Plasma TV Overview

Chances are they've already caught your eye. Whether it was at a retailer, a sports bar, or a friend's house, they're hard to ignore. If you've seen sharp, dazzling colors on a gargantuan screen no thicker than a standard dictionary, you've probably already been introduced to the plasma TV.

How It Works
Plasma screens work by trapping plasma-state neon-xenon between two thin layers of glass. A powerful light source shines through and charges the plasma, which then reacts with phosphors to create color on the screen. The result is a palette of over 16 million colors, including deep authentic black tones, which create sharp, richly detailed images.

Slim Fit
At around 4 inches thick, the plasma TV is incredibly versatile, especially compared to other large screen TVs. Traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs (the design that has been in use since the 1950s) get heavier and thicker as screen size increases to a maximum of about 40 inches. A fraction of the weight and thickness, plasma TVs start at 40 inches and only get bigger from there.

The beauty of the plasma TV is that it offers an enormous screen that is thin and light enough to mount on the wall, eliminating the need for large entertainment centers, which can impose on living space. A new kind of entertainment center designed specifically for wall mounted screens uses shelves fitted on the wall near or around the screen.

A Clutter Free Future Today
Some plasma TVs are connected by a single cord to separate electronics units, which can be housed up to fifty feet away from the screen. This means that electronic components can be kept in a small cabinet or entertainment center far away from your living space, thus eliminating a tangled mass of cords and a clutter of electronics.

Plasma TVs eliminate distortion around the edges, they offer state of the art dynamic sound, and they are built ready for a future of digital broadcasts. They are the ultimate in home cinema systems. All of these enticing attributes naturally raise the question: "What's the catch?"

The Catch
The obvious disadvantage is price. Since they are so large and of such high quality, plasma TV's carry a heavy price tag. However, they are actually less expensive than the LCDs of the same size.

Watch the Burn
Another prominent shortcoming is the potential for image burn. The extended presence of static images, such as score panels on video games and live sports, channel logos, and stock or news tickers, will leave behind lasting imprints. Changing channels and switching off the TV will help keep this in check, but no matter how careful you are, a plasma TV won't last as long as the alternatives.

Other Drawbacks
Compared to LCD or traditional CRT TVs, plasma is not as bright. This is not an issue in dark or dimly lit rooms, but for afternoon viewing in rooms that receive daylight, plasma has a noticeably inferior picture.

Though not by much, LCD TVs are actually lighter and thinner. Plasma screens are also more fragile - even laying a plasma screen improperly on its side can cause irreparable damage.

Your electric bill will be larger with a plasma TV. They gobble up energy at nearly twice the rate as their flat screen counterparts.

Plasma TVs also have a shorter lifespan than LCDs. Expect to get about 30,000 viewing hours out of a plasma TV, about the same as a traditional CRT set. That's still a long life - over thirteen years at six hours of viewing per day - though still not the longest life available.

Now You Know
With this information, you're much closer to deciding whether or not a plasma TV is for you. Look at your viewing area to determine the ideally sized screen for the space you have available. Consider the lighting that may affect the picture of a plasma TV. If you've got the right environment, nothing compares to plasma. Despite its few drawbacks, the overall quality of a plasma TV make it the definitive option for a home cinema and multi-media entertainment center.

Perhaps it's time to get better acquainted.