Plasma TV vs LCD TV vs DLP TV Which big screen TV is better???

QUICK ANSWER:  Under 40 inches, LCD , Over 42 go for plasma TV

LONG ANSWER

There is a lot of confusion and misleading information available on plasma TV's, LCD TV's and DLP TV's Everyone and anybody you talk to claims to have the answer and they are always bias depending on what the store wants to move or what their factory makes. The truth is that each has advantages and disadvantage depending on your use.

Please note: In this we discuss name brand and no name . Please don't be fooled by the fact it may come from a well known computer maker, It will still be considered "no name". We consider name brand plasma screens as NEC, Pioneer, Hitachi , LG/Zenith, Panasonic, Samsung and secondary name brands ( based on name brand chassis) such as JVC, Sony, Philips, Mitsubishi and Toshiba.

"No names" include but are not limited to  Maxcent, Norcent, Sampo, Gateway, Monovision,  SVA and a pile more that you have never heard of and are usually Chinese based.

NOTE: LCD TV refers to a LCD flat panel, DLP TV also includes DILA and LCD video projector based rear projection TVs.

This chart shows a very simplified summary, Please refer to more detailed explanations below
 

 Under 30 Inch

Note 1: Although in the long run Plasma screens are economically the best choice, Lower initial outlay on DLP TV in 60 inch plus area may be attractive, please consider operating costs, see more below

Note 2: If you are using the plasma for digital signage such as Airport Terminals arrivals signs, the image retention will not be a factor until you plan on using the screen for a different application.

LCD TV  disadvantages :

• One problem with LCD TV screens is that they have a inherent delay problem. This is something that cannot be overcome. " It is the nature of the beast"  When a fast moving object moves across a LCD screen the delay of LCD technology causes "artifacting"  Basically there are trails or blockiness of the image since the screen cannot keep up. There are newer LCD panels  that have lower m/s ( millisecond) times but there still is a delay.  The good news is that with a good name brand LCD TV the artifacting is minimal and really wont be noticeable until you get a screen over 30 or 35 inches. At that point the delays will be noticeable and in some cases extremely annoying.   Expect severe artifacting on "no name" units to the point of making the TV basically unwatchable .
   

• Black levels: A LCD display has a backlight which shines through the LCD panels. The panels allow or block light depending on what is required to produce an image or a color. Most , if not all, LCD TV's tend to have difficulty going fully "black".  Blacks tend to have a very very dark grey.  This is especially true on no name units.
   

• Field Of Vision: Even the best LCD TV has field of vision problems. When you look straight on the picture looks great, as you move to either side the picture quality diminishes and eventually disappears. Some LCD TV makers claim up to 170^o  field of view. This is a complete lie. To quote one major manufacturer  " well it doesn't mean you have a great picture for 170 degrees, but you do have a picture" . Realistically a good LCD TV such as a Sharp Aquos will have a a 90 degree (45 each side) usable picture.
   

• Single Usage:  There are many LCD screens on the market but very few have good video processing. If a LCD screen is made as a computer monitor, it is usually very poor as a video display. If you are planning to use the unit as a TV, do not buy a computer monitor with a tuner upgrade. Stick to a unit designed for video such as a Sharp Aquos.  For dual purpose, buy a LCD TV with a computer input, not a computer screen with a tuner
   

• Extremely expensive over 35 inch,
   

• Unbelievable amounts of no name junk units on market. Stick to name brands with proper warranties
   

• 16/9 widescreen units expensive
   

• Cheaper no name LCD TV's have very poor picture quality and generally poor video performance
   

• Pixel failure: This can be a problem with no name LCD screens. All the major brands have pixel policies which may allow one or two dead pixels. These are not noticeable unless you are right in front of the screen. A 20 inch LCD screen has over  300,000 pixels. so one or two dead could not be seen. No name LCD screens have extremely poor policies which can allow higher then 10%. This would make the unit unwatchable.

• Digital looking picture: Many LCD screens tend to have a "digital look " to the image and therefore don't seem to reproduce colors naturally.

LCD  TV Advantages:

• Good for still images such as computer display, Fairly reasonable pricing below 30 inches.
   

• Quality units have good brightness levels
   

• No real estate: A LCD TV screen hangs on a wall and takes as little space as a picture.
   

• Low operating cost per hour ( over 35 inch extremely expensive acquisition cost)
   

• Long Life.  Expect 30 to 50,000 hours bulb life according to Sharp ( Please note that the picture can fade over time on a LCD TV. I would expect prime performance to last closer to 20 to 30,000 hours maximum ( 13 years at 6 hours per day). Expect substantially less on a no name.

Plasma TV Screen Disadvantages:

• Image retention:  NOTE : THE NEWER PLASMA SCREENS ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BURN:
  Plasma screens can suffer image retention ( burn in) if a still image is left on the display for a extended period of time. For example, you would not want to use a plasma screen for a computer display constantly. If you were to use a Plasma TV for Video Display and occasional use it for computer, burn in would not be a factor. Also if you were to leave the plasma TV screen on a station such as CNBC, which has constant ticker tape across the bottom, for 24 hours a day, there would be noticeable burn in when you switched to a different channel. If by error you were to burn your screen, proper name brand plasma screens do have a "white flash" utility which eliminates the burn, however it will shorten the life of the plasma. If your primary use of the plasma screen is for TV viewing and dvd, image retention will not be a factor.
   

• Size: Plasma screens are not available below 37 inches. There were some 32 inch units available but have been discontinued. Also 60 inch and above can be very pricey but prices are coming down. For example a Zenith 60 is below 5000 now.
   

• No tuners: Most plasma screens do not have tuners and if they do they are expensive upgrades. Some cheaper plasma TV's have optional tuners however they usually are not the best.  This is not a disadvantage in most cases. Almost everyone who can afford a plasma will be using satellite, digital cable or external HD boxes. So the built in tuner would be redundant and a waste of money.
   

• Many no name junk units on market. Stick to name brands.
   

• Pixel failure: This can be a problem with no name plasma screens. All the major brands have pixel policies which may allow one or two dead pixels. These are not noticeable unless you are right in front of the screen. A 50 inch screen has over  983,000 pixels. so one or two dead could not be seen. No name plasma screens have extremely poor policies which can allow higher then 10%. This would make the unit unwatchable. If the plasma screen has a orbiter function, this will greatly reduce the chance of pixel failure. We have sold tens of thousands of Plasma TV screens and can count the number of units which we have had pixel problems with on one hand. It should be noted we do not sell no name units.
   

• Early models had poor contrast. the first generation plasma TV screens had poor contrast and brightness. Do not buy a used plasma screen from a online auction such as ebay. The units that have been out for the last two years outperform the older units by miles.

Plasma TV Screen Advantages:

• Long life: the average name brand plasma TV will last 50 to 70,000 hours to half life ( brightness is 50% of original, it will still be 2 to 3 times brighter then a regular TV) This is around 20 years at 6 hours per day. Expect substantially less on a no name
   

• Field of vision: A plasma screen TV has a field of vision of almost 180 degrees without loss of picture quality. From any angle you will have a great picture
   

• Brightness: Plasma screens are very bright. 4 to 5 times brighter then an average TV.
   

• Great contrast: The last two generations ( two years or so) of name brand Plasma screens have great contrast ratios. Look for a rating of 1000 to 1 or more Please note: certain manufacturers claim levels of 3 or 4000 to 1, That is a false rating and is achieved by using non standard measurement methods. UPDATE : MOST MANUFACTURERS ARE NOW 3000 PLUS.
   

• Low operating cost: A name brand plasma is cheap to operate due to long life with virtually no maintenance ( No you cannot recharge a plasma, and they don't leak gas). The cost of a nice EDTV 42 inch is well below 1.5 k and a 50 inch is around  2k. 60 inch plus are still highly priced per inch. This is substantially less then a LCD TV. 42 inch plasma TV screens cost almost half of a 40 inch LCD.
   

• Instantaneous picture response: There is virtually no delay in any name brand plasma and therefore no artifacting that is experienced on LCD screens.
   

• Natural looking picture: A plasma screen reproduces a picture in a similar manner to a standard TV. Name brand plasma TV colors tend to be natural looking and more accurate. Mo names can tend to be weak or soft on colors.
   

• No real estate: A plasma screen hangs on a wall and takes as little space as a picture
  .

• Wide screen, All but one or two plasma TV screens are 16:9 wide screen format
   

• Upgradeability: Many plasma screens have upgradeable video cards that "future proof " your plasma

DLP rear projection TV disadvantages:

• High operational costs: The dlp TV is simply a DLP video projector in a box. The projectors use a replaceable bulb which can cost between 200 to 400 US dollars. The life on the bulb varies but generally expect around 6 to 8000 hours. However some will last substantially less.  Realistically you can expect to be buying a bulb every 2 years and possible sooner if you watch a lot of TV. Add the acquisition cost of the unit and a DLP TV can actually cost twice as much as a plasma over 5 or 6 years of normal use. In the expected life of a unit it can cost 3 to 4 times as much as a plasma. Consider a DLP TV like a computer bubble jet  printer. Cheaper to acquire, way more expensive on ink  UPDATE: SEVERAL DLP MANUFACTURERS ARE LOSING BULBS AT 2 TO 3000 HOURS

Example based on 10 hours a day use. DLP costs become even more expensive if your viewing is more then 10 hours a day

 Cost of 42 inch NEC  plasma 2500.  Additional costs over 10 years  0 Plasma costs per year for 10 years  $250  Cost per year for 15 years $ 166

42 inch DLP TV  2000. Cost of bulbs based on 6000 hour life. 300 per bulb ( this presumes bulb makes full life) $1825  Yearly of cost of DLP TV based on 10 years  382.50   Average cost over 15 years $315

(not factoring increasing costs of bulbs due to inflation)

• Large foot print:  Even though a DLP TV is substantially thinner then a old style rear projection TV, they are still a minimum of 12 to 13 inches deep
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• Not wall mountable:  units cannot be hung on wall
   

• Field of vision. Although greatly improving, DLP TVs still do not have as good of a field of vision as a plasma TV
   

• Picture quality. Although improving, the picture quality varies on DLP TVs. Some have very poor to medium quality, none have spectacular. Many people still complain about artifacting and blockiness in some units
   

• Diminishing bulb brightness: When a bulb gets older in a dlp TV the brightness level reduces. When the bulb is replaced, the TV becomes bright again.
   

• Early bulb failure: The bulb in a DLP can fail instantly well before its scheduled replacement. Availability of replacement bulbs very with manufacturer. If you do purchase a DLP TV I would suggest getting a spare bulb right away. Its murphy's law that the bulb will fail 3 minutes before the Superbowl kick off.  UPDATE: Several DLP manufacturers are starting to see their units requiring new bulbs below the 2000 hour mark.!!!!!

DLP rear projection TV advantages:

• Initially low acquisition cost.  Generally offset by high operating costs. Still  cheaper then a plasma or LCD in the very large size, 42 to 50 are not much cheaper then a plasma screen and definitely not cheaper over the long term.