LCD vs plasma vs LED TVs buying guide Edit
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There has been a lot of buzz and excitement surrounding the recent announcements by a number of consumer electronic giants regarding the release of a host of 3D TVs in 2010. However, many consumers have been left scratching their heads trying to figure out whether Plasma or LCD TV technology will be better suited for the display of 3D content. While at first glance it may appear that both these technologies will provide the same experience, this guide will outline the various pros and cons of Plasma and LCD display technology and explain the significance of these with regards to the 3D capability of these displays.
Plasma 3D TV vs LCD 3D TV Refresh Rates
One of the primary battlegrounds when it comes to the LCD vs Plasma 3D TV conflict is the battle of 3D TV refresh rates. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation flying around from both camps leaving you, the consumer, well and truly confused. So let’s begin by clarifying this once and for all. Currently, many LCD 3D TV manufacturers are marketing their 3D Displays with Refresh Rates of 120Hz, 240Hz and even 480Hz. Naively, we would expect that these numbers imply that a 240 Hz display is twice as fast and smother than a 120HZ display and that a 480Hz display will be 4 times better than a 120Hz LCD display. Of course, this is what the LCD TV manufacturers want the consumers to believe. The truth however, is quite different from what they would like to have us believe.
While these 3D LCD screens do have improved refresh rates, they still have problems when it comes to the display of fast moving video content. The fundamental reason for this is that LCD displays have a finite refresh rate for each pixel. When a fast moving scene is being displayed, the screen isn’t able to refresh each pixel fast enough to keep in sync with the motion and it leads to a blurring and ghosting of the image. This is especially an issue when it comes to watching sports on LCD TVs. 3D LCD TV manufacturers have certainly improved the pixel refresh rates of the screens but they are still a way away from being able to achieve true 240Hz/480Hz refresh rates. Instead, they rely on using some mathematical trickery and the choice of extremely favorable specifications to fudge the numbers so as to claim 240 and 480 Hz refresh rates thus tricking consumers into believing that the premium 480Hz 3D LCD TVs are actually 4 times faster than regular 120Hz LCD displays.
Unlike LCD TVs, Plasma 3D TVs do not suffer from any of these motion blur/ghosting issues to begin with. Plasma TVs have almost instantaneous pixel refresh rates and this results in a lack of ghosting and blurring in fast motion videos. In older Plasma TVs there used to be a motion trail effect due to the phosphor lag time of the plasma screen (the lag time is the time it takes the phosphor of the screen to stop glowing after it stops being excited). However, current 3D Plasma TV manufacturers have solved this problem by developing newer phosphors with extremely low lag times. To combat the Refresh Rate misinformation campaign being conducted by the LCD TV conglomerates, the Plasma TV makers have started to market a term called “Sub-field motion” or “Sub-field drive” numbers like 480Hz and 600Hz. This is obviously a ploy by the Plasma TV makers to beat the LCD consortium at their own game while also allowing consumers to understand that Plasma 3D TVs are indeed better when it comes to motion tracking and refresh rates than LCD 3D TVs. While it is certainly reprehensible that both camps have to stoop to such levels of misinformation to win consumers over, at least the Plasma TV makers are doing so to prove to the consumer that they do indeed offer a superior technology when it comes to screen refresh rate. Do check out our guide on Sub-field drive technology in Plasma 3D TVs to learn more about how and why Plasma 3D TVs offer better refresh rates and motion tracking.
Plot showing the Motion resolution of Plasma vs LCD 3D TVs
Another important point to consider is that currently, only Plasma 3D TVs are capable of displaying a full 1080p picture, or 1080 lines of resolution when displaying video content. Even the best 3D LCD TVs to date can only achieve moving resolutions of 800-900 lines, not the full 1080p (even though they are rated as 1080p). Gary Merson (from HdGuru) performed extensive tests on this matter and Gizmodo reported on this in late 2007. You can find the article here – 1080p TVs Never Deliver 1080p Motion. This again has to do with the pixel response time limitation of LCD panels. However, keep in mind that this isn’t a big deal breaker as most of us would be hard pressed to tell the difference between an image with 900 lines of resolution and 1080 lines of resolution in a video.
LCD, LED and plasma televisions may seem identical when you’re in the store, but the similarities end once you look past the thin form factor and big screens.
Want to learn about 3D TV? Take a look at our 3D TV buying guide.
Confused about the difference between HDMI and DVI, component and composite? Our giant cable buying guide will set you straight.
Have a look at what we thought were the best TVs of 2010.
LCD vs plasma vs LED
Plasma TVs use a sheet of miniscule individual plasma cells that create a picture when an electrical charge is applied — examples of plasma televisions include the Panasonic TH-50VX100W, LG 50PS80ED and Panasonic TH-P50G10A. LCD televisions, on the other hand, use liquid crystal compressed between two glass plates; an image is created when electricity is applied to these crystals. LCD televisions can range from cheap models like the Changhong LT4268TA to more expensive sets like the Sony Bravia KDL40W5500 and the Toshiba Regza 42RV600A. LED TVs use liquid crystal, but unlike regular LCD televisions they use a backlight made of hundreds of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) instead of a fluorescent lamp. The LEDs can be evenly distributed around the back of the television’s panel or situated in the edges of the screen to create a very thin display chassis. LED televisions include the Sharp LC40LB700X, Samsung Series 7 (UA46B7100) and Sony Bravia KDL55XBR45.
How well an image is displayed on a television panel — whether it is a Blu-ray movie, an HDTV broadcast or a high-definition video game — depends on a television’s display technology and its image processing capabilities.
Contrast ratio
A television’s contrast ratio represents its ability to show detail in high contrast areas of the screen, in the form of minute gradations of colour and blacks or whites. For example, a panel with a low contrast ratio will struggle to show the higher or lower extremes of an image. In layman’s terms, this means detail will be lost in bright areas as well as in dark scenes. In a Blu-ray movie, for example Batman Begins, the loss of detail in dark scenes will quickly become apparent.
Most manufacturers increase the contrast capabilities of their screens by dynamically altering backlight brightness. This allows extra detail to be shown in dark scenes and can be a life-saver for a panel with a low static contrast ratio. Some manufacturers have taken their estimations of this dynamic contrast ratio to excess, rating their screens at contrast ratios of 1,000,000:1 — and even higher. While these figures demonstrate the advantages of dynamic contrast ratio alteration, they don’t need to be a big factor in your buying decision.
It is generally accepted that plasma televisions have better contrast ratios than LCD panels, due to the fact that a plasma television can completely deactivate the light source for individual segments of the screen. This means sections of the screen can be completely dark while others are displaying bright colour, unlike a traditional LCD screen which has a single backlight array that can only alter brightness levels for the entire screen.
The latest LED backlight technology allows the television to individually control backlight segments. This technology allows for contrast ratios similar to those produced by plasma television panels. However, edge-lit LED televisions — usually available in an ultra-slim form factor — will have lower dynamic contrast ratios than the backlit LED models so be sure to check this detail before you purchase.
Viewing angle
The narrower a television’s quoted viewing angle is, the smaller the range in which it produces a ‘perfect’ image with no loss of contrast or colour. Many manufacturers quote an unrealistically high viewing angle — close to a full 180 degrees in some instances — but the best way to test this is to test the screens in person.
A wide viewing angle is important if the television will be placed in a large living area or will be regularly watched by multiple people simultaneously — most of us will have family and friends around to watch the TV at some point!
In general, plasmas have better viewing angles than LCD and LED TVs, with their images remaining solid and colourful at wide viewing angles while LCDs suffer from colour shift and loss of brightness. This is not always the case, though, so it is best to compare panels directly against each other if possible. LED televisions have superior viewing angles compared to LCDs due to their decentralised backlight distribution.
HDTV Buyers Guides (LED TV, LCD, Plasma, 3D TV, Blu-ray) Now Available
By Chris Boylan
This year, two of the hottest trends in HDTV and home theater are undoubtedly “3D TV” and “LED TV.” And coming in right behind those in popularity would be Blu-ray Disc which is undergoing its own 3D revolution with the new Blu-ray 3D Disc format. And how can we forget IPTV? The onslaught of online content such as movie and music streaming services is coming on fast and furious and many TV vendors are giving you the option to connect to these services right from your TV or Blu-ray player. What’s a poor HDTV buyer to do? Big Picture Big Sound is here to help with our new HDTV Buyers Guides, updated with all of the current and announced models for 2010.
Our LED TV Buyers Guide explains the technology in both forms (edge-lit LED TV and full matrix backlit LED TV), even getting into detail about more advanced picture options such as local dimming. We also discuss the various content streaming and web widget options available from the various vendors as well as screen refresh rates which now range from 60 Hz all the way up to 480 Hz. And while there are still some entry-level 720p models available, full HD 1080p resolution is becoming more common, and more affordable so you’ll be able to see every last detail of those Blu-ray movies, high definition games and HD broadcasts.
Our 3D TV Buyers Guide covers those HDTV models which support the new 3D TV formats available on Blu-ray 3D Disc and in upcoming 3D TV broadcasts. Covering models that use LED, LCD, plasma and even DLP technology, you’re sure to find a 3D-enabled HDTV in your size and price range. We also cover the different 3D technologies available and which ones are being used in current 3D-enabled HDTVs.
In our Blu-ray Buyers Guide, you’ll find a comprehensive listing of all of the current and recently announced Blu-ray players from the major vendors, including 3D-ready models. As with HDTVs, Blu-ray players are also starting to get more and more online streaming and networking features, allowing you to stream movies from services like Netflix, Vudu and Amazon and music from services like Pandora and Slacker, all without upgrading your TV or dragging a laptop computer into your living room or home theater.
In our Plasma TV Buyers Guide, you’ll see all the current and announced models from LG, Samsung and Panasonic, three large vendors who continue to support both LCD and plasma technology. While you won’t find a plasma TV under 42 inches, the larger screen plasma TVs offer excellent performance in a living room or home theater environment and usually at a price far lower than top of the line LED and LCD TVs. Both Samsung and Panasonic have announced or released plasma models in 2010 that will support the latest and greatest 3D technologies such as Blu-ray 3D at full 1080p resolution to each eye.
Last but not least, our LCD TV Buyers Guide hones in on the traditional CCFL-backlit LCD TVs from companies such as Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, JVC and Westinghouse. Sure they may not be as flashy and skinny as their LED TV cousins, and they may not have the black levels of a great plasma, but LCD technology has come a long way lately, and it’s possible to bring home a fully-featured flat panel LCD TV today for a fraction of what it would have cost just 2 to 3 years ago.
There are a vast number of choices available to the HDTV buying public and we want to help you determine what features and performance options are most important to you as you narrow down your short list for a big beautiful new HDTV. We hope the above Buyers Guides will help to educate you on the choices available, and the advantages and disadvantages unique to each technology.
View all articles by Chris Boylan
