Plasma Displays

Common to large television (80 cm and larger) displays, a plasma display panel is a type of flat panel display. Not to be confused with LCDs, which is another lightweight flat screen display, plasma displays use a mixture of noble gases inside two panels of glass. The gas is electrically turned into a plasma which emits ultraviolet and thus visible light.

Power consumption for a plasma display can fall anywhere from 200 to 400 watts, typically. This is highly dependent on the size and technology of the plasma display, with advances in recent years. For the latest generation of plasma displays, lifetime is estimated at 100,000 hours of display time, which is equal to 27 years at 10 hours a day. At this time, the maximum picture brightness reaches half of its original value.

Plasma displays have many advantages for users in the market for televisions. Physically plasma displays are lighter and less bulky than rear-projection televisions, can be wall mounted, and are very slim in nature. They also achieve better color reproduction than LCDs, produce true blacks for superior contrast ratios, and have far wider viewing angles than LCDs. Additionally, due to very high refresh rates and a faster response time, there is virtually no motion blur for plasma displays.

There are also a distinct set of disadvantages for plasma displays. Older models are susceptible to screen burn-in and image retention, and additionally lose luminosity over time to decline the picture's image brightness over time. Plasma displays are also susceptible to "large area flicker" and reflection glare, especially in bright rooms. They are also heavier than LCDs, and do not generally come in sizes less than 32 inches. Plasma displays use more electricity than LCDs. Finally, plasma displays do not work as well in high altitudes and cause Radio Frequency Interference for users who wish to listen to AM radio.

Users in the market for a plasma television should watch for certain items. First, make sure it is a plasma TV and not just a plasma monitor; a plasma TV already has the tuner built in to receive television signals. Also, make sure the set is HDTV enabled. Make sure you choose your mounting system in advance, whether you use a wall mount or stand. Finally, consider an extended warranty to protect a high-cost item like a plasma television.