NEC MultiSync LCD225WXM
This model is one of the most expensive in this review. It is only cheaper than the Samsung SyncMaster 225UW you’ll read about below. Let’s see now what NEC offers for the money.
The first thing to catch my eyes in the specs is the fantastically large viewing angles, typical of *VA or S-IPS matrixes rather than of TN technology. However, the monitor uses a TN matrix indeed, and I can’t say that its vertical viewing angles are any better than those of other such monitors. It’s hard to tell if it’s just an error in the monitor description or another “optimization” of the measurement method (to remind you, this method is already more relaxed for TN matrixes than for *VA and S-IPS), but I have no reason to think that the monitor’s matrix is something other than TN.
The rounded-off bezel around the screen makes the monitor seem larger than it actually is. This effect is not as conspicuous as with other monitors from NEC, e.g. the 20WGX2 Pro model.
Rare functionality among 22” models, the stand allows to adjust not only the tilt but also the height of the screen, even though in a small range. The stand uses a dual-hinge design you may be familiar with by our reviews of LG and Samsung monitors. Samsung’s dual-hinge stand had a larger adjustment range, permitting you to virtually fold the monitor up. Anyway, even a small height adjustment is good for a 22” monitor.
The LCD225WXM has got analog and digital video inputs, an audio input for the integrated speakers, and a headphones output. The latter is at the back panel, which is not very convenient if you have to disconnect your headphones from time to time.
The control buttons are centered below the screen. Quick access is provided to the brightness and sound volume settings as well as to switching between the inputs.
The onscreen menu is awfully unfriendly. Frankly speaking, I thought such ugly menus had long disappeared even from monitors of obscure firms, let alone large manufacturers. You have to guess the meaning of each menu item by the tiny and unclear icons because there are no text tips here at all. You cannot set the position of the menu on the screen. A good thing is that you can choose between two interpolation modes: full-screen (when the image is always stretched out to the screen’s full size in 16:10 format) or keep the aspect ratio intact.
By default, the monitor has 100% brightness and 50% contrast. I achieved a 100nit white by choosing 50% brightness and 31% contrast. You shouldn’t increase the contrast setting above 50% as this leads to a loss of light halftones which are then displayed as pure white.
Color gradients are reproduced perfectly at the default settings but appear striped at the reduced settings. The monitor’s brightness is regulated by means of backlight modulation at a frequency of 209Hz.
