TV Buying Guide - LED (LCD) or Plasma

mylgcookie

New Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2012
Messages
40
Points
0
Location
Chennai, India
Dear Folks,

The following may help our forum members who are on hunt for TVs but got confused because of on-going disarray between LED & Plasma technology.

I request Team members to correct me (if i'm wrong) & contribute on this subject enlighten our forum folks..

Choosing a Plasma television - MYTHS & FACTS


Since tube (CRT) technology has been superseded by flat screen TVs, there are really only two TV technologies available right now, and these are Plasma and LCD. They are two competing technologies, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Note that LED TVs are LCD TVs with LED back or edge lighting.
Both Plasma and LCD technologies manage to produce high quality images when correctly manufactured and set up within the home.

Plasma is a self-emitting technology meaning it creates its own light, very much like the old CRT TVs. This helps the technology produce realistic blacks in the picture.
LCD technology uses a backlight which is usually a strip of lights (LED lights in 'LED TVs') to the side or back of the screen. Because this light shines through the LCD panel (which opens pixels to allow light through) it is more difficult for LCDs to produce a deep black on screen at the same time as showing shadow detail.
This approach also means that the amount of light shown across the LCD screen is not uniform and can show pools (or cones) of light spill on screen.
Plasma on the other hand, being self-illuminating, can achieve far more consistent light uniformity.
Because of the image strong points, Plasma TVs have found a large fan base with movie enthusiasts for displaying pictures that are accurate and natural.

When to choose a Plasma TV?

Choose Plasma when picture quality is paramount. Plasmas in almost all cases are able to produce images that have rich deep blacks with good shadow detail, excellent motion resolution and accurate colours - so are often the first choice for the discerning viewer.
Choose Plasma when you want a screen larger than 40 inches. Plasma does not come in sizes smaller than this, so in those cases where you want a smaller screen your only choice at this time is LCD. Plasma is available in sizes up to 152 inches, with the most popular sizes being 42 and 50 inches.
If you have a room where you can control the lighting, or amount of light that comes into the room then Plasma technology is for you. Because of how the technology works it is much better suited than LCD to watching movies in dimmed conditions. An LCD in the same conditions is likely to have lighter blacks and worse screen uniformity because it uses a backlight. Since Plasmas are made from glass (two sheets of glass bonded together with a vacuum containing gas), they may not work as well as LCD in bright conditions. This has been an issue in the past with light hitting a Plasma screen and washing the image out. Most new Plasma models are fitted with a filter that rejects ambient light and stops the image from being washed out. However, Plasma is not as bright as LCD and in some cases where you want a screen in a bright room such as a conservatory or very open room, you may find that LCD will give you a more consistent picture. It has to be noted that a TV in such a room will never give you the best possible image quality and will be a compromise. The amount of light in the room where you use your TV will influence how good the picture is.
Choose Plasma when you need a wide viewing angle. When you have people sitting further off to the side of the TV, Plasma is preferable since its picture does not degrade. An LCD TV's picture, on the other hand, looks worse the further to the side of the TV (or 'off axis') you sit.
Choose Plasma where you are going to watch a lot of sports or fast moving images. Amongst Plasma's strengths is motion resolution where images do not smear or blur as soon as the action on screen speeds up. This also means that, unlike LCD, technically Plasma does not need motion interpolation systems to help produce natural motion. Typical Plasma models will resolve up to 1080 lines of information compared to an average of 300-400 lines on an LCD or LED LCD TV. (Note there are some exceptions to this with certain individual models).
The vast majority of Plasma screens also have low input lag which means that those who like to play video games on their TVs will benefit in most cases with Plasma over LCD.

Common misconceptions about Plasma 're-gassing', lifespan, screen burn and more.

Plasmas do use gas, but it never escapes and they never require 're-gassing'. Anyone telling you that Plasmas need re-gassing is spreading an urban myth. This is still a favourite tactic with many sales staff and is completely wrong.
Both Plasmas and LCDs have a good lifespan. Some manufacturers quote lifespans of 100,000 hours, which at 8 hours per day is 34 years. In other words you will probably replace your TV before it gets close to half its lifespan.
Screen burn is another term used by sales staff who may try to push a customer towards LCD (or LED) instead of Plasma. Screen burn is more or less a thing of the past and will only ever happen if the Plasma TV is abused, i.e. used in dynamic mode with contrast up full and left on a TV channel with bright logos for a few days. Most modern Plasma screens can stand up to hours of gaming or news channel viewing if done so with appropriate picture settings and for normal periods of time.
Image retention is usually mistaken for screen burn but is a natural by-product of Plasma technology and is not permanent. It is usually seen if the TV is used for a few hours of gaming or news channel viewing where there are static images on screen. After changing from gaming or the news channel, there are graphics or text boxes still seen as a faint 'ghost' over the picture. Image retention usually disappears within a few minutes. The severity of the problem does vary from manufacturer to manufacturer with the effect disappearing from most modern screens within a few minutes. The vast majority of people never notice image retention.
Plasma TVs do not produce a softer image than LCD TVs. Both will show HD images with the same clarity. Any differences come down to other factors like added sharpness by the video processing of the TV.
Although several TV manufacturers like Sony, Hitachi, Philips and Toshiba have abandoned Plasma technology, others like Panasonic, Samsung and LG continue to develop it. Plasma is by no means a dying technology. Many users and professionals still regard Plasma as the technology for critical viewing.
Plasma TVs are not particularly power hungry if they are set up correctly. They do generally use more power than LCDs, but because the technology is self-illuminating it means that power function is never close to the maximum rated output for any length of time, whereas LCD stays at the same level when switched on (as the backlight is usually constant). Correct calibration can reduce power consumption by up to 50% in some cases (THX research, 2009).

Plasma TV prices
Plasma has often been seen as a premium technology because it is available in screen sizes over 40 inches and not in smaller sizes. It is also more expensive to produce and manufacture and has to be built in large numbers. However, as production techniques from manufacturers like Panasonic have improved, this has allowed Plasma to be more affordable to the mass market. With the introduction of LED Backlit LCD TVs which command a price premium for being slim, Plasma has become even more cost effective in performance and price terms. A quality Plasma screen these days costs the same or even less than a competing LED LCD model.

Black levels on Plasma TVs
Black levels are considered by many to be a strong point of any TV. In all cases this must also mean that shadow detail (details just above absolute black) must also be seen. To obtain a black that doesn't look grey on screen, some TVs such as LCDs and some low end Plasmas can show blacks that appear black, but which cover over the shadow detail (an effect referred to as clipping). Some LCD and LED LCDs also add in a technique called global dimming where the backlight is switched off or dimmed down to try and create black. Global dimming affects the whole screen. Plasma, because it is self-illuminating, can in most cases (when set up correctly) achieve a black level which looks natural and shows the correct amount of shadow detail. It also means that mixed scenes (an image with very dark areas along with some bright areas) look more natural on a Plasma screen than on an LCD.

Better motion on Plasma TVs
Plasma technology handles motion very well and it is a plus point of the technology as it was designed for showing moving images. There is usually no need to add motion processing to Plasma screens like there is for LCD models. It is true that some recent LCD and LCD LED TVs have improved their motion response with fast moving images, but in this area Plasma is usually still better.

Best settings for your Plasma TV
Copying settings from owners of a similar Plasma TV is a futile exercise as each screen (even the same model) varies considerably. So one set of settings that may work for one owner, will look completely different to another. However there have been recent improvements to the picture presets these days, with some that aim to try and get as close as possible to the industry standards. The industry standards are the settings that film makers and TV producers use when making their programs and movies for home viewing. This means that white and all the colours match the movies you watch on your TV. THX certified Plasma TVs have at least one preset in the picture menus which set the colour gamut and white colour as correct as possible so you can watch all your TV and film material on your TV with (close to) correct colours and white point. All you have to do is make sure the brightness and contrast settings are set for your room using the test patterns found on some DVDs and Blu-rays. THX picture mode is not just for using with THX certified DVDs as suggested in some manufacturers' manuals. It is designed to be used with everything you watch on TV.
Some Plasmas also have a picture wizard feature that will walk users through a basic calibration on the TV.
To get the best from your TV we would always recommend a professional calibration. This is especially true if you have gone for one of the more expensive screens and you want to get the very best out of your investment.

In conclusion
If you want a natural image with accurate colour, good black levels and excellent motion resolution, and your viewing conditions are appropriate, go for Plasma.
As always, there is no such thing as a perfect TV and what will suit you is determined by your viewing environment, budget and the type of material you want to view on your TV. We would always recommend that you do some research and demo the models you think will suit your needs before you spend your hard earned money.

LED / LCD:
LED televisions as are being mis-named by some manufacturers and mis-sold by some retailers, are not radical new technology, do not necessarily look better than LCD televisions and should not necessarily command a higher price than non-LED LCD televisions.

'LED televisions' as you might currently find in shops are only LCD televisions with LED backlighting or edgelighting. The LED back/edgelighting technology is somewhat more efficient and can look attractive. Edgelighting technology allows the TVs to be a bit thinner than normal LCD televisions.
Whether you decide to pay a premium price for 'LED televisions' is up to you, but for gawd's sake, don't pay more for one because you think it is fantastic, radically new, superior technology, because it certainly isn't.


The picture is far superior than plasma and normal LCDs - This is not true but sadly viewing them in a showroom with strong lighting is not going to highlight some of the issues they have. Uniformity of light behind the screen, especially on edgelit models IS a concern and should be examined if you are looking at one.

It's a different and better technology - Nope, it's an LCD panel that uses edge or backlighting from LEDs. There is no documented gain in consistant image quality differences against a standard high quality LCD TV. Dimming and contrast issues are to be considered when looking at buying. This can also only be switched off in certain picture modes on some TVs, but not fully.

Watch the price tag - Most LCD LED backlit TVs are sold at a premium over normal high quality LCDs. Bare in mind that the price increase has nothing to do with picture quality as we have discussed above. Some normal and very reasonably price LCDs offer the same or better picture quality. You are paying for the new backlight that can make the TVs slimmer and they have a nice designer look. That is what you are paying for. It's up to you if that is worth the extra money.

Mis-leading sales patter - Be aware that you will be told many wonderful and great things about LED backlit LCD TVs and how they are the best thing since sliced bread. However, as discussed above you are not buying a new generation of TV technology or a new technology. Picture quality is not any better than an average high quality normal CCFL LCD TV. And some normal LCDs offer a better image in a slightly thicker panel box.

Courtesy:
AVForums.com
 
Last edited:
Good work...........should finally clear a lot of misconception on plasma vs LED. However, I would have also liked to see a bit on the history of Plasma that talks about the "Kuro" and why it was and some still would like to call it the best tv in the world and why it is the only "reference'' tv we have today which helps other tv's to work harder to reach similar performance as the KURO. But I like the way you have written:
If you want a natural image with accurate colour, good black levels and excellent motion resolution, and your viewing conditions are appropriate, go for Plasma.
As always, there is no such thing as a perfect TV and what will suit you is determined by your viewing environment, budget and the type of material you want to view on your TV. We would always recommend that you do some research and demo the models you think will suit your needs before you spend your hard earned money.

couldn't agree more!!!
 
It is indeed a known factor that Plasma is the evolution of CRT and OLED is the evolution of Plasma.
 
Dear Folks,

The following may help our forum members who are on hunt for TVs but got confused because of on-going disarray between LED & Plasma technology.

I request Team members to correct me (if i'm wrong) & contribute on this subject enlighten our forum folks..

Choosing a Plasma television - MYTHS & FACTS


Since tube (CRT) technology has been superseded by flat screen TVs, there are really only two TV technologies available right now, and these are Plasma and LCD. They are two competing technologies, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Note that LED TVs are LCD TVs with LED back or edge lighting.
Both Plasma and LCD technologies manage to produce high quality images when correctly manufactured and set up within the home.

Plasma is a self-emitting technology meaning it creates its own light, very much like the old CRT TVs. This helps the technology produce realistic blacks in the picture.
LCD technology uses a backlight which is usually a strip of lights (LED lights in 'LED TVs') to the side or back of the screen. Because this light shines through the LCD panel (which opens pixels to allow light through) it is more difficult for LCDs to produce a deep black on screen at the same time as showing shadow detail.
This approach also means that the amount of light shown across the LCD screen is not uniform and can show pools (or cones) of light spill on screen.
Plasma on the other hand, being self-illuminating, can achieve far more consistent light uniformity.
Because of the image strong points, Plasma TVs have found a large fan base with movie enthusiasts for displaying pictures that are accurate and natural.

When to choose a Plasma TV?

Choose Plasma when picture quality is paramount. Plasmas in almost all cases are able to produce images that have rich deep blacks with good shadow detail, excellent motion resolution and accurate colours - so are often the first choice for the discerning viewer.
Choose Plasma when you want a screen larger than 40 inches. Plasma does not come in sizes smaller than this, so in those cases where you want a smaller screen your only choice at this time is LCD. Plasma is available in sizes up to 152 inches, with the most popular sizes being 42 and 50 inches.
If you have a room where you can control the lighting, or amount of light that comes into the room then Plasma technology is for you. Because of how the technology works it is much better suited than LCD to watching movies in dimmed conditions. An LCD in the same conditions is likely to have lighter blacks and worse screen uniformity because it uses a backlight. Since Plasmas are made from glass (two sheets of glass bonded together with a vacuum containing gas), they may not work as well as LCD in bright conditions. This has been an issue in the past with light hitting a Plasma screen and washing the image out. Most new Plasma models are fitted with a filter that rejects ambient light and stops the image from being washed out. However, Plasma is not as bright as LCD and in some cases where you want a screen in a bright room such as a conservatory or very open room, you may find that LCD will give you a more consistent picture. It has to be noted that a TV in such a room will never give you the best possible image quality and will be a compromise. The amount of light in the room where you use your TV will influence how good the picture is.
Choose Plasma when you need a wide viewing angle. When you have people sitting further off to the side of the TV, Plasma is preferable since its picture does not degrade. An LCD TV's picture, on the other hand, looks worse the further to the side of the TV (or 'off axis') you sit.
Choose Plasma where you are going to watch a lot of sports or fast moving images. Amongst Plasma's strengths is motion resolution where images do not smear or blur as soon as the action on screen speeds up. This also means that, unlike LCD, technically Plasma does not need motion interpolation systems to help produce natural motion. Typical Plasma models will resolve up to 1080 lines of information compared to an average of 300-400 lines on an LCD or LED LCD TV. (Note there are some exceptions to this with certain individual models).
The vast majority of Plasma screens also have low input lag which means that those who like to play video games on their TVs will benefit in most cases with Plasma over LCD.

Common misconceptions about Plasma 're-gassing', lifespan, screen burn and more.

Plasmas do use gas, but it never escapes and they never require 're-gassing'. Anyone telling you that Plasmas need re-gassing is spreading an urban myth. This is still a favourite tactic with many sales staff and is completely wrong.
Both Plasmas and LCDs have a good lifespan. Some manufacturers quote lifespans of 100,000 hours, which at 8 hours per day is 34 years. In other words you will probably replace your TV before it gets close to half its lifespan.
Screen burn is another term used by sales staff who may try to push a customer towards LCD (or LED) instead of Plasma. Screen burn is more or less a thing of the past and will only ever happen if the Plasma TV is abused, i.e. used in dynamic mode with contrast up full and left on a TV channel with bright logos for a few days. Most modern Plasma screens can stand up to hours of gaming or news channel viewing if done so with appropriate picture settings and for normal periods of time.
Image retention is usually mistaken for screen burn but is a natural by-product of Plasma technology and is not permanent. It is usually seen if the TV is used for a few hours of gaming or news channel viewing where there are static images on screen. After changing from gaming or the news channel, there are graphics or text boxes still seen as a faint 'ghost' over the picture. Image retention usually disappears within a few minutes. The severity of the problem does vary from manufacturer to manufacturer with the effect disappearing from most modern screens within a few minutes. The vast majority of people never notice image retention.
Plasma TVs do not produce a softer image than LCD TVs. Both will show HD images with the same clarity. Any differences come down to other factors like added sharpness by the video processing of the TV.
Although several TV manufacturers like Sony, Hitachi, Philips and Toshiba have abandoned Plasma technology, others like Panasonic, Samsung and LG continue to develop it. Plasma is by no means a dying technology. Many users and professionals still regard Plasma as the technology for critical viewing.
Plasma TVs are not particularly power hungry if they are set up correctly. They do generally use more power than LCDs, but because the technology is self-illuminating it means that power function is never close to the maximum rated output for any length of time, whereas LCD stays at the same level when switched on (as the backlight is usually constant). Correct calibration can reduce power consumption by up to 50% in some cases (THX research, 2009).

Plasma TV prices
Plasma has often been seen as a premium technology because it is available in screen sizes over 40 inches and not in smaller sizes. It is also more expensive to produce and manufacture and has to be built in large numbers. However, as production techniques from manufacturers like Panasonic have improved, this has allowed Plasma to be more affordable to the mass market. With the introduction of LED Backlit LCD TVs which command a price premium for being slim, Plasma has become even more cost effective in performance and price terms. A quality Plasma screen these days costs the same or even less than a competing LED LCD model.

Black levels on Plasma TVs
Black levels are considered by many to be a strong point of any TV. In all cases this must also mean that shadow detail (details just above absolute black) must also be seen. To obtain a black that doesn't look grey on screen, some TVs such as LCDs and some low end Plasmas can show blacks that appear black, but which cover over the shadow detail (an effect referred to as clipping). Some LCD and LED LCDs also add in a technique called global dimming where the backlight is switched off or dimmed down to try and create black. Global dimming affects the whole screen. Plasma, because it is self-illuminating, can in most cases (when set up correctly) achieve a black level which looks natural and shows the correct amount of shadow detail. It also means that mixed scenes (an image with very dark areas along with some bright areas) look more natural on a Plasma screen than on an LCD.

Better motion on Plasma TVs
Plasma technology handles motion very well and it is a plus point of the technology as it was designed for showing moving images. There is usually no need to add motion processing to Plasma screens like there is for LCD models. It is true that some recent LCD and LCD LED TVs have improved their motion response with fast moving images, but in this area Plasma is usually still better.

Best settings for your Plasma TV
Copying settings from owners of a similar Plasma TV is a futile exercise as each screen (even the same model) varies considerably. So one set of settings that may work for one owner, will look completely different to another. However there have been recent improvements to the picture presets these days, with some that aim to try and get as close as possible to the industry standards. The industry standards are the settings that film makers and TV producers use when making their programs and movies for home viewing. This means that white and all the colours match the movies you watch on your TV. THX certified Plasma TVs have at least one preset in the picture menus which set the colour gamut and white colour as correct as possible so you can watch all your TV and film material on your TV with (close to) correct colours and white point. All you have to do is make sure the brightness and contrast settings are set for your room using the test patterns found on some DVDs and Blu-rays. THX picture mode is not just for using with THX certified DVDs as suggested in some manufacturers' manuals. It is designed to be used with everything you watch on TV.
Some Plasmas also have a picture wizard feature that will walk users through a basic calibration on the TV.
To get the best from your TV we would always recommend a professional calibration. This is especially true if you have gone for one of the more expensive screens and you want to get the very best out of your investment.

In conclusion
If you want a natural image with accurate colour, good black levels and excellent motion resolution, and your viewing conditions are appropriate, go for Plasma.
As always, there is no such thing as a perfect TV and what will suit you is determined by your viewing environment, budget and the type of material you want to view on your TV. We would always recommend that you do some research and demo the models you think will suit your needs before you spend your hard earned money.

LED / LCD:
LED televisions as are being mis-named by some manufacturers and mis-sold by some retailers, are not radical new technology, do not necessarily look better than LCD televisions and should not necessarily command a higher price than non-LED LCD televisions.

'LED televisions' as you might currently find in shops are only LCD televisions with LED backlighting or edgelighting. The LED back/edgelighting technology is somewhat more efficient and can look attractive. Edgelighting technology allows the TVs to be a bit thinner than normal LCD televisions.
Whether you decide to pay a premium price for 'LED televisions' is up to you, but for gawd's sake, don't pay more for one because you think it is fantastic, radically new, superior technology, because it certainly isn't.


The picture is far superior than plasma and normal LCDs - This is not true but sadly viewing them in a showroom with strong lighting is not going to highlight some of the issues they have. Uniformity of light behind the screen, especially on edgelit models IS a concern and should be examined if you are looking at one.

It's a different and better technology - Nope, it's an LCD panel that uses edge or backlighting from LEDs. There is no documented gain in consistant image quality differences against a standard high quality LCD TV. Dimming and contrast issues are to be considered when looking at buying. This can also only be switched off in certain picture modes on some TVs, but not fully.

Watch the price tag - Most LCD LED backlit TVs are sold at a premium over normal high quality LCDs. Bare in mind that the price increase has nothing to do with picture quality as we have discussed above. Some normal and very reasonably price LCDs offer the same or better picture quality. You are paying for the new backlight that can make the TVs slimmer and they have a nice designer look. That is what you are paying for. It's up to you if that is worth the extra money.

Mis-leading sales patter - Be aware that you will be told many wonderful and great things about LED backlit LCD TVs and how they are the best thing since sliced bread. However, as discussed above you are not buying a new generation of TV technology or a new technology. Picture quality is not any better than an average high quality normal CCFL LCD TV. And some normal LCDs offer a better image in a slightly thicker panel box.

Courtesy:
AVForums.com

unfortunately for me I only realised this after investing in two lcds 32" and 42" well as they say better late than never
 
unfortunately for me I only realised this after investing in two lcds 32" and 42" well as they say better late than never

You have the Philips 53" pf9966? wow! that's like from 2005 or 2006, Philips used to make some good plasma.:)

How does the TV perform now?
 
I will tell one real fact :
Plasma is old technology , the dull images are not expected , a little over saturated display looks good and in thing .

reality plasma :

dull (faint ) colors wrt LEDs , heavy and high current consumption, gets hot

burn is fact , the same logo at same part for tv channels gets burnt over time .. plashma has scan lines visible

fast image and black levels ,new LEDs do well.

It is not like CDP , the better features of new LEDs are expected ,agree in india the LED prices are double.

but dont invest on old display technology , people paid 80-90k on plasma ,crying to sale in 20k no takers


there are sellers with old stock , wanted to sale plasma ,they may get 1 -2 buyers by advocating "myterious natural" qualities
for me : my painting like thin LED is anyday my favorite ,sleek and may be admired til 2 more years
 
Last edited:
I did not understand your post, but saying plasma is older technology out of the blue is not helping anyone.

IBM introduced monochrome plasma display in 1983

The first LCD panel was produced by Westinghouse in 1972

Get educated people.:)
 
I beg to differ with Kaushik...........I don't want to start a plasma vs LED discussion here, there are plenty on the forum. However, would like to further highlight what Longshanks has touched upon.........to fully understand why and how LED/LCD are always trying to get to or surpass the reference levels on Plasma, it becomes necessary to know the facts right, which would mean knowing how Pioneer Kuro, Panasonic and Sharp have come into play and what role do they play.

Also, I don't know if many are aware but recently they had a 2012 shoot out to determine the BEST tv in the world amongst all the available technologies to be crowned the "King of HDTV". So I am talking about the BEST from Samsung, Panasonic, Lg, etc. This was also hosted by a very senior and respected person who is a guru in the field.......Dr Weber. Guess what were the results.............it will SURPRISE you :), have a look :
ValueElectronics - Plasma/LCD/LED TVs, Audio Systems and Custom A/V Install
I rest my case............
 
It was around 2 years back when I went to a Showroom and looked at all TVs .That time I was not well aware of these LCD / plasma technologies differences and I was completely novice about picture quality ,motion blur etc.. They were playing some demo videos showing some sea or beach and surfing. I was impressed by a flat panel TV because I never saw sea in TVs in that much deep blue color.Very natural. I was clearly able to notice the difference, but that time it was not surprising me. When I visited later time to the same show room, I could not find that TV or I could not find a TV which shows the sea in that much deep blue color. Later I came to know that that particular TV was a Plasma TV ! (I could not remember the brand name ).

There may be best LED/LCD showing same deep ,natural colors but picture quality is inherent property of a Plasma (in my opinion) despite other (unimportant) disadvantages ! Because for a TV, picture quality is the primary and rest of the things comes secondary.
 
aakashr,
i do agree there may be video experts that may prove plasma is better ,natural colors .
(actually how you define natural is another thing. )

as per other members' comment we i.e. me 'uneducated falla' and 65year old AV enthusiast entered to panasonic showroom for plasma near manipal towers few months back,
practically the LEDs caught attention,plasmas were heavy ,hot like vintage car doing the job,

-at moderate daylight the over saturated LED panels did the best ,
yes there might have been some better rendering in plasma but they were not prominent.
- may be my sleek and sufficiently well performing LED contributed to dislike
- i really disliked the gap between scanlines in VT series plasmas from a near distance



plasma is old technology:
plasma the development has been frozen,manufacturing almost nil .. what does it indicate? bye bye to some technology ,surely may have mini advantages
i dont think we need further education, average consumer knows it .

please note :
i also like older gadgets ,fascinating may be better in many aspects
but modern buyers more towards asthetics ,hassle fee,lightweight devices,power conservation that includes me ,what ever i believe may not be true or right always ..

but in IMHO the rite up at thread one is biased towards plasma making LED as villain,that made me sad ..LEDs are newer avatars and will evolve till OLED like displays come.

kingfisher,
2 years back things were very different,but newer LED are really stunning, the processing chips are advanced and do a pretty good job.
 
Last edited:
practically the LEDs caught attention,plasmas were heavy ,hot like vintage car doing the job,

-at moderate daylight the over saturated LED panels did the best ,
yes there might have been some better rendering in plasma but they were not prominent.


It is a fact that plasmas are best for places where lighting can be controlled. In a showroom you would never appreciate a plasma over a lcd or led since bright lights would reflect from the plasma glass surface making it look dull.

And I dont understand what the issue with plasma being "heavy" if it is to be hung on the wall. Its not a laptop which you would be carrying all day.


plasma is old technology:
plasma the development has been frozen,manufacturing almost nil .. what does it indicate? bye bye to some technology ,surely may have mini advantages
i dont think we need further education, average consumer knows it .


The average consumer knows nothing except what the salesman tell them.


Sv9ES.png
 
Further to what I have earlier said and what goyal.sanchit has illustrated above in the attachment.........If you ONLY look at picture quality both LED/LCD will always lack in some areas compared to plasma, also if you look at price vs performance you cant beat a plasma when it comes to picture quality.
Agreed, bright light is an overkill for plasma but put a plasma in a dark room and it will kill any LED/LCD!!! Unfortunately Plasma's are never displayed correctly in stores. They are always next to LCD/LED in bright light which makes them look washed out and dull. The average joe has no idea why this happens and naturally would not even give plasma a second look. To add to that the ignorant salesmen will keep pushing LED/LCD over plasma, which kills any prospective sales for plasma tv's. However the newer plasma panels now perform even better in bright light.
Talking about slim tv's....I for one do not care if my plasma is 1" or 2" thick IF picture quality is paramount. All depends on what your priority is. To me when I look at a tv I do not care of anything else BUT picture quality. And if I have to compromise on aesthetics or design so be it. But with the launch of the new 2012 line up both Panasonic and Samsung have come out with amazing looking slim plasma panels which look just like their LED counterparts.
Agreed LED technology is getting better and better and has improved over the last few years. Some tv's from Sony and Samsung have now managed to achieve near reference levels but at a very high price. The Sharp Elite Pro which was claimed to be the BEST tv ever with KURO like details has now been beaten by Panasonic VT50 in the 2012 shoot out as mentioned in my previous post.
I do agree LED has come a long way and is getting there but what I really want is for people to show a bit more respect for Plasma instead of calling it an obsolete or redundant technology!!! We should not forget LED/LCD has evolved because of plasma trying to constantly reach reference levels was set by plasma technology.
 
I will tell one real fact :
Plasma is old technology , the dull images are not expected , a little over saturated display looks good and in thing .

reality plasma :

dull (faint ) colors wrt LEDs , heavy and high current consumption, gets hot

burn is fact , the same logo at same part for tv channels gets burnt over time .. plashma has scan lines visible

fast image and black levels ,new LEDs do well.

It is not like CDP , the better features of new LEDs are expected ,agree in india the LED prices are double.

but dont invest on old display technology , people paid 80-90k on plasma ,crying to sale in 20k no takers


there are sellers with old stock , wanted to sale plasma ,they may get 1 -2 buyers by advocating "myterious natural" qualities
for me : my painting like thin LED is anyday my favorite ,sleek and may be admired til 2 more years

As "Member:Longshakes" said pls be informed that plasma is not only the old technology.., Both LED & Plasma are old technologies in a new bottle.., Pls see how the old technologies have evolved..,
LED is the evolution of LCD wit back lighting..,
Check out the evolution of Plasmas with new Neoplasma, Infinite Black. Pls check this link..,
 
My new LG 55LM6700 at 1.48L is no match for 2 year old LG 50PK550 that I got for 61K.

LED LCD unless really well implemented have problems putting up decent picture. You really have to spend more to get a good LCD.

Mid range Plasma can do what higher priced LCD cannot though some may be put off by reflections, heat and power usage (I don't think these are anything to cry about).

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
 
Guys,

Any1 can provide any info / review / impression about the Panasonic 42X50D.... I know it lacks PQ features like Neoplasma, Infinite,etc which higher end VT,ST series, pose. But still is it worth considering.
Thanks in advance..,
 
Guys,

Any1 can provide any info / review / impression about the Panasonic 42X50D.... I know it lacks PQ features like Neoplasma, Infinite,etc which higher end VT,ST series, pose. But still is it worth considering.
Thanks in advance..,

Hi, earlier I would not have recommended the X series since they go right down the series. However, things have now changed with the new 2012 line up and the X50 now sports a new brighter panel and is very good value for money. However, please always demo the tv before finalizing. Play SD and HD content and then make the final decision.
Panasonic TC-P50XT50 Review - 720p 3D Capable 50" Plasma TV TCP50XT50
 
For excellent sound that won't break the bank, the 5 Star Award Winning Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 Bookshelf Speakers is the one to consider!
Back
Top