LCD primarily for DVDs

    Hi, I need a bit help with narrowing down a suitable LCD that would be primarily used for watching DVDs on my computer. I would, however, like to use the display for some graphics work as well. I don't need to be able to play any fast FPS games on the monitor but of course I need the DVDs to play without any slowdowns which my current LCD was able to do flawlessly (16ms).


    At the moment, I have a Viewsonic VX910 and an old Nokia 446Xpro CRT (which I previously used to view my DVDs; it's nearly at the end of its life) on my desk. I tried watching some movies with the VX910 but I was dissapointed with the black levels most of all - the blacks were way too blueish for me and made watching the movies a pain. I hope those weren't the best black levels LCDs can offer.
    I assume the contrast ratio is the main spec I should be looking at if I want better blacks? Although I would have expected better blacks from a 500:1 contrast ratio that the VX910 has. Does the panel have anything to do with how good the blacks are? To my knowledge, the VX910 uses a TN-panel.


    I was also looking at some widescreen choices and notices that there aren't that many available. The only good choice at the limits of my budget seems to be a 20" Apple Cinema Display although I'm pretty sceptical as to how well it can display blacks since its contrast ratio is lower than my VX910. Widescreen is not a requirement though.. just something I considered since it wouldn't waste as much display area as a regular display and thus would probably be a tad more suitable for films.


    It has been really hard to narrow down the choices since just about every review or forum focuses on how well the displays perform with games and possible DVD testing is extremely scarce and usually ended only with a comment like "DVDs looked good" which doesn't really tell me anything. Although most people probably aren't as nitpicky about image quality when watching DVDs as I am. I need my display to allow me to watch arthouse-type films that fully make use of their color palette, without me having to wonder all the time if the colors and blacks that I'm seeing are the correct ones.


    Some displays that I have eyed that might be suitable;
    Apple Cinema Display 20" - mainly for the widescreen aspect ratio
    Eizo L778K - tried to make some sense of the single Korean review I found and it looked promising (nice, thorough review by the way.. except that I couldn't really read it :)
    Other PVA monitors with 1000:1 contrast ratios like some Samsung models.


    Most widely available brands here include at least Samsung, HP, Apple, LG, Viewsonic, LaCie, Eizo, BenQ, Fujitsu-Siemens and Iiyama(E-yama).


    To sum it up, I need to monitor to have;
    - good quality, want it to last long
    - preferrably, a price no greater than 1000€
    - minimum 19"
    - good to excellent colors; I may end up using this for some light graphics work
    - extremely solid blacks, minimal backlight interference; this is very important for me
    - quick enough response time for flawless DVD playback but not super quick; I don't need to play games on this one since I can use the VX910 for that if needed


    I hope someone can give me at least some pointers here on what to get or should I just wait for something new that might be around the corner :)


    Thanks.

    ever looked at DELL?


    the reviews says its a nice LCD with a nice price


    its a widescreen 20" display :)

    Einmal editiert, zuletzt von xyra ()

    I have looked at the Dell but there seem to be a lot of problems with it, mainly backlight bleeding, which you can see here compared to an Apple Cinema Display (which, I think, has the same panel).
    Also, judging by the pictures in this thread, the colors are a bit bleak and some of the details are blown out (Farcry screenshots). Although the CRT monitor that is there for comparison seems like it has a heavy green tint at least in Doom 3, since neither of my two monitors display greenish colors like that in the same spots.


    So if I had to choose I'd rather take the more expensive Apple than try my luck with the Dell.
    If anyone here happens to have a 20" Apple Cinema Display I'd gladly here some opinions on it with DVD playback in mind :)

    Hi Figment,


    you might want to consider these two:
    Samsung 213T huge 21,3 inch 1600x1200 PVA under 900 Euros
    LGL2323T even huger 23 inch 1280x768 wide screen under 1000 Euros


    and:
    The backlight bleeding on the Dell 2005FPW is supposed to be gone by now with the newer revisions according to extensive reports in the german section of our board. The 2005 FPW might just be your thing. Apart from teh appealing price, Dell has a pretty reliable Pickup service in case you are not satisfied with illumination uniformity, dead pixels etc.


    If you are somebody who isn't willing to upgrade his monitor/ home cinema every 2 years, I'd advise you to wait a little for prices of displays featuring the full HDTV resolution (1920x1200) to drop.
    HDTV is really on the verge of flooding the market content (DVD) and hardware-wise (displays) this year.
    For example the 23 inch Benq FP231W sporting the 1920 res is available in Germany for 1250 Euros.


    Take your time.

    Yeah, I'm really on the border of buying now or waiting. I don't like upgrading my hardware all the time either, especially not the display, my Nokia 446Xpro CRT is six years old and has served me faithfully but it seems like it's finally at the end of its life. It was pretty much the best monitor available when I bought it and I'd like to get something similar again that'll last a good while.
    I just read that Samsung is coming out with a new 24" widescreen panel that has some really nice specs:


    I may just have to wait since that panel looks like just the thing I need, I'll just have to make due with this VX910 for the time being.
    I wonder what those new Samsung panel utilizing displays will cost though, hopefully the version Dell is making will be cheaper AND without the problems that plagued the previous models. I really wish Dell would offer those great prices that they have in the US here in Europe too. I see people buying two Dell displays in the US for what you have to pay here for only one :(