Belinea 10 19 20

...8ms *new* version of the Belinea 10 19 20, not the older 600:1 25ms one whose spec is listed above.

Since LCD screens flooded in to dominate the monitor market, I've remained a steadfast CRT fan and LCD skeptic . LCD monitors I'd seen in shops were too contrasty, with shadows that went quickly to black and screens that changed colour and contrast dramatically depending on the viewing angle. Even when sat right in front of LCD monitors ...
...screened, 1000:1 contrast ratio 8ms Belinea 10 19 20 (not be confused the 25ms version), with viewing angles of around 170 degrees.

An interesting thing I found out was that there are actually three main kinds of screens used in LCD monitors - TN, which is the most common, used in the vast majority of consumer-grade LCD monitors, S-IPS, which is an older standard, better quality than TNs mostly, but getting rarer, and PVA/MVA. PVA/MVA ... more

The review below pertains to the 1000:1 contrast, 8ms *new* version of the Belinea 10 19 20, not the older 600:1 25ms one whose spec is listed above.

Since LCD screens flooded in to dominate the monitor market, I've remained a steadfast CRT fan and LCD skeptic . LCD monitors I'd seen in shops were too contrasty, with shadows that went quickly to black and screens that changed colour and contrast dramatically depending on the viewing angle. Even when sat right in front of LCD monitors that I'd used, I'd noticed that a shift of my head or of position could alter the brightness and contrast of the picture. Not the best, then, for the viewing and post processing of photographs, which is what my monitor is used for mostly.

However, when I needed a new monitor, and I was faced with the fact that there were hardly any CRTs left on the market and little support from my filmsy rubbish desk for a big CRT, I eventually caved in and started to research LCD monitors.

The final result of my research was my purchase of the PVA screened, 1000:1 contrast ratio 8ms Belinea 10 19 20 (not be confused the 25ms version), with viewing angles of around 170 degrees.

An interesting thing I found out was that there are actually three main kinds of screens used in LCD monitors - TN, which is the most common, used in the vast majority of consumer-grade LCD monitors, S-IPS, which is an older standard, better quality than TNs mostly, but getting rarer, and PVA/MVA. PVA/MVA monitors have much better viewing angles than the typical TN ones you see in shops, and wider contrast ratios than both TN and S-IPS monitors tend to have, plus purer blacks, but up until now their main problem has been response time. Few PVA/MVA screens have response time faster than 25ms, however, the Belinea 10 19 20 was one of the first to use a new 8ms "M-PVA" screen. It has the same panel in it as the highly regarded Viewsonic VP930.

I was worried that despite the hype about PVA/MVA screens having better viewing angles than the average TN monitor, I would still be dissatisfied with the viewing angles. However, the M-PVA Belinea 10 19 20 is leagues ahead of the TN monitors you see in the shops and has the best viewing angles of any LCD monitor I've seen. While it's not totally flawless, I don't notice it shifting much at all unless I'm practically at a 180 degree angle from the screen. With this LCD monitor, you could sit on the floor and watch a film looking up at it on a desk. With my father's Viewsonic TN, you can't watch a film unless your head is directly level with the screen.

It's hard to judge the colour quality of the monitor without a calibrated reference but I find it to be excellent, if a little subdued at the default setting. The best thing about the image quality, to me, is the CRT like contrast. A 1000:1 contrast ratio really shows up a lot of shadow detail (unfortunately, it also shows up noise and grain to a much greater extent than a CRT!), and fine graduations between tones that I just haven't seen with other LCDs. It really has CRT-grade contrast and dynamic range. I'm very impressed with it.

I also like that the Belinea 10 19 20 has a tilting screen. Looks aren't a great problem with LCD monitors, since they are so thin and so much of them is screen, but the 10 19 20 is pleasing to the eye. The controls are adequate if not extensive, and it comes without much in the way of driver software. There is no colour calibration software with the monitor, nothing, in fact, save the driver and the manual.

As you might expect for a 19" LCD, the picture is incredibly clear and sharp, far more so than a CRT.

Belinea's hotpixel policy is not the best, however, my monitor does not have any hotpixels. Since I've owned it it has however aqquired a small 'thrip' fly which somehow got into the monitor and became lodged there. This is apparently a common thing with all LCD monitors.

Pros:

Excellent viewing angles, far better than monitors you see in shops
Excellent contrast and dynamic range, capable of picking up a lot of shadow detail and achieving a low contrast, CRT-like look
Extremely sharp and clear picture (like all 19" LCDs)
Good colour
Tilting/rotatable screen
8ms PVA screen easily fast enough for games, films or anything else you might use it for
Cheaper than the highly regarded Viewsonic VP 930, yet uses the same panel

Cons:

Belinea's hot pixel policy is not great
No calibration software included
Shows up a lot of noise and artifacts especially in the shadows, if you're used to a CRT (true of all LCDs)

So on the whole, I would highly recommend this monitor, especially to those who don't want to lose the viewing angles and contrast range of CRT monitors. It's good for any use, but I would think, with its good contrast range, that it is particularly suited to photo-editing and viewing and general graphics work. It would also be excellent for games.  

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