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Farty
30-04-2006, 14:52
Am now looking to buy a new telly and was wondering what the difference is, if any, between a plasma and an LCD?

Thanks

Farty
Spooksta
30-04-2006, 15:59
There is no diff but everyone will disagree with me :)
They both have thier problems its best to go look for yourself and ignor what people say on here ;)

From what i have personaly seen plasmas handle shades of black better and look better than lcds from a HD feed. LCDs pictures looks less digitised than plasma with normal tv viewing ie BBC ITV Sky Freeview. If you get a plasma dont get one of the older models being sold off cheap.
Cable Monkey
30-04-2006, 16:52
Your best guide is this:
For 37inch and bigger, go plasma.
For 36inch and smaller go lcd (with a few exceptions).
LCD is available for a few hundred pounds upwards and perform very well when given a well scaled up picture or true high definition.
Plasma is more expensive, is probably overall best for pq (but the gap is closing!) but to get the best, be prepared to spend big.
Cheap options usually have old glass (screens from previous generations) or poor adjustment capability.
DB2k
01-05-2006, 09:07
also check the resolutions of plasmas. Some seem to be 1024x768 which means you miss out on some of a HD picture at 1280x720.

Plasmas can need regassing too. I weighed it up and have 2 LCDs now.
Cable Monkey
01-05-2006, 17:13
also check the resolutions of plasmas. Some seem to be 1024x768 which means you miss out on some of a HD picture at 1280x720.

Plasmas can need regassing too. I weighed it up and have 2 LCDs now.

Gassing is not an issue nowadays with their quoted lifetime being 10 or 11 years of normal use, which in todays evolving situation is more than enough to get your moneys worth. Even image retention is not a big deal if properly run in. However the truth (which I did miss) is a plasma may need to be replaced eventually where an LCD as far as I am aware should keep going.
samchode
02-05-2006, 05:02
also check the resolutions of plasmas. Some seem to be 1024x768 which means you miss out on some of a HD picture at 1280x720.

Plasmas can need regassing too. I weighed it up and have 2 LCDs now.

where can i get my plasma regassed - the picture is getting a bit dim :thinking:
Baz
02-05-2006, 05:51
If you want to kick back and watch films in the dark then you want a plasma, if it sfor general viewing in well lit rooms then you want a LCD.

Black levels are terrible in dark rooms on LCD's whereas plasmas struggle in well lit rooms.
DB2k
02-05-2006, 08:50
where can i get my plasma regassed - the picture is getting a bit dim :thinking:


no idea. All I know is that they can need it. No idea where - contact your manufacturer?
Geezer1
03-05-2006, 13:04
no idea. All I know is that they can need it. No idea where - contact your manufacturer?

Please tell me you are joking. Plasma do not and have never needed to be regassed. It would be impossible to do anyway.
Dan
03-05-2006, 17:00
no idea. All I know is that they can need it. No idea where - contact your manufacturer?

Plasma's don't need to be re-gassed, this is an urban myth, I still can't believe that this one is still going round. :lol:

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatvreviews/plasmatvpixel.html
DB2k
03-05-2006, 17:37
huh cool. I didn't know that.

so I guess since plasmas roughly last half as long as LCDs life wise, they just fade out then get chucked out with no option to renew the gas inside. Shame!
Geezer1
03-05-2006, 23:09
huh cool. I didn't know that.

so I guess since plasmas roughly last half as long as LCDs life wise, they just fade out then get chucked out with no option to renew the gas inside. Shame!

From the same site

Plasma life span (http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatv/plasmatv-lifespan.html)

They last pretty much the same. Well almost exactly
samchode
04-05-2006, 02:34
sorry - i was joking asking where i could get my plasma regassed :p

i also thought that this urban myth had died out ages ago although it is reported that the question sometimes arises in currys/comet etc :thinking:
Nick[Blarg]
04-05-2006, 08:40
So if I had up to £1000 to spend on a LCD TV which one would you experts recomend?
nc
04-05-2006, 08:47
I've
nc
04-05-2006, 08:49
I've been told that plasmas suffer screenburn, whereas lcd don't?
Geezer1
04-05-2006, 10:39
I've been told that plasmas suffer screenburn, whereas lcd don't?

Finally something that is true.

There are pro's and con's to both. I have a plasma, and would never consider a LCD in my main room.
Phill
04-05-2006, 13:32
Finally something that is true.

There are pro's and con's to both. I have a plasma, and would never consider a LCD in my main room.


While it is true, it's also shrouded in myth. There are two issues image retention and burn in. Image retention is a common problem and sometimes results in faint after images of channel logos if you watch a channel for a long time. It can be got rid off easily by white blasting the screen. Burn in is permanent reduction in brightness of the phosphores and is irreversible. The plasma manufacturers insist that burn-in is a thing of the past and that you can use a plasma for static display without seeing burn-in.

image retention creates a dim positive image, burn-in makes a negative one so it's easy to tell the difference.

Phill