23" Cinema display poor color consistency

I just hooked up my brand new aluminum Apple Cinema HD Display 23 after waiting for weeks for it to arrive. I was pretty disappointed when I immediately noticed the far left and right edges had a dingy yellow tint to them when viewing white windows (such as Finder windows). I also noticed a darker bluish vertical band just to the left of the center when working in LightWave which has a gray background.

So to test the color consistency I then switched the desktop to a medium gray and hid everything else. Sure enough, there was a subtle, but noticeable bluish vertical band about 3" wide just to the left of the center. I then switched the desktop to white and could also see that the far right and left edges were slightly dingy yellow about 2" wide on each side.

I recalibrated the display 2 - 3 times and tested various brightnesses and viewing angles. No matter what I did, the color problems persisted...

I had this $2000 23" Apple HD monitor attached to the Mac with a $400 17" Sony DVI LCD right next to it as a second monitor. The Sony wasn't as good at wide angle viewing, but performing the same gray/white desktop tests showed nice consistent color across the screen. For $2K this HD monitor should have at least as good color consistency as a $400 DVI LCD...

I'd be curious to see how other people's HD 23 monitors hold up with these simple tests. Set your desktop to solid color gray and see how consistent the color holds across the screen. Do the same with solid color white...

Since I run a high end multimedia studio, I need consistent color across the screen. I bought the Apple Cinema display because I thought it was the best I could get...

I packed the monitor up and my associate has just gone to the closest Apple store to see what can be done... I hope this is just an isolated problem that can be quickly resolved. Hopefully I just got a bad monitor and hopefully Apple will just replace it with one with better color consistency...

I'll post the results here...

Thanks,
-MikeS

Posted on Aug 17, 2004 12:15 PM

349 replies

Sep 30, 2004 6:06 AM in response to Patrick_C

Patrick,

FWIW, my repair came back looking like it did when it left... along with a flickering backlight problem.

I'd say send it in so they understand this is a widespread problem and that people are not happy with the quality of the unit. Only then will they address it; otherwise we're just a few "picky crybabies," so it seems...

jlsills

Level 1

5 points

Sep 30, 2004 2:08 PM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

Hooray, finally a spectacular Apple monitor I can uses with my PC! I called the Apple Store last night to order the 23" display but held off until I could find a store that offered an extended warranty.

Thanks for all of your posts! I am not sure that I want to take a chance that Apple will not acknowledge the color problem.

Has anybody compared it to the Sony 23" yet?

John

Oct 1, 2004 3:32 PM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

We got two of the monitors and sold the old ones. So now we are stuck with these. It is such a nuisance to buy new sony/dell/whatever ones and return these. But the color is horrible on these Apple monitors.

Someone at Apple should get fired.

Oct 2, 2004 5:26 AM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

I returned 2 23inch monitors ang used the $ for a 2.5, the really were horrible, and apple calls them in spec, when they are just flat out unnacceptable to me. Amatuers pronbably like them though cause the just surf, email, and play around. Get a CRT if you are doing any color critical work.

Oct 5, 2004 7:48 AM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

I had to return my first 23" Aluminum screen! All the same problems I read here. The replacement one is the same.
I walked across the road to another company, they have the same problem. I have just returned from Photokina, all the 23" Screens were the same there!
I spoke to Apple UK today, they told me they were not aware of any problems! I said that he must be mistaken, and I did not belive that! He says he will get a manager to call me. I won't hold my breath!

Oct 5, 2004 7:54 AM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

They called me! They cannot rectify the problem, so I am getting a full refund! Off to the Sony store now. SHAME!!

Oct 5, 2004 9:38 AM in response to Shaun Rosenberg

"Get a CRT if you are doing any color critical work."

You are 100% correct. None of the flat screen technologies have the same color accuracy as plain old CRT monitors. This is true of computer displays, video displays and televisions. I work in a post house and when we need accurate color we use a CRT, flat screens are for menu/gui display only.

CRT's may be old tech, but they are good reliable tech that has been perfected over a long period of time.

bitman

Level 2

309 points

Oct 5, 2004 11:31 AM in response to WelshDog2

"Get a CRT if you are doing any color critical work."

As you might imagine this is a hotly debated subject that can't be answered with such a general statement. Many professional photographers have switched to LCDs and found the color accuracy quite competetive with CRTs. Check out the Rob Galbraith Digital Photography Insights web site. There is a wealth of imformation regarding LCDs in the forums there.You might be surprised.

http://www.robgalbraith.com

bit

donnyb

Level 1

119 points

Oct 5, 2004 2:19 PM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

Well, I bought my 23 display on Sept. 28 from Apple store in Sacramento California. And yes I'm having the same problems that everyone else is having. My dilemma now is should I return it or hold off for Apple to make a fix. Here are some photos of my display. (Large files not for dial up)
http://images7.fotki.com/v113/fileQeuZ/beec8/2/289977/1368082/DSC_1666.jpg
http://images8.fotki.com/v115/fileeWiX/beec8/2/289977/1368082/DSC_1665.jpg

donnyb

Level 1

119 points

Oct 5, 2004 7:55 PM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

sorry the links didn't work. Here are some that do.
http://homepage.mac.com/donnyb/images/cinema1.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/donnyb/images/cinema2.jpg

Oct 19, 2004 8:08 AM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

So far, two of the threads about good ACD 23" monitors have turned sour. It seems that many of those that think the 23" monitor is good just haven't noticed the problems. Sometimes the problems take a week or so to become pronounced... and sometimes only graphics professionals notice the color shifts while average users may not...

Michael De Agonia, "Just recieved my 23" display & the verdict is", 03:18pm Oct 15, 2004 CDT

Pedja, "Perfect 23 HD monitor", 10:48am Sep 24, 2004 CDT

-MikeS

Oct 19, 2004 2:17 PM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

I think you are right about that Mike.

I am a graphic designer. When I first looked the monitor,it looked great but as I started to work I noticed the a slight greenish tint on the left of the display.

It is hardly noiceable to regular people but it I really notice it. After I calibrated again, the green seem to go away but now I can see a slight yellow hue and seems washed out on the left and right side of the display.

When I boot up from the CD, you can see the greenish hue on the left side and everything has a pink hue to it. I did the test and it came out with the same results as everyone else.

Apple is sending out a box. Let see if they can fix it, if not they are sending me another one. My 23" is a refurbished by the way.

Is Apple sending tech support to india now?
I got this indian guy that I couldn't even understand. He didn't seem to know what he was doing either. You can tell he was trying to find the answers or was asking someone for help.

Oct 19, 2004 4:28 PM in response to Mayhem Studios

Vel dots veddy veddy bed. Mebbe gew con got it faxed no?

DD (I tink)

thecatz

Level 1

5 points

Oct 27, 2004 9:17 AM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

I had the exact same problem with my first generation 23" ACD. I sent it in for repair and got a note back saying that there was no trouble detected with the device.

Oct 27, 2004 1:26 PM in response to Michael Scaramozzino

I too have the same problem with a brand new (not refurbish) 23 al display.
I didn't notice it when I got it, but it seems it gets worst everyday... (I got it for about a month)
I don't want to be pessimistic, but we had the white spot on the Alubook, the bad power supply in the Quicksilver G4, in some Power Mac G5, some iMac G5...
I didn't call the Apple Care for now, because I called them a couple weeks ago for an oxydation problem with my PowerBook, and even with pictures of the oxydation they didn't want to do anything...

Too bad.

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23" Cinema display poor color consistency