LG Flatron L2000C

Manufacturer:	LG
Price:	£449 inc VAT
Reviewer:	Stuart Andrews
Review Date:	Feb 2006
SCORE	4/6

Verdict: One luxury you can almost afford

Perhaps the 20in TFT panel isn't the ultimate in monitor luxury - that would be the gorgeous 24in widescreen models used in glossy, angst-ridden TV detective shows - but for most of us, 20in is as close as we'll get. It's the Leonidas Belgian chocolate to the 19in's Ferrero Rocher, with an enormous screen area and a hike in resolution up to 1,600 x 1,200 - yet they usually cost £500. Well, LG's latest crack at this niche market might help to make it less of a niche, and for two good reasons. Firstly, at £449, the L2000C is £50-£100 cheaper than equivalent Sony or ViewSonic panels. Secondly, while its rivals are mainly aimed at overpaid designers, dull financial types and CSIs, the LG is happy just to entertain.

LG has improved on the L2000C's predecessor, the underpowered, overpriced L2013P, in ways that will bring a warm glow to every Custom PC reader's heart.

The contrast ratio has gone up from 500:1 to 800:1, the luminance from 250cd/m2 to 300cd/m2 and, best of all, the response time has come down from 16ms to 12ms. In reality, improved specs don't necessarily mean anything but the L2000C is a noticeably tighter, more controlled performer than the older model.

The enhancements also extend to the styling. We uncharitably described the L2013P as 'a munter', and the L2000C definitely fits the role of the attractive younger sister you meet only after moving in with the bride of Frankenstein. The bezel has been slimmed down, the buttons tucked away in the right-hand corner, and the silver and black finish looks nicer this time around. Good ergonomics haven't gone by the wayside either. There's a full 8cm of height adjustment and 25 degrees of tilt, so if you can't position this monitor comfortably on your desk, then you basically need a new neck. Viewing angles are also fine, with little fall-off in colour or brightness until you hit the extremes of visibility.

The controls are slick and functional, featuring a series of on-screen menus covering basic picture adjustments, RGB colour controls (with standard colour-matched settings for professional use), and the position and tracking adjustments you'll need if you use an analogue VGA connection. The 'f-engine' button switches between four modes - preset settings for text and movies, and user-configurable 'normal' and 'user' modes. A small split-screen preview lets you see exactly the impact that each mode will have on your desktop image.

Still, the real deal here is the L2000C's enhanced performance, although in truth, it still doesn't get a perfect school report. Despite top marks for black response, its handling of near-white tints showed a tendency towards compression, while the banding in the colour and greyscale colour scales deserves a definite 'must try harder'. In addition, red tones fall off early in colour consistency tests, and the green colour purity tests showed up a few patchy areas. All the same, this is more B- than D grade stuff, and clarity was exceptional. It certainly isn't time for remedial classes yet.

Outside of the formal exams, the L2000C won us over. The high resolution and lifelike colour make it a good bet for 3D graphics or image editing work, but who cares when it's so good with games and movies? Our Superbit 'Bad Boys II' DVD has rarely looked better, with crisp presentation of the fastest action sequences and plenty of texture in those moody Mexican stand-offs. Interestingly, the L2000C's Movie mode sometimes overcooks the contrast, bleaching out the white tones more than is strictly necessary. We found it best to switch to User and fine-tune ourselves.

We also pulled down some High-Definition movie trailers for a run. 'King Kong' was a feast of detail and rich colour, with every hair on the soppy ape's back visible, and the greens of the jungle ringing out. 'V for Vendetta' was another highlight; its slick cinematography and subdued tones looked brilliant, and there was no sign of streaking or blurring as the fascist-slaying daggers flew by.

However, to see the L2000C in its element, you need to load a game. Quake 4 was a big-screen dream, with masses of contrast in the stygian depths of Planet Strogg's sinister facilities, and bright neon blues surrounding the alien machinery.

At 1,600 x 1,200, the game looked astonishing - even if my PC did struggle to maintain a steady frame rate - but even at 1,280 x 1,024, and 1,024 x 768, the panel still does justice to the game's visuals. It's hard to imagine a more immersive experience. Colin McRae 05 proved that the monitor could also cope with high-speed, off-road motion (even when your correspondent's hand-to-eye coordination can't).

CONCLUSION

The price of 19in panels is going down, so you're paying a hefty premium for that extra inch, but you do get a big jump in resolution, and this is one big-screen monitor that doesn't lose out through poor response or washed-out colour. It isn't perfect, but at £449, it's as close as 20in monitors get to good value.