Plasma TVs Explained

By Joe Kingman

The plasma television is a relatively new type of television, with a flat screen display. It works by having a mixture of different noble gases in small compartments behind a panel of glass. The plasma TV derives its name from the reaction in which these noble gases are turned into plasma, which emits light and forms the display you see. Plasma TV's are often compared to LCD's (liquid crystal displays), another type of flat screen television that uses liquid crystals in front of backlighting or fluorescent tubes to produce images.

Plasma TVs are easier to maneuver than traditional CRT televisions (also known as tube televisions). They are flat, with a width of 5 inches, and lightweight, weighing approximately 100 pounds each. In contrast, CRT televisions are much heavier and bulkier. This gives consumers more flexibility when deciding where to place their plasmas; they can be hung on walls or put on stands that support less weight. Manufacturers have even designed plasma televisions that weigh only 45 pounds and are only an inch thick.

Flat panel TV's, like plasmas, also have a higher resolution than traditional tube televisions. Resolution is related to how many pixels there are in a square inch; the more pixels, the higher the resolution. At present, high-definition plasmas have resolutions that vary from 1024x768 (720p) to 1920x1080 (1080i), which is much higher than the maximum resolution for tube TVs-480 lines.

Plasma television manufacturers boast a lifetime of up to 60,000 hours for their televisions, compared to a CRT television's life span of at least 5 years. Which is better? Depending on how much a plasma is turned on, its lifespan can range anywhere from 7 years (turned on for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to 55 years (turned on for 3 hours a day). The lifespan of a plasma TV is significantly greater than that of a CRT TV.

Color reproduction and contrast ratio are two important components of a clear picture. Plasma televisions excel in both; they produce richer, more vibrant colours and truer blacks than LCDs. Due to the backlighting in LCDs, any pixel that should be black will have some light leaking through, which spoils the contrast.

Plasmas also have a wider viewing angle than LCDs. When viewing the television from the side, higher above, or lying on the floor, plasmas retain their crystal clear picture much better than LCDs do. Due to the shutter effect caused by the backlighting on LCDs, the larger the viewing angle is, the more brightness variation an LCD television viewer will experience.

Plasma TVs have been criticized because of the possibility of burn-in images. The burn-in effect happens when a still image is shown on the plasma's screen for long periods of time (for example, when a DVD is paused and the plasma is left on, burn-in might occur). A ghost of the image may remain on the screen after the image has been changed. However, this effect has almost been negated in the newer models of plasma televisions.

Plasmas also have virtually no size limitations; depending on a consumer's budget, plasma screens can go up to any size. LCD and CRT televisions, on the other hand, are confined to approximately 40 inches diagonal. - 29967

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