Samsung SyncMaster 961BW

Product survey: 19 and 20 inch LCD monitors >


PCNation	149.96
Tech for Less	174.82
Tech for Less	185.00
New Egg	199.99
Tech for Less	211.47
Tech for Less	227.88
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Diagonal screen size	19 pouces
Type	TN
Resolution	1440 x 900 pixels
Response time	2 ms
Interfaces (HDMI / DVI / VGA / YUV)	0 / 1 / 1 / 0
Options	Ajustable en hauteur, pied sur plateau
Viewing angles (H/V)	170 ° / 170 °

The choice between 5 ms or 2 ms

For Samsung, its RTA function often called overdrive by its rivals is useful in accelerate the movements of liquid crystals and thus reducing afterglow. It’s under this name that you will find this option in the monitor’s OSD. If deactivated, the screen is a basic TN with a 5 ms response time while when ON, the voltage to the ends of crystals is amplified making them move faster.

When activated, it’s actually (only) slightly better; however, a new defect is added: black ghosting or here a light shadow behind objects in movement. Many won’t see it and in this case they can activate the RTA. Those who are more sensitive to defects may nevertheless be bothered.

Vincent Alzieu
Test date: 2008-06-02

The SyncMaster 961W seems to logically succeed the very popular 931BW, which unfortunately was a bit sullied by its history of variable panels. This was less than the 226BW, but the affair did nevertheless hurt it. Otherwise, some will notice that characteristics have been improved: a 2 ms TN panel, DVI + VGA (unchanged), the base is vertically adjustable and rotates. In addition, if we trust the monitor’s technical sheet, this new version is supposed to surpass its predecessor in contrast.

Richer ergonomics, but what about the rest?

Actually, the two screens are equivalent which is already excellent news. With the SyncMaster 961BW we find a deep black (measured at 0.24 cd/m² when white is set to 200 cd/m²). On the other hand, default colors are frankly mediocre. The first version of the Samsung 931BW was one of the most accurate we’ve tested. And here this is far from being the case. The average difference between perfect colors and those displayed by the screen is 5.4 or double the desired value. Fortunately, we were able to correct this manually by opting for Red at 50, Green at 21, Blue at 23 and Gamma at 2 in the screen’s OSD. The new value was then decreased to only 2.8.

Another option, and even better if it works, is to install the color profile we give you on default settings. With a little luck, it will be perfect!

Finally, as we mentioned in the box, reactivity was disappointing. It was noticeably inferior to what the best 2 ms screens offer. The behavior of the SyncMaster 961BW is closer to that of a 5 ms.