Spec me a 24" monitor with built in speakers

The Belgain · 19 Jan 2012 at 04:25

Hi there,

I'm looking to buy a monitor to use both as an external display for my Macbook (primarily for photo editing), and also as a secondary TV connected to a V+ box over HDMI. Primary use will be as a monitor though.

I'd ideally like the following:
-- 1920x1200 resolution (better for photo editing than 1920x1080).
-- VGA, DVI, and HDMI inputs.
-- Built-in speakers (doesn't need to be brilliant quality, but loud enough to watch TV/movies).
-- 24" screen, though I'd take 22/23 at a pinch.
-- Cheaper the better, as this won't be used as a main monitor or main TV.

Note that I don't need this to have a built-in DTV tuner, as I currently use Virgin and in future I'd be happy to connect a Freeview box if need be.

Suggestions much appreciated.

mish4444 · 19 Jan 2012 at 16:49

How much are you planning on spending?

cmndr_andi · 19 Jan 2012 at 17:08

Hi there,

You mention photo editing in your post, will this be the main use of the monitor or just something you will be doing occasionally? If it isn't mainly for photo editing, what will you mainly be using it for (apart from watching TV).

Also, you mention a desire for 1920x1200. Please bear in mind that pretty much all 1920x1200 monitors under £400 don't offer 1:1 pixel mapping - so a standard 1080p (16:9) image from the virgin/freeview box will be stretched vertically and displayed fullscreen on a 16:10 1920x1200 monitor. Would this be a dealbreaker for you (so you would either need to go for a 1080p monitor or spend £400+) or could you live with it so you can get the 1200p resolution?

As for the speakers - not many monitors offer these and the quality is generally rather poor. Would an acceptable compromise be a monitor that offers a 3.5mm stereo connection to external speakers (using the HDMI as the audio source) and add some cheap but decent speakers (like these) to the package?

The Belgain · 20 Jan 2012 at 05:27

Thanks for the replies. In terms of budget i was thinking sub 200, though could stretch beyond if there's a big benefit.

In terms of what i'd use it for it would be a combination of photo/video editing, tv watching (though as i say, only as a second telly), and a bit of general browsing. Note that it won't be used for gaming.

Are built-in speakers similar to laptop ones, or a little better generally?

So far i see that asus do one which would fit the bill (albeit 1920x1080) for around 150. It's a TN panel, how much worse than IPS are they?

smilertoo · 20 Jan 2012 at 08:24

If all monitor speakers are of the same quality as the ones in my new Hazro, i'd recommend a set of external speakers instead...they're very weak and muffled.

Axeia · 20 Jan 2012 at 09:38

Actually, the speakers in the Hazro are better than those found in most smaller screens. So yes, you're always better off buying external speakers.

TN mainly has much worse viewing angles and color uniformity. Visit the viewing angle test page of the lagom test suite and you'll know what we're talking about. The letters on the image should be red.. on a TN even when sitting right in front of it you'll see that the letters have more than one color.
When you don't sit right infront of it but are viewing the screen from the angle it only gets worse, this is for example my Hazro on the left (HZ27WD) with an IPS panel and on the right my Samsung 206bw with TN-panel.

Bad example pic btw, the Hazro was running with the wrong color profile at the moment which made all colors washed out and due to the reflection it looks like the color fades out while it doesn't. Still, at least it doesn't turn red into green

I don't know of any 1920x1200 screens with speakers as screens with speakers are generally aimed at multimedia users.. en they'd rather have 16:9.

cmndr_andi · 20 Jan 2012 at 10:20

For your uses I wouldn't suggest going for a TN panel monitor. As Axeia demonstrates - viewing angles are a real problem with TN panels and this really affects colour uniformity, plus the general colour accuracy of TN panel monitors isn't as good as IPS monitors. For work that really benefits from accurate colours (like image/video editing) then I would strongly suggest going for an IPS panel monitor.

The one I would suggest going for is this one by ASUS. It uses a 23in 1920x1080 E-IPS panel and it has a single HDMI connection and a 3.5mm audio-out connection - so you can connect it to external speakers. For connecting two inputs to it, I would use a standard HDMI switch box like this (cheaper ones are available if you have a hunt). As for the ASUS monitor itself it really is a nice bit of kit - here is an in-depth review.

The Belgain · 21 Jan 2012 at 04:01

Useful stuff, thanks. I think I'll drop the built in speakers idea as i already have some decent external ones i can use.

I think I'll go for an IPS screen too, as poor colour reproduction isn't agreat idea for photo work as you say. I would like to steer clear of having to faff about with a separate HDMI switching box though. I'll see what Asus or Dell have. Any other manufwcturers worth looking at?

Axeia · 21 Jan 2012 at 10:00

I think the ASUS is quite unique in having an 3.5mm out, don't think there is any monitor that has that AND two HDMI connectors.

If you're not interested in doing audio over HDMI then there are few interesting alternatives.
The Iiyama X2377HDS-b1 is worth looking at (has build in speakers, but they're garbage as always).
The LG IPS236V/IPS235V are similar to the ASUS, a 3.5mm out and VGA/HDMI/DVI in. Going by the user reviews these have more ghosting issues so if you ever plan on gaming (for movies it should be fine) then go for one of the other monitors.

One monitor that Mac owners tend to like for its look is the AOC i2353Fh with its aluminum casing[/url]. It has HDMIx2 and build in speakers.. but no audio out.
If you want HDMI x2 and 3.5 out.. and better than TN-panel colour reproduction I can only think of the BenQ EW2430. It has a VA-panel though, which is better than TN for photo editting but worse than IPS.

The Belgain · 19 Sep 2012 at 07:50

Well I went for Dell U2412M in the end - pretty pleased with it so far. 1920x1200 is definitely a more useful ratio than 1920x1080.

I do wish they would make some higher resolution monitors at this size though - the lower DPI compared to current laptop/tablet/phone screens really does show. Hopefully the retina display hype will catch up to standalone monitors soon.

One thing I haven't had a chance to do is calibrate it - can anyone recommend any good free Mac calibration tools / websites?