LCD vs. Plasma

[dustinwadams5]

Looking to buy a new television and I would like to know everybodies opinion on which is better. The main use of the tv is going to be for Xbox 360, so bear that in mind when you make your arguements. I had always heard that LCD was better and lasted alot longer, but now i'm hearing that plasma lasts just as long. Any help?

[Bubba]

Here is a little bit I found in a Consumer Reports...

LCD TV's -
Pros: Thin and light. Can be wall-mounted. The best are capable of displaying bright, detailed images. Some new 1080p models have excellent overall picture quality. Antireflective screen minimizes glare from bright light. No risk of burn-in of static images.
Cons: Price goes up sharply as screens get bigger. Most sets can't display deepest black or distinguish subtle shades of gray and black. Fast-moving images may blur. Image may dim as you angle away from center of screen, especially up and down. Long-term reliability not yet known, but our initial data indicate low rate of repairs during the first year of use for several major brands.

Plasma-
Pros: Thin and light enough to be wall-mounted. The best are capable of displaying excellent images with high brightness and contrast and crisp detail. No limit on viewing angle. Bigger sizes are cheaper than LCD TVs of comparable size.
Cons: Shiny surface can produce distracting reflections in bright lighting. Brightness may dim over time. Fixed items displayed for long periods can leave ghosted image. Some sets don't include speakers or a tuner. Long-term reliability not yet known, but our initial data indicate low rate of repairs during the first year of use for several major brands.

Or you could skip the whole plasma and LCD dilemma. My brother, bought a Dell projector, it has inputs for HD and that is what he uses for his xBox 360. He also has his HD DirecTV hooked up to it. They use a whole wall for the screen. It is best viewed in a darker room as opposed to all the lights on. You don't have to worry about "burn-in" like a plasma TV or worry about fast movment being blurry like a LCD TV. You will have to be aware that you will have to replace the projection lamp at a cost of about $300, but that is the only draw back. After lamp replacement it would be like a brand new unit.

[Bubba]

I'm not positive but I think the projection lamp is supposed to be good for around 2000 hours of use. Just so you know. So, with LCD fast moving images tend to be blurry, I don't think that would be good for gaming. Plasma TV's are prone to "burn-in" or "ghosting." When a plasma goes bad, you throw it away, I don't think that is very economical. A projector, while the lamp isn't expected to last forever, at $300 or so and it makes it just like new.

To me, I think I would lean toward a HD front projector.

[dustinwadams5]

Thanks for the information you pretty much narrowed it down to exactly what I needed to know.

[Bubba]

Glad to help. So, what way are you leaning towards, if I may ask?

[dustinwadams5]

I don't really have a big enough place for a projector, so I went with an RCA 26" LCD HDTV. I am impressed, the picture is incredible and the colors are bright.