We tested the ViewSonic in the 6,500K (or cool) color temperature. It struggled with displaying accurate color in our color-tracking test, where instead of displaying a plain gray, it displayed it with a brownish/yellowish tint. We also saw that when the color was near peak white, the ViewSonic tended to wash out the image more than the Samsung did. This was made evident in our Low Saturation Color test. The ViewSonic also showed a high level of ghosting in our High Contrast Streaking and Ghosting test. We did not see evidence of ghosting in our real-world tests though.
While watching HD and DVD-based movie content we noticed washed-out color as well as a shallow black level, unlike the Samsung, which had fuller color and deeper blacks. We also noticed a slight yellowish tint when viewing dark content. When we switched to 9,300K (or warm) color temperature, the yellow tint was diminished, but it was still noticeable. In Spider-Man 2 with scenes showing high dynamic range--such as a light-colored shirt reflecting sunlight--that section of the screen became very washed out and it was hard to make out the detail. The Samsung also had this flaw, but the Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP showed that it was still possible to see detail in scenes such as this.
While playing World of Warcraft, we found the colors to be drab and lifeless on the ViewSonic and the polygonal models lacked depth. We also noticed that if we slouched in our seats--sometimes it's the best way to play--so that we were viewing the screen from below, that the top of the screen gets very dark and detail was hard to see. The side viewing angles were the same as the Samsung, which was about 1.5 feet before the detail dropped.
The speaker volume was not as loud as the Samsung's, but it was also not as tinny-sounding. The speakers on the ViewSonic VA2626wm had a better bass to treble balance.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test LCD monitors.
Service and support
ViewSonic covers the VA2626wm with a three-year parts-and-labor warranty that unfortunately does not cover the backlight. The company offers 24-7 toll free technical support and support via e-mail. Navigating its Web site and finding drivers and the user manual was simple.
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First Look: ViewSonic VX1962wm -
First Look: ViewSonic VLED221wm -
First Look: ViewSonic VX2025wm
Where to buy
ViewSonic VA2626wm:
$403.99 - $429.99
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
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$419.95 | Yes |
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$419.81 | Yes |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$403.99 | Yes |
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$429.99 | Yes |
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$403.99 | Yes |
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