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Video also looked very good on this screen, with high definition content looking rich and vibrant. The 215TW even does a good job of picking out detail in dark areas of an image, while blacks are good and solid, rather than grey as with some LCD screens. Unfortunately the 1,680 x 1,050 resolution means that there aren’t quite enough lines for a Full HD 1080 image to be displayed, but considering that the majority of HDTVs sport a resolution of 1,366 x 768, this isn’t a huge handicap.

Testing the 215TW using DisplayMate revealed a very solid performance. The 256 Intensity Level Colour Ramp showed smooth gradation across all the colours. The 215TW managed to turn in a perfect performance in the Colour Scales test with every colour dropping off uniformly at the last block, while there was no hint of compression at the high intensity end. The only small grumble was with the 64 Step Greyscale test, where there was an ever so slight hint of green evident in the middle of the scale, although once again there was no compression on show at either end.

There’s no doubt that the 215TW is more expensive than your average 20in widescreen monitor, with a street price of £469, but you have to put that price into perspective. Not only is the 215TW slightly larger than the raft of 20in widescreen monitors, but it also offers a whole host of features that the competition doesn’t have. Add to this a sleek, attractive design and very impressive image quality and the SyncMaster 215TW looks pretty good value for money.

Verdict

The SyncMaster 215TW may sport the same resolution as standard 20in widescreen monitors, but it outguns the competition in pretty much every area. The amount of inputs on offer is unprecedented and gives you the option of connecting gaming consoles and AV devices as well as PCs. The image quality is good and the range of stand adjustments is very welcome. Rounding off the impressive feature list is HDCP compliance, adding future proofing peace of mind for the buyer. The 215TW doesn’t come cheap, but if I was looking for a 1,680 x 1,050 display, this is the one I’d buy.

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