| SOYO 26-Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor DYLM26E6 |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Monitor | HDTV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Olin Coles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sunday, 29 June 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SOYO 26-Inch Monitor DYLM26E6Benchmark Reviews has tested several different monitors over the past year, and even though they all offer nearly the same features there still seems to be a high premium paid for some names. Not SOYO. Last year we reviewed the 24-Inch DYLM24D6, which was an extremely popular widescreen monitor that could be purchased for less than $300. That was over a year ago, and so as you can imagine prices have come down a but since then. Today we get to offer another excellent value: SOYO 26-Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor MT-NI-DYLM26E6. Priced to be the most affordable monitor in its class, the DYLM26E6 carries an unbelievable value for any 26" widescreen LCD that can produce 1920x1200 WUXGA resolution.
Of all the computer hardware that I test, monitors are the one item that I find the most interesting. You see, monitors are many things to many people; but they are never a simple statistic. Most people are unaware that LCD monitors use a pre-defined native resolution to display the picture, and unlike CRT monitors they do not keep clarity as they scale in size. Changing the panel resolution will result in an out-of-focus image and poor user experience, so it is often left alone. But using a larger resolution also means that your graphics card must work harder to produce the picture. For most people, this is a non-issue because they use their computer for general purpose tasks like web browsing and e-mail. Resolution only becomes an issue when 3D graphics are involved. Gamers are most affected by this phenomenon, and often times they are unaware of their decisions. Of course we all want a large widescreen display for our personal enjoyment, but what if it meant lower video game performance? This is where it becomes necessary to match a monitor to the correct graphics hardware.
The SOYO 26-Inch Pearl series widescreen LCD monitor DYLM26E6 incorporates superior TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display technology in a stylish compact design that frees up valuable desk space, with a wide-angle flat screen that offers a view of the screen from sharp corner angles without compromising image quality. Featuring high brightness, sharp contrast and vivid colors for hours of comfortable viewing, SOYO also integrates built-in speakers deliver stereo-quality sound. About the company: SOYO Group, Inc.EDITORS NOTE: SOYO has filed for bankruptcy and is no longer in business. The SOYO brand name is synonymous with quality, performance and value. Established in 1999 with headquarters in Ontario, California, SOYO Group, Inc. (OTCBB: SOYO) is a leading global provider of computer motherboards, computer peripheral devices, consumer electronics, networking, portable storage and broadband telecommunications products and services that meet the needs of all markets - from the end-user to the enterprise. 
Best known as a manufacturer of designer motherboards, SOYO's line of high-performance DRAGON single-processor boards support both the Intel and AMD platforms. Recognizing demand for cost-effective, reliable and high-quality peripherals that provide universally compatible solutions, SOYO has expanded its line of products and services to meet the needs of the consumer, SOHO, SMB, enterprise and gaming markets. Over the years, SOYO has established strategic relationships with major global manufacturers, and through our extensive sales channels, we deliver a wide range of cutting-edge, cost-effective products. With sales offices in California and Sao Palo, Brazil, SOYO sells its products through an extensive network of authorized distributors, resellers, system integrators, VARs, retailers, mail-order catalogs and e-tailers.
SOYO Pearl Series FeaturesSOYO Pearl series LCD monitors incorporate superior TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display technology in a stylish compact design that frees up valuable desk space, with a wide-angle flat screen that offers a view of the screen from various angles without compromising image quality. Featuring high brightness, sharp contrast and vivid colors for hours of comfortable viewing, SOYO's built-in speakers deliver stereo-quality sound. Designed to provide the ideal display solution for a wide variety of applications at the office, home or school, the monitor delivers crisp, vibrant text and images while you are working on preadsheets and reports, writing emails, preparing presentations, watching movies, playing games, or surfing the Internet. Available in black, the SOYO LCD monitor is engineered for today's multimedia applications, streaming videos, DVD movies, Internet surfing, games, and more, delivering "SOYO" quality at affordable prices.
Lightning Fast Response Times:
1920x1200 pixel WUXGA resolution
1200:1 contrast ratio with 2ms response time
Monitor stand allows panel tilt
16:9 aspect ratio
Brightness: 500 Nits
176º viewing angles
Built-in speakers deliver stereo quality sound
Connectors: 1 VGA, 1 DVI, 1 audio in (3.5mm)
1-Year limited warranty
Includes power cord, VGA cable, audio cable and product manual
Designed to provide the ideal display solution for a wide variety of applications at the office, home or school, the WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra eXtended Graphics Array) technology delivers crisp, vibrant text and images while you are working on spreadsheets and reports, writing emails, preparing presentations, watching movies, playing games, or surfing the Internet. The SOYO Pearl series 26-Inch widescreen LCD monitor MT-NI-DYLM26E6 makes for a perfect widescreen display regardless of your application. MT-NI-DYLM26E6 Specifications
SOYO DYLM26E6 ExteriorSOYO was the first name I ever learned when I became an enthusiast in the computer industry way back in 1998. That was forever ago, and back then it didn't take much to please me. Ten years later I have discovered that the finer things in life are more important, so quality and value are more critical to my purchase decisions they have ever been. SOYO has come a long way since the days it used to manufacture motherboards. While they have transformed their business into one that offers consumer electronics instead of computer components, there is still a small number of enthusiasts which will need serious convincing that they are not still one in the same. It wasn't really all that long ago that I first purchased a 17" LCD display. At the time I thought that my new purchase put me on top of the world. While watching movies on my computer I quickly discovered that if the monitor was just a little larger, I could really turn my computer system into a home theater PC (HTPC). Today, nearly all of the things I could have wanted from technology are available in modern products, but the price can be a barrier.
When LCD technology was first introduced to the retail market many years ago, it was extremely expensive and only the most affluent consumers could afford it. Now several years later the price of LCD technology has dropped to such an affordable level that CRT monitors are no longer the standard and cost more to produce than LCD panels. Since the larger 26" LCD panels are relatively new to the market, their cost has remained high. The good news is that prices have dropped from $1000 for the Planar PX2611W we reviewed one year ago, down to below $400 for this SOYO DYLM26E6 26" widescreen LCD monitor.
Keeping to the basics, and providing on the essential accoutrements in a monitor, SOYO offers more value for the dollar than anyone else in this market. During the spring of 2007 SOYO stunned consumers with their 24-Inch widesreen LCD that sold for under $300. At the time, and even now, a price like that was unbelievable. SOYO has returned to sweeten the deal, and offers the newly designed 26-Inch Pearl series widescreen LCD monitor DYLM26E6 for a mere $399 at the time of this writing. Apparently, the price of high-end graphic cards is going (way) up, but the price of extra-large monitors is coming way down.
Lowest-level pricing doesn't mean that you'll have to settle for less, though. SOYO still offers a good balance of performance to the value, although most aspects of the DYLM26E6 are kept either minimal or basic. In previous SOYO monitors, namely the Topaz series, the stand was almost unbearable. Redesigned in the Pearl series, SOYO keeps the stand clear of cost-inflating features such as telescoping stand with 90-degree swivel, which I would consider to be unrealistic for any 26" monitor. Instead an appropriately-stylish stand is matched to the large 26-inch panel, which allows the screen to tilt from a perpendicular upright position to a slightly elevated position.
SOYO has included mounting points at the back of the MT-NI-DYLM26E6 to match the VESA 100 (100mm x 100mm) mounting format. Since the stand offers a minimal upward tilt with no other movement available, it might make sense to shop for a compatible VESA 100 wall-mount system or desktop stand if you're wanting more flexibility. So that's the basic outer-shell of the SOYO DYLM26E6. In our next section, the detailed features are explored for this 26-inch widescreen LCD monitor. DYLM26E6 Detailed FeaturesSOYO successfully engineered the Topaz monitor series last year, and when they developed the Pearl series many of the same technologies were used. The 26" Pearl series widescreen monitor is built upon the Twisted Nematic LCD technology, whereas the SOYO DYLM24D6 used PVA technology. While the TN panel used in the MT-NI-DYLM26E6 offers a fast 2 ms response time, contrast and color are considered by most LCD panel snobs to be low grade while the viewing angle is the most restricted of all LCD panel technologies. Another downside inherent to the TN panel technology is a reduced color gamut. Unlike most 8-bit panels (which include S-IPS/S-PVA/MVA technologies), TN panels are only capable of 6-bit and are unable to display all 16.7 million colors available in 24-bit true color. Instead, TN panels must use dithering to match the 16.7 million colors of 8-bit panels, which will often degrade image quality. TN display panels are the most common part in budget monitors, and yet still offer excellent response times to reduce ghosting in fast-motion video or games. For most casual users who browse the web or use common productivity applications, there isn't any dramatically perceivable difference in picture quality. Even hardcore gamers would be hard-pressed to complain about their experience on a Twisted Nematic monitor. But there are always a select few who demand only the absolute best, which is understandable considering that the product spectrum is so wide; however that elitist attitude will cost you more than twice the purchase price of the produce we're testing here today. TN Panels have become a popular technology for LCD manufacturers because of the reduced production cost of the unit, and consumers like them just as much because they are very inexpensive. Presently the TN display technology is used primarily in larger 20"-26" standard and widescreen LCD panels, which covers is a tremendously large segment of popular sizes from the middle- to high-end market. Since many consumers base their monitor purchase solely on size and price, an average 26" TN panel based monitor will generally cost much less than other monitors using different panel technologies.
The front bezel offers a Spartan assortment of menu buttons to control the on-screen display (OSD). There's an automatic adjustment for D-Sub analog connections, the primary menu option, power, and a minus and plus button for moving and selecting options. At the backside of the SOYO DYLM26E6 (pictured below with stand removed), there is very little landscape to survey. Essentially, the features can be summed-up by mentioning the speakers, power input, D-Sub analog video connection, DVI (Dual Link) digital video connection, and audio input mini-jack.
While I clearly realize this is a product aimed for the lower- to middle-market, I still wonder how much the production cost would be raised by including HDMI or DisplayPort connections to the SOYO DYLM26E6. While DVI is the de-facto standard anymore, I am eager to see the day that DisplayPort will supposedly replace HDMI and become an equally common feature on even the most basic budget product models. The base portion of the support stand presses into the neck portion, so no tools are required. The base, similar to the rear of the unit but unlike the bezel, is finished in a flat black with sand-pebble finish. 
While the integrated speakers are nothing special, as you would expect a 2W + 2W pair to perform, the most basic audio tones are reproduced incredibly well. I wouldn't suggest using the Pearl-series monitor to replace your component speaker system if you're a gamer or listen to high-quality music, but if all you do is watch low-quality online video or streaming audio they will suffice.
Even a budget-priced product should be protected from theft, and SOYO includes a Kensington Security Slot (also called K-slot or K-lock). Using an aftermarket security cable kit, this monitor can be fastened to a stationary desktop or table. As a network administrator for many small and medium-sized businesses, I can assure you that nice LCD monitors do seem to disappear without a trace on a frequent basis. If this item is going to be placed in a public environment or open office space, I recommend the ten-dollar kit to protect your assets. SOYO includes the power cable, audio patch cable, and analog D-Sub video connection cable. What's missing is the DVI cable, which is the current standard for monitor connections. The SOYO DYLM26E6 can accept either DVI-D Dual Link or Single Link cables; so keep this in mind while shopping for one.
In the next section, I briefly describe the on-screen menu system and the tuning options included therein. If you're considering this product, then it would be advisable to tune in. LCD OSD Menu FeaturesMy experience with monitors has conditioned me to expect only the expensive monitors to feature a comprehensive on-screen menu. Usually, the more larger the monitor, the more configuration options there are available. So it came with a degree of surprise when I discovered a few configuration settings I was unfamiliar with in the SOYO Pearl series OSD menu. Generally speaking, the menu display is reminiscent of just about every other monitor I have set-up over the years with an easy to navigate layout matched by familiar controls. There's the standard settings: brightness, contrast, audio volume, and reset, but there are a few less common settings as well. SOYO includes a pre-defined collection of viewing scenarios, which will automatically adjust the settings to suite the specified environment. I searched the manual, and scoured the web, but there was no explanation of what DBC and ACE mode does. Any ideas?
SOYO has also included a sharpness setting with the Pearl series LCD monitors. The idea behind the setting is to emphasize or deemphasize boundaries between a light object and a dark object. However, it has been my experience that this created a picture that ranges from fuzzy to grainy. Also included with the SOYO MT-NI-DYLM26E6 is a color temperature setting. This is a common setting that adjusts the panel hue to represent a user-specified range of colors, or either a warm or cool shade. I prefer more calibration control over the red, green, and blue colors, so user-specified works best for me.
SOYO did manage to surprise me with a sub-menu set of miscellaneous settings for this monitor. Specific to the DYLM26E6 26-Inch widescreen LCD there is a set of frame options. In cases where the edges are darker or brighter than the center of the panel, these settings can be used to correct the image. Be careful though, because it can also make your screen show a clear difference between the center portion and edge portion of the panel. Please continue on to the next section, where I illustrate the load created at each resolution. This isn't going to matter much to the casual user who browses web pages, but for gamers and multimedia editors this information will be very useful. Graphics Performance TestingOnce the calibration and pixel tests were complete, it was time for some real-world testing and benchmarks. The idea behind this is simple: use a collection of video cards representative of those used by gamers who might be considering a 16" widescreen monitor, and measure how they scale between monitor resolutions. It amazes me, but there are still people who do not realize how video game performance is directly in relation to the number of pixels generated on a screen based on resolution alone. Hopefully this will help everyone understand how important it is to match a monitor to the appropriate video card. Test System
Benchmark Applications
Test Products
Gaming PerformanceThe purpose of this section is to demonstrate how any one particular video card will scale its performance for each display resolution. There are four different video cards used: two mid-level and two top-level, so it would be best to follow the trend set by the product that best represents your level of graphics. The first set of performance results use the monitor resolutions of 1024x768 and 1280x1024 to represent standard LCD panel sizes of 17" and 19". Statistically speaking, most of the visitors here at Benchmark Reviews are using one of these two monitors on their computer system to browse this web site.
For the sake of giving an example we can follow, I will discuss how the range of resolution settings impact the FOXCONN GeForce 9800 GTX video card, which has a balanced performance between video memory frame buffer and graphical performance. In the image above Foxconn's 9800 GTX begins with 69.3 FPS at 1024x768, which is what you would experience on a 17" LCD monitor. Moving up to a 19" LCD monitor that same video card performs 29% worse, dropping 20 FPS at the 1280x1024 resolution.
Moving on to the widescreen monitors, we use the 1680x1050 resolution native to 22" (and some 24" monitors). At this resolution, the GeForce 9800 GTX drops to 37.8 FPS which is a reduction of nearly 46% compared to 1024x768 resolution and down 29% from 1280x1024. At the highest test resolution of 1920x1200, the SOYO Pearl series 26-Inch widescreen LCD monitor DYLM26E6 draws a total of 2,304,000 pixels (2.3 MP). Compare this to the minute 0.8 MP of a 1024x768 resolution, or the 1.3 MP of 1280x1024, and you can begin to see how there would be a performance hit caused by generating more than twice as many pixels on the screen. In our example, the 9800 GTX produced 30.7 FPS in the Crysis timedemo benchmark, rubbing the edge of a 30 FPS playable rate. World in Conflict works a little differently, though. Because of a huge world-scape, the widescreen display becomes much more important for productive gameplay. The graphical demands are just beneath those of Crysis, but even still the 9800 GTX drops 11 FPS moving between 1024x768 up to 1280x1024.
Most modern video cards, which is what we've collected for our tests here, will have no problem generating a suitable frame rate at each resolution settings. But unless you're using the most powerful video cards available, you'll need to be cautious of how the larger display resolution could harm your gaming experience.
Even though the difference between the 1,764,000 pixels comprising the widescreen resolution of 1680x1050 is 35% more than the 1,310,720 pixels in a 1280x1024 resolution, there's still only a 15% difference in performance; proving that every graphics card will produce a different linear curve or performance as the strain increases. Using the SOYO DYLM26E6 to produce 38 FPS at 1920x1200, this video card generates almost 16% fewer frames per second than the smaller 1680x1050 resolution. The idea you'll need to form for yourself is not whether or not you have the desk space for a large 26" widescreen monitor, but whether or not you'll have the power to support playable graphics in most video games using your current video card. Benchmark Reviews offers plenty of capable suggestions in our Video Cards section. SOYO Pearl Power ConsumptionWhether you do your part to conserve energy as an effort to heal our planet, or just want to save expenses on the energy bill, power consumption is a heavy concern for consumers. There are a lot of reasons to make energy efficiency a cornerstone to the consumer decision-making experience, since the energy costs directly effect the total cost of ownership (TCoA). Choosing a model that is not efficient just to save a few dollars at the time of purchase could equal the difference in cost of a much higher-cost model when TCoA is compared a year later. To measure power consumption I used the Kill A Watt EZ (model P4460) made by P3 International and tested each unit during two different power states. The tests began after a full ten minutes of white-screen display to generate a "warm" reading. Next, the system was allowed to place the monitor into a "standby" mode, and minutes later the cold reading results were recorded. The results are displayed below:
So what does this mean? Well, I believe that almost everyone cares about conserving energy. Whether they want to save the planet, or save money on their electricity bill, nobody is quick to waste energy anymore. I know someone who used to leave his computers running all the time, even if he was gone for the weekend; but not anymore. It seems unfortunate that people couldn't adjust their habits without the stimulus of high utility expenses, but now it looks like manufacturers are starting to compensate. Either way you look at it, the SOYO Pearl series seems to offer an excellent example of how a company can dramatically change their position on power consumption compared to their own previously inefficient designs. Now I don't feel so guilty using a 26" widescreen monitor, especially since it uses less power than a few 19" displays we've tested. Unless you manually turn off the monitor, or switch off power from a surge protector or similar power tap, your monitor will likely switch into a lower-power "standby" mode. As you can see from the chart above, there's more than one reading to recognize for the SOYO MT-NI-DYLM26E6. You see, when the monitor is in standby mode there's a blue LED that flashes on and off. I know, it's only an LCD, but apparently there's a lot more overhead associated with it than you might expect.
As I recorded the standby power consumption, the 26" Pearl series widescreen monitor would bounce between two distinct power consumption levels. Even at the highest level recorded, standby power consumption is really on-par with the rest of the products. However, it would be my suggestion to SOYO to find a way to have that flashing go away after a few minutes for a complete power down. Please continue to the next section, where I share my personal opinion of large-resolution monitors and deliver my conclusion for the SOYO MT-NI-DYLM26E6. Pearl Series Final ThoughtsLast year Benchmark Reviews tested the SOYO Topaz series, which successfully filled the value-priced segment of the desktop monitor market with a budget-looking product. The PVA panel in last years DYLM24D6 was worth every penny, but the looks alone were enough to reconsider. This year, SOYO has us convinced that the Pearl series could be mistaken for a premium product with it's elegant looks and refined bezel finish; until you look at either the price tag or connection panel. Where I think that this product shines brightest is how it can offer only the basic features without looking the part. The PVA panel would have been a welcome touch, but the TN panel is far from poor quality. I know that for me personally, when I shop for a new car I get the model I want in the base trim package. I don't need a factory installed navigation system or sun-roof, just like I don't need every video connection imaginable integrated into the monitor at my expense. SOYO approaches the Pearl series with a goal to provide the most essential items, without going "cheap" on basics.
If your desk cannot offer the accommodations for the DYLM26E6 model 26" monitor, SOYO also offers a smaller 24" widescreen with the same 1920x1200 resolution. The pixel pitch is reduced from 0.285 mm to a slightly sharper 0.270 mm, but the contrast ration is also reduced from 1200:1 in the DYLM26E6 down to 1000:1 in the 24" DYLM24E6. The sharper pixel pitch may sound enticing, but be forewarned that having so many pixel crammed into such a small frame may cause eye strain on anyone who looks at documents or spread sheets routinely. The picture is still just as sharp, but it's overall viewable screen size is reduced almost 10%. SOYO DYLM26E6 ConclusionFor a budget-level widescreen display, the MT-NI-DYLM26E6 certainly offers a respectable amount of high-end functionality while also remaining elegant with an appearance that could fool the most discerning shopper. The integrated speakers fire away from the backside of the panel enclosure, which makes them undesirable for anything more detailed than basic sounds. The monitor stand allows only a small upward tilt, so consumer in need of something more custom will need to look for a suitable VESA-100 stand or wall mount. Construction is surprisingly clean and refined. SOYO has focused on bringing just as much quality to the consumer electronics market as they are bringing value, and it clearly shows in the DYLM26E6. Buyers should understand that the SOYO that made motherboards a decade ago is not the same SOYO that builds monitors today, which I feel is apparent from the excellent craftsmanship I've found in this 26-inch widescreen monitor. In regards to product functionality, the SOYO Pearl series sets a new standard for large value-priced monitors. In fact, it practically establishes a whole new expectation for low-end products. If SOYO can offer premium-level menu options to accommodate high-end calibration, and an extra-large 26" LCD display panel with extremely low power consumption, then you might begin to wonder if the competition is simply taking advantage of your spending budget. So even though this a TN panel LCD, it still proves itself very capable at it's core: good quality widescreen pictures with acceptable color and brightness and no ghosting or motion blur visible at all. At the time of this writing, the SOYO Pearl series is just making its way to market, and there are only a few select online retailers offering this 26-Inch monitor. At the time of product launch, OfficeMax offered the DYLM26E6 for only $379.99. Eventually other retailers began selling this SOYO 26" widescreen LCD for less, so check our price comparison tool for updates and potential sales on this product. EDITORS NOTE: Readers have reported that OfficeMax does not offer a return policy. You may exchange a defective unit, but no returns are accepted. In conclusion, there's no other product made today that matches SOYO's value in the Pearl monitor series. Clean delivery and design for make the MT-NI-DYLM26E6 a very desirable widescreen LCD monitor for the price. Basic video connections will keep this out of HDMI or DisplayPort environments, which wouldn't be suitable for the TN-panel picture quality in the first place. SOYO has has evolved beyond previous quality and performance levels to deliver a product that could be compared to more expensive products in regards to certain features. The monitor stand and speakers are just as basic as the connections, but the overall package of features and functionality make the DYLM26E6 into a rough diamond. Overall, the SOYO DYLM26E6 will be a good fit for entry-level consumers on a tight budget. This is a good monitor, at a great price. Pros:
+ The most affordable 26" widescreen LCD monitor available! Cons:
- Very limited video connections (D-Sub and DVI only) EDITORS NOTE: SOYO has filed for bankruptcy and is no longer in business. Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.
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The difference in power draw during normal working conditions is relatively minimal among the different products... at least up until the SOYO MT-NI-DYLM26E6. I was suspicious at first, since the large 26" widescreen LCD panel was expected to consume more energy than the others, so I went back and re-tested the Honeywell MT-NI-DYLM26E6 and Samsung 204B monitors. Sure enough, after a series of re-tests all of these monitors produced exactly identical power consumption results.
