LED TV vs. Plasma

Reviewer: Phil Connor

New LED TVs are changing the nature of how we view LCD TV in such a way that we must re-assess the advantages of LCD and Plasma over one another. All LED TVs contain an LCD display element (front panel). The difference of LED TVs lies in the backlight. Rather than the standard florescent backlighting systems of the past, LED TVs have LED bulbs (light emitting diode) as the backlight for the LCD panel. This has been a godsend for LCD TV manufacturers as it has allowed them to better compete in picture quality against plasma TV technology. For a full commentary on LCD vs. Plasma technologies and how they differ click here.

For a look at how plasma and LED match up see the following:

1) PICTURE QUALITY

With the new LED backlighting, there have been tremendous improvements in our picture quality ratings of LCD TVs. Read below to see how plasma and LED compare in the varying divisions of Picture Quality.

CONTRAST/ BLACK LEVELS

Contrast ratio is a measure of the blackest black to the whitest white. Black levels are grouped with contrast because without deep dark black levels contrast ratio levels will be weak. With the new LED backlighting there have been tremendous improvements in black levels and contrast. Plasma achieved very high contrast levels a good while ago.

LED TV vs Plasma While manufacturer specifications are overblown, unrealistic and not important to consider when considering contrast, we have been impressed by our own testing of some of the new LED TVs. The highest contrast we have measured on a post calibration ANSI checkerboard test was a plasma measuring 850:1. 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).

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. LED backlighting gives LCD manufacturers far greater flexibility with tools like local dimming that help to emit deep black levels.

ADVANTAGE: PLASMA, but contrast and black levels are getting much better with LED TVs. We have measured some LED TVs that have beaten those of some plasma TVs.

COLOR ACCURACY

Plasma vs LED In plasma displays, each pixel contains red, green, and blue elements, which work in conjunction to create billions of colors. Insofar as each pixel contains all the elements needed to produce every color in the spectrum, color information was more accurately reproduced with plasma technology than it was with other display technologies. The chromaticity coordinates were more accurate on most plasma displays however lately LED TVs have closed this gap through manipulation of the new backlighting system. Colors can certainly be more vibrant on an LED TV while more subdued on plasma. Both are calibrating well to D6500K – the standard color temperature used in the film industry. When it comes to color, it is now coming down more to preference and room conditions than technological factors.

ADVANTAGE: Even

VIEWING ANGLE

This is one of the biggest areas of improvement for LED TVs aside from Black levels. Previously with LCD TVs contrast was drastically reduced when viewing the TV from 30 degrees or more off center. Lately, with some of the better LED TVs we've tested contrast does not begin to degrade significantly until 75 degree off center angle is reached. Plasma TV technology has always been perfect in this area due to each individual pixel being lit.

ADVANTAGE: PLASMA but LED TVs are getting much better

DEPTH PERCEPTION

This is an interesting comparison due to the new 120Hz and 240Hz refresh rate technologies in LED TVs. These faster frame rate conversions were originally presented to reduce motion lag in LCD TVs. But they also do strange things to background information, especially from film based material. Overall, I think LED backlighting has helped LCD TVs a lot in this area. The backlight can be manipulated much easier than can the pixels of a plama.

ADVANTAGE: LED TV, but close

BRIGHTNESS

This is an easy win for LED TVs with super bright light emitting diode backlighting. Some new plasmas have made a dramatic comback in this area though and are giving LED TVs a run for their money in brightness.

ADVANTAGE: LED TV

2) FUNCTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

COMPUTER USE AND GAMING

Plasma Gaming Response rate makes a lot of difference in gaming and computer use. LED TVs response time increases to via 120Hz and 240Hz refresh rates are dramatic improvements in this area. However, plasma has no problem at all in response time and therefore is still superior.

I have always favored LCD technology with computer resolution display. The technology seems to display computer images better.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

FAST-MOVING VIDEO PLAYBACK

Due to the 120/240 refresh rates of many new LED TVs, there is much improvement in reducing motion related blur. Plasma displays have always been excellent in this are.

But something interesting has happened. When viewing sports programming with 120/240Hz refresh rate options turned on, LED TVs display images in a more "in the picture" way. There is more background information coming forward. Foreground images really pop off the screen.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

LONGEVITY

Both LED TV and Plasma TV manufacturers tout 100,000 avg hours of use.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN

SCREEN BURN IN

New plasma technologies have been developed over the past few years by top quality manufacturers to combat burn in. They work. In all of our recent tests with plasma we have not developed any image retention in the screen when leaving an image static for an hour or less.

LED TV has no image retention concerns due to the LCD screen technology "twisting crystals".

ADVANTAGE: I would not be concerned with either from a quality manufacturer.

3) OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

PRODUCTION SIZE & COST

Both LED TV and Plasma televisions are readily available in larger sizes though plasma still leads the size battle by a great margin. Production plants for plasma panels were established years ago and lead the way in cost per panel. LED TV manufacturing use LCD panels with the new LED backlighting.

ADVANTAGE: PLASMA for now

POWER CONSUMPTION/ENERGY USAGE

As the planet becomes more green conscious, so the marketers of TVs. Though there are new energy saving technologies present on both LED and plasma TVs, most will not be used by the consumer due to the simple fact that they reduce the brightness of the picture. An economical way to extend the life of your TV and save energy is to follow our post calibration picture settings. Also see our article about calibrating your TV.

ADVANTAGE: EVEN, it depends on the type of backlighting used in LED TVs.

4) PRICE/VALUE

LED TVs are becoming dynamic in picture presentation. We have always liked plasma technology picture presentation. Now that Pioneer is out of the plasma production game, we realize more attention will be paid to LED TV technologies (especially by Samsung and LG). But for now there is no comparison. Plasma is much more economical on a cost per size and quality basis.

ADVANTAGE: PLASMA