Are Plasma TVs that much worse than LCD and LEDs?

Who says they are worse? Actually they have better uniformity and viewing angles, which is why more sports bars use them.

I've got my Panasonic THX certified G25 and it's going strong.

I'd stick with Panasonic for Plasmas, some Samsungs are good too.

 

I love plasmas. I own a 60 inch and a 50 inch. They are both Panasonic plasmas. Beautiful picture. I have tried the LCD/LED and did not like the colors.

The panasonic plasmas have great viewing angles, accurate colors (I hate fake skin tones) and deep blacks. They are also great for gaming (low response and low input lag) and handle motion very well.

You have to be able to control the light if you are getting plasma though. They dont look as good in well lit rooms, especially with plenty of sunlight.

BTW, Panasonic makes the best plasmas now that Pioneer ( Kuro Elite) has stopped making them.

 

Plasmas are awesome. I will be buying a new plasma when I move. I am thinking about getting my parents a 50 inch plasma because they are still watching television on a tube tv.

Don't get caught in that high school fad that LCD is better than plasma because the popular guy has a LCD.

 

Plasma's actually have whiter whites and darker blacks than LED or LCD. However, it is a broad question as they all have their highs and lows. When deciding you have to take how it is going to be used, the size, make, DPI and of course price in to consideration.

 

Plasmas are the best TVs IMO. 3 year old high-end Pioneer plasma technology is superior to the new TVs you see out there IMO.

Another crazy thing -- those old Sony projection TVs are on par with a lot of the current, standard LCD displays.

 

i don't know much about all this, but i have to wonder, if plasma's are indeed better then my aren't there any computer monitors available in plasma format?

 

I believe its the manufacturing. it's easy to manufacturer large screens for plasma then small ones.

I believe the smallest is 42 now.

Plasma does eat up more energy than LCD.

Just to let everyone here know. LED= LCD (with LED lighting).
It's not a new form of TV, it's a new form of LCD.

 

Plasmas get a bad rep from mainstream consumers due to burn-in issues, slow refresh rates, thicker/heavier cases, etc. All of these issues have been resolved, and plasma screens have matured very nicely since the late 90s.

In my house, 3 of our TVs are Pioneer plasmas. Though they've been discontinued, I think they provide a better 2D PQ than 99% of current LCD and LED back lit screens.

 

Owner of a plasma here.

I picked plasma and have no regrets. The colors are much better than LCD and LED in my opinion. While the new LEDs have a very "HD" look to them, it's almost fake looking. My plasma has a very sharp color with deep, rich and natural looking color and tones. Inception and dark knight are awesome on my plasma.

There is only one downside and you need to consider it VERY carefully. As plasmas have a glass screen over the display, it glares and reflects. If you are putting it in a room that gets lots of natural light this will bother you. If you think "Well this tv says glare reduced" just tell yourself it isn't true. In a room with a lot of light your plasma will drive you crazy. Many plasma owners get used to it and tell themselves it's not a big deal, but it can be almost unwatchable at times if your room is too lit up. Consider what windows you have and if any of them are uncovered. (Lots of people now have those recessed windows that let light in.) Just make sure you can block out bright lights when you want to watch tv.

Anyway, I still recommend it as long as it isn't for an overly lit room. Great picture, great for gaming, great for movies. Definitely go panasonic as the blacks are far superior. If you can, I'd get it professionally calibrated. Calibration can make all the difference.

 

I have an almost-decade-old (!) Panasonic Plasma (480p!) that holds its own against either of my more modern 1080p LCDs. Seriously.

 

Have owned LCD, LED and plasma and I like my Panasonic g25 Plasma better than the other 2

 

I thought the main problem with plasma screens was longevity, I know of a couple people who had images burned into their screens.

 

Not the case anymore, at least with the pannys.

 

Isn't plasm generally darker than LCDs?

And how much does it cost to get a professional calibration? Can you DIY if you get to know all the numbers, like cell light, white balance and red grain etc.?

 

the only problem I have with Plasmas are the weight.

 

Not going to help them win the market. Majority of low income America will still spend their food stamps on the cheapest LCD at Wal Mart.

 

Never owned a plasma but I have always thought they had a better picture.

 

Yes, plasmas are darker than LCDs. LCDs can't produce blacks the way Plasmas do. This is one of the best features of Plasma and will be something you appreciate in movies.

As for calibration, you can absolutely DIY if you know what you are doing. You will probably need to purchase a test disc though to do it properly.

True enough!

 

I own a Samsung plasma and it is better than LCDs, but not LEDs. The picture quality is much better and the blacks are blacker. The only problem with my plasma is the constant image burn-in.