Plasma Vs. LCD Vs. DLP Televisions - Which is Right for You?

In today's technology market, consumers often feel overwhelmed with the choices available to them. Combine that with a lack of knowledge, and you have a lot of people buying televisions because a friend or relative suggested something rather than making an informed decision. Plasma, DLP (Digital Light Processing), and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) televisions use drastically different technology, and as such have different qualities one may be looking for. This guide will help you decide what type of HD television or monitor is right for you.

PERFORMANCE

Plasma screens have a better capability of handling darker colors (contrast), especially blacks, and as such, are preferred by many consumers. However, many plasma screens don't handle colors properly, often giving them a "clay like" effect, especially on people's skin. LCD screens and DLP screen on the other hand deal with colors quite well. The down side to DLP screens is their viewing angle. While LCD and plasma televisions offer a wide viewing angle (170-180 degrees), you must have the television set at eye-level to get the best image from a DLP television.
WINNER: LCD

SIZE

DLP televisions are much more similar to older CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) televisions when it comes to size and weight. DLP televisions are MUCH larger than plasma and LCD screens, and as such are typically not wall mountable. LCD and plasma screens are much smaller and more narrow than DLP, allowing them to fit in a much smaller space, or be mounted on a wall.
WINNER: LCD and Plasma

PRICE

In the past, plasma screens were known to be the best buy in terms of price, but with new technologies, LCD has become the top dog. LCD screens are available in a wide range of sizes, at a much cheaper price. While there are some excellent deals to be had on DLP screens, the lack of a wide viewing angle doesn't compensate for their slightly lower price.
WINNER: LCD

ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Due to the way plasma screen emit light, each pixel emits its own light, plasma screens use a larger amount of energy than LCD screens. DLP screens also have a much higher energy consumption rate than LCD televisions.
WINNER: LCD

It is safe to say that I would recommend an LCD television over either DLP or plasma. Having compared countless televisions, LCD is hands-down the way to go. Many people think plasma is a far superior option, but I believe most of them just think plasma sounds better, but don't actually know from experience. Don't let anyone's opinion sway you from what you want, be it a friend, salesman, or this article. Spend some time at a show room floor or two and see for yourself.

TIPS:

SAVE ENERGY

On an LCD or DLP television set, lower the backlight so so that it is not on its highest setting. Most consumers will find that a much lower setting is more than suitable, saving a lot on both your electric bill and the life of the television.

BE PATIENT

Decide the specs you are looking for (i.e. LCD or plasma, size, resolution, etc.), and wait. Monitor sales both online and at local stores, as HD televisions go on sale quite frequently.

ADJUST THE SETTINGS

Often times, retailers don't set their cheaper televisions to their optimal brightness, color, and sharpness setting, attempting to entice consumers to purchase the more expensive units. Don't be afraid to ask for the remote control and mess with the settings on your own. Most of the time, you will find that the pictures can be drastically improved, and will often be very comparable to the higher end televisions.

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