The main question for the Nixeus VUE27D is how many people are fine with just a DisplayPort input? For Mac users, the cheapest 27” displays haven’t been ideal choices as they only offer DVI inputs and you’d need an active DisplayPort to DVI adapter to use them with a MacBook. Most monitors with DisplayPort inputs have cost a good bit more, but the VUE27D has recently been selling for only $370, cheaper than other DisplayPort options.

You are very limited in adjustments with the VUE27D as only brightness controls are available. The color quality out of the box is okay, but the grayscale quality is worse with a reddish tint that I can see. Most people tend to push their displays more towards the blue end of the color spectrum than the red end, so this might turn some people off. For people without any ability to calibrate their display, there is no way to get rid of this tint.

If you can calibrate, the Nixeus produces a very nice image. The contrast ratio is very good and the one thing I would want to change is to have a lower minimum light level. Because the minimum level is too high it can’t do our sRGB/80 cd/m2 target as well as other displays. Most people will run their display higher than this, but for people after an inexpensive display for doing professional work it is a bit disappointing.

Overall, if you can find the VUE27D selling for $370 as we've seen recently, it winds up as a decent value but not a spectacular one. The more flexible stand is nice to see and helps a bit with the value. However the current price for the Nixeus is around $450, and for $438 you can get the Monoprice Glass Panel Pro. It has a worse stand but more inputs and adjustments available. With that current price difference you can even get an aftermarket stand and the Monoprice becomes a much better value. It seems to have slightly more lag, but the measurements for these two displays are different so I can’t be certain of that either.

There are no major flaws or defects with the VUE27D, and it is a nice follow-up to the prior VUE27. However, the market has changed a bit since our VUE27 review, and for the current street prices I feel the Monoprice Glass offers a bit more value. If the Nixeus goes back to its prior price, or even a bit lower, then it can stand out more against the $300 DVI-only models, but at the current price it comes in a bit too high.

Input Lag, Power Use and Color Gamut
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  • Drasca - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    I like his reasoning, because "location ahs been overrun with wrapped presents". Happy Holidays!
  • Gunbuster - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    Is that a crackerjack in the background? Maybe vacuum before the next floor based photo shoot.
  • ws3 - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    It looks like a sprinkle from a cupcake or donut is over in the corner too. Maybe the monitor doesn't work unless there are a few snack leftovers on the ground nearby.

    Additionally, the bottom of the window casing could use some paint, but I'm not actually complaining; my floors are dirtier.
  • cheinonen - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    The joy of kids. Clean the floors every day, something new appears from them. I'd fix the window if I owned the house, but it's a rental.
  • ws3 - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    That's why my floors are dirtier.
  • Krause - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    How is the Refresh Rate and overclockability? The main reason people were importing these 27 inch monitors from South Korea was that the refresh rates weren't locked and would usually overclock 95hz+ no problem.
  • blackoctagon - Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - link

    (real) overclocks in the range you cite have only ever been possible on (certain) models that have DL-DVI only, not DisplayPort
  • YazX_ - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    mmmm, no thx, Qnix and X-Star are better. i'm happy with my Qnix although no OSD and two DVI ports, but why would i need more than that, and lack of OSD is not that painful, you can manage fine without OSD
  • cheinonen - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    The VUE27D is specifically aimed at people that need DisplayPort and not DVI.
  • DiHydro - Monday, December 23, 2013 - link

    Chris, you mention this monitor not having tilt, yet in picture 3, it shows a joint that seems like it should be able to tilt? I am hoping for some clarification on this, as it seems strange for a monitor to not have a tilt function.

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