[PCM2]

Hi joaosraposo and welcome,

Most of the VA models you’ve mentioned are covered in this thread. They’re really rather similar to one another given the characteristics of the panel used. The 34″ models, which I’d rate more highly at least. This isn’t just because they use VA panels, but rather that they mainly share the same CELL (panel minus backlight).

With respect to viewing comfort, panel type alone is difficult to isolate and it’s very subjective. I’d recommend reading our article which covers this topic. You need to pay attention not just to the notes on panel type there, but also responsiveness, curvature and backlight spectrum. Because it all differs in this case. And there’s not a binary answer to whether you’d find the curved VA options with 144Hz refresh rate more comfortable than the lower refresh rate flat IPS options. In my experience (and I’ve gathered a fair bit of feedback from users on this) people do tend to find the new 34″ UltraWide VAs tend to be visually comfortable to use.

Note that the LG models both have a Low Blue Light (LBL) setting that LG calls ‘Reader‘ mode. This sometimes has a good and sometimes poor implementation – for example it was poorly implemented on the 34GK950F that we reviewed. As pointed out in that review you can simply adjust the colour channels yourself to create an effective LBL setting. You can save this setting to the ‘Gamer 1’ or ‘Gamer 2’ preset so it’s easily recalled.

[danb1974]

Beware of VA panels that use vertically stacked subpixels with partial illuminations – you may find the text funny in an annoying way (to me it looks like a wierd type of not-well-focused). Just got “burnt” with a dell gaming monitor, because I was not aware of this.

I would vote for curved screens at such sizes, especially if you need reading glasses – I do, and glasses give me a pretty narrow distance range with clear focus, so I need monitor margins at the same distance as center.

For blue light, you can just set your monitor to a warmer preset or use glasses with blue filter (if you don’t need optical corrections, there are plain glasses that just have the blue filter coating).

[joaosraposo]

Hello!

Thank you for the very fast answer 🙂

After reading this thread I have managed to narrow down the list to the following monitors:

• PHILIPS 345B1C
• HP 34f
• AOC 34″ CU34G2/BK
• AOC 34″ CU34G2X/BK

Since I will use the monitor mainly for business work and not for gamming, can you recommend any of those over the others? Analysing the WebSites information, the PHILIPS 345B1C seems to have more eye care features and more suitable for business use but I am not sure if that is not only Markteting.

Thank you!

[PCM2]

danb1974, I assume it was the Dell S3220DGF you tried? That has very clear subpixel related issues as covered in this thread covering such models and our reviews of similar models (31.5″ WQHD VA, 1800R curve). Obviously you weren’t aware of that at the time you purchased the model. The curved 34″ UltraWide VA models that joaosraposo is considering don’t suffer this issue. But it’s certainly something that others considering VA models more broadly need to be aware of – it’s also covered in that context in our viewing comfort article in the ‘Panel type’ section. So it’s a good point to draw attention to. 🙂

joaosraposo, the Philips 345B1C should be perfectly adequate for your needs. It doesn’t really lift itself above the AOC models in terms of the LBL functionality – refer to our review of the 346B1C and CU34G2X for an idea of how the two implementations would differ. Note that the 345B1C is the same as the 346B1C aside from the lack of USB-C. I’d say the Philips is a bit more robust and solidly built than the AOC if anything, but the CU34G2X isn’t poor in that respect by any means. The ‘PowerSensor’ which dims the screen significantly and eventually turns it off if nobody is using the monitor is quite a neat addition on the Philips as well. But in terms of core performance, there’s little to separate them really – except the higher refresh rate on the CU34G2X. Which could be ‘nice’ for productivity purposes and potentially beneficial to viewing comfort. But as explored earlier, that’s very subjective and you may find 100Hz more than enough.

[danb1974]

Yes it is the S3220DGF that I got at BF price (equivalent of around $320 after customs and sales tax), totally unaware of the stacked subpixels, imagine the dissapointment after waiting 1 week for it to be shipped. Pixel size was perfect for me, but I can’t accomodate the text artefacts. Now I’m back to a 27″ dell ultrasharp (p2720dc) which is great _and_ has usb-c (acting as laptop docking stations rocks) … except for pixel size.

On the bright side, I now have accounts on two monitor-related forums and know more about VA panels.

Any idea of a similarly-priced 31-32″ 2560×1440 anti-glare monitor with at least usb3-hub, adjustable stand, sharp text and no backlight pwm flicker, good for programming? Don’t care about refresh rates or contrast or hdr or high brightness – it just has to be sharp and easy on the not-young-anymore eyes.

[PCM2]

Nothing comes to mind I’m afraid, all of those boxes except for USB-C inclusion can be ticked together with quite a few models. The ASUS X32VC is worth considering, but I have no experience with the panel it uses, it’s over your preferred budget and the USB-C PD is 25W which isn’t all that high.

[joaosraposo]

When I was about to buy the 346B1C, I found the LG 34GK950F and 34WK95U-W at about same price in promotion.
Since I think the 5K will be a too high resolution and the 34WK95U-W, don’t have soo much eye care technology I have discarded that one.
In terms of comfort do you have any preference between the 346B1C and the LG 34GK950F?
Thank you!

[PCM2]

The LG has a definite edge in pixel responsiveness and refresh rate. The LG also has a wider gamut backlight, so a somewhat more balanced spectrum. The curvature is stronger on the Philips and contrast is stronger. All very subjective which product one individual would find more comfortable.

[joaosraposo]

The LG 34GK950F deal was too good to be true and in fact in wasn’t true. All the indicators are pointing me to the Philips 346B1C , but before the final decision I found out the LG 35WN75C-B with the same price tag as the Philips.
I tried to find out more information about the panel but it seems that the only company that produces the 35 inches panel it’s AUO. Do already tested this model, or a similar one and have some information about his viewing comfort?
Thank you!

[PCM2]

The forum search facility is your friend, this comparison has been drawn here. 🙂 Note that the preferred shorthand designation for LG models does not include ‘B’ (which simply means ‘black’ due to the main colour on the stand or rear) or ‘W’ (mainly white). So simply 35WN75C. The panel manufacturer is AUO (AU Optronics). As I state in the linked post, I prefer the 34″ Samsung panel used in the Philips for the reasons given there. In terms of viewing comfort the more balanced backlight spectrum and the fact the contrast is probably somewhat stronger might be reasons to go for the Philips.

[daveyp]

Hi PCM2 glad the forum is still going as i am in need of your help with choice of new monitor please and this next sentence i copied and pasted from a much earlier post.

Looking for a monitor with no dithering, a nice screen surface, no backlight flicker and a nice clear image where text and icons are always easy to see. Having good strong contrast will also help text stand out.

Monitor should be 24″ perhaps 25″ at a push because of limited desk space and will be used almost exclusively for reading on the net so must be good for text nothing else matters really I do watch the odd youtube video but with my aging eyes i need reading glasses so I want the text easy to read.

With my very limited knowledge of monitors I came up with the Dell P2419H or U2419H both monitors are IPS I would think VA monitors will come into the choice somewhere but have not found any professional types.

So are there any monitors better than the two I have chosen.
Looking forward to your reply and thanks in advance for any help.

[PCM2]

As highlighted in our article on viewing comfort, I wouldn’t put too much weight on whether a monitor uses dithering or not. The P2419H and U2419H do use dithering as it happens (6-bit + FRC), but as with other modern IPS-type monitors with dithering it’s very unlikely to cause issues. In fact it’s so finely handled that most users will be completely unaware it’s even used. If you wanted to avoid this you’d have to consider a model like the EX2510 or Acer XB253Q GP which offer similar colour and contrast performance to the Dells. But don’t use dithering and also offer a higher refresh rate, which can be a nice bonus even on the desktop.

[daveyp]

Thanks for the prompt reply i will now read the reviews for the BenQ and Acer monitors as well as reread the dell reviews.

[daveyp]

I have read the reviews for the Benq and Acer monitors you mentioned but it looks as though both the monitors aimed at gamers plus have loads of features i will never use there must be other monitors better suited to my use for the same money all i do is proof read for eight hours every day dont think i would buy the Benq or Acer .

Have read loads of monitor reviews but not many have any mention of text quality seems like most reviews are for gamers so do you think you could point me in the direction of a good monitor for my use no more than 24″ screen and £250.
I forgot to mention i am using an NEC EX241 at the moment but was given this by my son who rescued it from his office skip but now it has started screen tearing when scrolling oh and I cannot afford to buy the same NEC as far to expensive.

[PCM2]

The fact they’re geared towards gamers is simply because the panel they use is a high refresh rate panel. As I’ve pointed out, that can have benefits outside of gaming. “Text quality” or aspects related to that are covered in our reviews. At the start of the calibration section which covers subpixel layout and any issues related to that. Screen surface and the effect that can have on clarity. And where relevant, deeper into the review with reference to a high pixel density. Aside from these factors, it’s based on preferences due to any sharpness algorithms or filters applied. The only real advantage you’ll get over those models for your uses would come from a higher resolution, but with the Full HD resolution in mind there’s nothing that ticks a greater number of boxes really.

[brownc]

Not sure if this should be it’s own thread after hi-jacking this one…..

So I picked up a dell U3017 and wow for it’s color gamut. Initially there was some saturation and reds looked like hot florescent reds, but once I selected adobe RGB color scheme it was SO perfect and amazing to see colors in photos I never knew existed. And the sRGB mode also worked well. The matte finish on the screen is so light and smooth, that too is amazing. There is a little horizontal change but it’s really only noticeable with a full screen of white color. The sharpness of the .25mm pitch is great. A 1440 resolution on 27″ was sometimes a little small for my distance, and on 32″ it was too large at .27mm but at 30″ it’s perfect. It also has more brightness than I will ever use. The sad part is this monitor is a IPS and while not as bad as the innolux panels there is still a little eye strain from me using it. So the only ips panel I haven’t tried is a AUO one. Every time I try a VA panel it’s great on my eyes. What I want is a 30″ 2560×1440 resolution VA panel and the Samsung syncmaster XL30 / Lacie 730 is the only one that fits that requirement. But it’s a 2008 monitor and still go for $1000 on ebay 🙁

I can’t find any other 27-30″ va panels, so that leaves me with 32″. My main requirement now is a wide gamut and preferable a good adobe RGB coverage. I purchased a Hp pavilion 32 QHD monitor. Yes it’s sRGB is fine but there’s nothing in terms of color coverage outside of that. For a VA panel I do see the limitations in viewing angles when I’m less than 20″/50cm but for a monitor that size a comfortable 24″/60cm is great and I don’t see any variation horizontally from that far away! HP has a limited model from the prior year called HP pavilion gaming 32 which offers DCI P3 at 95% claimed, but I can’t find any reviews to tell me how good the adobe RGB coverage is. For a 1440 resolution that may be the best one for wide gamut coverage. A new one which just cam out is the Samsung LS32A600NWNXGO which is also called S32A60. It’s 1440 va panel however there are zero reviews and info on color range.

Now if I jump up to 32″ 4k VA then there are some choices like the BenQ EW3270U, the LG 32UL500. The BenQ has a light sensor which I like and should have decent calibration, but the LG seems to cover more aRGB on some review sites. Both I think are the same panel. And while future proofing the monitor for other applications 4k makes sense. But I’m still on win7 and some of my work programs don’t do well with scaling 🙁 so I’d like to stay 1440 and not make the jump to 2160.
Any recommendations for good adobe RGB with a VA panel? I doubt there is anything above 90% but that would still be enough I think. It would also have to have a sRGB mode for when I need to do print work.

FYI – after reviewing lots of monitors, I can truly say the BEST osd controller is a single joystick like what’s on the HP pavilion 32 QHD monitor. It’s a pleasure to use. The acer monitor I tried with 3 buttons and a joystick was better than just buttons, but not as intuitive or quick as a single joystick. Hidden buttons are just a pain to use.

[PCM2]

I’ve moved this discussion over to a more appropriate thread as there is too much divergence from 27″ WQHD models. You’re unlikely to find what you’re after there in VA form and comfort is really taking priority over other areas (understandably). Earlier discussions were found in this thread for the benefit of others reading this.

The EW3270U and 32UL500 may be based on the same CELL rather than the same panel. So the backlight could be different. Although you need to be careful cross-referencing different sources for colour gamut measurements and certainly don’t pay too much attention to RTINGS data on that. As they use an obscure methodology for measuring that and they often under-report gamut massively. I don’t generally recommend monitors based around the Innolux M315DJJ panel and I’ve covered why extensively in other threads, including here. Having said that, the contrast is certainly strong and your own requirements with respect to viewing comfort and desire for strong Adobe RGB coverage could mean they’re the most suitable options. Given the weaknesses in colour consistency, don’t expect to be able to experience the full vibrancy impact of the colour gamut, though. The screen surface is far from smooth as well.

If you’re going down the ~32″ ‘4K’ route then you should perhaps also consider a model like the EW3280U instead. I know viewing comfort takes priority, but I don’t think you should give up on IPS just yet. You haven’t tried an IPS-type panel that’s comparable to that one and I’m not entirely convinced its panel type alone that’s causing the discomfort. IPS panels are vastly superior for any colour-critical work and maintain their vibrancy much better across the screen. None of that matters if the screen does end up causing discomfort, but the issue is you’d be sacrificing a lot in other areas by going the VA route. If you’re really concerned about scaling given your current OS and programs and want to stick with VA primarily for viewing comfort reasons, have you also considered UltraWide models? Unfortunately the Adobe RGB coverage isn’t great there, 90% DCI-P3 is the more typical target. So perhaps that’s why you dismissed them.

[brownc]

Thanks for your comments on the Innolux 32-VA panels. While the color gamut in the EW3270U and 32UL500 is decent, the screen texture and variance in colors is a concern. I am having trouble determining which 32″ monitors use the AUO VA panels. Are there any AUO VA 32″ panels at 1440 resolution with somewhat of a wide gamut of color, like > 85% adobe RGB? The only hope I’ve found would be the HP pavilion gamine 32. I found this panel in a list, the M320DVN02.1, but not sure which monitor uses it yet.

Maybe I’ll have to try a EW3280U and just figure out how to work with scaling in my engineering programs. If I don’t want 4k for scaling issues, and 1440 seems the best vertical resolution, then yes you bring up a good point on going 21:9 format. It would make more sense to do a wide format to throw two windows side-by-side, but with my quest to find a VA panel with color accuracy I didn’t go down that path because the viewing angles might be an issue. I saw a flat wide monitor that caught my interest because it didn’t look bad on viewing angles. I may be happy with a 3000r wide screen, didn’t know they went that shallow. So if I do a 1440 VA panel that’s wide screen, what would have a good amount of adobe RGB with a sRGB mode? The Samsung S34E790C looked interesting but a dot pitch of .23 was smaller than I want. Your review mentions softness in the pixels but maybe the small dot pitch keeps it sharp overall, and the gamut isn’t very big.

[PCM2]

I can’t confirm any models which definitely use M320DVN02.1 specifically, although the HP model you mentioned certainly fits. The Samsung S32A600 and related models use an AUO CELL with custom backlight (CY-MA320KGAV1H). But it’s not a wide gamut model – Samsung always mentions if a wide gamut is used and usually specify coverage against a wide standard. If they don’t mention this on a product page or spec sheet, it’s because it’s ~sRGB. 🙂

As for UltraWides, the newer 1500R curved panels are a better bet for subpixel structure as the subpixels are less squat. But you’re correct that the pixel density means potential issues in that respect are less noticeable than they otherwise would be. The colour gamut is a bit wider with those, but still limited to ~90% as suggested in my previous post. An example being the AOC CU34G2X, which I recorded 88% DCI-P3 (83% Adobe RGB) for. None of the VA UltraWides offer a significant upgrade in gamut compared to that, even something higher end like the Acer X35.

[brownc]

So I’m going to try a curved 21:9 monitor and see what I think of the ultrawide and curved at the same time. I really wanted an 1800R but those panels seem older generation, out of stock on most of them, and only have a partial extension past sRGB. It looks like you said the 1500R fits my desires more having wider gamut sizes, so I’m considering the following VA models:

Asus VG34VQL1B – conflicting info on the panel being either CSOT ? or AUO
AOC CU34G2X – samsung / tp vision panel

They both tend to have similar specs so I would be interested in knowing your thoughts. The screen coating/graininess of the AOC and the 1500r on both might be the negatives I have to deal with. Judging just from the photos the 1500r may be too much for me to get used to quickly.
I couldn’t find much reviews of the Philips 345M1CR, or 346CUAE, 346B1C models so not sure how those compare. Samsung has a new business 1800R also, but likely not the color reproduction of the 1500R monitors.

I also think I should buy a SpyderX Pro if you think that’s the right choice for a first time calibrator?

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