ColorVision Spyder

Before running DisplayMate and our subjective analysis of the LCD, we ran ColorVision's Spyder and OptiCal software. Not only does this accurately calibrate the monitor on the DVI and analog interface, but it also gives us specific luminescence information not obtainable though subjective analysis. Special thanks to our friends at ColorVision for providing us with both a ColorVision Spyder and their OptiCal software.

Our test bed uses a Radeon 9800 XT video card. We use the factory-included analog cable for this portion of the benchmark. Resolutions are on the native 1280x1024.

Just like our last ColorVision benchmark, we have one expectation:

1. There is a severe bluish tint on this monitor.

And here is what our Spyder and OptiCal software have to say:



Not much to our surprise, the OptiCal software reports show a severe blue shift. Keep in mind that since this LCD uses a 6-bit panel and dithering techniques to achieve 16.2M colors, we are not seeing truly native 16.7M colors as we would with an 8-bit panel. Side by side with the Dell 2001FP, we see a large difference in color vibrance.

However, since the monitor is using an analog connection, we have extra room to play around with the calibration (granted, using a DVI connection, we could only adjust the color calibration on the computer). We were able to fine-tune the LCD into normal curve bounds, but none of the standard presets would set our color range at the optimal setting. We used these settings in the next portions of this benchmark.

On Screen Display Full Screen Application
Comments Locked

11 Comments

View All Comments

  • KristopherKubicki - Thursday, May 20, 2004 - link

    #10:

    How many 19" LCDs can you buy for 699 or less, and how many 20" LCDs can you buy for 1099 or less?

    Kristopher
  • Fishie - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - link

    In the conclusion, the author writes that oen of the nagging features is the $699 USD price tag. Why is this a nagging feature? Dell's 1901FP is $719 USD and thier 2001FP it $1,045 USD. Are Dell's prices nagging features too? Are 19", 16ms LCDs usually cheaper?
  • AlexWade - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - link

    I just got my LG 1910S with a S-IPS panel, and its great! Even though respons times are listed at 25 ms, I notice no ghosting in Far Cry at all! Although, the text is not as sharp as I like.
  • Basse - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - link

    Nice review,

    On the 2nd page, Construction, there is a typo I believe. The header for the spec table says "Samsung LL-191A-B". Should be Sharp or...?
  • XRaider - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - link

    Good review. Dell seems to be much better though.
    To watch the mpegs.. just R click and do a "Save target as" and then open them up with Media player or whatever player you like to use that can watch .mpg's
  • KristopherKubicki - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - link

    tfranzese: Should work now.

    Mithan: it could be; after a few years of DVI only it becomes a strain for me to go back to d-sub. Then again, some people may not be able to tell the difference (in the same way that some people cannot tell the difference between 20FPS and 60FPS). It really depends on what your eye perceives as acceptable.

    Kristopher
  • tfranzese - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - link

    Kris, I don't think it's a codec problem, but here's what works...

    When I click the image I get sent to a new window with this url:

    http://www.anandtech.com/video/showimage.html?u=ht...

    If I just paste this part into the browser I can download it just fine and watch it with no problem:

    http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/monitor/sharp/...

    Just seems to be linked incorrectly or sent through a script incorrectly. Hope this is of help.
  • tfranzese - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - link

    Only thing I ever noticed on my Dell 1801FP (or whatever the model is, I'm to lazy to look it up, but you get my point) is that the DVI appeared to have better color. Gaming however, I wouldn't be able to say - thing has always been good to me gaming on analog because I use a KVM that doesn't have DVI.
  • Mithan - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - link

    No DVI cable? So what.

    I bought a Samsung 172x and put it side by side with my existing NEC LCD 1765 (great for games BTW) and guess what? The DVI cable gave me virtually no improvement that I could notice.

    Maybe it had something to do with running my 9700 Pro in dual monitor config? Anyways, I doubt it.

    DVI is nice to have but I think you guys make a lot more out of it than it is worth.
  • KristopherKubicki - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - link

    I will figure out whats wrong with them. they work for me but maybe i have an odd codec that makes them work (they are straight from my Sony DSC since thats the only thing i had for mpeg capture).

    Kristopher

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now