"Which is better, LCD or Plasma?"

Actually, the question you should be asking is "Which one is right for me?". That can only be determined by asking a series of questions - How will it be used? How many people will be viewing it at one time? What are the space constraints and size requirements? And of course, what is your budget? Let's start with the application. What will be displayed? The image quality is similar between LCD and Plasma. However there are some differences. Plasma displays will have much darker blacks than an LCD and fast moving video generally looks smoother on a Plasma than on an LCD. On the other hand, with LCD the colors tend to appear much more vibrant and will generally offer higher resolutions than a Plasma of the same size.

Is it going be used for digital signage? Will it be the main display for a small room? The usage will be a big influence in what we would recommend. Digital signage is a relatively new trend for churches, and either display format would work great for this application. If it's being used in a room where the viewing angle is important, the best choice will most likely be Plasma. They tend to have better viewing angles than LCDs, though LCD viewing angles have been improving.

Where will it be placed? How much room do you have to work with? If you have a small space, Plasma monitors may not be the best option since they are generally not available smaller than 37" diagonal. So, if you need a small 30" display for a kiosk then an LCD display is the best solution. At the same time, most LCD screens do not usually come larger than a 40" diagonal. So, if you think a 65" display would look great on your platform or would work perfectly as your stage confidence monitor, then Plasma is the way to go.

OK, so what's the first question you always ask? - How much are they? - This is a great question, but it should really be the last thing you consider. By answering all of the above questions, it's very likely that you have already determined the display that is right for your situation. So when it comes to price, as a general rule, if the size is the same and the features are the same, then a Plasma display will be less expensive than an LCD display. Just remember, less expensive does not necessarily mean better or worse. It is always better to choose the right option for the specific application.

Still unsure which display is right for your church or ministry? Please give us an opportunity to help...

Call Fowler today at 800-729-0163 and ask for our latest catalog on church media and our Multimedia from A to V church guide!

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