using Spectraview II with an NEC PA271W on an Apple Silicon Mac

[Eric Brody]

I have an NEC PA271W monitor that I'd like to use with my new Studio M4 which is arriving in less than a week.

I have a USB-c to display port cable which runs the monitor just fine with my M1 MacBook Pro, so I assume it will run on the Studio.

Apparently Spectraview II requires an additional connection. I followed the instructions and connected a USB-A to USB-c cable as directed but Spectraview II did not see the monitor.

Does anyone out there use this monitor with an Apple Silicon Mac and Spectraview II software and puck? I tried also with the new Calibrate puck but it still did not see the monitor.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Chris_Brown]

I use an NEC PA271 with a Mac Studio. I use NEC MultiProfiler for calibration & profiling.

The monitor uses an display port cable for display and a USB cable for communication with the monitor's settings. When profiling, use the USB port on the monitor that is for profiling with your puck.

Somewhere on that Sharp site I found their recommendation not to use HDMI due to incomplete color info being passed through.

I've had zero problems and great accuracy.

More downloads here.

[Eric Brody]

I managed to get my PA271W working with the USB-A (monitor) to USB-B cable (computer), with my new M4 Max Studio that arrived a couple of days ago. Spectraview II recognized the monitor and I was able to profile it with the Spectraview II software to a Delta E of 0.4, not bad for a 13 year old monitor with 14K hours!

I just saved some serious money over a new monitor.

Eric

[David Eichler]

I managed to get my PA271W working with the USB-A (monitor) to USB-B cable (computer), with my new M4 Max Studio that arrived a couple of days ago. Spectraview II recognized the monitor and I was able to profile it with the Spectraview II software to a Delta E of 0.4, not bad for a 13 year old monitor with 14K hours!

I just saved some serious money over a new monitor.

Eric

I believe that Calibrite offers an alternative that does not require using the USB cable, but you have to buy their software for this equipment.

[digitaldog]

I believe that Calibrite offers an alternative that does not require using the USB cable, but you have to buy their software for this equipment.

You really don't want to go there for a SpectraView; it is the only software that fully controls the hardware.

[David Eichler]

You really don't want to go there for a SpectraView; it is the only software that fully controls the hardware.

I had been under the impression that Calibrite had taken over providing the software to replace Spectraview for X-Rite sensors, and I was using their software for a little while before I got a Silicon Mac, until I read this post.

Btw, does this method of using the extra USB cable with Spectraview and an old monitor have any functional downsides?

[digitaldog]

I had been under the impression that Calibrite had taken over providing the software to replace Spectraview for X-Rite sensors, and I was using their software for a little while before I got a Silicon Mac, until I read this post.

Btw, does this method of using the extra USB cable with Spectraview and an old monitor have any functional downsides?

There is no downside to using the extra USB cable, and you have no other options with a modern Mac.

[David Eichler]

There is no downside to using the extra USB cable, and you have no other options with a modern Mac.

If I now want to use the i1 Display Pro sensor with a monitor that does not have its own profiling software, am I stuck with shelling out for latest Calibrite version to use it with a Silicon Mac?

[digitaldog]

You can use any number of software products that support that Colorimeter.