Sony CPD-G200

Sony needs no introduction, having recently refined its Trinitron tubes with the FD variety in an attempt to stay ahead of its own licensees as well as the Mitsubishi Diamondtron range.

After the CPD-G200 warms up, the Sony Trinitron quality is immediately apparent with a deep, solid black, helped by the quality of the undisclosed anti-glare treatment the tube has received. The bright, vibrant tube quality is a Trinitron hallmark, but on this unit some of the image is still visible when contrast and brightness settings have been lowered to their minimum.

Although power regulation across the whole screen is solid enough, when the test addressed different areas of the screen the unit performed poorly. We were also surprised by the poor video bandwidth performance, where thin black lines on a white background appeared to be grey, which was in marked contrast to the rest of the tests. The tube also had some ghosting and colour streaking issues where solid bands of colour ended up with minute shadows where the grille's guns overcompensate. Even Sony had to yield before the demanding horizontal resolution tests that felled almost every display on test.

Visually these are the only issues when stressing the monitor with DisplayMate; the rest is as expected. Highlights include a strong red colour purity; consistently focused text and graphics, even at the extreme corners of the screen; moirÚ controls that make a difference at any detail level; and hardly any need to use the OSD's trapezoid control to adjust bowing straight lines.

The OSD is another unique feature on test this month, controlled by a small inverted joystick underneath the traditionally minimalist Sony bezel, next to the combined brightness, contrast and power switches. Like the Belinea, some will find it simple and effective, others fiddly and irritating. But in both cases, once you get used to it, it becomes intuitive.

Instead of USB on the back of the unit, you'll find both a captive cable and a spare D-SUB input so that two PCs can share a single display, or you simply have a backup if the captive cable fails.

Sony has produced a solid display. However, the name commands a price that some may be unwilling to pay. The CTX boasts USB, a street price £44 lower and an on-site warranty for a three-year term rather than Sony's return-to-base warranty through the second and third. If you must have the name you won't be disappointed, but you do pay a lot for the privilege.