Home Video Asylum

TVs, VCRs, DVD players, Home Theater systems and more.

stop thinking

Thinking of getting a Plasma TV. I currently have a Sony 27in XBR and the Plasmas I have seen come closer to the Sony image than any LCD I have seen.

The reason is because plasma technology uses phosphors to create the image. Guess what other technology uses phosphors? CRT. This allows both to get truer colors than other display technologies. LCD, no matter how well it's done, is more artificial looking.

But I am also aware that Plasma had some issues that maybe LCD did not:
Image Burn In
Longevity / Reliability


Image burn-in pretty much experienced a dramatic decrease about 6 years ago with the introduction of 60,000 hour model plasmas. Even before that, there were/are simple procedures to follow and use that made this issue negligible. Nearly every plasma made in the last 3 years will not have an issue with burn-in.

Plasmas you get today are rated at 100,00 hours to half-brightness -- the same as LCD. That's about 45 years of daily viewing for 6 hours a day. Far too much TV a day for anyone with a pulse.

Are these still real world issues that I should worry about?

They are no longer issues. Matter of fact, they weren't an issue when I got my first plasma in 2004. That 50" plasma is in the livingroom, I have a 42" plasma in the bedroom and there's a 32" plasma in my oldest son's room.

Also, who makes the best Plasma TV currently?

Panasonic is and has always been the best value in plasma technology with regard to the quality:$ ratio.

Looking in the 40-47in range / 1080p / 120hz refresh rate

Be very careful with the 120/240Hz refresh models. Spend some time with them if you are serious about a purchase. What looks cool may end up not so cool if this is a main reason for an LCD purchase.

Thanks!

You're welcome.

My advice is to spend some time researching each technology from reputable sources (not Best Buy or other retail stores because they are notorious for misinformation -- on the average, they aren't the most knowlegable about the product technologies they sell -- and disinformation -- there's more store profit in LCD sales vs plasma sales, so LCD sales are pushed on prospective buyers) and base your decision on the facts. Before you make your decision, ask yourself this question: "Am I going to be satisfied with this purchase for the next few years and am I confident enough that, in the future, when I look back at this purchasing decision, will I be able to say that I made the most informed decision that I was able to at the time?".

And by the way, there's plenty of plasma info




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