ratio

At 50" and above, plasmas still tend to offer better picture quality in all of the areas above for the price. The price gap is closing on these larger screen sizes, but the LCDs that are cheaper are markedly worse in picture quality, so plasma still holds an edge here.

 

[Nestor]

why do plasma televisions get so much respect around here over LED and LCD tvs?

Plasmas have a better picture, but one needs to control the ambient room light to maximize that performance.

I won't repeat previous posts on specific reasons, but I would like to add that enthusiasts here are more inclined to control room lighting.

 

[CadenceSound]

The other tech is just not up their with plasma sets...but at the rate technology goes, plasma can be obsolete any time now..

still happy with my Kuro

 

[BMXTRIX]

why do plasma televisions get so much respect around here over LED and LCD tvs?

There is a lot of respect for LCD displays on these forums, but many people are shooting for the best image quality - period. In that case, the winner has been, and still is, the plasma display. The better Panasonics and Samsung displays are just better than the best Samsung and Sony LCD displays out there.

It doesn't make LCD bad, it just has weaknesses when it comes to the bottom line image quality arguement. When the room gets bright and people aren't as picky and may be doing a lot of gaming and not care that much about 3D quality then LCD has some advantages. In kids rooms, or for gaming, there are times when picking LCD makes a lot more sense and should be a first line pick for people.

Unfortunately, there still is a lot of misinformation out there about plasma displays which some stores continue to repeat and spread. Some are overstatements and others are just flat out lies. But, because stores tend to earn more on LED based LCD displays, that is where the sales push typically is driven towards.

Hopefully we won't see plasmas disappear from the market anytime soon and will continue to see great advances come out from makes like Panny and Samsung.

 

[AVupgrading]

I have a 42" LCD & just bought a 55" LCD - both Toshiba's
Both rooms are bright, so I did not think a Plasma would work too well
The main room w/55" has a 5' picture window flanked by a 34" window on each side....just sheer curtains on the 34" windows, nothing else
The room with the 42" is a sunroom.....tons of light
Add to that the cost of electric & I decided on LCD, tho I think the power draw of plasma's has dropped over the years

 

[FirstReflection]

There is a lot of respect for LCD displays on these forums, but many people are shooting for the best image quality - period. In that case, the winner has been, and still is, the plasma display. The better Panasonics and Samsung displays are just better than the best Samsung and Sony LCD displays out there.

It doesn't make LCD bad, it just has weaknesses when it comes to the bottom line image quality arguement. When the room gets bright and people aren't as picky and may be doing a lot of gaming and not care that much about 3D quality then LCD has some advantages. In kids rooms, or for gaming, there are times when picking LCD makes a lot more sense and should be a first line pick for people.

Unfortunately, there still is a lot of misinformation out there about plasma displays which some stores continue to repeat and spread. Some are overstatements and others are just flat out lies. But, because stores tend to earn more on LED based LCD displays, that is where the sales push typically is driven towards.

Hopefully we won't see plasmas disappear from the market anytime soon and will continue to see great advances come out from makes like Panny and Samsung.

Absolutely right, BMX! I listed the reasons why plasma still trumps LCD in several ways, but that doesn't mean I don't ever recommend a good LCD! In my theater, where I've been putting up with the audible operational buzz from my 60" Pioneer Kuro plasma monitor, the plan in the new year is to install an electric 100" screen and new projector for movies, but to also have a 70" full-array LCD on the wall (behind the screen when the screen is down) for TV watching and gaming. I prefer to have the lights on for TV and videogames, so a good LCD with a matte screen is in order

Thank goodness Sharp finally went back to making some matte screen LCDs! Even if they are only the 70" lineup that they have right now. Happily, 70" is the size I need anyway (actually 72"-76" would be perfect, but 70" is pretty close...closer than 65" anyway ). I'm kinda hoping to hear something solid about the 900 series with the local-dimming full-array LED backlight that got pushed back from this year. The current 700 series 70" Sharps use full-array LED backlighting, but it isn't local-dimming, just a constant backlight. At least it's an EVEN backlight though - I literally find most LCDs unwatchable because of the uneven backlighting!

Right now, since I did manage to create some scary image retention on my Kuro plasma with long gaming sessions, I use my 55" LG LH90 for gaming, which is a full-array, local-dimming LED backlit LCD from a couple years ago. Out in the living room where I have the bulk of my apartment's windows, the matte screen LG LH90 looks a lot better than my Kuro plasma.

So good LCDs certainly have their uses. I just find the vast majority of LCDs to be completely useless though because almost all of them have those awful super glossy screens that make them impossible to watch in anything other than pitch blackness! And if I'm going to have pitch blackness, I'm going to use a front projector or a plasma! So, to me, there is zero purpose in a glossy screened LCD. But glossy LCDs still sell like crazy, so I guess most people just don't care! My theory is that women like them because when they're turned off, they work as a mirror

 

[TheAudio]

i purchased a samsung LED and did not like the picture quality for the price i paid. it was the 40". I eventually returned. While I was at the store, I was looking at the Panasonic plasma 42" comparing it to a 37inch samsung LED. It was very difficult choosing between the two. I liked the size of the panasonic but i liked the picture of the samsung while at the store.

I eventually picked the plasma for overall value. I also loved the design better than the samsung. It has a nice classy design. when i brought it home and started to assemble the leg..WOW. this thing seemed well built. very sturdy and quality parts..even the screw. I am still getting used to the darker screen however. I tend to like the brighter screens, but id sacrifice brightness for better picture.