New LCD TV

Plasma technology has certainly achieved quite high contrast ratios, a measure of the blackest black compared to the whitest white. Many plasma display manufacturers boast a contrast ratio of 40,000:1 these days though our tests using a standardized ANSI checkerboard pattern have not proven these numbers out. Plasma displays achieve such impressive black levels by using internal algorithms to block the power to particular pixels in order to render a pixel "dark" or black. While this can limit a plasma television's gray scaling, it does produce exceptionally black blacks - depending on the manufactured plasma display element (i.e. glass). A plasma TV uses maximum power when it is producing full white. As a result, some 2nd tier manufactured brands of plasma TVs have an audible buzz or whining sound when displaying white or very light images.

LCD (liquid crystal diode) displays, by contrast, utilize electric charges to twist and untwist liquid crystals, which causes them to block light and, hence, emit blacks. The higher the voltage passing through the liquid crystals in a given pixel, the more fully those crystals untwist and effectively block light - all of which makes these pixels darker. As opposed to plasma, LCD TVs use the most power when displaying a very dark or black image. This is a difficult process, and despite recent improvements in LCD black levels, only the best LCD televisions have managed to come close to plasma technology in contrast ratio. The one continual drawback here for LCD is off axis viewing, when black levels consistently drop. We have noted some improvement from LCD manufacturers lately in off axis viewing contrast.

ADVANTAGE: Closer than a year ago, but still Plasma. LCD TV manufacturers have made great improvements in black levels and in many cases have nearly managed to match the contrast ratio of plasma TVs. However, Plasma displays still maintain a clear advantage in this category due to fading blacks when viewing LCDs from off axis. For scenes with a lot of dark and light images shown simultaneously - as with content originating from DVDs, video games, and NTSC TV signals - plasmas still consistently outperform LCD TVs.

This is the #1 question for me at any dinner party: Which is better, LCD TV or Plasma? This is a much debated topic and a fun one. When choosing between plasma and LCD TVs, you're actually selecting between two competing technologies, both of which achieve similar features (i.e., ,bright crystal-clear images, super color-filled pictures) and come in similar packages (i.e., 1.5 to 4 inch depth flat screen casing). To complicate the decision-making process further, price and size are two previous considerations that are rapidly becoming non-issues as LCD TVs are now being made in larger sizes and at competing prices with plasma.


Despite their similarities, the two technologies are very different in the way they deliver the image to the viewer.

Plasma technology consists of hundreds of thousands of individual pixel cells, which allow electric pulses (stemming from electrodes) to excite rare natural gases-usually xenon and neon-causing them to glow and produce light. This light illuminates the proper balance of red, green, or blue phosphors contained in each cell to display the proper color sequence from the light. Each pixel cell is essentially an individual microscopic florescent light bulb, receiving instruction from software contained on the rear electrostatic silicon board. Look very closely at a plasma TV and you can actually see the individual pixel cell coloration of red, green, and blue bars. You can also see the black ribs which separate each.

Whether spread across a flat-panel screen or placed in the heart of a projector, all LCD displays come from the same technological background. A matrix of thin-film transistors (TFTs) supplies voltage to liquid-crystal-filled cells sandwiched between two sheets of glass. When hit with an electrical charge, the crystals untwist to an exact degree to filter white light generated by a lamp behind the screen (for flat-panel TVs) or one projecting through a small LCD chip (for projection TVs). LCD monitors reproduce colors through a process of subtraction: They block out particular color wavelengths from the spectrum of white light until they're left with just the right color. And, it's the intensity of light permitted to pass through this liquid-crystal matrix that enables LCD televisions to display images chock-full of colors-or gradations of them.

LED TVs are a new form of LCD Television. The panel on an LED TV is still an LCD TV panel and operates the with the same twisting crystals matrix. The backlight is the difference - changing from flourescent to LED (light emitting diode) based backlighting.

  Welcome to the LCD TV Buying Guide. Think of this as your guide to the latest and greatest in visual display technology. It is a resource that will help you choose the right LCD or LED backlit LCD television or monitor for you-whether you intend to use it at home, for business, or in tradeshows.

With all the benefits of the Digital Revolution come some unavoidable complications, like being "on call" 24/7, and coping with computer glitches, … and buying a new (digital) TV set. Buying a television these days is no simple task, which is why we wrote this buying guide-to assist the average person on his or her path to becoming an educated consumer.

Our LCD Television Buying Guide will take you through everything you need to know and thus consider before you buy an LCD or LED LCD TV all in 8 easy-to-follow steps

About the Best Selling LCD/LED Televisions
LCD TV Buying Guide's Top 10 LCD/LED TV list reflects the activity of the leading online retailers. The Top 10 LCD Television listings tell you which models are selling most frequently using data compiled from online vendors listed in our Where to Buy section tab located at top. Leading online retail sales do not reflect our opinion about what might be the best LCD/LED for your purposes. To see our recommendations for any certain size click on the top recommended box below for any size LCD or LED TV. To see our ratings comparison chart of recently reviewed TVs graded on a 100 point scale click in the ratings tab above in the top menu.
1  Samsung UN46C7000
2  Sony KDL-55EX710
3  Samsung UN46C6500
4  LG 47LE5400
5  Samsung LN46C630
6  LG 42LD550
7  Samsung LN32C450
8  Sony KDL-46EX500
9  Sharp LC46LE810
10LG 47LE5500