NEC MultiSync PA271W – Superb video quality
Pros
- Incredible performance
- Robust OSD
Cons
- No HDMI
- Relatively expensive even for the high end range
Bottom Line:
This monitor performs really well but you got to have deep pockets for buying it.
Manufacturer’s specifications
- Connectivity options – DisplayPort, DVIx2 and S-Video
- Ergonomic options – Swivel, Pivot, Tilt, and height adjustment
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 2,560×1,440 pixels
- VESA support: Yes
- Audio: n/a
- Bundled video cables – DisplayPort, DVI
- Backlight – CCFL
- Screen film – Matte
- Panel Type – IPS
- Pixel-response rate – 5 ms
- Number of presets – 5
- Overdrive: Yes
- Picture options: Brightness, Ambient Light Sensor, Contrast, Black level
- Color controls – Color Temperature, Location-based RGB controls, Cyan, Magenta and Blue
- Gamma control: Yes
Design:
NEC MultiSync PA271W is huge! The screen size is the same as Dell UltraSharp U2711 but the PA271W is weighs 30 pounds; that is seven pounds heavier than the U2711. The NEC monitor is 3.5 inches deep, the footstand is 9.2 inches deep and 12.5 inches wide and the bezel is 0.8 inch wide. This panel has all possible ergonomic options. You can adjust the screen height by 5.75 inches. At the highest point, panel is 6.5 inches away from the desktop and at the lowest, the panel is 0.75 inch away. The monitor swivels right and left by 45 degrees and it also pivots right to 90 degrees. Back tilting is supported about 30 degrees. There is also a handle for carrying the monitor on the back. You will probably never lift this display up given the weight of the screen but it might come handy when you occasionally shift your computer to another room. Anyways, if you want to carry it, the best way to do it is through the handle. The monitor also won’t topple easily because of the heavy weight.
Inside Dope:
NEC MultiSync PA271W costs $1,349 and this price makes it clear that the monitor is meant for professional graphics artists only. If you are a casual user, this panel will certainly make a big hole in your pocket. If you are still reading this review, chances are that you can afford the price. If you are thinking about buying this monitor, let me tell you that the picture quality is top notch. In fact, this monitor is now the best computer LCD I have ever tested in my labs. The OSD array is robust and the best I have ever seen. The color reproduction is stunning and there is no backlight bleeding.
Connection options on the NEC MultiSync PA271W are limited and this along with the price might be the only two things that hold you back. If you are looking for alternatives, there is Dell UltraSharp U2711 which costs a bit less and gives a similar performance. NEC has a slight edge in performance but Dell has better connection options at a lesser price. On the other hand, professional users will love the OSD array of the NEC product.
The OSD of the NEC MultiSync PA271W has plenty of buttons; they are all aligned on the bezel’s lower right side. They include Up/Down, Right/Left, PIP, Input and Menu. On the array’s left, there is a Blue LED (or green, it depends on what you prefer), ambient light sensor and power button. Press the menu buttons once and it will bring up the onscreen labels which are aligned next to each o the button. There is also an interface window on the lower side of the screen.
The interface gives you controls over black level, brightness, sharpness, aspect ratio control and eco mode toggle. There is also a brightness dial which includes candela per square meter and it estimates the current brightness. I found the tool fairly accurate but the accuracy dwindled as I pushed the brightness up. The carbon footprint interface of the NEC MultiSync PA271W quite good too, it shows the money that the current power consumption setting is costing you. There are five options for the currency.
NEC MultiSync PA271W has five presets and it includes sRGB, Adobe RGB, Full, High Bright,and DCI. Each of the preset lets you adjust the color temperature from 3,000K to 15,000K. There are also green, yellow and red adjustment options. Finally, the OSD lets you adjust the magenta, blue and cyan colors.
NEC MultiSync PA271W comes with advanced menu which gives you more control over the picture settings. Some amongst these include RGB concentration adjustment in the screen’s specific areas and also an option for fine tuning the uniformity.
For testing, I decided to put the NEC MultiSync PA271W through game tests. I played World of Warcraft, as I usually do for these monitor tests because this game is quite good in judging the vibrancy and quality of color. When in High Bright mode, the games were accurate and the colors too were vibrant. World of Warcraft on this monitor was as good as that on Dell U2711, the colors looked full and didn’t oversaturate the image. Then I looked at a few photos in the sRGB and Adobe RGB presets. The color was quite accurate in both these presets. In the Adobe RGB mode they were appropriate and natural.
NEC MultiSync PA271W has two DVI ports, two each of USB upstream and downstream ports, S-Video port, and DisplayPort. Lack of HDMI port is a big disappointment and it might prove to be a deal breaker especially because the Dell U2711, a competitor, has one. The monitor has a PIP button which gives you another small screen in side the main screen and this give you the output from the second DVI port. This monitor is backed by a three years warranty for parts and labor.
