Oh Tatsu you just opened can of pain.... HT is my thing so here is the rundown.
LCD TV's (ex Sony Z5100 or Samsung B650)
Pros
- Great at handling well lit areas
- Sharp detail for PC use
Cons
- Unless they are matte Finnished they can Glare with lights at all angles
(LG and Sharp use matte)
- pixelation of the picture do to motion flow (120/240hz help but do not fix the issue)
- Color loss when viewed from angels greater than 35 degrees off center
- Uses bulbs
LED Edge Lit (ex Samsung B6000)
- Hi Dynamic Contrast Ratio
- Large color gramet
- very thin normally less than 1.5 inches
- Low power usage
Cons
- Starburst reflections with direct lighting
- Color distortion with fast moving objects
- Color bleeding between light and dark objects
- Low Native Contrast Ratio
LED Backlit (LG LH90 or Samsung B8500)
Pro's
- Local Dimming gives you Sharp detail contrast between whites and Blacks
- Low Power consumption
- Very accorate Motion flow
- High Dynamic Contrast Ratio
Con's
- Low Native Contrats Ratio (brand depending)
- Uses Blubs to project the pictures
- Normally uses the same amount of power as an LCD
- Can Glare with direct lighting causing color loss
Plasma (Ex Panasonic S)
Pro's
- Extreamly high Native contrast ratio giving you very accorate color
- Local dimming
- 0 distrotion on fast moving objects
- Darker Blacks which gives you a more Natural coloration to all objects
- Smooter standard definition pictures with minimal blocking
- No color loss even at extream angels
- Excellent for Dim and Darker rooms
Con's
- Uses lots of power (except all panasonic S models and above use about the same as an LCD)
- Bad reflection issues with direct lighting can interfer with the picture
- Very Heavey a 50" can weigh 100lbs
- Can Not be laid down flat
In summery from best to worse...
Best picture ~ Plasma, LED Backlit, LED edge Lit, LCD
Best Value per dollar ~ Plasma, LCD, LED Edgelit, LED Backlit
Most Universal Usage ~ LED Backlit, LCD, LED Edgelit, Plasma
Power Usage ~ LED Edgelit, LED Backlit = LCD, MOST Plasmas
FYI ~ if you get a TV 37" or over, don't even think about traveling with it laid down, unless it is an LED edgelit, because You can SHIFT a pannel in an LCD and you will break the glass in a Plasma. I have seen this happen way too many times before.
Edit ~ fixed typo