Plasma TV Buying Guide

Plasma TVs, once the hottest word in large-screen televisions, have received less attention in the last couple of years as LCD technology has improved. For most people, LCD is now a better choice. However, there are specific advantages to plasma televisions, depending upon your specific application, which might make them the right choice for you.

The main areas in which a plasma television has an advantage over the current crop of LCD televisions are size for the money, wider viewing angle, superior contrast ratios and darker black levels.

Screen Size for the Money

Plasma television screen sizes run as high as 65 inches with a wide selection of 50-inch sets falling into the under $2,000 range. This compares to LCD televisions which, although they are available in sizes as large as 70 inches, don't get into the lower-than $2,000 price range until they fall to 46 inches or smaller screen sizes. If you're looking for a television for a small space, don't expect to find plasma televisions smaller than 42 inches.

Viewing Angle

A wider viewing angle means that you can see the picture just as well when you are watching from the side, above or below the television screen. If you have your sofa parked directly in front of the screen, this doesn't matter much. On the other hand if you have a larger room with chairs or other seating along the sides of the room, or if you want to mount your new flat screen higher than eye level, viewing angles becomes very important. Look for the widest viewing angle specifications but be aware that manufacturer's stated viewing angles may be somewhat unreliable since there is no agreed upon standard. Your best bet is to look at the models you are contemplating in a showroom. While watching the television, move off to the side and see when the picture starts to degrade. Lower your head below the normal, seated height and see if you notice the picture fading out. This is really the best way to decide if a particular model will provide an acceptable viewing angle.

Contrast Ratio

Plasma TVs generally offer higher contrast ratios than LCD televisions. Contrast is essentially the difference between the bright and dark portions of the picture. The contrast ratio measures the ratio between the very brightest white and the very blackest black, in candelas per square meter, that the display is capable of producing. A higher ratio is better. The contrast ratio measurement is generally not given in a real use situation, but is the measured difference when the image is either all white or all black. However, the stated contrast ratio can still indicate the relative performance of one set over another.

Black Levels

Darker black levels are important as well. Ideally, when something is supposed to be completely black in a movie, think outer space or a bottomless pit, then there should be no light at all coming from that area on the television screen. Of course, no television can provide this level of true black, but plasma televisions can get much closer to true black than LCD televisions.

If these features are important to you then you may want a plasma television instead of an LCD television.

Choosing a Plasma Television

Once you've decided on a plasma television there are several more things you should know.

1) The picture on a plasma television will fade over time. An effective life of 60,000 hours should be your minimum standard for a plasma television.

2) All High-Definition (HD) televisions require an HD signal. If you don't have an HD cable box, Blue Ray DVD player or HD satellite box, you will not get an HD picture no matter what kind of TV you buy.

3) The highest available resolution of HD televisions is 1080p.

4) A higher brightness level helps keep the picture from being washed out by the room's ambient light. The more windows your room has, the more important the brightness level will be.

5) Make sure the television you choose has enough input, and the right kind of input for all your source equipment. Many will even have a connection for a computer input.

6) If you'd like to view digital photos on your plasma TV, you'll want a memory card slot that matches the type of memory card your camera uses.

7) Plasma screens can be susceptible to screen glare caused by reflections from lights or windows in the room. Look for one with a good anti-reflective coating to minimize these reflections unless you are only planning to watch TV in a darkened room.

8) Check to see if the pedestal stand or wall-mount brackets are included with the television. If not, don't forget to add this cost into your purchase decision.