Can someone please explain contrast ratio and its importance in choosing a flat-panel/plasma tv?
Contrast ratio is the ratio of the brightness of the whitest white to blackest black a panel can produce. This is a very simplistic definition, because there are many different definitions and test methods used by TV manufacturers. So, comparing one manufacturers specs with another's is meaningless.
Plasmas generally have much better contrast ratios than LCDs, So often LCD manufacturers don't bother spec'ing them.
Most of the important specs aren't usually given. A consumer, even a knowledgeable one, usually can't get data to use to make a decision. Get professional reviews for sets you're interested in. One place to look is the February issue on Consumer Reports which just came out. They review a large number of sets.
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