LCD/LED monitor choice

holywilly · 22nd October 2011

I'm going to acquire a new Mac Mini server i7 as my composing computer and now I'm deciding which monitor to match up my new mini.

Been doing research for the monitor, so far I'm looking at either DELL ultrasharp 24" which has the optimum resolution to 1920 x 1200.

However, most of the mainstream 24" monitor has the resolution up to 1080 with 16:9 ratio.

I'd like to know whether I should stick with DELL or go for cheaper options.

Please advise.

Bill@WelcomeHome · 22nd October 2011

I would think that buying a TV (which is what the 1080 is...) would be great if you don't need the resolution often required by a DAW computer monitor, and don't need to have a lot of windows open at once when you work.

Myself, I've been using 3 screens since the CRT days. At the 1280 resolution my current 19" LCDs provide, that is over 3500 dots... I can't see dropping down to the resolution of a 1080P screen, no matter how big it is. (Right now I'm trying to get used to just two screens, and I'm spoiled, it is tough.)

Two of your 1920x1200s would work for me, and they are not expensive. But I think that I'm going for a 30 inch, get something around 2500 and pick up the additional vertical space as well. But then I have a lot of windows open at once when I work.

Masaaki · 22nd October 2011

Consider LG, 23 inch IPS (in-plane switching) LED monitor.

It has full HD resolution, very good color, contrast, and viewing angle.

Besides, it seems I get less eye fatigue with this monitor, for some reasons. My guess is, I can place it a few inches far away, due to the better contrast/brightness. Also I can adjust my chair very easily for my back, and still get good viewing angle. That whole deal allows me a little bit more comfortable working posture. "Less fatigue" is very essential for me, particularly at my age.

Price is not bad, around $220 at Bestbuy. I'm actually getting another one this week end.

MacMacMac · 23rd October 2011

I bought a 22" LG monitor two years ago for $220. Nice.

But earlier this year I bought a 24" Viewsonic LED-lit monitor. Regular $200, on sale for $175. This is a much better monitor, better than anything I've ever used before.

I really must recommend the newer LED monitors.

BTW, there's nothing wrong with Dell. But since the in-store prices for monitors are often as good as online, I find it convenient to buy locally. That leaves out Dell completely. Still, there are plenty of choices ... HP, LG, Viewsonic, and more.

Grovestand · 23rd October 2011

I have a dellu2211h and a dell u3011.

They're both great but they are more monitor than you need.

If I were you i would go with 2 20" 1080P monitors.

holywilly · 23rd October 2011

my ideal setup is to have a 27" or 30" monitor as my primary display for sequencer and another smaller sized display (22" ~ 24") for mixer and kontakt displaying.

for now, I'll look into the newer LED display from those mainstream manufactures, thanks guys!

Maybe I'll pick up a valued 24" LED first, than slowly upgrade to my goal :D

trock · 23rd October 2011

i just got a new mac 27 inch and love it, especially with the ports on the back. it really expands my macbook pro

i have 2 dell ultrasharp 24 inchers on my mac pro setup.

they are nice monitors

i will probably try and replace them with 2 more 27 inch mac monitors when the new mac pro's come out and i get one, all would be thunderbolt then as well

grooveminister · 23rd October 2011

This is a tough decision, as you have to pay a high prize for the extra 120 lines.
I have a 1920x1200 monitor and a 1920x1080 laptop and I have to say ergonomically 16:9 is a strange format for most applications.
It´s nice to watch TV or a DVD on 16:9 displays but for everything else 16:10 is really better.

When I´m layouting something I even end up using my 16:10 monitor in portrait mode so 16:9 in landscape is a bad solution for work dictated by fashion.

I´d buy a 16:10 monitor again - even using two 16:9 monitors in portrait mode doesn´t give you a proper workspace for audio.

holywilly · 24th October 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by grooveminister

This is a tough decision, as you have to pay a high prize for the extra 120 lines.
I have a 1920x1200 monitor and a 1920x1080 laptop and I have to say ergonomically 16:9 is a strange format for most applications.
It´s nice to watch TV or a DVD on 16:9 displays but for everything else 16:10 is really better.

When I´m layouting something I even end up using my 16:10 monitor in portrait mode so 16:9 in landscape is a bad solution for work dictated by fashion.

I´d buy a 16:10 monitor again - even using two 16:9 monitors in portrait mode doesn´t give you a proper workspace for audio.

I second that with 16:10 ratio, and it seems like 16:10 display will soon to become extinct. I better grab one for now :D

csl · 24th October 2011

Dell actually have a new 24" LED/e-IPS monitor out with a full 1920x1200 res, the U2412M. Colour performance not quite as good as the non-LED ultrasharps, but the price is also much more competitive.

Worth a look anyway.

Masaaki · 24th November 2011

For those of you looking for "Black Friday monitor deal", Best Buy reduced this LG IPS 236V to $180.

It's actually an amazing monitor, for the vividness of color, contrast, and wider viewing agle. There is a bleed of light when it is completely black, but all the LED monitor does that at certain level. I don't mind that.

I've bought three of them so far, and I'm getting another one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masaaki

Consider LG, 23 inch IPS (in-plane switching) LED monitor.

It has full HD resolution, very good color, contrast, and viewing angle.

Besides, it seems I get less eye fatigue with this monitor, for some reasons. My guess is, I can place it a few inches far away, due to the better contrast/brightness. Also I can adjust my chair very easily for my back, and still get good viewing angle. That whole deal allows me a little bit more comfortable working posture. "Less fatigue" is very essential for me, particularly at my age.

Price is not bad, around $220 at Bestbuy. I'm actually getting another one this week end.

rksguit · 24th November 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by grooveminister

a high prize

A "High" prize......I like that even better! But so seriously folks,I bought a cheap Acer 24"V24HQ with 2 18.5 LCD TV's[3 screens,SONAR X1],I honestly thought the Acer would be way better than the cheap TV's,but it's not. Im gonna go another "newer" 24 LED next.

Sean Sullivan · 24th November 2011

We have a 32" Curtis HDTV we picked up at a yard sale for $100 at the studio. Looks good (not as sharp as say a Cinema display) but didn't cost much.

22nd October 2011	#1
holywilly Gear interested Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 21 Thread Starter	LCD/LED monitor choice I'm going to acquire a new Mac Mini server i7 as my composing computer and now I'm deciding which monitor to match up my new mini. Been doing research for the monitor, so far I'm looking at either DELL ultrasharp 24" which has the optimum resolution to 1920 x 1200. However, most of the mainstream 24" monitor has the resolution up to 1080 with 16:9 ratio. I'd like to know whether I should stick with DELL or go for cheaper options. Please advise.

22nd October 2011	#2
Bill@WelcomeHome Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 4,188	I would think that buying a TV (which is what the 1080 is...) would be great if you don't need the resolution often required by a DAW computer monitor, and don't need to have a lot of windows open at once when you work. Myself, I've been using 3 screens since the CRT days. At the 1280 resolution my current 19" LCDs provide, that is over 3500 dots... I can't see dropping down to the resolution of a 1080P screen, no matter how big it is. (Right now I'm trying to get used to just two screens, and I'm spoiled, it is tough.) Two of your 1920x1200s would work for me, and they are not expensive. But I think that I'm going for a 30 inch, get something around 2500 and pick up the additional vertical space as well. But then I have a lot of windows open at once when I work. __________________ "We have a situation where somebody has learned that 'tape' sounds good. Tape doesn't sound good. Tape sounds like crap. But sometimes good stuff gets put on tape." "Putting crap to tape...sounds like crap." Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Resistance is not futile. It is voltage divided by current. "I do not think that the wireless waves I have discovered will have any practical application,..." Heinrich Rudolf Hertz

23rd October 2011	#5
Grovestand Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 153	I have a dellu2211h and a dell u3011. They're both great but they are more monitor than you need. If I were you i would go with 2 20" 1080P monitors. __________________ Mac Mini Server 2011, iPad 2 16GB, iPhone; Nord Lead 3, Korg Poly 800; Saffire Pro 40; Allen & Heath ZED10FX; Yamaha HS80M; Beyerdynamic DT770, QSC K8; MPK49, Axiom 25, Launchpad, Korg nanoSeries 2, iConnectMidi; Shure SM58, Shure SM57, Blue Yeti; Alesis DM8 Pro, Tama Rockstar (in storage), Teisco Del Ray, Ibanez Acoustic, Trombone, Digeridoo, Percussion; Ableton Suite 8, Logic Pro 9, Omnisphere, Stylus RMX, Addictive Drums

23rd October 2011	#7
trock Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,481	i just got a new mac 27 inch and love it, especially with the ports on the back. it really expands my macbook pro i have 2 dell ultrasharp 24 inchers on my mac pro setup. they are nice monitors i will probably try and replace them with 2 more 27 inch mac monitors when the new mac pro's come out and i get one, all would be thunderbolt then as well __________________ www.timmallick.com

23rd October 2011	#8
grooveminister Gear addict Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 362 5 Reviews written	This is a tough decision, as you have to pay a high prize for the extra 120 lines. I have a 1920x1200 monitor and a 1920x1080 laptop and I have to say ergonomically 16:9 is a strange format for most applications. It´s nice to watch TV or a DVD on 16:9 displays but for everything else 16:10 is really better. When I´m layouting something I even end up using my 16:10 monitor in portrait mode so 16:9 in landscape is a bad solution for work dictated by fashion. I´d buy a 16:10 monitor again - even using two 16:9 monitors in portrait mode doesn´t give you a proper workspace for audio. __________________

22nd October 2011	#3
Masaaki Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2010 Location: Mountain US Posts: 865	Consider LG, 23 inch IPS (in-plane switching) LED monitor. It has full HD resolution, very good color, contrast, and viewing angle. Besides, it seems I get less eye fatigue with this monitor, for some reasons. My guess is, I can place it a few inches far away, due to the better contrast/brightness. Also I can adjust my chair very easily for my back, and still get good viewing angle. That whole deal allows me a little bit more comfortable working posture. "Less fatigue" is very essential for me, particularly at my age. Price is not bad, around $220 at Bestbuy. I'm actually getting another one this week end.

23rd October 2011	#4
MacMacMac Gear Head Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 37	I bought a 22" LG monitor two years ago for $220. Nice. But earlier this year I bought a 24" Viewsonic LED-lit monitor. Regular $200, on sale for $175. This is a much better monitor, better than anything I've ever used before. I really must recommend the newer LED monitors. BTW, there's nothing wrong with Dell. But since the in-store prices for monitors are often as good as online, I find it convenient to buy locally. That leaves out Dell completely. Still, there are plenty of choices ... HP, LG, Viewsonic, and more.

24th October 2011	#10
csl Gear addict Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England Posts: 420	Dell actually have a new 24" LED/e-IPS monitor out with a full 1920x1200 res, the U2412M. Colour performance not quite as good as the non-LED ultrasharps, but the price is also much more competitive. Worth a look anyway. __________________ Chris Leary Mastering \| Music

24th November 2011	#13
Sean Sullivan Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 3,439 1 Review written	We have a 32" Curtis HDTV we picked up at a yard sale for $100 at the studio. Looks good (not as sharp as say a Cinema display) but didn't cost much.

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