CTX S792A

Along with the BenQ and Sony, the CTX is one of the cheapest 17in TFTs here at £111. But while the Sony punches above its price, the S792A is inferior to the competition.

The first glaring omission is a DVI input. To CTX's credit, the D-SUB interface doesn't have a noticeable impact on image quality, but with every other TFT here offering a digital connection (and the ease of setup that goes with it) it's a little disappointing.

In our image tests, it performed only satisfactorily at best. As the S792A only has a 400:1 contrast ratio, it had a poor dynamic range, with the black level a particular weakness. Playing our DVD clips, the CTX lacked sharpness, and the colour temperature in our game and digital photos was a bit too cold to be accurate. There was also little detail in shadows, making dark scenes difficult to watch.

Viewing angles are reasonable, which is important as the stand is only tilt-adjustable. It isn't the most aesthetically pleasing TFT either, with a blocky black base beneath a silver and black body. There's no Kensington lock slot, but it does have 2W speakers built in.

One strength is the OSD, which, although not the most comprehensive, is easy to use thanks to the front-positioned buttons and the circular menu. The options are clear and it's good to see a physically large menu when many are getting smaller and more cramped.

But this isn't enough to earn our admiration. With the better-quality Sony costing just £4 more, and the better-equipped BenQ £5 less, there's no reason to opt for the CTX.

Author: David Bayon