NEC MultiSync LCD2170NX review

With its 21.3" panel, NEC's MultiSync LCD2170NX is only one inch larger than 20.1" monitors, but it feels much bigger. The display fills your vision if you sit a normal distance away from it.

The LCD2170NX has the same 1,600x1,200 native resolution as 20.1" panels, but the larger screen size is easier on the eye. You can easily work on two vertical documents side by side with this monitor.

As you'd expect from a display of this size, the quality is excellent. NEC provides DVI and D-sub inputs, although the digital input gives the best quality. You can adjust the screen's brightness and contrast using the onscreen display.

The LCD2170NX has a joystick that's used for navigating the menus, but it feels a bit flimsy and cheap to use. Alternatively, you can use the NaviSet software, which lets you adjust the screen's settings using a Windows application.

Viewing angles were among the best we've ever seen; you have to view the screen at extreme angles in order to see a change in brightness. Evenly lit, the panel swept through our display tests and proved to be one of the best performers we've seen. Colours were warmly reproduced and accuracy was very high. Our colour wheel test was produced well, with excellent colour blending and gradation.

It isn't all good news, though; the LCD2170NX has only a 16ms response time. This is not bad for such a large panel, but gamers will probably want a slightly quicker monitor.

That said, at just over £600, the 2170NX is a good £200 cheaper than the 21.3" monitors we reviewed in our round-up of monitors in Labs, Shopper December 2005 and close in price to a lot of the 20.1" monitors. If you want high resolution that's easy on the eye, this is a good choice.

Author: David Ludlow