Plasma TV Review

By Joe Kingman

Plasma televisions are an innovative new technology that provides flat screen displays. Using a variety of noble gases encased in small compartments (pixels), plasmas work by converting the gases into plasma. This plasma radiates light and forms an extremely clear picture. Liquid crystal displays (or LCDs) are also flat screened TVs. However, these use liquid crystals with backlighting to form pictures.

Plasmas and LCDs, flatter and lighter than tube televisions, are also less difficult to manage than traditional CRT (or tube) televisions. Though, on average, they are a hefty 5 inches thick and 100 pounds, recent advances in plasma technology will soon cut their thickness down to an inch and their weight down to 45 pounds. Consumers can now take some liberties in the placement of their plasma TV's. Plasmas can easily be mounted on walls or placed on smaller stands.

Resolution, the quantity of pixels on the television screen per square inch, is also a key component of televisions. Flat screened televisions boast a much higher resolution than CRT televisions, which yields clearer images on the screen. High definition plasmas have resolutions that range from 1024x768 to 1920x1080. This is much better than even the maximum resolution for tube televisions, a mere 480 lines.

Plasma television manufacturers boast a lifetime of up to 60,000 hours for their televisions, compared to a CRT television's life span of at least 5 years. Which is better? Depending on how much a plasma is turned on, its lifespan can range anywhere from 7 years (turned on for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to 55 years (turned on for 3 hours a day). The lifespan of a plasma TV is significantly greater than that of a CRT TV.

Plasma televisions have both a better color ratio and more contrast than LCDs. For plasma TVs, each pixel can virtually be turned off to produce truer blacks. However, LCDs use a backlight, which will shine through the "black" pixel and damage the contrast quality. CRT televisions have the best contrast, but both plasmas and LCDs surpass them when it comes to color reproduction.

Viewers may also have to take into consideration the angle at which they look at the television. Plasmas can be viewed from either side, the top, or the bottom without significant change in the image. LCDs, on the other hand, cannot; their backlighting causes problems with large viewing angles.

Plasma TVs have been criticized because of the possibility of burn-in images. The burn-in effect happens when a still image is shown on the plasma's screen for long periods of time (for example, when a DVD is paused and the plasma is left on, burn-in might occur). A ghost of the image may remain on the screen after the image has been changed. However, this effect has almost been negated in the newer models of plasma televisions.

Unlike tube or LCD TVs, plasma TVs are not limited in size. Consumers (with large enough budgets) can order plasmas up to any size. However, CRTs and LCDs are usually restricted to about 52 inches in diagonal. - 30542

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