CTX S530

This is the first LCD monitor to promise no dead pixels.

Price: £299

Manufacturer: CTX

Ratings

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Verdict

Pros:
No dead pixels guaranteed for 101 days
Effective automatic signal calibration
Solid performance

Cons:
Analogue only
Captive signal cable
No height adjustment on stand

Overall:
CTX is the first to promise no dead pixels on an LCD monitor and, until other manufacturers catch up, the S530 would be a good choice if exceptional image quality is less important to you than dependability

Laurence Grayson, Personal Computer World 13 Dec 2002

Whatever you use your monitor for, having a pixel on the screen that's constantly the wrong colour can be very distracting.

This is why CTX has taken a bold step with its latest 15.1in XGA display, the S530.

As well as a three-year warranty, the S530 comes with a 101-day guarantee against pixel faults, including any that may develop during this three-month period.

This is in line with the ISO 13406-2 Class 1 standard, which is a rating for monitors that allows for no dead pixels whatsoever - essentially, they're perfect.

CTX is also following the trend for more aesthetic products, giving the S530 a two-tone champagne and black finish with a minimal three-button control panel.

It sits rather low and there's no height adjustment on the stand, which is a bit of a disappointment.

In terms of performance there are no real surprises, which may discourage those looking for outstanding image quality.

It's pretty bright and the 120/100 degree viewing angles aren't the best that are currently available.

It's an analogue-only product, fed by a captive cable, so signal calibration is the key to decent image quality.

The S530 performed extremely well in this regard, requiring no manual adjustment for jitter-free images.

The average 300:1 contrast ratio means that some shallow tones are lost at the top and bottom end of the grey and colour scale, but this is unlikely to adversely affect general use.

If you're not after the ultimate in performance, but want a solid, inexpensive product that comes with peace of mind as standard, the S530 would be a good choice.

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