Thanks for the NEC Multisync EA231WMi

ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,127 moderator
edited April 19, 2011 in Digital Darkroom
Thanks to the wisdom and experience of this forum I am now the proud owner of a NEC Multisync EA231WMi, 23", IPS, 1080p LCD monitor. Thanks especially to user "Newsy" who has been so patient and informative explaining why IPS technology is important and what monitors use the technology and where to find additional information in order to make informed choices.

I had some concerns with this particular model in that some users have had bad experiences with color tinting side to side and even bad pixels. I needn't have worried as my copy appears to have no defects in major color variance nor bad pixels.

1080p is a real treat and, since I can now move the Photoshop tools off to the old CRT as the second monitor, spanned workbench, the full view of the NEC monitor is available for viewing and editing.

WooHoo and good times! :clap
ziggy53
Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums

Comments

  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    CRT? headscratch.gif:D

    Congrats, Ziggy!

    I've been appreciating my NEC for some time now and take it's goodness for granted.
  • angevin1angevin1 Registered Users Posts: 3,403 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2011
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    CRT? headscratch.gif:D

    Congrats, Ziggy!

    I've been appreciating my NEC for some time now and take it's goodness for granted.


    x2! and x2 on Newsy's awesomeness!
    tom wise
  • AFillmoreAFillmore Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited March 26, 2011
    New Monitor
    Hey Ziggy, I'm going from laptop to desk top and I'm also trying to find a new monitor that won't break the bank. How's your new monitor working out? Are the colors pretty good and true to your printed images? And where did you make your purchase?

    Thanks!
    Amanda
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,127 moderator
    edited March 26, 2011
    AFillmore wrote: »
    Hey Ziggy, I'm going from laptop to desk top and I'm also trying to find a new monitor that won't break the bank. How's your new monitor working out? Are the colors pretty good and true to your printed images? And where did you make your purchase?

    Thanks!
    Amanda

    Working great for photo and video. Video was the real thing I was after and the NEC Multisync EA231WMi supports 1080p natively.

    It required some attention to setup for brightness, color, contrast and gamma, but that's normal. (You cannot trust the default "anything".) Color accuracy compared to prints is predictably pretty good but no transmissive device like a monitor can ever exactly match a reflective print. Remember too that human vision does not allow for absolute color accuracy. For best results rely on sampling critical colors with software and adjust accordingly.

    Forget about using the "Eco Mode" to save power. It's no good for color accuracy.

    I wound up using Amazon for the purchase.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • AFillmoreAFillmore Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited March 27, 2011
    Thanks very much!
  • BradfordBennBradfordBenn Registered Users Posts: 2,506 Major grins
    edited March 27, 2011
    I can second all of Ziggy's comments as I have the same monitor and am very happy with it. Just remember that you still need the printer profile if you are soft proofing.
    -=Bradford

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  • AFillmoreAFillmore Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited April 4, 2011
    I was just going to purchase this same monitor and they seem to have it at Amazon but with B&H and Electronica Direct (the company Amazon gets the monitors from) they both are out of stock and B&H says it's a discontinued item. Does anyone know if they have a new version out or why this one is discontinued?

    Thanks much,
    Amanda
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,127 moderator
    edited April 4, 2011
    AFillmore wrote: »
    I was just going to purchase this same monitor and they seem to have it at Amazon but with B&H and Electronica Direct (the company Amazon gets the monitors from) they both are out of stock and B&H says it's a discontinued item. Does anyone know if they have a new version out or why this one is discontinued?

    Thanks much,
    Amanda

    Amazon is currently showing the item as "In Stock".

    http://www.amazon.com/NEC-EA231WMi-BK-23-Inch-MultiSync-Widescreen/dp/B002LARVYK

    ... also at:

    http://www.compuplus.com/NEC-EA-SERIES-23INCH-LCD-1111677.html

    CompuPlus has pretty good Google customer ratings as well as ResellerRatings:

    http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Comp_U_Plus
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,127 moderator
    edited April 4, 2011
    It does look like the EA232WMI-BK replaces the EA231WMI-BK.

    From this review:

    http://www.flatpanelshd.com/review.php?subaction=showfull&id=1295618278

    "In terms of picture quality NEC EA232WMi is very close to the EA231WMi and the IPS panel obviously has the same characteristics. The new EA232WMi also has the same downside with weak black level reproduction and actually it’s a bit weaker than on the old version. My real concern with EA232WMi, however, is not the weak black level because we have come to expect that from IPS based monitors, but instead the backlight bleeding in the lower left corner. We might have been unlucky with our sample but I’m worried that it could be a general trend with the new IPS panel with LED, and we hope to hear some feedback from some of you guys if you decide to go for the EA232WMi.

    All in all EA232WMi is hardly an improvement over EA231WMi. Energy consumption is definitely lower but black level and light homogeneity is worse. Besides the bleeding, EA232WMi is a recommendable monitor but we had expected some progress in terms of picture quality.    "
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,127 moderator
    edited April 4, 2011
    ziggy53 wrote: »
    It does look like the EA232WMI-BK replaces the EA231WMI-BK.

    From this review:

    http://www.flatpanelshd.com/review.php?subaction=showfull&id=1295618278

    "In terms of picture quality NEC EA232WMi is very close to the EA231WMi and the IPS panel obviously has the same characteristics. The new EA232WMi also has the same downside with weak black level reproduction and actually it’s a bit weaker than on the old version. My real concern with EA232WMi, however, is not the weak black level because we have come to expect that from IPS based monitors, but instead the backlight bleeding in the lower left corner. We might have been unlucky with our sample but I’m worried that it could be a general trend with the new IPS panel with LED, and we hope to hear some feedback from some of you guys if you decide to go for the EA232WMi.

    All in all EA232WMi is hardly an improvement over EA231WMi. Energy consumption is definitely lower but black level and light homogeneity is worse. Besides the bleeding, EA232WMi is a recommendable monitor but we had expected some progress in terms of picture quality.    "

    Also read their forum post:

    http://www.flatpanelshd.com/flatforums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4639
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • AFillmoreAFillmore Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited April 12, 2011
    Hi there, I got my monitor yesterday.. and just trying to set it up and get it configured properly. I have a lot of what I think is called swimming.. like the horizantal hold is off on an old tv.. lots of lines going up and down.. The manual doesn't address this very well. Any suggestions on fine tuning the monitor? Thanks much, sorry for being a pest!
  • NewsyNewsy Registered Users Posts: 605 Major grins
    edited April 12, 2011
    AFillmore wrote: »
    Hi there, I got my monitor yesterday.. and just trying to set it up and get it configured properly. I have a lot of what I think is called swimming.. like the horizantal hold is off on an old tv.. lots of lines going up and down.. The manual doesn't address this very well. Any suggestions on fine tuning the monitor? Thanks much, sorry for being a pest!


    On an analog VGA connection or via a digital connection such as DVI or DisplayPort?

    Regardless, it sounds like you need to return it. Even analog VGA should not be like that though you will see occassional image glitchs depending on a lot of things such as local power quality, RF noise, etc.

    Edit... have you tried connecting the monitor and or PC to a different plug? If the monitor is connected to the lower plug on the wall outlet try the upper plug. In many municipalities the upper and lower are connected to a different circuit through the main breaker panel. You could even try running an extension cord to the outdoor outlets or a bathroom outlet which may be on ground fault protected circuits. I once had an issue years ago with a monitor and finally figured out that it only happened when the Xmas lights were turned on. Moved the Xmas lights to a different plug and my problem went away.

    Make a video of it and contact NEC tech support - they have a live chat line via their web site, good place to start.

    .
    http://newsy.smugmug.com

    .
  • AFillmoreAFillmore Registered Users Posts: 16 Big grins
    edited April 19, 2011
    Thank you! Looks like the swimming was caused because I had the power strip behind the monitor on the desk.. :) Phew.
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