NEC PA241w testing - the next step

Thank you very much for your mini-review Al, I look forward to an in-depth review from you on this monitor?

Sad to see the loss in contrast while in sRGB mode.

If I could still find a new 2490WUXi somewhere, I'd buy it. I don't want to settle for a refurb.

 

sRGB mode is just a fixed setting for the internal color space emulation (sRGB primaries relative to D65), D65 white and sRGB gradation. There was no further reduction in white level that go over ColorComp impacts and white point customising with our test model (and there is no other contributor to a lowered white-level in this case) but due a HD failure I haven't extensive test data here (only for PA271W and PA301W). Therefore I will try to get access to a PA241W again. A little pitfall is the METAMERISM option that is active in some cases. It was intended as a comfort feature for a "non calibration dual screen setup" with a non WCG-CCFL screen (=> observer metamerism) - but I would suggest a visual adjustment even in this case to account for the personal perception.

To achieve maximum contrast in sRGB emulation you would have to disable color comp and choose the native whitepoint - which lies quite far away from the blackbody curve and therefore isn't very neutral. Don't forget to adapt the desired primaries chromatically from D65 to this whitepoint.

Best regards

Denis

 

How is the CR affected when not in sRGB emulation mode?

The higher-end NEC displays seem to keep their backlights at full power when decreasing brightness, which leaves a constant black level and means the CR will decrease. I have not been able to test a PA241w in person to see if this is true. This could (if true) be a Godsend for people who are sensitive to backlight flicker, so maybe they did this on purpose?

 

Let me not be confused.

In order to constrain the color space to sRGB, you MUST use the sRGB preset, then calibrate? Or can you use the user or custom preset and use calibration to attain sRGB, thus retaining higher/regular contrast ratio?

I am new to calibration so I do not know.

 

As albovin said the NECs PA have quite big backlight regulation range. A "curvy" contrast characteristic inside this range can be observed due to the absolute (and quite precise) brightness setting. If you have enabled ColorComp and the desired brightness can't be achieved with the actual level it is gradually lowered (which means that contrast ratio climbs - see last table in the first posting). At the highest brightness settings it's therefore always off (the OSD doesn't reflect the actual state but renders the ColorComp field in magenta).

You could try to deactivate it after calibration via MultiProfiler.

Best regards

Denis

 

Thanks again for the detailed information. I own two NEC 2090UXi's and will likely be buying the Spectraview II kit directly from NEC. I wonder if the version sold on their website is adjusted for standard or wide gamut?

 

The probe still has the internal CCFL correction (72% NTSC) and therefore behaves like a normal EOD2 outside SV II. It is quite probable (they could also have overwritten the CRT correction but I don't think so) that SV II corrects the measurement data on software side in the case of accordant display and probe.So the answer is: You should be able to achieve correct results inside SV II with CCFL and WCG-CCFL screens.

Best regards

Denis

 

Thanks. I myself have seen good results with Lacie's software, and I like the way that the calibration reports are formatted and displayed, very easy to read. I also believe that it shows more information in the calibration report than the i1D2's software or NEC's software?

 

Is there any sense in buying a 1000€ monitor and than disable color comp?

 

that backlight looks like SHIT. mine are perfect without colorcomp. granted diff model but...

 

every model reviewed on the net has the same "problem", probably you are really lucky or probably you aren't able to see the problem due to low brightness on monitor or high illuminated room.

 

For CEPS surely not. But when for example gaming or looking a film one could at least think of deactivating such compensation functions. Btw: When looking at the first picture (taken with long exposure time): They can't correct illumination issues.

Best regards

Denis

 

You are right but gaming with a 1000€ monitor and see a big backlight bleeding like that is at least very boring.
I'm not bashing this monitor since I don't know if it is possible to buy a better monitor for only 1000€ but personally I'm sure that I will leave color comp on also for gaming if I had one of this jewel.

 

I agree, in that particular case, for €1000 it is just not acceptable, and i would personally have returned it immediately.
Here's my 2490 as a comparison... My camera is very slow, and i lost my tripod a few months ago, but it's nearly what it looks like in real life.. I don't notice the slight unevenness though, so maybe it is caused by vignetting.
http://users.telenor.dk/~dsl35822/P1010542.JPG

And btw. colorcomp does not work for black, since the off-state of IPS panels is "blocking", just like VA. TN is non-blocking.

Thanks for the comparison Albovin! If it's really true about the use of perfoming a bit of "blocking" light in order to maintain an sRGB profile in order to decreasing brightness - it's not a good sign. However, i'm almost sure there must be some way to avoid this (although it isn't very obvious to me).

 

The picture above is a "synthetic" one with long exposure time (8sec, f/11, ISO-200). So that's absolutely unproblematic in this case. Brightness distribution and image homogeneity were more problematic without ColorComp but excellent with enabled function. The loss in contrast due to reduced whitelevel is a minor trade off regarding the quality gain.

As mentioned above: I couldn't make out any further reduction (over: ColorComp, whitepoint adjustment) in whitelevel when using color space emulation - nor blacklevel was raised.

Best regards

Denis

 

I enjoyed the review. Covered some very important things despite being short others have not. If NEC had a clue they'd just continue to make the 2490 and a 24" version of the highly overdriven glossy WGMX2 for gamers. The orginals had to sell well and they'd still sell well. I own both and pray they don't fail anytime soon with dearth of selections avail.

 

my monitors are a diff model, 2090uxi. and they are perfect in a completely dark room, high or low brightness

 

I *love* ColorComp. It's very effective and the resulting perfect uniformity really makes the display stand out as exceptional (at least to me).

All displays will have some backlight variations unless compensation is used. Some will be worse than others, of course - both model and individual unit.

 

ag coating is most heavy ?
KICH !

 

id imagine the pa241w has the same heavy AG coat as all the other newer IPS models.

i'm not sure how my 2090uxi which is an older IPS model compares, but the AG coating isnt THAT bad on my monitor. It is definitely noticeable, a bit of crystal pattern on white images, but i'm not that sensitive to it. and it certainly doesnt make the overall picture dull at all.

to me the antiglare issues that are a dealbreaker for some are to me a moot point.

if you hate it that much, there ARE ways to remove it if you are that determined. either that or get a glossy apple cinema display.

 

Hi albovin,

Thanks for the detailed set of findings. I saw that you had a couple of issues and it seems that you're using the US SpectraViewII version.

The OSD lock can be controlled under the SpectraViewII Preferences (Edit->Preferences, Display Tab).

The easiest way was mentioned before - use MultiProfiler after calibration to disable ColorComp / Uniformity.

-- Art

 

Hi albovin,

I'll look into this for you. What version of SpectraViewII are you using?

Regarding the 1080p not working, try changing the "EDID EXTENSION" to "ENHANCED" in the Advanced Menu, Tag 6. The User Manual describes the process for going into the advanced menu. http://www.necdisplay.com/documents/UserManuals/PA_Series_UserManual.pdf

 

Thanks for the review. I was curious about the ag coating on the 241.

 

As it seems like all IPS panes have basically the same hardware, it is amazing to me the difference of the effect of AG coating on the PA241W compared to the Dell U2410. I didn't put them side by side, but it is much better on the Nec, don't ask me why. It's more than acceptable to me (the Dell isn't - I find it bloody unnatural and distracting).

I'm so pleased I just ordered another monitor.

 

So albovin, since I can't get my hands on a new 2490wuxi anymore, is there anything better (for the same price or less even) than the PA241W for color critical work and general use?