Best LCD monitor ~$200-250?

[Platypus]

I'm looking for a monitor for my macbook for music production, so the bigger the better, but I don't need any super quick or precise features on it because I won't be playing any games or watching TV or movies on it. It's literally going to be a giant display so I can view my music workstation in a larger/widescreen format.

I've read a lot of reviews and the top rated ones on a few sites are from Asus and Hanns. I've never heard of the latter but after a few nightmare experiences with Asus I'd rather not support them in any way ever again.

So is there a general consensus on a good, large, wide LCD that will work with my mac for $250 or less?

Thanks for your time

 

[Platypus]

bump?

 

[Krazy4Real]

How about a 24" Dell monitor for $200?

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...15&lid=1003774

It's a 1080p display with a 1920 x 1080 native resolution, and it has these connections:
High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
Digital Visual Interface - Digital (DVI-D) with High Definition Content Protection (HDCP)
Video Graphics Array (VGA)

 

[kalrith]

What video out do you have on your macbook: VGA, DVI, HDMI, etc.? What resolution are you looking for, and do you have a preference between the 16:9 and 16:10 aspect ratios? What's your definition of giant, or do you just want the biggest display you can get? Do accurate colors and viewing angles matter to you?

My gut response is that you'll have to choose two out of the following three:

1. Size
2. Price
3. Quality

If you choose price and quality, you wind up with the Dell 2209WA. If you choose size and price, you'll wind up with a big poor-quality TN panel like the HannsG HH-281HPB. You'll have to decide exactly what you're looking for. Many people are perfectly happy with a TN panel, and other's wouldn't touch them with a 10-foot pole.

Also, since this forum is more devoted to home theater, you might get better responses in the Video Cards and Graphics forum. You should at least check out the 8,000-post LCD Thread.

 

[Platypus]

What video out do you have on your macbook: VGA, DVI, HDMI, etc.? What resolution are you looking for, and do you have a preference between the 16:9 and 16:10 aspect ratios? What's your definition of giant, or do you just want the biggest display you can get? Do accurate colors and viewing angles matter to you?

My gut response is that you'll have to choose two out of the following three:

1. Size
2. Price
3. Quality

If you choose price and quality, you wind up with the Dell 2209WA. If you choose size and price, you'll wind up with a big poor-quality TN panel like the HannsG HH-281HPB. You'll have to decide exactly what you're looking for. Many people are perfectly happy with a TN panel, and other's wouldn't touch them with a 10-foot pole.

Also, since this forum is more devoted to home theater, you might get better responses in the Video Cards and Graphics forum. You should at least check out the 8,000-post LCD Thread.

Thanks, yeah I guess I would think this should be in audio/video but the subcategories are somewhat dubious. I wouldn't have thought to look in the video card section. Yoyo moved it for me either way. I'll look at the existing thread.

As far as what this will be used for. I use a software program called Logic for music production. Here's a sample of what I am talking about:
http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/recording/2006/images/logic_pro7_scrn.jpg

The idea is that with a widescreen monitor that is of good size I can see much more of my track layout. As far as resolution, I really don't give a shit at all or aspect ratio since I'm not planning on watching TV or movies on it. It's simply a giant display so I can see more of my production.

So I would say quality isn't super imperative because I'm not doing anything with quick refreshing but I want the quality to be somewhat nice. It just doesn't have to be performance nice if that makes sense. If it costs a bit more to get 'size + quality' then I'm fine with that but not much more. I realize in that price range I have to make compromises.

How about that monitor that Krazy4Real linked to.. good?

The connection is a standard DVI port, I have to use this:
http://www.amazon.com/Mini-DVI-DVI-A.../dp/B001G8DTN0

 

[tweakboy]

A 24 inch monitor is 300 bones or under.

Get a 27 inch for almost same price. It will be 60hz though, not new technology 120hz or 240hz like TV LCD are.

There is 2 PC lcd monitors that has 120hz and their 22inch I believe.

Your best bet is a Samsung 24 or 27 inch for 350 or less.

 

[Platypus]

How about a 24" Dell monitor for $200?

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...15&lid=1003774

It's a 1080p display with a 1920 x 1080 native resolution, and it has these connections:
High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
Digital Visual Interface - Digital (DVI-D) with High Definition Content Protection (HDCP)
Video Graphics Array (VGA)

This looks great on paper.. what makes this so inexpensive though? Is the quality on it not as great as others in the same price range but smaller size? $200 for a 24inch monitor sounds awesome but is it a decent picture?

 

[Krazy4Real]

The idea is that with a widescreen monitor that is of good size I can see much more of my track layout. As far as resolution, I really don't give a shit at all or aspect ratio since I'm not planning on watching TV or movies on it. It's simply a giant display so I can see more of my production.

Resolution is extremely important for what you're looking to do. The higher the resolution, the more of your track you can fit onto your screen. You definitely want to go with a widescreen monitor for the work you are doing. It will mean you have to scroll to the left and right less. What resolution are you currently working with?

 

[Platypus]

Resolution is extremely important for what you're looking to do. The higher the resolution, the more of your track you can fit onto your screen. You definitely want to go with a widescreen monitor for the work you are doing. It will mean you have to scroll to the left and right less. What resolution are you currently working with?

I guess I shouldn't say I don't care, but anything is likely going to be better than the built in 1280x800 display 13inch display.

 

[Krazy4Real]

This looks great on paper.. what makes this so inexpensive though? Is the quality on it not as great as others in the same price range but smaller size? $200 for a 24inch monitor sounds awesome but is it a decent picture?

It's a TN panel, that's why it's cheap. You mentioned that quality is not your first priority. That's why I brought up this display. If you're not going to be watching movies or doing serious editing of photos or video, then a TN display should be all you need.

• S-IPS/H-IPS panels are generally considered the best all around panel type, but they are more expensive and very few are made. High end, expensive.
• S-PVA/MVA panels offer better color reproduction and viewing angles than TN panels, have slightly worse response times than TN or S-IPS, offer the best contrast ratios, may suffer from color shifting or input lag and have higher availability than S-IPS panels. Mid range, fair price.
• TN panels are very cheap and have the fastest response times, but suffer from inferior color reproduction, contrast ratios and viewing angles. Low end, inexpensive.

 

[Yuriman]

^ What he said.


Resolution is the number one factor here for you, not size. Having a larger screen would just mean stretching the same pixels over a larger space, while having a higher resolution = more pixels.


Just about every screen you look at will be 1920x1200 or 1920x1080.

 

[happy medium]

How about a 24" Dell monitor for $200?

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...15&lid=1003774

It's a 1080p display with a 1920 x 1080 native resolution, and it has these connections:
High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
Digital Visual Interface - Digital (DVI-D) with High Definition Content Protection (HDCP)
Video Graphics Array (VGA)

That seems like a good deal. The reviews seem very positive.

 

[Krazy4Real]

I guess I shouldn't say I don't care, but anything is likely going to be better than the built in 1280x800 display 13inch display.

You'd be doubling your screen real estate by going to a 1080p display.

1,024,000 vs 2,073,600 pixels

Should make you much happier doing your work.

 

[kalrith]

Krazy4Real is right about the screen real estate. You definitely want 1920x1080 or 1920x1200. At your price range and 24" size, the Dell is probably your best bet. The new TN panels are much better than the ones from several years ago, but obviously they don't compare with PVA or IPS panels. That's probably why they're about half the price. You'd be looking at around $400 for a good 24" monitor, and at that price you could even jump up to a 32" 1080p TV (that's what I did).

If you want to spend less than $400, then go with that Dell. You'll at least get the great Dell warranty and support in case anything goes wrong.

 

[Platypus]

Alright, thanks so much for the help everyone.. the explanation of panel types in particular was extremely informative.

I think that 24in display will fit the bill perfectly.

That said, would anyone be able to tell me what my old Dell 1900/1901 FP models are? Those are great for what I use them for so if this newer 24in Dell is the same type then it's a no brainer for my needs.

 

[scott916]

The 1901FP (typing on one at work now) is an IPS I believe.

 

[kalrith]

I think the 1901FP is a PVA according to this Wikipedia page and some other forum posts. Either way a TN panel might look crappy next to that.

 

[Platypus]

I think the 1901FP is a PVA according to this Wikipedia page and some other forum posts. Either way a TN panel might look crappy next to that.

yeah I found that they're PVA.

I'm just kinda worried the TN wont stand up to the task like the other ones would. I just don't have a lot of $ to devote to a monitor I don't use every day. I don't plan on using it for anything other than my stated purpose now.. but in a few years I might. I just wonder if it's worth the extra investment now or if I should just pay the $200 now and if I want something better later, something new will be out and/or prices will come down more on the non-TN panels.

 

[0roo0roo]

xbitlabs
read

 

[mshan]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=39226

I would also search through the Hot Deals forums and do some research on the Dell 2209WA.

Really nice monitor that has great image quality and is easy on the eyes. :thumbsup:





edit: My dad owns a 20 inch, white, Core Duo iMac and I own a 24 inch, white, Core 2 Duo iMac, both of which are supposed to have very high quality S-IPS panels in them. I got my dad a Dell 2209WA to use with his Dell Vostro 220 (ATI 4350 video card connected to the LCD using DVI), and I like the image quality of the 2209WA (it has an eIPS panel) better; it is also easier on the eyes if you work in front of that monitor for hours every day (both of the iMacs give me some eye strain if I work in front of them for extended periods of time)

 

[Platypus]

The 2209WA looks great actually.. it might be worth the extra $ over the 24 inch Dell.
Just need to figure out if I can live with 2 less inches.

I believe the 2209 has a lower native resolution though...

 

[Yuriman]

The 2209WA looks great actually.. it might be worth the extra $ over the 24 inch Dell.
Just need to figure out if I can live with 2 less inches.

I believe the 2209 has a lower native resolution though...

You are correct, 1680x1050 vs 1920x1200.

1,764,000 vs 2,304,000 pixels = 30% more real-estate.


A friend just bought two 2209WA's and they truly are fantastic monitors. We used my Spyder2 to calibrate the colors, and the change was almost unnoticeable. I use a 24" MVA and I can't imagine using a TN, but it would but *almost* as hard for me to lose those 2 inches. If you can't get a PVA/MVA in your budget, get the 2209 and you will not be disappointed, but you may be happier still with a mid-range 24 if you can afford it.

 

[Platypus]

You are correct, 1680x1050 vs 1920x1200.

1,764,000 vs 2,304,000 pixels = 30% more real-estate.


A friend just bought two 2209WA's and they truly are fantastic monitors. We used my Spyder2 to calibrate the colors, and the change was almost unnoticeable. I use a 24" MVA and I can't imagine using a TN, but it would but *almost* as hard for me to lose those 2 inches. If you can't get a PVA/MVA in your budget, get the 2209 and you will not be disappointed, but you may be happier still with a mid-range 24 if you can afford it.

I just wish I could see them in person with my rig.. unfortunately I'm not interested in dealing with ordering and returning something :\

 

[Yuriman]

You could go to a brick and mortar store and look at a screen and try to pick out the TNs, see if you could stand them. IPS panels turn a bit white-ish-pale-ish when viewed from the sides, VA panels get a bit darker and have a slight color shift, while TN panels will generally turn purple.

 

[alkemyst]

Personally for your needs that Dell is probably the best bet. In the past people used to just pick size, only recently did this whole tn/pva/ips, hz, 720/1080p/i crap come up in the consumer market.

I am a very picky about my displays once I actually have them in front of me at times and other times not so.

My bedroom TV is decent, but nothing great. I am still running a circa 1997 Toshiba Cinema Series CRT in my main room (probably going flat panel next year) and just trashed my Trinitron 21" uber display for an NEC 2490WUXi LCD.