What is the difference between plasma and LCD

LCD panels (or, as they are still called, LSD) have a device such: two transparent plates are coated with a lot of transparent same electrodes. And between the plates - liquid crystals, horizontal and vertical polarizers, as well as a color filter RGB. The crystals themselves do not shine - behind one of the plates there is a backlight for this. Polarizers and crystals are arranged in such a way that this light is passed through. When a voltage is applied to a cell, the polarization plane changes and the light will not be passed. Change of voltage leads to a change of light.

Plasma panels (PDP) also consist of a pair of transparent plates and the same electrodes, but here each cell is filled with a phosphor from a mixture of inert gases (argon, neon or xenon). The cells are separated from each other by a partition characterized by opacity. It turns out that the glow of one of them does not affect the glow of the neighboring one. Obviously, an additional backlight object is not required here.

Now let's talk about the differences between these two TV panels.

The plasma differs from the LCD: the time for updating the image on the screen

At plasma this value is much less, that is, the image changes almost instantly. LCD panels in this respect lag behind - here there is a loop effect. For a long time this was a problem, but the latest developments have reduced the value to 8 ms, which for the human eye is almost imperceptible.

What is the difference between plasma and LCD: viewing angle

LCD for this indicator for a long time lagged behind the plasma panel, but the latest technology allowed to virtually smooth the difference in viewing angle between the LCD and plasma. True, at a large viewing angle, the LCD still has some decrease in contrast, and plasmas do not exist at all due to their technology.

What is the difference between plasma and LCD: the burning of the screen

For LCD panels, this figure is 80 thousand hours, and for plasma - half that. Although if you think about it, 40,000 hours is enough to actively use the TV for eight to ten years. For such a period of time the panel is still morally obsolete and somehow it will make sense to change it to a new one. By the way, some manufacturers of plasma give even a larger screen resource than the above-mentioned figure.

What is the difference between plasma and LCD: heat dissipation and power consumption

In LCD, both indicators are much lower. Here it is worth noting another big plus of LCD panels in front of the plasma - it's passive cooling and, as a consequence, the lack of buzzing of the cooler, that using a plasma panel for some users can be a problem.

What is the difference between plasma and LCD: uniform lighting and contrast

The plasma image is more contrast, the LCD - more "soft". Neither one nor the other is not a disadvantage in fact - there's someone who likes to watch. Since each cell has its own light at the plasma, there is no problem with the uniformity of illumination on such a panel and can not be. The LCD had similar problems, but the introduction of new standard illumination in the technology made it possible to reduce the problem of uneven illumination. It can also be noted that the depth of black is much higher on the plasma. On the LCD, black can look and dark gray, because the light rays slightly, but still make their way through the layer of crystals.

What to choose: plasma or LCD

We examined the main differences between the two popular TV panels today. Now let's sum up the results, which will clearly tell each of you what product in the electronics store is better to look at.

Time of updating the image on the screen: the leader is plasma.

Viewing angle: the leader is plasma.

Burnout of the screen: the leader is LCD.

Heat dissipation and power consumption: the leader is LCD.

Uniform lighting and contrast: the leader is the plasma.

Pay attention to those characteristics that are priority for you. Successful purchase!