Color rendering
The plot thickens starting with the first test, color rendering. Iolair modestly went with a normal non-extended gamut panel. It may appear less attractive than the promise of a wide gamut from Dell, but this is an assumption you especially shouldn’t make.
To start with, neither monitor can be considered accurate with presettings. The Iolair produces satisfactory and coherent colors with nothing particularly too wrong. Unfortunately, it’s another story for the Dell to the extent that this defect (and others discovered later in other tests) justified Dell sending us a second model, which sadly confirmed our initial results.
You may recall the larger the difference between actual and ideal colors, the higher the DeltaE value and the less the screen is accurate. More precisely, here is how to interpret the graphs :
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Delta E > 3 : the desired color is noticeably different from the one on the screen.
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2 < Delta E < 3 : color quality is satisfactory, but a graphic designer probably wouldn’t be content
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1 < Delta E < 2 : colors are accurate.
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Delta E < 1 : the result is perfect.
It’s a cold shower, all the more so unexpected given that the previous Dell 2407WFP-HC is identical to the 2408 on paper (and we can even ask how Dell justifies the name change). Moreover, the former model was properly adjusted but wasn’t even as good as the previous 2407WFP (without the ‘’HC’’). Apparently, it’s something we have to get used to ; as the years pass, settings become increasingly worse. This year, all evidence suggests that the color tables integrated to panels no longer take into account the specifics of each monitor. Wide gamut pre-settings are catastrophic with completely unnatural tones (gaudy red, supernatural greens, etc.). Here, the least poor settings are those in sRGB and thus we lose the wide gamut. At any rate, this is only of interest if your source documents were created in a similar color space, which isn’t the case for any compact or classic bridge. The same goes for movies as well. Nevertheless, we have to honestly say that colors are poor even in sRGB mode and very far from what the competition has been capable of for several months now.
The Dell 2408WFP
PVA 6 ms : Dell 2408WFPTo put some numbers on these poor results, here are a few values. The entire spectrum is affected!
By default, on the 1st unit tested, color temperature was 7700 K in white and 6900 K in black. As you can see dominances are varied and there is no pattern that would be easy to correct manually. Gamma varies from 2.2 in black to 2.6 in white. The average difference between ideal colors and those actually displayed was 5.1 with satisfactory grays (except the gamma which prevented more progressive gradation) and a dE in blue which had a high of 16.5 !
PVA 6 ms : Dell 2408WFPUnfortunately, the second screen tested wasn’t any more accurate. In addition, we are also concerned about the very mediocre consistency of results between the two units. In general, they are identical: an average dE of 5.5, satisfactory grays, unruly blue and a gamma which is accentuated in going from black to gray. However, in more detail, it was disturbing to then find a color temperature of 9000 K, a dE in blue as high as 20.3, etc.
So it’s therefore more than just a fear but rather almost a certainty: a generic color profile shouldn’t make the 2408 perfect. For those who purchase this model, it’s imperative to calibrate with a sensor in order to have accurate colors.
In sRGB, in both cases it’s a bit better. The difference (average dE) drops to around 4.5, red loses its fluorescent aspect, dE goes down to 11, and color temperature is at a preferable 6800 K. However, it still cannot be considered good!
Is this Dell’s fault? Yes, but not only. PVA panels such as the one used in this monitor are produced by Samsung which stuck them with poor settings. However, Dell could have taken the time to verify and correct them. Moreover, it seems incredible that this screen was able to leave the factory in such as state.
The Iolair MB24W: it’s significantly less dramatic!
MVA 6 ms : Iolair MB24WThe starting average dE for the MB24W was 3.8 and this screen may appear very good in comparison to the Dell; however, it can be greatly improved with manual adjustments. Reduce green to 40 while red and blue are still at 50. The average difference is then at 2.8 or honestly one of the best scores we’ve seen.
MVA 6 ms : Iolair MB24WAfter calibration
In both cases, there are good results. The sensor works its miracles and all of the Dell’s colors are remedied in dE and gamma. In the end, ‘’all’’ you have to do is spend another 300 Euros (or dollars) for accurate colors. This means it can get very expensive!
PVA 6 ms : Dell 2408WFP
MVA 6 ms : Iolair MB24W
