LED vs LCD vs Plasma?

[annie0000]

Want to enter the 21st century as far as a new TV is concerned. We currently have a 25 or 26 inch old style tv. looking for something about 40" upwards. I'm a bit confused as to all the different types and which is the best to get. It'll be sat in the corner of the room, used for watching tv and dvds (might splash on a bluray too!). The kids games machines are on another tv. I'd like to upgrade that too at a later date but would be a smaller tv, so which type is best with those things too (wii and ps3)

[AB Editor]

LED offers higher contrast
Plasma sometimes offers the clearest image (but some see a strange vapor trail on movement)
LCD often appears "sharpest"

(in my experience)

Your best bet is to pop down to richersounds and have someone explain the different kinds of TV to you and have a play with them.

I'd suggest a Sony Bravia or similarly high end Sony TV as it integrates really nicely with a ps3.

[annie0000]

thanks Ed - we don't really have good tv shop around here - think there may be one of those down in Edinburgh or Glasgow. I was looking at the sony ones but budget will be a bit tight unless i can grab a deal somewhere :o)

personally I only watch about 10 minutes of tv a day so probably wont notice the difference.

[rojash]

LED is LCD, the difference is in the backlight. On an LCD TV the lamps at the back of the screen are fluorescent lamps, whilst on an LED TV the lights at the back of the screen are (LED).
There is an assumption that all LCD-LED displays are superior to LCD-fluorescent displays, but I have on my desk two "tradional" LCD displays (a Samsung and an Asus), and an LG LCD-LED display. Both the Samsung and the Asus are vastly superior to the LG in perceived contrast, and clarity of the image.

[annie0000]

does it depend on how close you are to them Rojash? I've seen comments from people saying that such and such is fine if you are far away and something else is better if you are closer.

[rojash]

TVs have a fixed number of pixels, so the bigger the screen, the bigger each pixel. Consequently, the closer you sit, the more likely you are to see the individual pixels, and the bigger the screen (regardless of the technology), the farther away you need to sit to compensate for the increased pixel size.
If you go here:
http://en.wikipedia.o...HDTV_viewing_distance
and scroll down, you will find charts of recommended viewing distances.