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It’s a Xenon!

In the world of personal computers, there are two main types of monitors, CRT and LCD. LCD is superior to CRT in several aspects. They are lightweight. They have a slim profile, lower power consumption amongst other advantages. In recent times, there have been several specialty subdivisions within the TFT LCD market. These include the relatively wide-screen pivotable TFT LCD displays – adjustable from portrait to landscape mode, and the TFT LCD Color monitor/television which eliminates the need for a dedicated TV Tuner card.

In this instance, we shall concentrate on TFT LCD television/monitors. Imagine the convenience of watching your favorite television programs and then switching over to surfing the Internet, when there is a break in the programming. In fact, the possibilities are almost limitless.

Lately, there have been several entrants into this specialty market; with competition means better choices and prices for the consumers to pick from. Now, coming hot on the heels of the competition is the Xenon 1810E, 18.1-inch SXGA TFT LCD Color Monitor/TV.

Elegreen Technology Pte Ltd manufactures the Xenon brand of monitors. As one of the LCD monitor manufacturer in the world, they have a team of specialists and engineers whom design as well as provide OEM services to other monitor manufacturers. With good quality control systems in place, and being the agent, distributor, exporter and importer, we can see that they truly understand their products and market needs.

Xenon 1810E 18.1-inch TFT LCD Color Monitor/TV Specifications

Type	18.1-Inch Color Active Matrix TFT LCD
Color	16.7 Million (8bit/color)
Pitch	0.28x0.28mm
Screen Size	359.0 (H) x 287.2 (V) mm
Back Light	4CCFLs
Resolution(max.)	1280x1024 pixels
Contrast Ratio	300
Brightness	200cd/m2
Supported Resolutions	640 X 350 @ 70Hz 720 X 400 @ 59.9Hz 640 X 480 @ 60Hz 640 X 480 @ 72Hz 640 X 480 @ 75Hz 800 X 600 @ 60Hz 800 X 600 @ 72Hz 800 X 600 @ 75Hz 1024 X 768 @ 60Hz 1024 X 768 @ 70Hz 1024 X 768 @ 75Hz 1280 X 1024 @ 60Hz 1280 X 1024 @ 75Hz
Sync Frequency	Vertical: 56~75Hz Horizontal: 31~80KHz
Input signal	Analog RGB 0.714 VP-P, 15 Pin D-sub type
Viewing Angle	Up/Down: 70 degrees/70 degrees Right/Left: 70 degrees/70 degrees
Compatibility	Plug & Play VESA DCC 1/2B VESA/IBM/MAC
Power Management	VESA Standard, DPMS
Power Consumption	Operating: 55 watts max. Stand-by: 4.8 watts max.
Temperature	Operating: 0 degrees celsius ~ 40 degrees celsius Storage: -20 degrees celsius ~ 60 degrees celsius
Humidity	Operating: 10% ~ 85 % R.H. Non-Operating: 90% R.H. Max.
OSD	Source select/ Menu/ Volume/ Channel/etc
Mechanical Tilt	Up: 25 degrees/ Down: 5 degrees
Size	450 (W) x 440 (H) x 204 (D) mm, Net 550 (W) x 600 (H) x 300 (D) mm, Gross
Option	USB/ SVHS/ Video(AV)/ TV/ Speaker/ Mic./ Swivel 340 degrees

Package Details

The display unit that was sent to the labs consists of the following items:-

1. The Xenon 1810E, 18.1-inch SXGA TFT LCD Monitor/TV
2. A Remote Controller
3. An AC/DC Adapter (Input: 100-240 V ~ 50/60 Hz, Output: 5.0A, 60W Max)
4. A Power Cord
5. A Driver Floppy Disk
6. A Series of Cables (Audio, analog RGB VGA, RCA, S-VHS, USB Cables)
7. Antenna Jack

Coming with a silver chrome motif, the monitor should fit in well with any home and office environment.

The Xenon 1810E is certified TCO '95 compliant and thus, the consumer will feel reassured that he is not contributing to the degradation of the environment with this purchase. The consumer will also be delighted to know that this means the monitor has met several ergonomics standards in terms of radiation emissions for example.

The LCD panel also conforms to VESA DPMS and DCC 1/2. As such, actual power consumption can be as low as 55 watts during operation, and the monitor is Plug-and-Play.

The bezel might be a distraction for those who prefer 3HD edge-to-edge gaming.

The main monitor unit comes with a silver/gray chrome color motif, which is the "in" thing nowadays. As such, it should fit in well with any office or SOHO environment. There is a silver chrome bezel surrounding the monitor screen, which measures 4.3cm x 3.1 cm. Though this area provides a hardy surface for the user to tilt the monitor, users who want to play some edge-to-edge 3D games using a DualHead configuration might find it a distraction.

The buttons on the monitor are silver coated and might be too small for bigger fingers.

The buttons on the monitor are silver coated. Thus, there might be discoloration due to wear and tear over time. Another disadvantage is that they are relatively small. Thus, those with big stubby fingers might find them a little bothersome to press. The power button is backlit with several interesting colors. It is red when no signal is detected, green when the monitor is on, and a curious green and orange combo when the monitor is just turned on and is trying to detect the signal. However, one button that some will miss is the "auto-calibration" button. The "auto-calibration" button can be commonly found in other LCD monitors, but not the Xenon 1810E.

The remote sensor is hidden behind the left speaker; speaker quality is adequate.

The Xenon 1810E comes in two versions, with or without speakers. The one we received for review comes with two integrated front speakers. Music and dialogue come out bright and clear. However, due to the lack of space in front of the chassis, there is a limit to how much the engineer can enhance the speakers' quality. For those who crave for an expansive soundstage or bass-rich audio, will do well to purchase the cheaper version of the monitor without the speakers and spend the difference on a set of quality speakers instead.

If a consumer is to look at the monitor at the display shop, he might ask, where is the remote sensor? Well, that is a good question but apparently, it is cleverly hidden behind the left speaker. This significantly reduces "clutter" on the front chassis and the risk of remote signal obstruction. For, who would place things in front of the speakers?

The monitor stand is made of plastic but we feel that it should suffice.

The user can tilt the screen up and down (Up: 25 Degrees, Down: 5 Degrees). The monitor is not swivel-able. However, it comes with four rubber feet at the bottom, which helps to strengthen the grip on the surface it rests on. One potential caveat is that the monitor stand is made of plastic, thus it might not be as durable as metal. As it stands, the monitor stand feels sturdy to the touch and we might just be nitpicking on its material composition. Another thing is that the monitor stand cannot be removed and thus the unit is not mountable on the wall.

The Xenon 1810E comes with a comprehensive set of a/v inputs and outputs.

Looking at the back of the monitor, you will find a curvy non-removable cover and a comprehensive set of audio/visual inputs and outputs; they are clearly labeled. The various video inputs consist of an analog RGB input, S-VHS, RCA composite as well as an antenna input for your cable box or otherwise. The audio inputs consist of RCA composite inputs, a line-in as well as a headphone jack. There is a single audio line-out for connection to an external speaker system. One disadvantage is that the monitor does not come with a DVI video input. However, the difference between the two video interfaces is minimal, most consumer will not miss the use of it.

The monitor comes with a powered integrated four-port USB 1.1 hub. As such, instead of plugging USB devices to the back of the computer, you now have the option of plugging them into the back of the monitor instead. This will be more convenient as the monitor is arguably more accessible to the user. However, some might prefer it to be a USB 2.0 hub instead.

The monitor does not come with a removable back cover but we do not think this is necessary.

There are some whom might prefer a removable back cover to hide the wire clutter but as the various inputs/outputs are located at the bottom most section of the monitor, we don’t really see the point of doing that anyway.

The top back portion of the monitor feels moderately warm after several hours of operation.

The bottom back portion of the monitor is surprisingly cold to the touch.

After running the monitor for a few hours, the unit felt lukewarm on the back top portion and cold at the bottom back portion. This is most likely due to the venting holes at the back of the monitor. Thus it should be relatively cool even in a normal air-cooled room. There is thus no need for any additional cooling devices.

When we examined the on screen display (OSD) functions of the monitor, we noticed a few things. Besides the usual adjustments (brightness, contrast, frequency, clock, position and size controls and auto calibration), there are the more uncommon ones like video source selection, hue and saturation controls. They pertain more towards the television/multimedia side of the monitor unit. Three additional OSD controls that deserve special mention are the fill screen, fill to aspect ratio and TV Mode controls. We will come back to them later in our in depth analysis of the monitor’s performance.

The remote controller is lightweight and features buttons that controls the OSD.

The remote controller is black, small and relatively lightweight. Thus, the user will feel comfortable gripping the controller for as long as he wishes. The controls are carefully laid out on the unit and it controls all functions of the OSD for both television and monitor. These include menu, channel selections, volume and mute controls and signal source selection. It is worthwhile to note that there are similar monitors in the market that do not allow the user to manipulate the OSD during monitor mode. This is not the case here. The remote control runs on 2 AAA sized batteries.

The printed manual that came with the unit is written only in English and those not familiar with the language might find it difficult to understand the instructions given.

This nifty little thing will allow you to use a normal co-axial cable with the antenna plug.

Another nice touch is that Elegreen has seen fit to include an antenna jack; adapts a cable co-axial point, so that it becomes compatible to the antenna plug of the monitor.

DisplayMate Results

One special quality of the Xenon is its ability to run at an optimum resolution of 1280 x 1024 with a refresh rate of 85Hz. A refresh rate that high is unusual among LCD panels. This is not only limited to higher resolutions but lower resolutions as well (e.g. 1152x864, 1280x1024, 1024x768, 800x600 and 640x480). Lower resolution mode displays can be expanded to full screen through an expansion algorithm. However, the fonts and graphics will not be as sharp.

The contrast ratio for the Xenon 1810E is rated at 300:1 and brightness stands at 200cd/m². It is not the highest of ratings in the market but be aware that a lower rating actually increases the longevity of the product. As it stands, we do not think the product is too dim to work with. In fact, not once did we have to max out the brightness and contrast levels for our tests.

DisplayMate Tests :-

By utilizing "DisplayMate for Windows Multimedia with Motion Edition 2.0", we were able to gather some data on this monitor in terms of image quality. Take note that we used a Matrox G450 graphics card and its RGB analog output in order to get our results. Your mileage might differ according to your graphics card. However, since the G450 is amongst the best out there in terms of 2D and color reproduction, the tests should be indicative of the monitor’s real world performance.

DisplayMate Test Results

Circular Geometry	In the Circular Geometry test, we can see that the circles looks oval and this is indicative of the presence of geometric distortion. This signifies some minor problems with the aspect ratio. The crosshatches are in most cases perfectly displayed in that there is no obvious distortion in the lines and dots. However, there is the presence of bright fringes when using a magenta foreground with a black background. Correspondingly, we see a reddish fringe when yellow is superimposed on magenta and dark ridges when yellow is superimposed on cyan.
Stuck Pixel	In the Stuck Pixel test, we are able to discover 2 dead pixels – one is more obvious than the other. This is still considered acceptable in the LCD market because anything more than 10 dead pixels will warrant either a refund or a one-to-one exchange. Thus, one should not frown upon this as inadequate quality controls on Elegreen’s part.
Screen Uniformity	In the Screen Uniformity test, we discovered a consistent trend of dim edges surrounding the screen across all color backgrounds. This problem is less obvious when viewing darker shades of blue and yellow backgrounds. The anomaly cannot be seen at all at the darkest shades of this test. This is indicative of some imperfections on the screen, as some of the basic colors at the edges of the monitor are not as bright as it should be. It is likely due to the screen's non-uniformity.
Pixel Tracking and Timing Lock / Interlace Flicker	In the Pixel Tracking and Timing Lock and Interlace Flicker tests, we discovered a barely discernible flicker on the screen, which failed to be corrected by the auto calibration function of the monitor. They are essentially beat patterns that periodically modulate the intensity of the dithers or interlaced lines. This might have been caused by electronic interference from nearby devices or timing issues due to the use of the RGB analog input.
Gray-Scale Shifts	In the Gray-Scale Shifts test, the contrast in the shades of color can be clearly seen but in cases where the contrast is only by a difference of one, two or four, it is harder to make them out. This problem is especially acute for colors like blue, red and magenta. However, this is a minor issue and should not adversely affect screen quality.
Reverse Video Contrast	In the Reverse Video Contrast check, there is a consistent trend of blurry text due to a slight shadowy effect along their edges. Besides that, there are some problems in color reproduction. In the black on white box, there is the presence of dark ridges for colors like green and red text. Additionally, the yellow text is not clearly presented. In the black on gray box, there is the presence of dark ridges for the green and cyan text, and bright ridges for red and magenta. In the black on dark gray box, there are bright ridges for red and magenta. Dark yellow and dark green text are not as clear as it should be. These tests thus demonstrate that there is room for improvements here. Please note that some LCD panels performed better in this test.
Color Combinations	In the Color Combinations test, color combinations like cyan on green, yellow on green, green on cyan, green on red, cyan on red, red on magenta, white on yellow, dark yellow on white could have been rendered more sharply. There are bright ridges for the following color combinations: magenta on black, red on black, red on blue, magenta on blue, red on green, magenta on green, red on cyan, magenta on cyan, yellow on cyan, blue on red and magenta on yellow. On the other hand, there are dark ridges for the following: magenta on red, cyan on magenta, green on magenta, green on yellow, cyan on yellow, green on white and yellow on white. What all this tests show is that the monitor is not performing as well as it should. Much like the Reverse Video Contrast Check, graphics professionals might want to take note of the anomalies in color reproduction here.
Color Scales	The Xenon performs well in the Color Scales test. We can see that the color blocks increase in intensity from the brighter shades to the darkest shades from left to right in a gradual and controlled manner.
Gray Scale Color	In the Gray Scale Color tests, particularly in the 64 steps and 128 steps gray scale test, we can see an uneven increase in intensity from the dimmest end to the brightest end of the scale for several colors. These include white, blue, green, cyan, red, magenta and yellow colors. For the white color, there is a yellowish tint to the brightest shades. There is also a consistent trend in which the darkest grays are usually expanded and the brightest grays are usually compressed across all basic colors. However, do take note that we are practically nitpicking on the screen quality. In actuality, other similar LCD panels have exhibited in a similar manner.
Number of Gray Levels	In the Number of Gray Levels test, we can detect 16 faint and distinct bars. This is consistent with what we have seen from other LCD panels.
White-Level Saturation	In the White-Level Saturation test, we see a gradual shift in blocks from the darkest to the lightest for most colors except white and blue. For these colors, white shades along the scale from 241 – 255 cannot be clearly differentiated. Blue shades in the scale from 250 – 255 are similarly indistinguishable from one another.
Color Tracking	In the Color Tracking test, we observed some minor problems with blue and red in that block 4 and 8 cannot be clearly distinguished. This is consistent with the Gray-Scale Shifts test in which we see similar results. This might signify some problems for images that have a preponderance of such colors.
256 Intensity Level Ramp	In the 256 Intensity Level Ramp, we can see that the brightest portion of white, blue and cyan are compressed while the darkest portion of blue, green, cyan, red, magenta and yellow are expanded. This might be indicative of some problems in certain photographic images and when you mix, match and specify colors.
Scaled Font	According to the Scaled Font test, the smallest font for Arial and Times New Roman are of size 9 pixels and 6.8 points. This is to be expected for most TFT LCD monitor. However, what concerns us is that like the Reverse Video Contrast Check, there is a shadowy edge to the fonts across all colors except white. Increasing the refresh rate to 85Hz did help to alleviate the problem.
Moiré Montage / Aliasing:Radial Ray	In the Moiré Montage and Aliasing:Radial Ray tests, we cannot detect any trace of ripples, waves or wisps. This is consistent with what we have seen from other LCD panels. Monitors based on CRT technology will have a harder time excelling in this test.

Like other LCD monitors in its class, the Xenon shines in the following test in which there isn't a presence of any artifacts. These include the Color Saturation Scale test, the High Contrast Streaking test, Streaking and Ghosting test, Color Streaking test, Two Dimensional Streaking test and LCD Dimensional Streaking tests. What this means is that the monitor should perform very well in games or video materials, where there is a rapid sequence of image changes. We shall see if this is true in the Matrix movie test. Additionally, the LCD should have no problem displaying bars, charts and titles, commonly found in most office documents.

By taking account all the tests that have presented so far, we feel that there is room for improvement for this monitor. For one, the text is not as sharp as it should be. Another disadvantage is that there is some errors in color registration. Additionally, there is evidence of geometric distortions which suggusts a less-than-perfect aspect ratio of the monitor. Thus, the monitor can be said to be performing adequately for office work, but not for serious graphics work. In contrast, the monitor performs very well in tests which stresses on game/video quality.

Video and Television Quality Check

Movie Screen Test :-

One word sums up how we feel when we played the "lobby shooting" scene in the DVD movie "The Matrix" – Magnificent. In fact, it is one of the better ones we have seen so far. Flesh tones are clearly rendered, busy scenes - the predominance of rough textures and little details like water drops, dust and gun discharges can be clearly differentiated. Darker scenes from the interior of the ship for example, are vivid and breathtaking. The only anomaly that we can see is that there is a slight hint of yellow in some of the facial tones.

However, one potential disadvantage is that the monitor comes in with a 5:4 screen ratio and not 16:9. This is because HDTV and wide-screen has been designed to fit into that particular ratio. As such, you will see black borders when viewing such materials with this monitor.

Television Mode :-

We were able to test the monitor's television tuner function by using an indoor antenna. As such, the picture reception is not as strong as one would like (not the monitor's fault). However, it was good enough for certain channels and we were able to make some basic assumptions about its television picture quality.

Much like the Movie Screen Test, the picture is amongst the best out there in the market right now. The colors were warm and vibrant, the contrast and brightness were good with room to go. Additionally the facial tones are clearly rendered. There is not a hint of flicker that will tire the eyes after an extended period of close watching.

A curious feature not commonly found elsewhere is TV, Fill Screen and Fill to Aspect Ratio modes. These three functions, accessible from the OSD, actually enables overscan, stretches the picture to fill the screen, or to display television broadcast in the 4:3 ratio respectively. Most CRT television in the market right now actually overscans (expands) television broadcasts images so that we will not see the black borders. A side effect of doing that is you lose a slice of image detail at the edges of the screen.

It is good that the Xenon allows power users to tweak the picture size to their satisfaction – you are actually viewing more of the image than you would otherwise, using a normal CRT television.

The monitor/television supports Nicam Stereo. As such, you can either turn it on or off or to switch between language tracks (SAP in the OSD). However, we find it odd that we will have to wait for the OSD to timeout before the audio settings can be accepted.

The Xenon is able to auto tune itself to various channels in a sequential order. This will come in handy for those who are not so technically inclined. However, one trade off is that you are not allowed to tie particular channels with particular frequencies. For example, if you prefer channel 5 to be associated with channel 1 - you cannot do that. The only thing you can do is to manually remove any channels you do not want. The Xenon is able to handle up to 110 channels.

Channel surfing is relatively easy. After auto tuning is completed, you will be allowed to either access particular channels directly via the remote controller’s number pad or to just surf in a sequential manner.

There is one caveat. It is not as easy to switch between TV and Monitor mode. There are two mode switches between monitor and TV mode. And every mode switch involves time for the monitor to detect and auto adjusts the signal before you can move on. This process might become tiresome after some time.

Xenon's The Choice?

The Xenon 1810E looks good and feels good. As a monitor/television, you have the ability to switch between both sides depending on your disposition. Featuring a silver/gray motif, with silver coated buttons and integrated speakers; it should fit in well with most rooms, whether big or small.

With a comprehensive set of audio/visual inputs and outputs located at the bottom portion of the monitor - wire clutter is not a problem. Any possible confusion is reduced because each port on the monitor is clearly labeled. There is also a powered four-port USB 1.1 hub integrated as well.

The remote controller is small and light and the buttons are adequate. It is able to control the OSD of both television and monitor mode. In addition, the remote sensor is hidden within the left speaker, which aids in streamlining the design of the front chassis.

The monitor performs excellently with video materials, be it television broadcasts or DVD movie playback. Details are razor sharp and colors are warm. Contrast and brightness are adequate. It is hard to go wrong with this monitor especially if you are an avid movie/television couch potato.

However, the image quality of the monitor side of things needs improvement. The presence of shadowy effects in certain tests, which stress on text clarity, bothered us to a certain extent. Some problems with color reproduction and color registration can result in slightly blurry photographic images and inaccuracies in colors. Thus, we will not recommend this product to graphics professionals. However, it should be adequate for most office task like word processing or a spot of gaming for example.

One wishes that perhaps, Elegreen could have included additional TV features by way of Teletext or Picture in Picture like what its fellow competitors have done. Another thing is that an auto-calibration button should have been included as one of the buttons on the front chassis. Another potential caveat is that the monitor has a 5:4 screen aspect ratio and not 16:9.

In spite of all these shortcomings, the Xenon 1810E is a relatively good solution for those who needs a monitor/television. Please remember that it is an 18-inch monitor, which is almost equivalent to a 20-inch CRT monitor. With a large viewing area, office task and watching television would be a pleasurable experience.

The Xenon is warranted by Polestar Inc.; with a three years warranty on parts and labor and a year warranty on the TFT-LCD panel (including the backlight).