BenQ VW2420H and EW2420 - image quality not as good on the EW2420?

[ClassicRyu]

Regarding the BenQ monitor models VW2420H and EW2420. These two are meant to be the same apart from a few aspects, but aside from these differences, the image quality should be the same, as both use the VA Panel and LED back-lighting. Here are what is the same:

- both models have a 24" screen
- both have a VA Panel and are LED backlit
- both have a VGA and DVI-D input
- both have almost exactly the same specifications
- both retail for about £170, however the EW2420 is always slightly more expensive, like say £175

The differences are the EW2420 has:

- 2 x HDMI Ports (VW2420H only has 1)
- a line-in port
- a built-in power supply
- 4 USB Ports (VW2420H doesn't have any)
- built-on stereo speakers

Now I have read some reviews on these two models, and seeing as they both the VA Panel and LED back-lighting the image quality should be the same right?

However this doesn't seem to be the case on Expert Reviews.

That site have reviewed both models, and it seems the VW2420H has the better image and rating overall, despite both having supposedly the same screen and the EW2420 having more features? See here:

- VW2420H Expert Reviews
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/monitors/1280296/benq-vw2420h

- EW2420 Expert Reviews
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/monitors/1280929/benq-ew2420

And here's a review by Trusted Reviews, which gave the image quality of the VW2420H a 9 out of 10:

- VW2420H Trusted Reviews
http://www.trustedreviews.com/monitors/review/2010/10/07/BenQ-VW2420H/p1

To summarise:

Based on Expert Reviews, VW2420H gets a mark of 4/5, and EW2420 gets a mark of 3/5.

This is despite both having the same screen, being same price, with the EW2420 having more features too.

Can anyone tell or guess why this is? Thanks in advance.

 

[PCM2]

Variability between the individual review units tested. If you want a better comparison ourselves and TFT Central (who tend to do much more in-depth reviews than the websites you've listed) have both reviewed the EW2420 but had slightly different experiences. Likewise; our XL2410T review samples differed considerably.

1) PC Monitors EW2420 review - a 'golden sample'.

2) TFT Central EW2420 review - some possible gamma and quality variation issues but otherwise pretty good.

You can read more about the kind of variation people are experiencing with BenQ's new panels and also learn about the imminent replacements here - http://www.pcmonitors.org/reviews/benq-ew2420-an-example-of-inter-unit-variability

 

[Almasy93]

Author: Jim Martin
Author: Barry de la Rosa

one of them has higher standards than the other.
or one of them just got a better panel than the other (BenQ doesn't exactly have the best quality control )

 

[PCM2]

Those 'standards' were reversed in the case of the XL2410T. Adding weight to the fact that BenQ has really shoddy quality control.

 

[ClassicRyu]

Thanks for the answers and links guys, much appreciated.

There's also a lot of info on that Testfreaks site too, which will come in useful.