Was It Wrong To Buy A 46″ Lcd Tv?
January 26, 2010 by Rich
Filed under Frequently Asked Questions
Well, I read that if I wanted to enjoy the best Full HD experience, I should buy a 42″ TV or bigger to enjoy the 1080p resolution. I bought the LCD 46″ Samsung LN46B640, but I read now that a Plasma looks better in resolution than a LCD, if it is 40 inches or bigger, and the problem is that I would like to have a great TV for movies, and for video games.
So, is it true that a Plasma is better than a LCD if it is bigger than 42 inches?
Should I return the LCD TV and get a Plasma TV instead?
Here are my TV’s specifications:http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/tv-vi…
Thank you guys! I hope someone can help me=)
No! You were not wrong at all!!!
I kind of lump LCD and plasma in the same category just because they’re flat panels. They look the same and cost about the same but they’re different.
So, as a general rule I believe this:
If I’m going to play video games and want PC interactivity then I lean towards LCD. If I’m going to watch sports in HD then I lean towards plasma. If I’m going to watch movies and TV then both types are comparable with each other.
This might puzzle some people since I mentioned earlier that LCD has issues processing motion. So, I’ll explain:
I like LCD for video game play because the video game source is controlled and of high quality. My concern with motion is with the images I can’t control, like sports not in HD. The other reason is that video games have static images. To be safe, I prefer LCD but I know people with plasmas that play video games on them and don’t have burn-in.
As far as would I buy flat panel over direct view or rear projection? I probably would but if I wanted to go real big then front/overhead projection would have definite consideration.
Just chill buddy..you did the right thing, you bought a samsung which is great plus you have 120 Hz new technology. and I think for gaming is better LCD, which I also want to buy, but 37 inches and not so expensive
I envy you you got a great tv don’t worry about it and enjoy!!
They have their pros and cons. In terms of picture quality Plasmas have LCD beat; but other things such as lighter weight, less energy consumption, and smaller screens make LCD have its advantages.
I’m gonna give you the break down from an unbias manner using as many facts as possible with minimal opinions. First off if you are going smaller than 40″s LCD hands down. Why? Because Plasma does not make TVs that small.
Now I will start buy comparing two TV’s of similar size and features. Samsung and Panasonic are both leaders of their respected technologies LCD and Plasma. I’ll be looking at Samsung 40″ LCD (Model: LN40B750, 1080p 240 Hz) and Panasonic 42″ Plasma (Model: TC-P42G10, 1080p)
Plasma have near instant refresh rate meaning they do not suffer from motion blur like LCDs do although many LCD have 120 and 240hz processors that help(like the Samsung model I am comparing) it still not as clear at processing fast motions(action movies, video games, sports) as plasmas. Average response time for a Plasma is .001ms where LCD is 2ms
Some people worry about plasmas burning in images but those were the first gen plasmas many years ago nowadays if you have a good name brand plasma(like Panasonic) you would almost have to try and burn an image into the screen because of the use of better gases and anti image retention technology. So unless you plan on leaving you TV on a static image for days you probably will not suffer from burn in.
In terms of viewing. LCD loses some of its picture quality when you view it at an off angle. Plasma you can view it at any angle without losing picture quality. However, since plasma has a glass screen it is more likely to have glare if you are in a room with a lot of light.(The Panasonic model I suggested has a filter to reduce glare but still something you should realize if its going to be in a bright room)
As also stated the plasma has better pic quality…2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio compared to the LCD 150,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Plasma is also known to produce better blacks.
Plasmas do use more energy than LCDs. Its not crazy more but it is enough to see some extra dollars on your electric bill a month if watched at the same rate as an LCD. The Panasonic model is still ENERGY STAR Qualified meaning it uses less energy than a regular tube tv but in comparison still uses more than a LCD.
Finally weigh wise the Plasma weighs more than an LCD. That particular plasma weighs 55.2 pounds compared to that particular LCD weighing in at 32.6 pounds
Price for that Plasma is under $900 compared to $1200+ for the LCD.
I would go with the Plasma especially since it is cheaper and has better picture quality; but if weight, energy consumption and a SLIGHT chance of burn in really discourages you go with the LCD. Otherwise generally speaking both are great TVs
Panasonic TC-P42G10 Reviewshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UV6P1Q?tag…
Samsung LN40B750 Reviewshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UV6P1Q?tag…
Also Cnet a place that reviews electronics have a top 5 HDTVs of the 5 three TVs were Plasmas in 2nd 3rd and 4th place. Number one was an LED which like you said is out of the equation due to pricing and 5th was a LCDhttp://reviews.cnet.com/best-high-defini…