Samsung LS34E790C - Curved 34" 21:9 super-wide

Matson · 6 Mar 2015 at 17:30

PCM2 said:
What white luminance and black luminance are you getting and how are you recording these values?

using the i1 display pro and the xrite calibration software that comes with it.

I calibrated both monitors to 120 cd/m2. The software doesn't give a black level reading though...well at least I cant see it but it gives you everything else.

First monitor the contrast ratio was always between 1700-1800 and this one Iv done 3 calibrations and each one was between 2200 and 2300.

My last one was 120 cd/m2 and 2251:1 contrast ratio...im sure you can work out the black luminance from that.

If I calculated this correctly that's a 0.053 black level? Which would make my previous monitor 0.068. Correct me if iv worked that out wrong.

Macro · 6 Mar 2015 at 17:54

Waiting on PCM2 review comparing the Sammy and the Dell.. I've waited this long I may as well hang on a little longer

slavelle11 · 6 Mar 2015 at 17:54

skarpinis said:
sorry but I don't want Samsung anymore now I have wait 14 days if replacement will be worse? better ask refund look something else disappointing

Spot on, this monitor looks like another one that is a lottery to get a good one and **** poor customer service when there is a problem. I'm still waiting for a good 34'' ultrawide, current available models are just not up to scratch for the money.

I don't trust reviews either as good panels are hand picked for reviewers and the likelihood of getting a similar quality panel is small

Matson · 6 Mar 2015 at 18:04

Depends where you buy it from. I got mine today from OCUK and they have already arranged pick up and ill have the new one by Wednesday next week so aslong as you get it from OCUK there customer service is brilliant. Dead pixels unfortunately can happen with any monitor but the mark under the screen is a little annoying.
If my third one has no red tint like this one and no dead pixels or marks it will be perfect. That's a big IF though knowing my luck so far lol.

skarpinis · 6 Mar 2015 at 18:37

Agree with you Matson, I never buy again direct from samsung customer service nightmare selling in uk ship from another country next day but returns will take 14 days! (only best company's OCUK and Amazon) Better pay more and take easy

SaL<XXX · 6 Mar 2015 at 18:58

skarpinis said:
Agree with you Matson, I never buy again direct from samsung customer service nightmare selling in uk ship from another country next day but returns will take 14 days! (only best company's OCUK and Amazon) Better pay more and take easy

I doubt that it will be bang on exactly 14 days. That sounds like a standard company quote - your replacement could well be with you much sooner. Keep phoning them asking about it's status

PCM2 · 6 Mar 2015 at 19:17

Matson said:
using the i1 display pro and the xrite calibration software that comes with it.

I calibrated both monitors to 120 cd/m2. The software doesn't give a black level reading though...well at least I cant see it but it gives you everything else.

First monitor the contrast ratio was always between 1700-1800 and this one Iv done 3 calibrations and each one was between 2200 and 2300.

My last one was 120 cd/m2 and 2251:1 contrast ratio...im sure you can work out the black luminance from that.

If I calculated this correctly that's a 0.053 black level? Which would make my previous monitor 0.068. Correct me if iv worked that out wrong.

If I remember correctly the i1 display pro can't measure black levels to that degree of accuracy. It actually takes multiple measurements which are rounded, but it is only really accurate to the nearest 0.01 cd/m2. For the sake of argument, say one monitor has a black level of 0.05 cd/m2 recorded consistently (in reality the repeatability of the i1 is not good enough for that, so it will probably read 0.04 or 0.06 sometimes and do some rounding calculations). And the other has 0.06 cd/m2 recorded consistently. The resulting contrast ratios would be 2400 and 2000, respectively. The black levels could actually be 0.054 and 0.057 - which isn't a massive difference, but can't be accurately reflected in the readings and calculations given.

Matson · 6 Mar 2015 at 19:24

Yeah I didn't actually have a black level reading I just worked them out by using 120 white lum and the contrast ratio which gave me 0.054 on the new one and 0.068 on the old one using a calculator if I use the average contrast ratio I ended up with on them. Iv tested this monitor about 6 times and 2250 is about the average over all 6 tests where as on the previous on it was more like 1750 after about 10 tests. Either way its fair to say the black level is obviously better on the new one and that's quite a decent difference in contrast ratio.

Which mode did you find the most accurate for calibration also...1 2 or 3?

PCM2 · 6 Mar 2015 at 19:40

Yeah, one is certainly weaker than the other. But if it were measured more precisely without rounding I suspect the difference would be less pronounced. I've tested two units myself with contrast quite similar to your second unit, so it might be that your initial unit had a bit of an issue. Sounds odd but uniformity issues can cause that sort of thing if they affect the central region - if you were able to measure contrast elsewhere on the screen the results may well be quite different.

skarpinis · 6 Mar 2015 at 19:48

SaL<XXX said:
I doubt that it will be bang on exactly 14 days. That sounds like a standard company quote - your replacement could well be with you much sooner. Keep phoning them asking about it's status

I called only get answer 14, 14days

joke company, returns going around I shipped to YUSEN LOGISTICS they should send back to Netherlands I cant even track parcel ...

Matson · 6 Mar 2015 at 20:16

PCM2 said:
Yeah, one is certainly weaker than the other. But if it were measured more precisely without rounding I suspect the difference would be less pronounced. I've tested two units myself with contrast quite similar to your second unit, so it might be that your initial unit had a bit of an issue. Sounds odd but uniformity issues can cause that sort of thing if they affect the central region - if you were able to measure contrast elsewhere on the screen the results may well be quite different.

If wonder if the red tint I was seeing on the other one was to do with that...Maybe an uniformity issue causing it to be much more visable that it should have been as I can barely see it on the new screen.

PCM2 · 6 Mar 2015 at 20:41

Matson said:
If wonder if the red tint I was seeing on the other one was to do with that...Maybe an uniformity issue causing it to be much more visable that it should have been as I can barely see it on the new screen.

I reckon so. My review sample has a bit of colour temperature variation, appearing slightly warmer at the left side. But it's nothing like what you would have been observing (it is only just considered 'significant' variation from the central region so it doesn't exactly jump out as an obvious flaw). I have also tested another unit which had slightly better uniformity, although by eye both appear fairly uniform really with viewing angle accounting for most differences you see.

phiiil · 7 Mar 2015 at 13:38

I've just taken delivery of mine and I *think* I've got a good one.

(link to full size pic)

There's an imperfection on the right hand edge, about 3/4 of the way up (which is *much* more noticeable in the picture than when sat in front of it) and mine is also a bit warmer on the left hand side but overall, after calibrating (i1 Display Pro) I think I'm happy.

PCM2 said:
I reckon so. My review sample has a bit of colour temperature variation, appearing slightly warmer at the left side. But it's nothing like what you would have been observing (it is only just considered 'significant' variation from the central region so it doesn't exactly jump out as an obvious flaw). I have also tested another unit which had slightly better uniformity, although by eye both appear fairly uniform really with viewing angle accounting for most differences you see.

Are these...

..the sort of temperature variations you've seen on your review sample? Although the number looks quite drastic, looking at a fullscreen white, I honestly can't notice it by eye.

PCM2 · 7 Mar 2015 at 16:09

phiiil said:
Are these...

..the sort of temperature variations you've seen on your review sample? Although the number looks quite drastic, looking at a fullscreen white, I honestly can't notice it by eye.

Largely comparable, yes. My unit is a little worse than that in the upper left corner (similar-ish to your middle left section) but by eye it's decent enough.

Matson · 7 Mar 2015 at 17:18

IM more curious about PCM's calibration settings to be honest. Reds also seem to be the strongest colour when I try and calibrate this set and it takes a lot to get them perfect.

old gamer · 7 Mar 2015 at 19:23

yep red is my problem colour also, playing bf4 shadows are redish and looks horiblei i sorted it by adjusting the rgb in windows calibration but it reverted back whilst playing it

SaL<XXX · 7 Mar 2015 at 19:55

old gamer said:
yep red is my problem colour also, playing bf4 shadows are redish and looks horiblei i sorted it by adjusting the rgb in windows calibration but it reverted back whilst playing it

Did you not try that link to a fix for this earlier in the thread?

lamboman · 7 Mar 2015 at 20:19

Looking forward to PCM2's review! Such a frustrating situation, the 34"/3440x1440 combination is probably the best choice right now - huge real estate on a single monitor, fairly easily driven by a single card, no scaling. Yet getting a decent monitor is a lottery.

Really hoping to see how this compares to the LG panel alternatives on every front (colour reproduction and uniformity, pixel response, input lag, viewing angles, everything!) after calibration and optimal settings. Would be nice to have a go-to choice in this space.

old gamer · 7 Mar 2015 at 20:32

SaL<XXX said:
Did you not try that link to a fix for this earlier in the thread?

no must have missed it, whats that all about then

SaL<XXX · 7 Mar 2015 at 20:50

@old gamer.. not tried it as I don't have that problem. Give it a shot and see how it works - the guy was pretty positive it was a solid fix. GL.

FYI all: Using my 60 quid Spyder4 Express (it's software gave gash results resulting in too much red), I grabbed a demo of basICColor Display which allowed me to adjust my OSD RGB values perfectly as PCM2 suggested.... and this panel is almost bang on [Edit: I downloaded the free small program Calibrize to fine tune the gamma and this panel is now looking stunning]. It generated a profile which I tucked away (in case it gets deleted when the trial runs out - unlikely, but you never know).

Brightness: 57 varies (high for the rest of you it would appear; perfect for me).
Contrast: 75.

Strewth... I've never had a monitor that took so long to get right. BTW: all you owners out there.. have another proper read of the Russian review --- a lot of points ring true.