LCD and plasma burn-in advice {Engadget HD}

Aug 23rd 2007 7:52PM The amount of ignorance on this is staggering.

LCD's don't get burn in. They can get retention. This occurs because LCD's rely on the twisting of a crystal compound. IF left in the same position for too long the crystals have a problem relaxing. How long is this too long you as , 15-120 minutes.

Thats right! It happens ALL THE TIME on computer LCDs. There is substantially no difference between a computer LCD display and a TV display.

The crystals never loose their ability to untwist. So even if you show the same image day after day for years the display can go back to the reference position. Unless it is damaged by uv or temperature exposure .

The severity of the problem is what changes. Typically it just manifests as slower than normal response time.

On tv's the image is always changing so you are very unlikely to see this problem manifest as long as you change the channel once every few hours.


Really this has always been happening it is absolutely not permanent. It can be 'fixed' by shutting off your TV or playing a movie. Any constant image be it white, black or blue will cause the pixels to get stuck in their new position, just maybe in a uniform fashion.

Brightness has no effect on this. No setting on the set will change this unless one happens to cause the pixels to dither slightly and randomly.

This is NOT the same for plasma. Plasma get honest to goodness burn that will not go away in LCD's can not unless you use a UV source to damage them.