LCD or Plasma

My 32" CRT TV went out yesterday, I made an appointment for a repairman to come look at it. I was told it would be $105 just to look plus parts and labor. I was telling a friend about it and he said through it out you can buy a new one just like it for under $300. After checking I was surprised to see he was right, I saw a 32" stereo TV just like mine for $270. So I guess I will get a new TV and may as well go for the flat screen HDTV job while I'm at it. I think a 42"-50" would be good for me the room probably isn't big enough to need anything larger. From what I have read the projection TV is cheapest but they eat bulbs that are expensive so I think I will go for either the LCD or Plasma TV, what do youans think is best?

Don't be shy about shopping around. Prices vary significantly.

Demand to be handed a remote control for the TVs you are looking at, and an Owner's Manual if necessary. If the sales rep tells you they can't, walk out of the store.

For larger than 40" the experts recommend plasma, mostly because LCDs tend to get very expensive very quickly as screen size increases.

I'm somewhat surprised at the very low prices you've seen for LCDs. I bouught a 32" JVC HD LCD flatscreen about three months ago and it cost me around $900. I'm assuming the ones you saw weren't HD?

One useful tip: make sure your tv has two or more HDMI ports. HDMI is the standard for end-to-end digital signal transmission. HD receivers, the Playstation 3, HD DVD players all have HDMI ports, so you want as many as possible to hook up to your tv. If you don't, the signal will get converted to analog and then back to digital, which degrades the picture noticeably (especially on 40" or greater screens).

the price of a new 32" CRT with Stereo like my old one. I paid close to $1000 for the old one counting a 5 year service contract back in 1999, I was surprised that the price on them now is so low it doesn't even pay to repair them anymore.

I bought my first LCD (a 22") in the UK four years ago. It cost me the better part of $4,000. Now, the same size screen is about $300. Yikes!

The LCD is by far the most expensive component of the TV, and is the one that usually fails first. On a $1,000 tv, the screen probably accounts for $700, so it's always going to be hugely expensive to replace.

Ain't the disposable society grand? ;)

If the room for the TV gets lots of ambient light or you like it well-lit, LCD would be a better choice. If the room is dark or you like to watch in a darkened environment, plasma is definitely an option.

1080p Resolution:
If the highest of high-def resolution, 1080p, is what you want, LCD is your friend. There are many, many more 1080p LCD sets available than plasma.

Weight and Energy Consumption:
LCDs weigh far less and consume less energy than their plasma counterparts. One of my LCD panels, a 42" LCD model, weighs only 50 pounds (much better than my 32" tube TV which weighed almost 200!).

Deep blacks and screen glare:
Plasma panels are better than LCDs in reproducing deep, inky blacks like you see with a good CRT (tube) TV. The color black on most LCDs is more of a very deep grey (this is because of an LCD's backlight, through which some light will always leak past the twisting and untwisting liquid crystals).

When it comes to screen glare/reflections, LCDs win hands-down. Plasmas have polished glass screens which are prone to reflecting light.

Personal Recommendation:
After weighing all the options, I have gone with LCD panels. Their ability to put out a bright, punchy picture in a very well-lit room, the lack of glare, their light weight, and low energy consumption all sold me. Also, the ability to get 1080p panels for reasonable prices sealed the deal.

mikey_the_rat (3 LCD panels, all Westinghouse Digital)

I got the latest Consumer Reports on HDTVs and it wasn't a lot of help, for one thing they never even mentioned the energy consumption or weight difference. The maximum viewing distance will be about 16' so I figure I don't need a huge set, I almost never watch TV during daylight hours and at night I keep the room dimly lit. I have been watching a 32" CRT so I think a 40" would work fine for me.

I also have a 37" LCD - great size, 30 pounds, and cheap (this also replaced a 32" CRT).

mikey_the_rat

LCD, HD. And that's why I gave the advice I did above in the thread.

I found out only after my purchase that expanding the picture size only expands it horizontally, not vertically. I kept the TV because the price I paid was still a great deal, even for the 27" inch that it truly is.

As the above poster said, LCD is generally considered better for smaller screens, but prices increase dramatically once you get past 40" or so... LCD is usually less bulky (hence, easier to mount on a wall if you wanted to do that) and also uses less electricity. Plasma is best bought at your local store because it is supposedly very fragile and doesn't hold up as well if you ship it across country. (Not that it will break, it's just more likely to suffer damage than LCD)

Some good links on comparisons.

http://www.cnet.com.au/tvs/0,239035250,240036500,00.htm

http://www.flattvpeople.com/tutorials/lcd-vs-plasma.asp

http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/plasma-vs-lcd-TV.html

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/home_av/tvs/0,39037594,39169380,00.htm

I don't know if this applies to you, but my boss had to return a plasma TV after a few weeks because the picture was all screwed up -- and the reason was altitude. Or, more accurately, elevation. ;)

Higher than 7K feet, plasma goes all poo-poo.

that eventually the plasma starts to "wear" out, and you don't get that with the LCD, otherwise I would take either on myself.

LCD's last indefinitely.

So get the extended warranty. :) The backlight alone makes for a 'hidden market'...

You can sell your plasma downtown at that creepy clinic that does only that. 25 bucks a pop plus orange juice! And you get to watch your former bodily fluids get whipped around in a huge blender thingee!

Selling LSD has the usual complications. Most notably jail time.

:)

LCD screens aren't glass and therefore are less susceptible to glare. Also plasmas tend to decrease in quality over time, while LCDs do not.

Oh,wait... :)

and all the seats in your room are straight back from the TV