It’s time for a change, so I got a new LCD screen and my tv tuner comes on Monday - just enough time to test it before I start playing on my Nintendo Wii console.

Horizon 2206SW Review.

Let’s start with the spoecifications.

OK, on many internet sites says a lot of things, but only a few are true:

• resolution 1680 x 1050 (with my humble video card ATI X500 on DVI connection I got a maximum of 2048×1536 - not wide, quite sucked, anyway, I am sure that with a better graphic card, you can get a bigger resolution, in my opinion 1680×1050 looks gorgeous)
• Pixel pitch 0.282mm
• Color 16,7 Millions Colors (weird, since it’s a TN type)
• Viewing angle 160/160 (not 170/170 as some internet sites might say)
• Brightness 300cd/m3 (I keep my screen in 50% of that, so 150 is quite enough)
• Power consumption 48W
• Weight 8Kg
• Dimensions 580×165x465
• Panel - LG A+ type
• includes speakers
• TCO 03 - YES 03 NOT 99 as some internet pages say.
• VESA mount (at least the holes are there)
• 5ms Response time (don’t know if is GT or BWB - I think is GTG)
• 22″ screen

Unpacking

Yes, poor packing, even thou it went through a rough road to get to me I still say “could have been better”. All TV’s have bubbles (you know tiny bubbles filled with air… the addictive ones) but this one got only a screen protector .

The base of the LCD as you see in the photo is more like a metal plate. And yes it’s not screwless. You have to mount it using a screwdriver.

Since my old LCD was VGA only I had to plug in the old and new one at the same time to configure and make it work. (keep in mind, my video card is pretty OLD - ATI X500 low low entry type)

The connecting act can be hard if you don’t read the manual first.

They are well hidden beneath it’s back.

The back of the LCD comes off and you find an easy way to mount cables, and of course WESA mount aka 4 holes.

It’s quite nice and stylish, at least much better than some Samsung and LG LCD’s.

Position…

I tilted to see the maximum angle… (as static objects I used the keyboard and Logitech X530 left speaker)

Now the image…I am not a gamer so I won’t bother you with Xms insanity, but I will tell you that is one of the only monitors that come with a o burned pixel delivery warranty, which means you won’t have surprises like other BIG brands would give you - starting with Benq ending with LG and Samsung.

As you see for yourselves, the black isn’t quite uniform, but for it’s size is acceptable. If is turned on, you won’t feel a thing.

If you get up to see the angles, you will find that everything is OK and quite good for a TN until you look from down to it. Don’t know what happened there but it’s acceptable.

Some might find pictures in blue, grey or weird colors - they are fake…it’s black, no glossy panel -just black.

The buttons are on the bottom, and there aren’t any annoying glowing leds. You won’t be bothered by the buttons if you grab the screen by it’s sides, or in front. You get AUTO, - (contrast), + (brightness), menu (with transparency ) and OFF/ON.

It doesn’t have presets like other LCD’s “game, video, movie, text” but it’s OK, ia haven’t used them anyway on my old screen.

Speakers - what can I say, in an compare with my X530 Logitech 74W RMS, 5.1 system they lack the bass, and the get loud enough let’s say almost 20% in compare. For some tiny integrated speakers that is quit a performance. You might find same speakers in laptops. Only objection is - these are more powerful than the ones you find in laptops.

Pro’s

• Great quality for money
• DVI and VGA conectors
• Great design
• speakers with acceptable quality
• 0 dead pixels warranty

Con’s

• mounting can be tricky
• poor packaging
• horizontal angle suffers a little from TN type panel

CONCLUSION - For almost 320$ aka 800ron aka 225euro’s you get a decent much better than most LCD screens. Yeah it’s 22″
LCD HORIZON 2206SW, 22″, wide - it’s the best choice on budget with an TN panel.

For more money I would buy a PVA/SPVA/IPS/SIPS - but no other. (even thou the cheapest is twice more expensive and has only 20,1″)