Best Plasma and LCD TVs for Gaming

Purchasing an LCD TV or plasma TV can be a simple decision for many people. That is, of course, unless you are a gamer. The fear of burn in, lag and decreased quality takes the TV purchasing process to a whole new level for gamers.

The Best Plasma TVs for Gamers

If you are looking for a plasma TV, the first thing you should do is find one that has a game setting. This setting makes the TV ideal for playing games, as the game won't lag while waiting for the graphics to adjust.

The Panasonic TH42PX80U Plasma HDTV is a 42-inch TV with 480 hertz and 720 progressively scanned lines, offering high-speed image processing. This makes it a good plasma TV for gaming. This TV offers a 16:9 aspect ratio, which can be adjusted. The sound quality of this TV leaves much to be desired. As such, connecting it to external speakers or a surround sound system is a good idea if you want to truly experience the full scope of every game's sound effects. Currently, this TV is priced around $1,000 online, excluding shipping.

Another good plasma TV for gaming is the Pioneer Kuro. The Kuro is available in 50-inch and 60-inch models. It uses high-resolution image processing, which almost completely eliminates video game lag. This TV is more expensive than the Panasonic, but the picture quality and sound quality are much better. You can find the Kuro online priced at around $2,500 for the 50 inch and $4,000 for the 60 inch.

The Best LCD TVs for Gamers

If you want to purchase an LCD TV for gaming, the Philips 42PFL5332D/37 is a 42-inch flat widescreen LCD TV with Pixel Plus HD 3 is an ideal option. This reasonably priced LCD TV boasts a high-speed image processor that reduces lag time when playing any video game system, including older models like the original PlayStation and Nintendo 64. The sound processor on this TV is suitable for gaming; however, if you want top-quality sound, you may find it necessary to hook the TV up to a surround sound system. This TV is priced at around $1,250 online.

The LG 52LB5D is a 52-inch LCD TV that features high-speed picture processing and a top-notch sound system. These features make it the perfect LCD TV for gaming. This LCD TV is best suited to newer gaming systems. You can find this TV online for around $1,700.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when you purchase a new plasma or LCD TV for gaming. First, you should avoid playing any video games during the first week that you have the TV to eliminate burn in. Second, if you are using an older gaming system, such as a PlayStation or Nintendo, you will more than likely experience some lag as plasma and LCD TVs have to convert the gaming image to fit the TV screen and video format. In some cases, there are modules and converters you can purchase to prevent the lag from older video game systems. These are, however, very expensive and usually only available from the TV manufacturer.