Topic: Monitor suggestions (Read 1730 times)

CynthiaM · « **on:** June 13, 2026, 02:41:14 pm »

Looking for suggestions for replacing an old NEC MultiSync LCD 2690wuxi monitor. That has done me well for many years. I've always been satisfied with screen to print match and the no brainer ease of monitor calibration with the included colorimeter and calibration software.
Thanks in advance for suggestions.

Kyle Jackson · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2026, 07:00:53 pm »

Hi, I gather it's dying?

I had a NEC 2690wuxi2, followed by a pair of PA271W that were warranty replacements for the first one. All 3 of them eventually had LCD backlight issues (fading, colour shift, blotchiness, etc). It's a shame because they were otherwise great monitors.

Anyhow in 2020 I replaced the last one with an Eizo CS2740. It was crazy expensive (for me) but it was my only option at the time (for wide-gamut 4k) aside from one of the Asus ProArt models, since NEC abandoned the market (sold to Sharp). Pandemic availability was a problem too, and I ended up with the Eizo.

It's worked well, although I liked the NEC SpectraView software for calibration and profiling more than I like the Eizo Colour Navigator software. Plus the Eizo doesn't include a colorimeter like the NEC did so I had to buy one. Anyhow it's good, and I have no problem recommending it. Their technical support has been good too, like when I asked things like how to port cal/profiling history to another PC last year.

Since 2020 there are other models now but I'm not familiar with them. I think the field is still generally Eizo, Asus ProArt, and BenQ had some competitors on the budget side. In 2020 the latter still had some issues with uniformity, etc, but maybe they've improved since.

digitaldog · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2026, 08:57:36 pm »

I'm saving my pennies for the new Apple Studio Display XDR. I want HDR.
And I'm worried that my SpectraView will fail to be useful with SpectraView in the next macOS. I just don't see them updating the software to silicon.

CynthiaM · « **Reply #3 on:** June 14, 2026, 08:26:52 am »

The monitor seems fine but what appears to be dying is the ability of the Spectraview software to recognize a colorimeter. Won't recognize the one that came with the monitor or a ColorMunki that I have around. Went through all kinds of trouble shooting. It's not the USB ports as they work fine with other devices. Have booted and re-booted umpteen times, uninstalled and reinstalled the Spectraview software but to no avail. I knew this day would come soon. Everything was working fine at least a month ago when I was still getting delta values around 1.5 or less; but, there was a Windows update this past week and now the software wont' work.

At any rate, I'm looking at the EIZO ColorEdge CS2731 27". I primarily do photo editing; little if any video editing and so far, the video editing has been comprised of digitizing old family movies from vhs and hi8 tapes.

Any recommendations for a calibration device to work with the Eizo?

CynthiaM · « **Reply #4 on:** June 14, 2026, 08:48:21 am »

Quote from: digitaldog on June 13, 2026, 08:57:36 pm

I'm saving my pennies for the new Apple Studio Display XDR. I want HDR.
And I'm worried that my SpectraView will fail to be useful with SpectraView in the next macOS. I just don't see them updating the software to silicon.

I hear you. Mine died after a Windows update. Because I'm on a Windows machine an Apple display is not an option. Years ago, I was led down the NEC path after attending an Epson Print Academy at a Photoshop World in Orlando at which I think you may have been one of the presenters? At any rate, at the time, in forums you were really talking up the NEC and the advise has served me well.

Of note, I do primarily photo editing most of which these days has been portraiture; in particular, newborns, babies and first birthday/cake smash all of which require color accuracy with skin tones. Years ago, I found my way to a video you had done explaining how to do skin tone color correcting with lab values. I'm a good student; let's just say I never edit these images without the Info tool opened with the LAB panel readout as I watch the B value until it is greater than the A value with an HSL adjustment. The process seems to work well as whenever I have shown any of these prints ( I do my own printing on an Epson Sure color 800) in local photography critique groups, the skin tones are always applauded.

Any other suggestions for a monitor and calibration devise would be most appreciated.

Richard.Wills · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2026, 12:57:33 pm »

Eizo CS2731 with a Calibrite Display Pro HL (gives very close measurements to the i1Pro2 ).
Happy so far, hood only took five months to come over from Japan...

Kyle Jackson · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2026, 01:16:18 pm »

Win 11?

If your NEC is fine and it's just a Windows issue with SpectraView, I'd be trying to stick with it. But I don't know the fix. You already tried re-install. Maybe roll back the Windows update?

SpectraView worked for me on my old Win 10 PC last fall (v1.1.41 I think). I don't know with Win 11 because I haven't bothered installing SV on my new Win 11 build. My NEC is just a general-use second screen now because its backlight issues are bad enough that it can't hit my cal target and it's not worth profiling.

For the Eizo I got an Xrite i1 Display Pro, but again that was in 2020 before Xrite dumped their consumer products to another company. I don't know what's available now. But Eizo should have a list of supported colorimeters, any of those should be fine.

Just be aware that some versions of their Colour Navigator software drops support for older colorimeters (and monitors), so you have to creep the release notes to see which software versions support which monitors and colorimeters. The latest I can use with my Xrite i1DP is v7.2.5.3, works ok in both Win 10 and 11. Not worried about the old version because the new ones don't really change much, mainly support for different monitor models. Hopefully no OS issues pop up tho...

Czornyj · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2026, 02:40:49 am »

Quote from: digitaldog on June 13, 2026, 08:57:36 pm

I'm saving my pennies for the new Apple Studio Display XDR. I want HDR.
And I'm worried that my SpectraView will fail to be useful with SpectraView in the next macOS. I just don't see them updating the software to silicon.

Suprisingly there will be SpectraView II ARM x64 version.

27GM950B is an interesting, 2,4x cheaper alternative to ASD XDR, and it also has hardware calibration. It only has slightly smaller peak brightness (1250cd/m^2 instead of 2000cd/m^2 in ASD)

bwana · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2026, 03:02:50 pm »

That LG sure looks good. But this had me wondering:

'Built-in AI Upscaling² sharpens content toward 5K from connected devices'

Will it hallucinate colors? oversharpen?

digitaldog · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2026, 09:24:30 pm »

Quote from: Czornyj on June 16, 2026, 02:40:49 am

Suprisingly there will be SpectraView II ARM x64 version.

Indeed, the latest build is (happy, happy, joy joy):

jbond7 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2026, 01:39:57 pm »

There has been a fair bit of good reviews for the PD BenQ 2770U which has an auto calibration feature. Glyn Dewis has a nice write up on his blog. https://glyndewis.com/blog/benq-pd2770u

jneufferjr · « **Reply #11 on:** July 22, 2026, 10:34:44 pm »

In 2022 I bought a of BenQ PD2725U displays. I've been very happy with them. Although, they do not cover AdobeRGB space, which may be a deal breaker for some.

Eric Brody · « **Reply #12 on:** August 20, 2026, 11:53:04 am »

When my beloved NEC PA271 finally bit the dust after thirteen (!) great years, I looked at BenQ and Eizo. After a lot of playing around with specs and prices, I got the EIZO 2740, on sale in April and have been quite pleased with it. It was only a tiny bit more than the similar BenQ. It calibrates well with ColorNavigator 7 and my Calibrate Display Pro.

Definitely worth a look if you can't or won't spend for a high end Eizo or the top of the line Apple at a price similar to the Apple Studio Display.

Czornyj · « **Reply #13 on:** August 22, 2026, 10:01:24 am »

Quote from: Eric Brody on August 20, 2026, 11:53:04 am

Definitely worth a look if you can't or won't spend for a high end Eizo or the top of the line Apple at a price similar to the Apple Studio Display.

Contrary to common belief ASD is better.

PA270XT is super cheap, shockingly good alternative (with retouching stylus on the top), but hardware calibration software that’s simply unusable so it need some effort to become usable.

Frans Waterlander · « **Reply #14 on:** August 22, 2026, 12:36:35 pm »

Quote from: Czornyj on August 22, 2026, 10:01:24 am

Contrary to common belief ASD is better.

PA270XT is super cheap, shockingly good alternative (with retouching stylus on the top), but hardware calibration software that’s simply unusable so it need some effort to become usable.

Czornyj, what's a PA270XT? Can't find it when I Google.