Plasma TV FAQ's
Why are plasma TV's so expensive?
How heavy are plasma TV's?
Do plasma TV's contain a digital TV tuner?
What cables do I need to purchase in addition to
purchasing a plasma TV
Should I buy a Plasma or a LCD TV?
What is DVI and HDMI?
Are all Plasma TV's widescreen?
What resolution is high definition (HD)?
Are all Plasma TV's HDTV's?
How long does a Plasma TV last?
Can a Plasma TV be used as a computer monitor?
Does a Plasma TV give off heat?
Are Plasma TV speakers good quality?
Will plasma gas leak from my Plasma TV?
What is the largest Plasma TV?
What can you connect to a Plasma TV?
Why are plasma TV's so expensive?
Plasma TV's are so expensive because of the complex production process involved in making them. Making a Plasma TV incurs around 90% wastage which increases their cost. However, with the increasing demand for Plasma TV's, production processes are starting to become more efficient, thus it is already evident to see prices falling.
How heavy are plasma TV's?
Plasma TV's a comparatively light for their size, with a 50 inch or 127cm Plasma TV weighing around 45kgs. This is about 10-15 percent more than an equivalent size LCD TV and about 20-30 percent less than an equivalent CRT TV.
Do plasma TV's contain a digital TV tuner?
No. Most Plasma TV's on the market today contain at least an analogue tuner - so you are able to receive analogue free-to-air tv. Some are actually classed as monitors so they don't have a tuner at all. If you want to receive digital channels you will need to purchase a digital set-top box. Increasingly, Plasma TV's contain a digital tuner, but these are usually found in more expensive models. Remember to check what type of tuner the Plasma TV comes with before purchasing.
What cables do I need to purchase in addition to purchasing a plasma TV
Your Plasma television will come with a power cord and maybe some other cables depending on the connectors available on the TV. It is best to check the box to find out which cables come with your TV as each manufacturer is different. If your TV does not come with the cables you need, you will have to purchase the cables that will connect your plasma TV with other components you may have. See Connectors for more information about the different types of connectors available.
Should I buy a Plasma or a LCD TV?
See our Plasma vs. LCD guide.
What is DVI and HDMI?
Most LCD TV's have DVI or HDMI connections for use with high definition sources.
DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface - a connector that carries analog or digital video. Capable of carrying high-definition signals such as 720p, 1080i and 1080p. For more information see DVI.
HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface - a connector that carries combined digital audio and digital video or analog video. Capable of carrying high-definition signals such as 720p, 1080i and 1080p. For more information see HDMI.
Are all Plasma TV's widescreen?
Yes. Their larger size means that they are targeted at the home theater market, and therefore need to support widescreen images. Smaller 'kitchen style' TV's usually contain an LCD panel.
What resolution is high definition (HD)?
High definition Plasma panels are those capable of displaying 720p, 1080i and 1080p. See Display Resolutions for more information about High Definition resolutions.
Are all Plasma TV's HDTV's?
No. Some Plasmas are HDTV and some are EDTV (enhanced definition televisions). A HDTV must be able to display a vertical resolution of at least 720 lines. Examples of a HDTV resolution are 1024x768, 1366x768, or 1920x1080 pixels. On the other hand, EDTV's have a native resolution of 852x480 - where the vertical resolution is 480 pixels and the horizontal resolution is 852 pixels.
How long does a Plasma TV last?
The lifespan of a TV is measured by the amount of time it takes to lose half its original brightness and thus is called its 'half-life'. Manufacturers of Plasma TV's generally specify a half-life of between 20,000 and 30,000 hours, although some specific models can be higher or lower (remember to check the models technical details). As an example, 30,000 hours gives you a lifespan of more than 13 years if the TV is watched on an average of six hours per day. However, as this process happens over time it is usually not evident to the user except for the fact that you may have to adjust the brightness and contrast settings.
Can a Plasma TV be used as a computer monitor?
Theoretically yes if it has a VGA, DVI, or HDMI input. However, Plasma TV's aren't usually used as computer monitors because they haven't had a high enough resolution to see the picture clearly and suffer from burn in. Now, with the resolutions of Plasma TV's increasing and some newer Plasmas can combat the burn in problem, this could change.
Does a Plasma TV give off heat?
Yes, the TV will be warm to touch after it has been on for a while as one of the major components of a Plasma TV is charged neon-xenon gas. In most circumstances this is not an issue as Plasma TV's are generally wall-mounted or on a stand where there is sufficient ventilation.
Are Plasma TV speakers good quality?
Although almost all Plasma televisions have an internal sound system, the quality of the sound isn't usually the TV's best feature. It is recommended that if you are spending the money to buy a Plasma TV, you connect it to a home theater receiver or amplifier for a better home theater experience.
Will plasma gas leak from my Plasma TV?
No, as each pixel element is completely sealed and there is no way for gas to be released, pumped in or recharged. If the panel goes dark or has 'dead' pixels the entire panel will need to be replaced.
What is the largest Plasma TV?
The largest Plasma TV currently on the market is around 103" or 262cm. Originally, Plasma TV's were built to dominate the 32" or 76cm and above market and the LCDs were more prominent in the less than 32" or 76 cm market. Rapid increases in the size of LCD TV's mean that they are now encroaching on the Plasma TV market.
What can you connect to a Plasma TV?
Most Plasma TV's on the market today allow you to connect a DVD, VCR, video game console (e.g PS2, XBOX, GameCube etc), set-top box, satellite or cable box.