Sep 18, 2006 06:12 PM
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Gizmodo friend and Yoda of Electronics, Sean Captain, wrote an article in the NY Times about how goddamn confusing it is for your mom to figure out what flat TV tech to buy. It's because LCDs are on a rocketship trajectory moving past their shortcomings, like size and contrast. And Plasmas don't burn in, and are a lot sturdier than they used to be.
You'll be surprised to know that brightness doesn't count for shit. As most sets pump more than enough lumens to blow out the picture.
You looking to replace your set? Read on to hear what the AV nerds do to pass judgement on today's TVs...
Even black levels don't really matter unless you're watching TV in pitch black environments. (Like the dungeon where you keep your gimp.)
The ultimate measures should be contrast ratio, color saturation/accuracy, and then resolution.
With most affordable Plasmas still being stuck in the 1,024 by 768 days, we're big fans of the LCD here at Giz. Full 1080p resolution LCDs can be had at under 40-inches. But...
"Thirty-seven-inch 1080p is not worth it," said Mr. Griffin of Sound & Vision. "You'd have to sit so close." And even at close range, high-resolution L.C.D.'s might blur details in fast-moving video, because the screens do not refresh images as quickly as plasmas do.In the end, the scorecard shows a slight advantage for plasma. The panels have higher contrast ratios, wider viewing angles and better display of movement than L.C.D.'s do. But L.C.D.'s perform better in bright light; and they have higher resolution — for those who can actually see it. On color, the technologies are matched.
Picking a Picture [NY Times]
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