When you cut through the hype and the fanboys, each tech has different benefits and costs. So to help you figure out which TV is right for your house, let’s take a look at each one.

Plasma TVs, made by Panasonic, Samsung, and LG, range in size from 42 inches to roughly 65 inches. There are some larger models (notably Panasonic’s 150-inch), but for most people, they max out at 65 inches.

LCD TVs range in size from a couple of inches, to 80 inches, and everywhere in-between. They’re made by everybody. All “LED TVs” are actually LCD TVs, they just use LEDs as their light source, instead of the traditional CCFLs. As they tend to perform a little differently, and are marketed way differently, we’ll address them separately. LED models also tend to be the higher-end models from a particular company, so often their performance advantage can have to do with this more than the inherent technology.

You might ask yourself, at this point, why only three companies for plasma? When electronics companies started building their manufacturing plants for TVs, they faced a choice: make big “cheap” flat panels that can’t go much below 42-inches (plasma), or build a more expensive factory that can make a wide variety of sizes, even though the bigger sizes will be more expensive (LCD). As production has increased, the larger LCD sizes have become more price competitive, so that distinction has disappeared. As such, you don’t see a lot of companies investing in new plasma TVs. Not when an LCD factory can make everything from cell phone screens to 80-inch HDTVs (an over simplification, but you get the point).

Light output (brightness)
Winner: LED LCD
Loser: Plasma
Runner-Up: CCFL LCD

Without question, LED LCDs are the brightest TVs you can buy. Some models are capable of well over 100 footlamberts. To put that in perspective, in a movie theater you’re lucky if you get 5. CCFL LCDs are a close second. Plasmas just aren’t that bright. It’s all relative, though, as plasmas are still likely way brighter than old-school CRT tube TVs. So plasmas aren’t “dim,” but they aren’t nearly as bright as LCDs. The question is, do you need that light output? In a dark room, 100 footlamberts will be searingly bright. In a bright room (daytime/sunlight) a plasma might be hard to see. Another aspect to consider is any antireflective or antiglare material on each screen. A plasma with a really good antireflective coating may be better to watch with room lighting than a glossy-screen LCD with no such coating (and vice versa).

Black level
Winner: Plasma
Loser: CCFL LCD
Runner-up: LED LCD

This is getting a lot closer, but plasmas still offer the best black levels. Yes, LED LCDs can sometimes have an absolute black (by turning off their LEDs), but when you’re watching a movie, plasmas are going to seem darker. This relates to contrast ratio…

Contrast ratio
Winner: Plasma
Loser: CCFL LCD
Runner-up: LED LCD

Contrast ratio, or the ratio between the darkest part of the image and the brightest, is one of the most important factors in overall picture quality. A display with a high contrast ratio is going to seem more realistic, and have more virtual “depth.” I highly recommend reading this article: Contrast ratio (or how every TV manufacturer lies to you). There is one exception. The new Elite LED LCD (made by Sharp) has an advanced local dimming backlight, which gives it a plasmalike contrast ratio… for a price. A big price. One good LED LCD doesn’t make them all good, nor does it herald a new generation of better LED LCDs. The Sharp/Elite doesn’t do anything new. It’s a local dimming LED LCD. We’ve actually seen fewer and fewer of this types of displays for the reason this TV makes quite obvious: price. Local dimming LED LCDs are more expensive than edge-lit models (and typically more expensive than plasmas, at the same size), and these days, expensive TVs aren’t big sellers.

Do a few other local dimming models come close to the better plasmas (or exceed the lesser ones)? Yes, but again these are the exceptions, not the rule.

There are some technologies coming down the pike in a few years that may offer even better contrast ratios for LCDs. We’ll probably hear more about them at CES, and if so, look forward to hearing all about it here on CNET.

So, on average, plasmas have a better contrast ratio (with notable exception noted).

Viewing angle
Winner: Plasma
Loser: CCFL LCD/LED LCD
Runner-up: IPS LCD (see text)

How big is your room? Do you or loved ones sit off to the side, viewing the TV at an angle? If so, it’s important to note that LCDs of both flavors lose picture quality when viewed “off axis,” as in not directly in front of the screen.

Small room, small couch, mother-in-law Barcalounger off to the side? Don’t worry about it.

Somewhere in the middle are in-plane switching LCDs, which offer a better viewing angle at the expense of overall contrast ratio and black level. Check out my article Myths, Marketing, and Misdirection for more info.

Energy consumption
Winner: LED LCD
Loser: Plasma
Runner-up: CCFL LCD

No question, LED LCDs have the lowest energy consumption, especially when you turn down the backlight. Prius drivers, this is the TV for you. CCFL LCDs are a close second, with the same addendum.

Plasmas, especially when you turn up the contrast control (which you need to for them to look their best), just aren’t as energy efficient. They are, however, far better than they were a few years ago.