Well, to assuage your worries right off the bat, there are some significant differences between plasma and LCDs that should act as a guide and point you in the right direction. These differences mean that plasmas are perfect for some home theaters, while LCDs are a better option for others – and you will be able to tell which one fits your needs after you do a quick comparison. But be warned – anything that might stand out as an extreme disadvantage is probably already being fixed in future versions, so ultimately your decision will require thought and an eye toward the future of these technologies. And remember that flat panels are able to incorporate a custom TV frame, so you can bypass all those wires and unsightly, space-hungry shelves.

But let’s go over some of their similarities first. They are both HD TVs – meaning they are capable of displaying high-definition video. They are available in similar sizes, all the way up to well over 60-inches (and there are some behemoth 100+ inch screens utilizing both technologies in the making). Both plasmas and LCDs are capable of displaying that coveted 1080p format…the highest quality a Blu-Ray disc can display. And both are flat, thin screens that will look super sleek hanging on your wall. So now that we’ve knocked off the similarities, let’s dive right into the differences.

One great similarity between the two types of TVs is their support for a custom TV frame. Since they are both flat and relatively lightweight, you are able to buy a custom TV frame for either a plasma TV or an LCD and hang it neatly from you wall, no bulky entertainment unit necessary.

First, let’s talk about the technology behind each type of screen. Plasma TVs use cells that contain two glass panels and a space filled with neon-xenon gas. This gas is electrically charged when the TV is on, and creates the reds, blues and greens in a video image. LCDs use crystals to produce their image, hence the name liquid crystal display. Two transparent pieces of a glass-like substance are polarized and then joined together. The back display is coated with a substance that contains the liquid crystals, which are used to either block or allow light to pass through. LCDs and plasmas alike can be fitted with a custom TV frame for your home entertainment solutions. This a popular method of positioning your TV at just the right angle and ensuring that your home theater is slick and discrete.

This display technology is at the heart of what makes plasmas and LCDs different from each other. With plasmas, you’re getting a TV that has individual cells that light up – this can cause what is known as “burn-in”, or some of the cells remaining on even after the TV is off. This effect is permanent, but the newer plasmas have specialized technology to avoid this. With LCDs on the other hand, an external light must be used to pass through the crystals. This means that true black, that deep, intense lack of light, won’t be present in an LCD display. Because a back-light must always be on, dark black will always appear a little washed out.

Power consumption, again based on the display technology used, is a large factor in differentiating the two types of HD TVs. Plasmas tend to use quite a bit more power, as they require phosphors to power each individual cell. This can cause plasma TVs to become quite hot.

While the single light source that LCDs use means they will consume less power, this can have a negative effect on their motion processing. Plasmas will show little to no lag when displaying fast-motion video, while the fast-motion on LCDs will sometimes appear to get “stuck” or fall behind. However, faster refresh rates (up to 120 Hz) on newer LCD models have begun to pop up, eliminating this problem.

There are other differences between these TVs as well. For instance, plasmas usually get a wider viewing angle, while LCDs have only a small “sweet spot”. But , like many of the other things that separate the two types of TVs, this is addressed in newer models of LCDs and the viewing angle is much improved. And plasmas are notorious for screen glare, because of the shiny surface – it was previously recommended that if you had a home theater that experienced a fair amount of light, you should stick to LCDs. But yet again, improved technology has provided plasmas with a coating that reduces glare and nearly eliminates this negative point against them.

So, for all of the differences between the two technologies, it almost appears as if they are converging to meet somewhere in the middle, each containing all of the advantages. There will be some things that remain unchangeable, based on the technology that each display uses, however, so keep these in mind when you hit the electronics stores and the custom TV frame suppliers next time.