Which one – LED backlit or LED sidelit or neither?!?

Am I correct in my understanding:

Backlit- is suppsed to handle the on and off of the LEDs (able to turn darker) and can be viewed more from side to side but is not very thin. (not a factor to me)

Sidelit- thinner, less viewable from side and cant turn off the LEDs for a darker picture as well as backlit can.

Plasma- is cheaper, can almost match all specs of LEDs and is available larger than 55".

I was interested in the the Samsung UN55B8000 and found out there is an epidemic (2year old or less tv’s) from their power supply as in a web search "samsung tv clicking".
I was going to pick up the sidelit LED TV tomorrow and I am so confused now. Please, a down and dirty on making a choice not coming from a salesman. Thank you

Your understanding is correct. LED backlighting is a significant advance over fluorescent backlighting. The two methods–edge and full matrix ("backlit")–each have an advantage. Full matrix allows for deeper blacks and it saves power by only lighting the LEDs that are necessary at any time. Edge lighting makes a super-thin TV possible, like one inch or so.

Both LED types, being the latest advance, are very pricey right now. You can definitely save money with plasma if the shortcomings of plasma don’t bother you–more power consumption, heavier, and a lot of reflection in a lighted room. On the other hand, the plasma picture is as good as the best picture you can get with an LCD (generally, anyway), and the characteristic fast-motion blur of LCDs is not a factor with plasma.

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