With current trend of flat panel screens, you may often confuse on the difference between LCD, LED and plasma display signage. What are the pros and cons when using each type?

In general, all technologies offer a sharp, crisp and excellent picture quality. Nevertheless, there are minor differences that may help you determine which display signage shall give you the best value for money.

LCD Technology

LCD, which stands for Liquid Crystal Display, shows colourful images when light from behind the screen is shone through a matrix of tiny, coloured cells of liquid crystals. Electronic signal strength controlling each liquid crystal cell allow LCD to form a variety of shapes and pictures.

The light source in LCDs is a series of small, fluorescent lamps at the back of the screen. With this conventional fluorescence lightings, LCD signs are generally more cost effective compared to other flat-screen digital signage technologies of similar sizes.

LED Technology

LED, on the other hand, is actually not a display technology on its own. LED screens are by right also liquid crystal displays (LCD). So, LED LCD signage is probably the more appropriate term to use for this type of electronic signage. The difference between LED LCD and the conventional LCD, however, lies on the light source.

Unlike conventional LCDs, whose light sources are a number of tiny fluorescent lamps, LED LCDs make use of a large number of miniscule diodes to emit light onto the matrix of liquid crystal cells. With this light source, LED screens are mostly thinner and slimmer than their LCD predecessors.

Furthermore, with the use of very tiny LEDs as compared to the larger fluorescent lamps, LED display signage in general has better black levels and contrasts and, thus show slightly better colour accuracy than LCD screens.

There are two types of LED display technologies; they are edge-lit and backlit LED. The edge-lit LED display signs commonly have issues with inconsistent lighting and patchy colours because their LEDs are only located around the edges of the screen. This is why currently more manufacturers produce backlit models.

Plasma Technology

At the other spectrum of LCDs and LED LCDs are the plasma displays. Instead of using liquid crystal cells, plasma signage uses an array of tiny gas cells sandwiched between two sheets of glass. Each gas cell acts like a mini fluorescent tube, emitting UV light onto the screen, This UV light strikes the screen as red, blue and green spots, which then glow to form pictures.

Plasma screens are usually the gigs for home-cinema enthusiasts because they are said to show better black levels, more picture depth and boost natural colours. However, as LED LCD technology has been constantly advancing in recent years, especially with enhanced local dimming backlight feature, the difference between plasma and LED technologies, in terms of visual display, has become insignificant.

Additionally, despite the fact that these digital signage can be slightly cheaper for certain sizes than LED LCDs, plasma screens are not only bulkier but they have also been proven to consume more power and generate more heat. In other words, digital signs with plasma technology hasn’t offered the best value for money as compared to LCDs and LED LCDs. In fact, more and more plasma screen manufacturers have returned to put more emphasis on LED displays.

This is why BSS only offers you a range of LCDs and LED LCDs for your digital signage solution—because we only provide you solutions that optimize your profits with as minimum cost as possible.

In summary, below are differences between LCD, LED and plasma digital signage technologies:

To decide which electronic display signage you can use at your premises, ask yourself these questions:

What is the purpose of your digital signage?

Do you only need to communicate information effectively? Or, do you also need your display to expose the best visuals?

If your digital signage is only used to communicate information, advertising and corporate messages, LCDs may just be the right solution to give you the best value for money. However, when you need to engage your audience with excellent pictures and video motions, LED display screens may be the most effective options.

What is your setup or environment like?

Is your space large? Will your audience be in one area? How is the lighting?

When your customers or audience are constraint within small areas, LCDs or LED LCDs are the best display solutions. Especially when lighting conditions are good or when there are plenty of natural lights within your environments, even if you setup different viewing areas within your compound, LCD or LED screens are still excellent options.

However, you may want to consider using plasma screens if your setup has low lighting (dim) and your audience will be viewing from many angles (off axis) such as in theatres and gaming centres.