What to Buy? An LCD, DLP, or Plasma TV?
Introduction:
Many people wonder this question when they want to buy a TV. This is a tough decision for even people who know a lot about them. This article will not only provide you with just information on the three different types of TV's, but also help you make the decision of which one is most suited for you.
LCD
Ok, we start off with the LCD TV. Lets start off with the pros. Colors appear more vibrant and more accurate than the other two types. This is very handy because when your watching a football game, the football won't appear unnaturally red or pale and the grass won't appear to be having a blue tint. It also has the best resolution out there with unbeatable 1080p models, making high def movies and games sharp and crispy. It is also very rare to cause a “burn in” on an LCD TV, so that means if you pause a game for a long time, it would be very rare that a static version of the pause menu staying on the screen forever. More or less the LCD TV's tend to also last the longest with the least energy consumption of the three.
Now for the cons. Despite color and contrast being good, dark black always seem to have a tinge of glow to it. It gets extremely expensive as you start buying bigger and bigger models. LCD TV's tend to have the smallest viewing angles of the three, which means you've got to sit right in front of the TV to have the best possible experience.
DLP
This is what I consider the oddball of the three. It uses a lamp to shine through a color wheel to create images. Primarily DLP technology is used for projectors more than TVs. DLP TVs have so-so viewing angles and so-so resolution. Really the only thing good about it is that it is the least expensive of the three, but even this has snags.
Now for the cons… where to I begin. It has the worst color accuracy of the three and will empty your pockets when it comes to your electricity bill. The power consumption of DLP TVs is a beast. The lamp or bulb that powers the TV slowly fades, therefore reducing contrast and brightness. The life of the bulb is also very short, causing you to scrape out more money from you wallet to replace it. It is also the biggest and least attractive of the three. It looks similar to a bulky old-fashioned TV and doesn't get much thinner than that.
Plasma
Plasmas tend to have the best contrast ratio and grayscale. It also comes in huge sizes that go up to 103 inches. It has nice color reproduction and accuracy. It also has the widest viewing angle of the three and is excellent for a whole family to enjoy watching a movie without everyone fighting for the “middle spot”. It has impressive resolution that can compete with but not beat the LCD TVs. Movies and games appear more realistic but less sharp than the LCD TVs.
The cons of the plasma TVs are that it achieves low color brightness, so that means if you are watching a TV show in a bright room, you won't be impressed with what you see in the TV. Plasma TVs, especially new ones, are extremely vulnerable to burn ins. If you play video games a lot and pause games for time to eat dinner, chances are once you get back to the game, a burn in might occur. Plasma TVs also use much more energy than the LCD TVs, but much less than DLP TVs
What You Should Buy
There is only one more factor left, and that is what you do with the TV. If you love playing high def games, choose the LCD for sure. You'll see everything crisp and clear and you'll love it. If you're the movie type of person, choose the plasma. The huge screen and realism will suck you into the movie. If you're just the casual TV watcher, you probably aren't too concerned on what you watch TV on, and go for a small LCD TV. And also, save your money on the DLP TVs, they're not worth the money at all.
In Conclusion
To me, LCD TVs are the best, followed by plasma TVs, and in the distant last place, DLP TVs
