I’ve have both and it’s LCD for me, hands down.

The LEDs have a better color gamut / reproduction as well, particularly reds. I'm still in the "some games are better for one versus the other" camp and don't see that changing anytime soon if ever.

Decided to go with the LED panel for my TZ, received it on Friday. Very easy install. Pulled the fuses on the DMD controller for the high voltage supply for the old display. Happy with the look, really adds a nice touch to the game. Wife and I were playing TZ last night and she thought it was a great upgrade. Kept asking why it took me so long to order...

LED. The LCD just doesn't "pop" like the LED.

My 2c.

Nope - really depends on the game's dots, the content it's trying to emulate, the lightning and look of the game, etc.

For instance, people love the LCD for TSPP because it allows you to recreate what looks more like the source content. Tron on the other hand is more about FMV and looks WAY better with cool color temps and much more vivid colors than stock. So for TRON, the LED fits much better as you can get that high contrast, vivid color, and there is no real desire for the smoothing effects, etc.

It really boils down to what the total package - both contents and looks - you're going for with the particular title. For some its more a toss up.. for others... the gain of one vs another is more pronounced.

Add into that people have differing preferences for how they think a title should look (more subtle, more contrast, more OEM, brighter, etc) and you end up with the inconclusiveness of things.

Instead of being 'Vanilla vs Chocolate' it should be more about 'what pairs better with...'

Seeing a fresh orange plasma DMD display in a lineup next to all LCD color DMDs really drove home just how dim these displays are vs. authentic DMD or LED ones. No "pop" indeed.

I put LCD on my TOTAN since many of the screens have STORY-book style illustrations in a color pallet that works great on the LCD. IMHO the LED version would have less “illustration” look and feel.

I think that sums it up pretty well.

I wish you could visit the VFW Pinball Museum in Ann Arbor Michigan sometime. We have all Williams/Bally DMD games except Popeye (Sorry Popeye fans, LOL). We also have ColorDMDs in all of them, and pretty evenly split between LCD and LED. It gives you a great idea of how they look in various titles. Unfortunately this year our May event was postponed due to the pandemic.

led cheaper should be in there

and Gilligan

LOL, I forgot about Gilligan. In my defense, not hard to do

Only one of the settings makes it a solid picture. The rest are dot modes of various sizes. The solid picture really doesn't look good to me on most games, but the other modes are all great.

And better fit and finish

Good point.

I've seen both in person, but not as much side by side. I like that the LED has the better contrast and richer colors, but I always notice that the LED dots have more space between them than the stock Plasma or Monochrome LED displays... I was wondering if that has been improved in more recent incarnations?

whats better for mettallica pro lcd or led?

I bought an LED for Metallica and would have gladly traded it plus cash for an LCD. Sold the game with the ColorDMD in it.

LCD for sure

the LCD smoothing looks great for Metallica

The main issue with the dots on the LED is you can actually see the 3 RGB LEDs... most notably when it tries to display white. I felt the dot pitch wasn't a negative (given the brighter intensity of the LED) but the slightly rainbow white is a slight distraction depending on the scene.

LMAO bobukcat - Assuming you are the same from RGP from the early 00's - pinmeister here! Good to see you still around if that is you bro.

Pete

Put the glare guard directly on the LED screen leaving no gap, or go with A bentplastic glare guard.

Anyone put an LCD in a Data East game? I think you have to cut the DMD/speaker panel.

I just grabbed a little black foam weather strip from Home Depot and put it around the LEDs and stuck the glare guard to that.

Yes you have to dremel the interior of the speaker panel to fit an LCD in a Data East game.

The LCD screen will leave a half inch (give or take) tall shadow along the bottom of the translite. Some games it’s not noticeable and others it is. I had TFTC and the comic art goes from top to bottom, so I didn’t want to block any of that or permanently alter the panel.

Couldn’t be happier with the end result.

Hmm, I don't remember any issues like this with the glare guard and I am 6'2". I wonder if it is a difference between the old style wood speaker panel on WPT and the newer metal style I had on my later run Metallica.

Unfortunately the glare guard is a fact of life with the LED version. Not sure why it doesn't come installed from the manufacturer. Just one more reason I prefer the LCD. The LCD is polarized and especially on the newer games with metal backbox it doesn't reflect in either direction.

Yup

Can you clarify what / why you are seeing that?

I don't own any ColorDMDs (too cheap), but most of my pin buddies have them. A few LED exist and they are my favorite... and I've never seen this. I'm a bit over 6' 3".

... Altan

Yeah, I'm super confused by this. I have an LED in my Williams IJ, and I don't have a glare guard. Just the ColorDMD and the speaker panel plastic over it. I have looked at this thing from all angles and distances, and I can't see any of the double image effect you're getting here.

Is there something specific about the way WPT is built that might cause this? Is the double image effect worse when you take the glare guard completely out?

You might want to try my custom cover panel, it's a big improvement. I've never heard of it having that issue either.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/color-led-display-cover-panel-to-improve-contrast

I have 7 LED's and NONE of them do that at any angel..... WTF

Not needed...

You may have the glare guard upside down. I thought they all block both ways but I'm not sure. They are just those old laptop privacy screens you can't see on an angle. I have three with glare guards and I'm 6'1 and never had an issue. Where did you buy the guard maybe they are all not created equal.

I don’t use a glare guard on any of my LEDs

I just looked at my order history and looks like I bought mine from Comet. I have never had an issue with a Pinball Life product though. I don't think it would matter which way you mounted it, just running out of idea as to what could cause that.

I got both of mine from Comet as well. I don't remember exactly but I do remember checking orientation. Was it upside down, was it backwards? I did but new DMD clear plexi for my Data East games to attach it to. Maybe it was the reflection on the clear plexi from the DMD if the guard was on the DMD instead of the plexi.

I think you all are over complicating it with these glare guards... light blocking foam is the only 'mod' any of my installs has ever needed.

To be fair the comet glare guard has worked on a Color DMD LED and an alternative LED product. Both Data East machines for me. I recommend the Stern LCD one for an Iron Maiden and they hated it. But yeah, I think the person seeing double has something installed wrong.

The comet glare guard definitely helped my Metallica.

I would ask PinballLife since it’s their product.

I’ll try to replicate it tonight.