Plasma

If you're looking for an affordable, huge screen with astoundingly accurate colour and black levels, a plasma display is the way to go. While the quality of the image is unquestionably better than that of LCD, there are numerous disadvantages which have contributed to the diminishing popularity of the technology. The first, and most serious problem is a phenomenon called "burn-in", where extended use of the TV results in degraded picture quality as the glowing phosphors that produce the image wear out, often unevenly resulting in patchy degradation. The other drawback is that plasma TVs use a lot more power than LCD TVs, and so are less desirable to the more eco-conscious consumer.

For more information, return to the HDTV glossary introduction.