Review: Samsung Syncmaster 931C 19in TFT monitor

TFT screens have consigned those big, fat, heavy CRT monitors to the recycling centre. The space-saving advantages are obvious, not to mention the reduced stress on your back when shifting them around.

They can produce bright, crisp images, have totally flat screens and look so much cooler.
Unfortunately, they can also be rubbish. In a world where everything is getting smaller, faster, cheaper and better, TFTs have made picture quality worse.

Speed is no longer an issue. The Samsung Syncmaster 931C, like several others, has a super-fast response time of 2ms, so video and fast-moving games are crisp and smear-free.

However, standard TFT displays can’t display the range of colours and extremes of light and dark that are par for the course on a CRT. This is where products like the Syncmaster 931C come in.

By using an enhanced backlight, the SM931C is able to display a far greater range of colours than standard TFTs can muster. This, combined with a huge 2000:1 contrast ratio, makes images really pop out at you.

The picture quality is much closer to that of a high quality CRT.

Many people can’t see a lot of difference from one TFT to another, but the SM931C looks so different, you’ll know immediately that something special is going on. Greens and reds are obviously greener and redder than you will have seen before.

But these enhancements are not without their problems. As it stands, the colour response of the 931C is quite different from what your computer will expect. Therefore, without the appropriate setup, colours can appear quite wrong.

It’s crucial to install the supplied ICC profile at the very least and preferably to calibrate the monitor using either the supplied Magictune software or an external hardware calibrator.

If you’re into digital photography, you’ll appreciate the added depth and realism you can achieve with the 931C. Software is also provided to help you use your monitor to “soft-proof” prints and predict how your printer will reproduce colours before committing your photos to paper.

We’ve seen wide gamut monitors before. They are usually expensive products aimed at imaging professionals, but the 931C uses less-expensive TN panel technology and is therefore much closer in price to standard products.

Read our article on TFT technology to learn about the different types of screen.

However, this does mean that the usual disadvantages of TN panels apply – vertical viewing angles are a little narrow, and while a wide range of colours can be displayed, the transitions between them are not as smooth as on high-end professional monitors.

Despite its specialist credentials, the 931C has a designer look that will appeal to home users and gamers while remaining smart enough for work use – although there is no height-adjustable stand, which would be required for use in an office.

It is of a relatively lightweight construction, yet the build quality is high with an expensive look to it.

If you miss the colour reproduction of your old CRT or you want to see what your digital camera is capable of, the Syncmaster 931C is an inexpensive way of doing it. Games too, appear bright, colourful and exciting.

But be aware that this is not a standard monitor and it requires the correct set up to take advantage of its features.

Also consider:
CTX W1961A
A good entry-level screen for multimedia and Vista

Iiyama Prolite E2200WS
Iiyama’s latest widescreen TFT is low on frills but also low on cost

Viewsonic VG2230wm
An affordable 22in widescreen TFT, ideal for work or home use

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