Sony 17" SDM-X73 LCD monitor mini-review

[wesmaster]

well newegg looks to be out of this monitor until the 01/04/04 so i cant order one until then. do any retail stores sell this monitor? i went to best buy and comp usa and looked at the LCD's they had. they didnt have this monitor and the ones they did have all looked like garbage. i am getting concerned that the image will be crappy on an LCD especially for games. i couldnt believe how bad the images were on all the display models of the LCD's at best buy and comp usa. makes me want to stick with CRT but i need to save space so bad and an LCD would be perfect on my desk.


edit: what is the 19" model number?

[msny]

I am getting concerned that the image will be crappy on an LCD especially for games.

Well, personal taste will enter into weather you think it looks good in games or not...but I can assure you that as a veteran of gameplay since 1988 and numerous CRT's since then, you will not be disappointed.
As I said in my review I went to Circuit City and looked at the Sony HX-73. It is the SAME panel as in the X-73. You could buy that one but it cost more and has stereo speakers.

I'd be patient and wait for Newegg...the 19" model is the X-93 or HX-93 BUT be aware that both of those are 25ms response time and will not be as good for gaming...almost all 19" and above LCD's are 20 to 25 response time.

[wesmaster]

well i'll order the 17" when newegg gets them in again. thanks for the info

[wesmaster]

well i ordered it and now i find out that it has speakers. i thought this monitor didnt have speakers.

am i looking at the wrong ones? or does the black one just have speakers and the silver one doesnt?

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=SDM%2DX73

[msny]

or does the black one just have speakers and the silver one doesnt?

They both have cheapo built-in speakers, nothing to worry about just don't plug them in. Most monitors have these kind anyways....no big deal. The link you gave is for the silver one, same as mine.

[rseyd]

Thanks for the mini-review of the Sony SDM-X73. Reviews of this display seem to be very hard to find.

I'm looking to buy a 17" LCD display. It will be my first LCD. I have read descriptions and specs on many different ones and have narrowed my choices down to two, the Sony SDM-X73 and the NEC LCD1760NX[BK]. Both displays have a 16ms response time. Both have connections for analog and DVI. I want to buy the best one of these two displays but I'm not sure which one that is. Is there anyone here who is familiar with both displays and can offer me some advice?

A question regarding the Sony SDM-X73: I noticed that someone mentioned that the Sony goes into auto adjust when using the DVI. Does it still allow for manual adjustment of brightness and contrast?

I am also looking for suggestions regarding a video card costing less than $100 with DVI (or should that be DVO?).

THANKS!!

[msny]

someone mentioned that the Sony goes into auto adjust when using the DVI. Does it still allow for manual adjustment of brightness and contrast?

Yes you can still set most of the controls, including brightness and contrast. Since the DVI is digital those settings become preset. You want DVI as there is a big difference with analog. You cannot manually set analog as good as DVI IMHO.

[darktiger]

I got the Sony SDM-HX73, and this moniter is cool. Best LCD I have to date. I even have the Dell 1800fp, and I think my Sony looks better.

[homIcIde]

Originally posted by rseyd
Thanks for the mini-review of the Sony SDM-X73. Reviews of this display seem to be very hard to find.

I'm looking to buy a 17" LCD display. It will be my first LCD. I have read descriptions and specs on many different ones and have narrowed my choices down to two, the Sony SDM-X73 and the NEC LCD1760NX[BK]. Both displays have a 16ms response time. Both have connections for analog and DVI. I want to buy the best one of these two displays but I'm not sure which one that is. Is there anyone here who is familiar with both displays and can offer me some advice?

A question regarding the Sony SDM-X73: I noticed that someone mentioned that the Sony goes into auto adjust when using the DVI. Does it still allow for manual adjustment of brightness and contrast?

I am also looking for suggestions regarding a video card costing less than $100 with DVI (or should that be DVO?).

THANKS!!


I'm currently trying to make that same decision myself and am also leaning towards the X-73 (any deals on that right ?). As far as a vid card with DVI for under $100, I'm sure you can find a ti4200 with DVI in that price range. They are supposed to be the best deal for that much.

[wesmaster]

ok i just got mine in and i have got it hooked up. is the bottom of the screen supposed to be lit more than the top? or is it just a weird angle i cant get right? also i am trying to go through the setup that comes with the cd but its telling me to go to a section of the menu to adjust the pitch but i cant find it in any of the menus.



edit: ok i think since i have it in the DVI then i cant access that part of the menu. i would like to know what you guys settings are at. i have a 9700pro and was messing with the gamma, brightness and contrast with that and i keep thinking i get a good picture but then 5 mintues later it looks weird to me again. will it just take some time to get used to an LCD screen? also my icons on my start menu look really blocky and weird now. is that normal?

[msny]

If your using Windows XP get cleartype here and fix blockyness:

http://www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartype/default.htm

The backlights on most LCD's are slightly uneven top to bottom. This I think is pretty normal not a defect. It doest not bother me I can't see it unless the screen is totally black. Even then it's very slight.

As far as settings go it's personal taste but here is mine using DVI:

picture adjust = low
backlight = 40
contrast = 65
brightness = 60
color = 9300k

normal web surfing or working -
eco = low
watching tv or playing games -
eco = high

[uclajeff]

What's eco?
I bought a HX-73 and I have nothing but great things to say about it.
When I first got it I felt the display was too bright but since then I've gotten used to it and kind of like it that way. So I use all their defaults. I sometimes use the "game" mode (which is much much brighter) when playing games but usually I find "pc" is adequate.

[orgasmatron]

Hi Buddy,

I have the exact dilemma u are facing...

Sony or NEC....... Until now, i still cannot make a decision

Sony cost a lot more than the NEC one

In Singapore, Sony LCD(that model) cost $929, where the NEC (1760NX) cost $889

[GCK]

Please tell me those prices are not USD...

[orgasmatron]

hahaha...

Nahh.....thats not in US Dollars :)

[ElektronikSeraph]

Originally posted by wesmaster
i would like to know what you guys settings are at.

I only ever use ECO Middle (regular use) and High (gaming - gotta see the dark corners).

Middle--
Backlight: 75
Contrast: 100
Brightness: 50

High--
Backlight: 90
Contrast: 100
Brightness: 90

[Mal P]

Hi guys,

Can anyone here who uses the DVI input offer opinions on the flickering noticed by some? Can it be stopped from occurring, i.e. is it dependant on the video card etc?

I'd like to get this monitor because in Australia, the SDMX73 carries a three year zero dead pixel warranty! Meaning you don't ever have to worry about a single dead pixel for three years, which is definately a relief.

Thank you,
Mal

[msny]

Can anyone here who uses the DVI input offer opinions on the flickering noticed by some?

I don't have this problem on my Sony X73.
Are you saying this is specific to the Sony X73, HX73 ?
If so, where did see this ?

[tmeader]

In so much as that I've never seen this same problem mentioned about any other LCD panel... yes... I would call that specific.

To answer your question though, I myself was using them both with an ATI AIW9700 Pro, and I believe the other poster was using a an ATI 9600 card. I'll have to find the thread again to be sure.

[uclajeff]

I have never experienced any flickering on my HX73.
For me this monitor has been perfect. I have no complaints.
It's connected by DVI from a Ti4600

[Mal P]

Hi there,

tmeader on the first page indicated there was that flickering problem with brightly coloured backgrounds. Ok, so looks like I'll have to test out a couple of video cards with it before buying the vid card (my current one has no DVI).

The other thread is here: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=692829 (darn I wished this forum had search!)

Thanks,
Mal

[msny]

I would say the flickering problem he had was due to his video card. Could also have been a bad cable or electronic interference. The last thing I would do is replace the monitor.

My best guess....

[tmeader]

Well, replacing the monitor cured it. And two models with that same panel exhibited the problem. Like I said, it could have been a bad batch that the two of us caught. In all likelyhood I'm sure the monitor will be fine for you. Without that flicker I definitely would have kept it. My recommendation to anyone nowadays buying an LCD is to buy it either from a brick and mortar that will allow exchanges, or get it from one of the few (like monitorsdirect.com) that will allow you to return, no questions asked, within 30 days.

Just my 2 cents.

[Bing111]

What is the production date on the one that works right? Should be on the back label.

[tmeader]

I meant replacing it with another brand. I got the Viewsonic VP171B and it never exhibited this problem. After both the X73 AND HX73 doing it, I'm pretty convinced it was something about that panel. Not saying that my components didn't have something to do with it either... but it was definitely them, combined with that panel, that was the culprit.

[jhtevans]

If the problem seems to be localized to ATI cards, it might have something to do with the DVI display mode. In the ATI display options, there's a checkbox for "Alternate DVI Operational Mode" and for "Reduce DVI Frequency on high-resoultion displays" -- You might mess around with these settings as they are there to fix the flickering problems that you're describing.

[tmeader]

Nope, I tried everything believe me. I scoured the net for 2 weeks looking for a similar problem report. Couldn't find anything. It was somehow that panel with my setup. And evidenlty the one other person too.