Iiyama Vision Master Pro 400

Some products are completely new, and others are updates that tidy up some rough edges but don't represent a real evolution. The Vision Master Pro 400 may fall into the latter camp, but this doesn't do it any harm. The original that it derives from, the Vision Master Pro 17, was, and still is, an excellent 17in monitor with very little wrong with it. While the Pro 400 adds a touch of finesse here and there, it doesn't attempt to fix what wasn't broken in the first place.

Like its predecessor, the Pro 400 is based on a short-necked Mitsubishi Diamondtron tube, giving it a relatively compact 420mm deep cabinet. This can make a difference when desk space is tight, especially if you're working up against a wall. The small size also helps keep the weight down to an acceptable 21kg, which in turn helps to prevent the tilt and swivel stand from locking up under the weight of the monitor.

Most manufacturers like to save a bob or two by dispensing with features like five-way BNC connectors and any kind of detachable signal cables. The former is a deterrent to users requiring optimum performance at high resolution and refresh rate combinations, while the latter is a pain if a fault develops in the VGA cable since it can't be replaced with another one. Fortunately, Iiyama has stuck with its original formula and provides both D-SUB and BNC connectors. These are recessed to keep them out of harm's way.

Like most 17in monitors, the Pro 400 has an on-screen setup menu and therefore needs few physical controls. You get three buttons in all, which is fine as far as it goes, but the menu system still isn't that intuitive to use despite a slight redesign. It does, nevertheless, pack in the functionality with comprehensive geometry controls, horizontal convergence correction, moirÚ reduction and a degree of colour control. I say 'a degree' because it falls slightly short of the levels of colour control available on some other monitors. However, you do get a user-definable and two preset channels with red and blue gun intensity control. The lack of a control for green or of more than one custom colour channel isn't likely to bother non-specialist users.

The Pro 400 gives a more than generous 16in image diagonal and good vertical refresh support at higher resolutions, topping off at 119Hz in XGA mode and 90Hz at 1,280 x 1,024. Not every graphics card will scale these heights, but most should deliver the VESA-recommended 85Hz in XGA which is enough to eliminate perceived flicker for most people.

The picture itself was finely grained, bright without excessive glare and in sharp focus. It made the XGA Windows Desktop comfortably readable and pleasant to use. Coupled with the stability afforded by the high vertical refresh support and the above-average 16in diagonal, this adds up to a respectable performance for a reasonable amount of money.

Author: Dominic Bucknall