Iiyama E480S
Iiyama is trying to win back the public. To succeed they have released several new products. There is first of all, the new ProLite H1900 (see this news, test to come), a very high end PVA 8 ms monitor (659€) and, at the opposite end of the price scale, the E480S, a TN 8 ms Samsung panel monitor. The panel is the same as the Hyundai L90D+ and Samsung 913N.
Ergonomics
The monitor look is standard. The black bezel (also available in white) is in plastic and the base could be more elegant.
At the back, there are no video inputs, nor USB hub, not even a DVI input. You just have to deal with the bare minimum: analog input + power supply cable. At least the power supply isn’t external.
Another frustration: the monitor OSD isn’t really handy. Options aren’t properly shared out, the icons aren’t always logical and the monitor controls aren’t well identified. The adjustment navigation isn’t easy and unfortunately you really have to use them …
Color quality
The standard color quality isn’t really satisfying. We have evaluated the color accuracy before and after calibration and results are quite eloquent.
How to interpret the graphOn the left is the gamut, this is the colorimetric range compared to the sRGB range (the one usually used for digital cameras). This doesn’t correspond to the accuracy, but to the range of reproducible colors.
For accuracy, you have to refer to the right graph, the DeltaE. This is a measure between the color requested and the one really displayed on the monitor. The result obtained is also ccounter-balanced by human color sensitivity.
With Delta E > 3 the desired color is noticeably different from the one on the screen.
With 1 < Delta E < 2 colors are accurate. With Delta E < 1, the result is perfect.
If the results before calibration are disappointing, those after calibration are impressive. It shows that the panel, components and electronics have a great potential, but that Iiyama was unable to fully exploit them. This monitor deserves a revision of its standard parameters.
After calibration, the color accuracy is almost as good as VA monitors. Contrast ratio is still a little bit more modest. The white is at 157 cd/m² and the black at 0.6 cd/m². The contrast ratio measured is 261:1.
Viewing angles
The E480S claims a vertical viewing angle of "only" 135°. It might seems a little modest compared to the 170° of other monitors. We remind you that this not only comes from a singularly different monitor quality, but also from a different measuring method. TN monitors manufacturers that announce 160° or above, viewing angles are only using a more lax method. (
see here).
In practice the image is still good around the figures announced by Iiyama, 115° vertical, 120° lateral. Beyond, the image brightens (from above, left or right) and darkens from below. This darkening from below is the main characteristic of TN monitors. This little trick helps you recognize one of them at first glance.
Interpolation
The interpolation isn’t especially bad, but it isn’t worse than other monitors. The quality is much lower and it is possible to see clearly that we aren’t in native mode if that is the case.
Games, videos
This panel is well known, and we aren’t surprised by its results. It is a very good panel with a fast reaction time and once calibrated for us, or patiently adjusted, it will provide very nice colors. Up until today, it was the panel with the fastest reaction time. However since December (date of the previous survey) and today, two new panels were released.
First came the AU Optronics MVA 8 ms, present in the ViewSonic VP191b. We already underlined all the panel’s qualities and the fact that, despite major improvements, its reaction time is still slower than the Samsung TN tested here.
And today a new TN AU Optronics panel has been released with a 4ms-response time. It is included in the ViewSonic VX924. The non-finalized product we received is quite clearly faster than the E480S panel. The downside is that pictures are less flowing with the VX924 and colors are even less satisfying. If the final product was identical to the one tested here, then we would still prefer the Samsung 8 ms panel.
Films : DVD, HD
It is a TN panel, we already know it, so you won’t be surprised to hear that it features the usual twinkling effect in color scales. It is even more obvious in dark areas. Dots are swirling and color scales aren’t perfect. You need to step back (1.5m) not to be disturbed.
Verdict
The panel is good, but the monitor is really too scanty. The Samsung 913N price is now comparable, the Hyundai L90D+ is just a little bit more expensive but features much better ergonomics. And now there is a new competitor: Fujitsu-Siemens C19-4. Its reaction time is indeed a little slower, but its viewing angles are much better and its video quality is better. Briefly, it is more polyvalent and its price is even lower.
Take a look at this manufacture’s dead pixel policy by clicking here! 
