MultiSync Pa241 & SpectraView Reference 241

[shayaweiss]

There are two, three or maybe even four versions of the PA241W :

 -  In the US you can have the MultiSync PA241W with or without the SpectraView II software (U$D 1079/ U$D 1329 *B&H today)

 -  In Europe there is the MultiSync PA241W and the SpectraView Reference 241 (880 Euros / 1780 Euros !!!  *lowest price I could find today)

From what I understand the price in Europe for the Reference 241 is so high, because not only does it come with a hood, the software and a colorimeter, but also it was handpicked, right? That leaves me the obvious question, whether the MultiSync in the US are potentially better, as the good ones are still mixed into the lot?! And I understand, that there can be quite a some difference in quality, as they go for double the price! Also in the US all models have hardware calibration enabled, whereas in Europe only the SpectraView, according to Czornyj's post in an other thread here (http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=42040&view=findpost&p=350892).
Therefore, when having the choice to buy here or there, where should one buy? It seams to me that it is obvious that the American MultiSync are not only potentially a lot better (as you might get a real good one), but also effectively better, as they have hardware calibration turned on.

BTW does anyone hear of issues with glowing angles due to the lack of A-TW polarizer on the PA241? Should I worry about it?

[Czornyj]

The PA241W is factory calibrated, has special free software (Multiprofiler) that can set luminance, white and black, point, TRC and even chromatic coordinates of primaries, and after that it creates proper ICC profile. I've validated the results with Patchtool and my i1pro spectrophotometer and it's suprisingly close to desired target, so the SVII hardware calibration is not really necessary.

If someone expects the perfection, he should try to get Spectraview II and custom matted colorimetrer from US somehow, it's not available in Europe, and the european Spectraview Reference edition of the display needs a ColorMunki or EyeOne Pro spectro to be precisely calibrated - I belive that Multiprofiler by itself can calibrate the display precisier, than regular i1d2 or DTP94 colorimeter and Spectraview Display 4 a.k.a. basICColor Display 4 (actually - I've tested the Reference 241 with my DTP94 and i1pro, and I'm quite sure about that, apart from the fact, that none of my calibration devices can be considered as reference)

[shayaweiss]

[...] If someone expects the perfection, he should try to get Spectraview II and custom matted colorimetrer from US somehow, [...]

The "custom matted colorimeter" beeing the NEC Color sensor, the one based on the i1D2 and sold in the NEC kit in the US (like this one http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/6137...pectraView.html ), right?

I am confused, I thought, that for the European regular MultiSync models the hardware calibration was not enabled. So it is enabled on the European MultiSync PA241W?

[...] I believe that Multiprofiler by itself can calibrate the display preciser, than regular i1d2 or DTP94 colorimeter and Spectraview Display 4 a.k.a. basICColor Display 4 [...]

but not preciser than with Spectraview II and the NEC sensor, if understand correctly, as you mentioned that this would satisfy those who are looking for perfection?

How does Multiprofiler work, as it does not have input from a sensor?

[Czornyj]

The "custom matted colorimeter" beeing the NEC Color sensor, the one based on the i1D2 and sold in the NEC kit in the US (like this one http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/6137...pectraView.html ), right?

I am confused, I thought, that for the European regular MultiSync models the hardware calibration was not enabled. So it is enabled on the European MultiSync PA241W?

 but not preciser than with Spectraview II and the NEC sensor, if understand correctly, as you mentioned that this would satisfy those who are looking for perfection?

How does Multiprofiler work, as it does not have input from a sensor?

A European Spectraview Display 4 (basICColor Display 4) won't hardware calibrate regular PA241W, but any PA241W can be hardware calibrated via US Spectraview II, it's a matter of different NEC policy.

Multiprofiler is basing on accuracy of factory calibration, and it just controls the display via DDC/CI or USB predicting how it should behave in a particular setting. It's not as precise as calibration with a decent calibration device, but calibrators are also not perfect (as you've alredy had noticed), so you need a really good instrument to get things a little bit better. I'd recommend to give it a try, and possibly get Spectraview kit with the custom made X-Rite i1 display colorimeter by occasion.

[shayaweiss]

Thank you for your advice, Czornyj!

Do you think that the absence of a A-TW filter might cause a problem? Did you notice it when you tested this monitor?

Anyone?

[Thomas Krüger]

@ shayaweiss:

If you are looking for a reseller in Europe you can call here for information: http://www.tftshop.net/shop_content.php/coID/4

[Czornyj]

Thank you for your advice, Czornyj!

Do you think that the absence of a A-TW filter might cause a problem? Did you notice it when you tested this monitor?

Anyone?

The absence of A-TW polarizer is noticable - black is prone to "silvering" when you watch the screen at an angle. But the black point is lower, so overall it's less noticable than in x90WQXi2 series, and in my opinion it's not disturbing while photo editing work.

[shayaweiss]

The absence of A-TW polarizer is noticable - black is prone to "silvering" when you watch the screen at an angle. But the black point is lower, so overall it's less noticable than in x90WQXi2 series, and in my opinion it's not disturbing the photo editing work.

Do you know why NEC didn't include a polarizer?

[Czornyj]

Do you know why NEC didn't include a polarizer?

It only worked in horizontal orientation, so it suddenly disappeared from displays with pivot function.

[shayaweiss]

It only worked in horizontal orientation, so it suddenly disappeared from displays with pivot function.

 I ordered one today. I hope it won't bother me too much. And because I am in a remote place it would be very difficult to send it back or have it serviced. That's why I do appreciate a lot all the insights and advices on this forum.

Thank you