ViewSonic VLED221wm 22-inch Wide Digital/Analog LED Monitor

List Price: $599.99 Discount Price: $439.99

Features:

• Device Type - LCD
• Dimensions - 20.6" x 18.9" x 9.6"
• Weight - 13.20 lbs
• - Optimum Resolution: 1680x1050
• - Brightness: 250 cd/m2 (typ)

Customer Reviews:

ViewSonic VLED221wm [Posted on 2008-04-20]
ViewSonic's VLED221wm 22-inch LCD is the first LED-backlit display to grace our Lab, and we were anxious to put the technology to the test. LCD monitors typically sport cold cathode fluorescent backlighting, which can be less than uniform, and because it's always on in the background, it can impair a screen's ability to produce a true black. With LEDs, the screen is backlit with a grid of lights that can be turned on and off as needed. Sure enough, the 1680x1050 VLED221wm was capable of a black that exceeded that of any other LCD we've tested--but the result was actually overkill.

Even after we cranked the brightness to the max, we were unable to elicit an acceptable separation of values at the dark end of the spectrum in our DisplayMate tests. This lack of separation resulted in a noticeable loss of detail in games and movies.

The VLED221wm also notably boasts a 118 percent color gamut--based on NTSE broadcast standards--whereas LCDs have traditionally achieved a 72 percent color gamut, and more recently 92 percent. The expanded color gamut allows the VLED221wm to display extraordinarily saturated colors; the word "vibrant" doesn't do justice to the eye-punishing reds, greens, and blues this monitor spits out. In our tests, it made photos appear unnatural and game graphics looked over-processed; however, we appreciated the added vibrancy in movies.

By default, the monitor comes with its Dynamic Contrast feature on, which adjusts the backlighting on the screen according to the content being displayed to achieve the darkest black and brightest white whenever possible. But the implementation here is pretty poor--during our movie test, the light faded in and out during different scenes. Fortunately, the feature can be disabled, although we had to dig through the manual to find out how--hold the monitor's up-arrow button for a few seconds.

Given its spendy price point compared to fellow 22-inch monitors, ViewSonic's VLED221wm just isn't a wise choice. The concept of "true black" is a strong selling point, but not when it results in perceptible quality loss.


+ It does have an 118% color gamut. And the blacks are indeed very black.


- Too dark, with garish colors.


Verdict: 5 out of 10

Eye Candy [Posted on 2008-09-28]
This monitor produces the most beautiful color I've ever seen! I love the deep reds. There is also no edge bleed, and I view it in total darkness most of the time.

I agree with the above reviewer, you should turn off the dynamic contrast. It does more harm than good.

There is one more setting you may want to try. DVDs looked terrible at first. The colors were extremely exaggerated, the whites were blown out, and the highlights were pixilated. I tried all the adjustments on my video card and DVD software to no avail. Then I decided to read the manual (what a concept!). It turned out to be the default color setting of 6500K. I set it to sRGB, and my jaw hit the floor. It put my Sony GDM-FW900 to shame. Just beautiful!

Close, but no cigar. This monitor shows artifacts that where previously masked by my FW900. I spent the next few evenings tweaking FFDshow, and now I have a picture that far exceeds my expectations.

I waited a long time for an LED backlit monitor to become available. I'm glad I waited!

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