Plasma TV: Pros and Cons

Contributed By Dave Donovan

When it comes to HDTVs, today’s consumers have a few different technologies to choose from, and one of the most popular is plasma. Although plasma video displays were actually developed in the 60s, it wasn’t until the early 2000s until televisions utilizing the technology became available to the public. Today, plasma televisions are among the most common HDTVs found in American homes.

Of course, with different technologies to choose from when it comes to making your choice for the type of high definition television you want for your home, it is important to consider both the pros and cons each type offers. In this article, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of plasma video displays so you can make the best possible decision when it comes time for you to purchase a new television.

The Pros of Plasma Displays

Large, Thin Displays

Plasma televisions are among the thinnest sets available on the market. This allows you to enjoy a large screen in your living room without it taking up a huge chunk of real estate in the room.

Aspect Ratio

All plasma televisions are made utilizing the standard 16x9 widescreen aspect ratio. This allows you to enjoy your favorite movies in the aspect ratio intended by the director and without the picture being cropped short.

No Glare Screen

Remember the glare you used to get on your glass-screened CRT television? With a plasma television, glare is no longer an issue so you can enjoy a great looking picture from practically anywhere in the room.

Beautiful Blacks

Among all of the current high definition displays, plasma offers unbeatable blacks and a gorgeous range of colors for bright, rich visuals.

The Cons of Plasma Displays

Power Hungry

Plasma displays require a lot of energy to power the display’s receptors so this type of HDTV is one of the more power hungry on the market.

Limited Lifespan

The display of a plasma television will gradually fade over time. In fact, most plasma televisions will have a noticeable color saturation loss and lose their brightness after about 30,000 hours of use. After 60,000 hours of use, the display will be practically unwatchable. Since plasma televisions do not feature a bulb that can be replaced to fix this problem, the set will be rendered useless and therefore have to be replaced.

Susceptible to Burn-In

Plasma displays are susceptible to having images burned into the screen when the same image is left on the screen for a long period of time. This is one reason why many gaming console manufacturers do not recommend using their consoles to be played on plasma televisions. Newer models include a feature called “white wash” which helps to reduce the potential for burn-in but using this feature does diminish the lifespan of the set. 

Fragile

Plasma displays are very fragile and can be prone to damage when being shipped. This can also pose a problem when used in a home where small children reside.