NEC MultiSync EA231WMi review

The MultiSync EA231WMi cuts a dash with its combination of off-white and silvery grey. It's practical too, thanks to a sturdy, adjustable stand.

That stand rises, swivels and rotates, and its light action allows it to be adjusted with one hand. A cable tidy in the centre keeps cables hidden, too, which is just as well considering the range of ports on offer.

The EA231WMi has D-SUB, DVI, DisplayPort and 3.5mm audio inputs, plus a four-port USB hub, with two ports tucked away at the back and two on the left next to a headphone output. NEC also throws in a pair of internal speakers, but given the distorted quality, they're best kept for emergencies.

In addition to all those features, NEC has found room for a high-quality 23in, 1,920 x 1,080 IPS panel. Out of the box it makes a striking impression, with deep blacks, wide viewing angles and vibrant colours. Apart from a slight glow along the panel's left-hand edge, the backlighting is as even and leak-free as you could hope for.

Where the NEC falls behind some of its rivals is in colour accuracy. In its default setting the EA231WMi achieved an average Delta E of 3.5, peaking at a maximum of 6.5. This was noticeable in our test images and Blu-ray movies, with a very slight yellow cast leaving skintones looking less lifelike and realistic than we'd have liked.

Switching to the 6,500k/sRGB preset didn't help, with the EA231WMi returning almost identical figures to the default settings. Gamma remained well over the ideal of 2.2, measuring 2.6 in both modes, although a colour temperature reading of 6,446k was nigh-on perfect.

The slightly wayward colour accuracy combined with a high price puts the NEC at a distinct disadvantage. And when its main rival, the ViewSonic VP2365wb, undercuts it on price, it's hard to recommend.

Author: Sasha Muller