Plasma vs LCD

I had a similiar thread a few months ago and landed with a Plasma.

The simple truths if I can sum it up for you:

1. Plasma is by far superior when it comes to heavy motion like with sports.
2. Movies, Plasma wins as it has a sharper colour.
3. LCD wins for gaming and very good TV
4. LCD uses allot less electicity
5. Plasma is a no go in a well lit room (Day light) Unless you have thick curtins. They reflect light and it's nearly impossible to see what is happening on TV. It turns into a mirror. LCD on the other hand absorbs the light and you get no reflection.
6. LCD needs to be viewed full on to get the best result. Plasma you can watch from any angle and the picture is crystal clear.

Based on that, see what your needs are and choose which one suits your needs.

For the first time in a ages I actually agree with Lancelot :p I too am very very very happy with my Plasma. But this would not have been the case if I didn't know what to look for in order to cater for my direct needs.
 
PostmanPot said:
Plasma is superior, fact.

And that Sammy B430 42" is only R6999 at Game!
Click to expand...

Perhaps - I'll go this weekend and compare my R25,000 LCD to this R7,000.00 plasma. According to you guys, the plasma will be the clear cut, definate winner in terms of IQ because it's a plasma? Or could there perhaps be a little more to simple 'plasma is better. Fact'?

Lancelot - I'm not disagreeing with you or any plasma fanbois. All I'm saying is it's not as clear cut as the plasma owners are saying. I ran a PC (static), Xbox (static) and media server (often static) on my plasma and the IR was annoying. I *did* like everything else - but the IR put me off. Also - when did you research and compare?

When I bought the plasma in 2007 I researched and compared. LCD's blacks were grey and the image looked, well, crappy. I needed a new TV 2 years later and researched again - but this time the outcome was slightly different.
 
Pitbull said:
I had a similiar thread a few months ago and landed with a Plasma.

The simple truths if I can sum it up for you:

1. Plasma is by far superior when it comes to heavy motion like with sports.
2. Movies Plasma wins as it has a sharper colour.
3. LCD wins for gaming and very good TV
4. LCD uses allot less electicity
5. Plasma is a no go in a well lit room (Day light) Unless you have thick curtins. They reflect light and it's nearly impossible to see what is happening on TV. It turns into a mirror. LCD on the other hand absorbs the light and you get no reflection.
6. LCD needs to be viewed full on to get the best result. Plasma you can watch from any angle and the picture is crystal clear.

Based on that, see what your needs are and choose which one suits your needs.

For the first time in a ages I actually agree with Lancelot :p I too am very very very happy with my Plasma. But this would not have been the case if I didn't know what to look for in order to cater for my direct needs.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm saying - it's not clear cut as one is better than the other. There are pros and cons to each - and each person needs to decide.
 
Dolby said:
Perhaps - I'll go this weekend and compare my R25,000 LCD to this R7,000.00 plasma. According to you guys, the plasma will be the clear cut, definate winner in terms of IQ because it's a plasma? Or could there perhaps be a little more to simple 'plasma is better. Fact'?

Lancelot - I'm not disagreeing with you or any plasma fanbois. All I'm saying is it's not as clear cut as the plasma owners are saying. I ran a PC (static), Xbox (static) and media server (often static) on my plasma and the IR was annoying. I *did* like everything else - but the IR put me off. Also - when did you research and compare?

When I bought the plasma in 2007 I researched and compared. LCD's blacks were grey and the image looked, well, crappy. I needed a new TV 2 years later and researched again - but this time the outcome was slightly different.
Click to expand...

I can't say Plasma is better than a LCD or the otherway round.

Each one has their strong points and weak points. When a person buys a TV he needs to have all the info at han and decide which one best suits his needs. In my case it was a Plasma. For all I know the OP might need an LCD for his needs. All I'm trying to do is give him the information to make the correct choice for his needs.

edit: I replied too late :D
And I fully agree with you 110%
 
Dolby said:
Is that a 2005 article? :/

Do you have any idea of the leaps and bounds LCD's have made even from 2007 to 2009?
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lol, it sure does look old

two of our LCD's have burned in while neither of them need to be viewed from any particular angle
my next TV will be a big ass plasma, just to see the difference
 
eye_suc said:
lol, it sure does look old

two of our LCD's have burned in while neither of them need to be viewed from any particular angle
my next TV will be a big ass plasma, just to see the difference
Click to expand...

It also mentions that LCDs come up to 37" - with some 45" models in Korea ;)
 
I've yet to see a LCD that displays standard definition (SD) DSTV channels equivalent to or better than plasma. That was a huge criteria for me.
 
Dolby said:
Perhaps - I'll go this weekend and compare my R25,000 LCD to this R7,000.00 plasma. According to you guys, the plasma will be the clear cut, definate winner in terms of IQ because it's a plasma? Or could there perhaps be a little more to simple 'plasma is better. Fact'?
Click to expand...

Dolby, I think any reasonable person would realise that we are all referring to screens in the same price bracket.

All of us, including myself, have mentioned that you usage will dictate. If you are wanting to game on it then we have said LCD is better. There appears to be only one genuine fanboi in this thread....
 
Actually Lancelot - from the start, I've said it 'depends', 'up to the indivudal' and 'applications used'

A fanboi would say 'plasma is the best. Fact'
 
Dolby said:
Actually Lancelot - from the start, I've said it 'depends', 'up to the indivudal' and 'applications used'

A fanboi would say 'plasma is the best. Fact'
Click to expand...

Rather interesting that you decided to aim a lot of your fanboi comments at me when this was my very first post in this thread : http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?228641-Plasma-vs-LCD&p=3857551&viewfull=1#post3857551

LancelotSA said:
What?!? Are we comparing the same price brackets here?

I just finished doing extensive research on this exact same topic as I was trying to decide between LCD and Plasma too. The results of this in depth research showed that the answer is not as cut and dried as the two of you are trying to make out. Yes, the salesman at Game will tell you the same thing but the majority of them actually seem to know very little! They also seem to get pushed to punt LCDs, probably because more manufacturers have them.

The bottom line on the matter seems to be what you viewing habits are likely to be like. If you are regularly wanting to play games and use if for PC use then perhaps lean towards LCD. For all other uses my research seemed to show that you get far more "bang for your buck" with a plasma.

As a matter of interest I went for the 42" plasma. I am very satisfied with my choice.
Click to expand...


So what was your problem with the things I was saying again. Fanbois also get very defensive of the item they possess! Fact!
 
Lg-PD-1-derail-flag.jpg


on its way...
 
Lancelot - where did I attack anything you said? :/
 
Dolby said:
Lancelot - where did I attack anything you said? :/
Click to expand...

The inability to read is really starting to become frustrating on this forum! I never said anything about you attacking me! These were my words :

LancelotSA said:
Rather interesting that you decided to aim a lot of your fanboi comments at me when this was my very first post in this thread !
Click to expand...

And this is where you aimed fanboi comments at me and insinuated that I was making it out to be a clear cut decision :

Dolby said:
Lancelot - I'm not disagreeing with you or any plasma fanbois. All I'm saying is it's not as clear cut as the plasma owners are saying.
Click to expand...

My first post that I just quoted clearly shows that this is not the case. This leads me to conclude one of two things :

1. You are confusing me for others in this thread
2. You have an issue with me and just want to oppose me whenever you can. Hey, I don't have a problem with this but just get your facts straight.

I have just (less than a few weeks ago) gone through the exact same thing the OP is and therefore felt I could provide input. Now can we let this thread get back on topic?
 
Misunderstanding - I don't lump you with them ... so neither 1 or 2. I actually thought your first post was decent - hence I didn't post directly after it, as I didn't disagree with what you said.

I only started posting when I disagreed with some posters (not you) saying plasma was better no matter what.

Anyway - he's bought a set, he's happy and there's no point in going further - right?
 
Dolby said:
Perhaps - I'll go this weekend and compare my R25,000 LCD to this R7,000.00 plasma. According to you guys, the plasma will be the clear cut, definate winner in terms of IQ because it's a plasma? Or could there perhaps be a little more to simple 'plasma is better. Fact'?

Lancelot - I'm not disagreeing with you or any plasma fanbois. All I'm saying is it's not as clear cut as the plasma owners are saying. I ran a PC (static), Xbox (static) and media server (often static) on my plasma and the IR was annoying. I *did* like everything else - but the IR put me off. Also - when did you research and compare?

When I bought the plasma in 2007 I researched and compared. LCD's blacks were grey and the image looked, well, crappy. I needed a new TV 2 years later and researched again - but this time the outcome was slightly different.
Click to expand...

Perhaps you should compare your R25k presumably full HD LCD to a full HD plasma (that costs less these days)... ;)

Your plasma sounds a bit old if it was bought in 2007. Maybe you thought your plasma was crap compared to your LCD because your plasma wasn't full HD (again I presume you would have bought a full HD LCD for R25k)..?

The cheaper, non-full HD 720p/standard HD plasmas (like the B430 at Game for R6999) are best for anyone that doesn't need 1080p/full HD. The only real researched reason to go for an LCD instead is because you could get a full HD 42" LCD for about the same price as a standard HD 42" plasma, where the full HD plasmas are quite a bit more expensive. There is no question about image quality, plasmas are superior. Richer colours and deeper blacks. And besides that, they are better for sport and other fast-motioned video.

Technical advantages (not related to IQ) LCDs have over plasmas is that LCDs last longer and consume less electricity. But along with plasma's advancement, life expectancy has increased so much that LCD's slight advantage isn't really a concern. Plasmas have improved a lot and are making a return with new tech i.e. no image burn.

I would get an LCD for PC use/heavy console gaming, but for TV/odd gaming, it is definitely clear cut that plasma wins in terms of IQ and TV.

AFAIK PeterCH would agree. :D
 
PostmanPot said:
Your plasma sounds a bit old if it was bought in 2007. Maybe you thought your plasma was crap compared to your LCD because your plasma wasn't full HD (again I presume you would have bought a full HD LCD for R25k)..?
Click to expand...

You are partly correct on the differences. I don't feel it's a 720 vs 1080 issues though - but I do think it's a 2007 (budget TV) vs 2009 (mid level TV) issue and the way techonology has progessed recently. But this leads to what I said earlier : the comment is not plasma is better. Fact. because there are other variables to take into account ;)

720 vs 1080 isn't that large, as I'm sure you know.

PostmanPot said:
The only real researched reason to go for an LCD instead is because you could get a full HD 42" LCD for about the same price as a standard HD 42" plasma, where the full HD plasmas are quite a bit more expensive.)
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say as the only reason. I chose LCD over plasmas for my own personal needs. I had a choice of many plasmas under R25,000.00 but as pointed out, 3 of the 3 sources I used were static and as IR was a concern.

PostmanPot said:
There is no question about image quality, plasmas are superior. Richer colours and deeper blacks. And besides that, they are better for sport and other fast-motioned video.
Click to expand...

You're saying the same price? R10,000 plasma vs R10,000 LCD and R20,000.00 plasma vs R20,000.00 LCD?

PostmanPot said:
Technical advantages (not related to IQ) LCDs have over plasmas is that LCDs last longer and consume less electricity. But along with plasma's advancement, life expectancy has increased so much that LCD's slight advantage isn't really a concern. Plasmas have improved a lot and are making a return with new tech i.e. no image burn
Click to expand...

I'm not - and I'm sure most others - aren't really concerned with the life of either as they're both so long. But bear in mind I hear this no burn in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. I've also seen burn in and IR in 2006, 2007 and 2008. I've read about others online that has burn in last year as well - so I'm very sceptical of buying another 'non burn plasma' now.

PostmanPot said:
I would get an LCD for PC use/heavy console gaming, but for TV/odd gaming, it is definitely clear cut that plasma wins in terms of IQ and TV.
Click to expand...

... so it depends on the individual needs? ;)

I don't have TV - neither DSTV or terrestrial TV. My TV is only used for PC, gaming and media streaming. In 2007 LCD's were terrible. I was the only one in my family that went the plasma route of LCD and I believe then it was (just about) the only choice. Fast foward to 2010 and I don't think it's as clear cut.

My Series 6 LCD got great reviews overall with special mention on black levels and colours. LED is even better when it comes to blacks. If I had a complaint on LCD, it would be that the screen is not uniform backlit
 
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