Ever since LCD displays came out, professionals in the Video and photographic industries have not readily adopted them because they were not very good at displaying true colors. Over the years they have gotten better, but not until today did they have something to get really excited about. Today HP announced their new Dreamcolor LP2480zx LCD display.
Features
- 30-bit and one billion colors
- 6 Built-in industry standard color spaces.
- HP DreamColor Engine
- DisplayPort 1.1, HDMI 1.3, (2) DVI-I, analog, component, S-video, and composite inputs
- HDCP support for protected content
“The HP DreamColor LP2480xz is the first display to be introduced under the HP DreamColor Technology initiative, a two-year technology collaboration between HP and DreamWorks Animation. The initiative aims to deliver accurate color that remains consistent from application to application, device to device and medium to medium.”
Features
The display has 30-bit color accuracy (10-bits per color channel) and can display over 1 billion colors. This is a huge step forward from the current LCD displays which are only have 24-bit color accuracy and can only display 16.7 million colors. The native resolution for the DreamColor LP2480xz is 1920 x 1200 pixels.
Having industry standard color spaces built into the monitor means that no matter what content you are working with you can quickly and easily switch to the best color space. The color spaces that are available are NTSC, SMPTE, sRGB, Rec. 709, Adobe RGB and DCI.
The ability to switch color spaces is what gives the DreamColor LP2480xz the ability to show so many colors. As you can see from the charts below a typical LCD monitor covers very little of the colors that are visible to the human eye, but by using different color spaces the DreamColor LP2480xz can show much more of those colors. Even with all the color spaces there is still quite a bit of the visible color spectrum that is not visible in this display.
LCD Colors
Colorspace colors
The DreamColor engine and the RGB LED backlight is what makes all the colors possible. The RGB LED backlight uses HP Tri-color LED Backlight and gives you a greater amount of control over the the white point and luminance. With the use of the backlight you can make changes to the white point with no loss in the dynamic range. The DreamColor engine provides accurate color management and color space remapping
The DreamColor LP2480zx DisplayPort 1.1, HDMI 1.3, (2) DVI-I, analog, component, S-video, and composite inputs.
Inputs 1
Inputs 3
Inputs 4
Design
When you first see this LCD you are not going to think that it is very special. It looks very similar to any other display you would find on a store shelf. It is a 24″ widescreen with dimensions of 16.7 to 20.67 x 22.24 x 10″ and a weight of 27.5 lb. It is almost entirely black except for the base of the stand which is silver. When asked why they choose 24″ as the size, HP responded by saying that it strikes a good balance because if it were any bigger you would either have to move your head a lot to see everything, or you would have to push it so far back on your desk that the text would be too small to read.
On the front there are six buttons. These buttons include the power button and all the controls for the color spaces and other menus. Because a lot of professionals like to use their displays in the dark, these buttons light up so you can easily use them when all the lights are off. Using the OSD you have control over the Color Space, Brightness, Color Temp, Reset to Factory Cal., Reset to Last, Black Level, Overdrive, Custom Scaling, Crop (L-C-R), PIP Control, Auto Adjust, H Position, V Position, Clock, Clock Phase,
Hue, Saturation, and Language. These settings can also be adjusted via the USB interface using color calibration software.
Buttons
OSD
Underneath is where you are going to find all the inputs. Included are a DisplayPort 1.1, DVI-I (2), analog, component, S-video, and composite inputs. There is also another USB port down here. This one is used to provide the connection to the computer and power the other 4 USB ports.
On the right side of the display there are four USB ports. All the USB ports are USB 2.0
Side
The base is fairly basic and provides the usual adjustments. It can tilt, swivel, pivot and change height. Here are the ranges for each adjustment: Tilt range: -5 to +35 degrees; Swivel range: 45 to +45 degrees; Height adjustable: 3.94″ range; Pivot rotation: 90 degrees.
Front low
Front high
Front angle
Performance
Like I said before, looking at the display when it is turned off is not going to reveal anything special. In fact, you may dismiss it as being an over priced consumer LCD. You actually need to turn it on to see why it really shines. When you do turn it on you are going to be surprised, it also helps to have another LCD to compare it to.
In the pictures below you can see the monitor being used in several different situations. The first picture is of the DreamColor LP2480zx being used with Digital Photography. Notice how close the monitor displays the true color of the objects and the color chart. The reason there is a slight difference is because the monitor is set to full color, so what you see here is actually the worst it will get. The next picture shows it being used for video where the monitor is serving as a HD-SDI broadcast monitor.
Photography
Video
Next, I have a few pictures with the monitor next to an Apple Cinema display. The two monitors are attached to an Apple Mac Pro workstation with a Y splitter for the video. This ensures they are both receiving the same video signal. You can clearly see the difference in the color. When showing Black and White pictures the Apple display looks like it is blue when compared to the Dreamcolor LP2480zx. Even when showing color, the Apple display is more saturated and the colors are not true to life.
Apple Cinema compare 1
Apple Cinema compare 3
Apple Cinema compare 4
Apple Cinema compare 5
The next picture shows the DreamColor LP2480zx displaying dark pictures. With a contrast ratio of 1000:1 this monitor does a really great job, even when you are dealing with dark subjects. I would love to try out this monitor with Doom, I might actually be able to tell the monsters apart from the dark.
I am very impressed by the color quality and features in the DreamColor LP2480zx. It clearly out performed other monitors. I Think we can all agree that this is a huge step forward for LCD technology.
Warranty and Support
The DreamColor LP2480zx comes with a decent warranty and service plan. It is three years parts, labor, and on-site service. 24-hour, 90-day, toll-free technical support. Replacement options may include second business day on-site service, or next business day direct replacement, at HP’s sole discretion. With direct replacement, HP will ship a replacement display product directly to you. Using the prepaid shipping labels provided, return your failed display to HP in the same packaging as the replacement. Obviously, Certain restrictions and exclusions apply. You should always see your product warranty or contact HP Customer Support for specific details.
Conclusion
As I mentioned above the Dreamcolor initiative, also includes printers. When you pair up the DreamColor LP2480zx with a DreamColor printer you will have a complete publishing system where you can go from raw source to printed material and get the results you want every time. No more having to print out multiple copies of something just so you can tweak the colors. This alone will save publishing companies a lot of time and money.
I can highly recommend the DreamColor LP2480zx for any professional who works with video or photos. In fact, I would go so far as to say this is a necessity. At $3499 the price is too high for consumers, but professionals will appreciate the price because they know that other displays like this one cost between $15,000 and $25,000. As time goes by, the prices will come down and then we can all have one. I cannot wait to get one of these for myself. I am so impressed with the Dreamcolor LP2480ZX that I am going to give it my Editors Choice Award. The LP2480ZX can be bought from Newegg or Amazon
Editors Choice
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You state:
“At $3499 the price is too high for consumers, but professionals will appreciate the price because they know that other displays like this one cost between $15,000 and $25,000. ”
What other displays are you referring to? Can you give us an example?
Thanks,
–Rich
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Thank you for your comment.
One of the monitors I was referring to is the Sony BVML230. It is one of the least expensive 30-bit monitors and it costs $25,000.
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I just purchased the monitor, partially based on your review. I’m in a video post production facility and using it as a broadcast video monitor (not a computer monitor). I soon discovered that the colorspace profile menu is grayed out when the monitor is being fed a YUV video signal. It only works with RGB signals according to the manual. This is of major concern to me. All I use is YUV (I have an SDI to HDMI converter) and I need to know that rec 601 and 709 colorspaces are properly being represented for NTSC and ATSC signals, respectively. The manual gives no information about this.
I’ve tried to contact HP which was a disaster. I couldn’t find anyone who’s heard of the monitor, let alone knows anything about my concern. My colleagues are of the belief that this thing is no good and that I should have bought a Panasonic or JVC. Do you happen to know the answer to my question, or know who to ask for if I call HP again? Thanks a million!
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Sean,
I wrote HP about your problem and I just got an email back from one of their engineers. Here is what he had to say:
I am a engineer working on the LP2480zx monitor. Sorry to hear that you are having difficulty getting the results that you would like from the HP DreamColor monitor. I was forwarded your post below describing your SDI setup. First of all let me assure you that the issues you described do not indicate anything wrong with the monitor.
I am not sure which product you are using to convert the SDI signal to HDMI, but if it offers the option, please set it to convert the Yuv signal to RGB, and make sure that the output is non-interlaced.
If you don’t have those options we recommend the Gefen SDI to HDMI converter. Make sure that it has the most recent firmware. Then follow the adjustments below to make sure that the black level is set correctly
Connecting the Gefen SDI to HDMI (or DVI) converter
Input: SDI 1 – 1280×720 @ 60Hz (or other according to the source signal)
Output: HDMI (or DVI) – 1920×1200 @ 60 Hz
If the Output setting is not correctly displayed:
Setting the Gefen Black Level to 0
Setting the Gefen Output Color Range to 0-255
Select the desired Color Space preset on the LP2480zx
The Gefen box and LP2480zx should now be connected and set for maximum contrast.
If the black level is still a little light, you may want to adjust the black level setting on the monitor. First put an image on the screen that will let you adjust the black level setting (a pluge target, for instance).
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Seano,
JVC and eCinema have some good models at the $4k price range (JVC is less than that) for professional use, e.g. 1920×1080 resolution, good color, 1000:1 contrast ratio, higher-quality deinterlacers.
Some info here:
http://www.glennchan.info/broa.....-guide.htm
I wasn’t very impressed by the BVM-L. The Barco RHDM might have been more interesting had the eCinema DPX not existed.
But above all, get demo units for yourself and use your own eyes. There’s stuff you can’t figure out from reading a spec sheet.
2- Some great info on the dreamcolor here:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1366545
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Ryan,
Thanks for your review and follow-up to these comments.
I am hoping you can get to the bottom of something about this monitor. The documentation (web site, specs and manual) clearly state “the LP2480zx monitor provides a 10 bits/color (30 bits/pixel) input, with true 10-bit drivers within the LCD itself.”[1]. The FAQ states “A full 30-bit pixel is sent from the DreamColor Engine to be displayed on the HP 30-bit LCD panel with no dithering or frame rate control. “[2] Even the chart in your review says “30 bit LCD panel”.
In the thread Glenn cites on HardForum ToastyX claims the service menu indicates the panel is LG.Display’s LG LM240WU5[3]. No specs are yet available on this panel that I can find.
However, Martin Euredjian of eCinema Systems (a high end LCD display manufacturer) claims “it is, in fact, an 8 bit display with FRC-based dithering. … We contacted LG –who manufacture the panel for HP– and quickly learned that it wasn’t a real 10 bit panel but rather an 8 bit with built-in FRC.”[4]
And in the same thread noted above, ToastyX claims observing dithering on the system.[3]
My question is if you observed any dithering or similar issues in your review, and if you could contact HP to get to the bottom of this? Is it a 10 bit IPS panel, or is it an 8 bit panel with dithering for 10 bit RGB? And why is an apparent 24 bit source getting dithered?
I was planning to purchase this display, but these observations and comments have caused me to pause. Any help you can offer to determine what is really going on here is appreciated.
References:
[1]http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01491486/c01491486.pdf
[2]http://h20202.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/downloads/DreamColor_and_LP2480zx_FAQ_June08a.pdf
[3]http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1366545
[4]http://www.reduser.net/forum/showpost.php?p=275625&postcount=18
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Eric,
I personally did not see any dithering or other issues when I looked and the LCDs; however, when I did this review I was at an HP workshop and the LCDs were setup in very controlled configurations.
I will pass your other questions onto HP, and I will let you know if I get a response.
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I finally got a response from HP. The engineer does not go into a lot of detail, but he offers a few bits that you can chew on. I edited the email a little to take out some personal information because I didn’t have permission to post it in its entirety.
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“HP Introduces World’s First Affordable Color-critical Display
BERLIN, June 10, 2008″
First of all, That’s funny. Affordable? Of course. There are stuff that Bill Gates can afford that YOU can’t. So when they posted the news announcement, I wonder WHO exactly they had in mind when they said “affordable”?
ViewSonic also has an LED backlight panel which sells for around $470. I don’t know how that compares to HP, but I’d call the $470 affordable.
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John,
I don’t think you are the intended target for this monitor, just like you are not the intended target for a BMW. Even though BMW and FORD cars have a lot in common, the BMW cars are a lot more expensive. People buy BMWs because they recognize there are certain things that make the extra cost worth while.
I am like you, I will probably never buy one of these monitors, or a BMW, because I do not need the benefits that the extra cost provide.
These monitors are targeted directly at video and design companies that use color critical applications. Notice I said companies, I did not say individuals, these monitors are not for personal use. As I mentioned in the review these monitors have certain things that they are really good at, and unless you need those specific abilities, you do not need this monitor. In addition, to take full advantage of this monitor you also need a 30-bit graphics card, those are not only hard to find, but they are also very expensive.
I hope this was helpful and good luck in your monitor hunting.
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Ryan,
I own one of these monitors. The first that I obtained suffered from display non-uniformity and had to be returned for a replacement panel, as it was not suitable for color-critical work. I know of two others who also had to request replacements for the same reason.
The display ships without calibration software or a colorimeter, and standard software (and hardware) from X-Rite (Match, ProfileMaker Pro, PROFILER) and others (BasICColor Display, ColorEyes Display) will not work with this monitor. A developer from one of these companies told me that HP has not been forthcoming with a SDK, so they have no immediate plans to add compatibility. Although standard colorimeters like the X-Rite i1 Display are not matched to this wide-gamut monitor, there is no reason that a spectro like the i1 Pro would not work – if only companies had the info they needed from HP to tune their software and communicate with the display.
To calibrate and profile the monitor, which is essential before any professional work can be performed, it is necessary to purchase HP’s custom, matched X-Rite colorimeter and HP’s software, which was developed by X-Rite, to the tune of another $350. Unfortunately, the software is the absolute bare minimum needed to calibrate and profile the display. It simply sucks compared to BasICColor Display and ColorEyes Pro or even X-Rite’s Eye-One Match. There is not even feedback to confirm the actual measured values reached after calibration and profiling, and there’s certainly nothing like CIECAM02 available.
The color of the display is magnificent. It model appears well-made, although even the hood is optional and seriously overpriced. The software nearly neuters the display, though, and HP really needs to allow competing software products access to the information that they need (through a SDK) to allow those products to work with this display.
As far as the 30-bit business goes, my understanding is that there is a 10-bit per channel LUT in the monitor, similar to other high-end monitors, that is accessed through calibration. This is certainly a big improvement over low-end monitors that do their “calibration” via the LUT on the 8-bit video board, resulting in a loss of levels from the 256/channel available on the video board.
–Rich
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Ryan,
An update to my question. Apparently someone from HP responded to a similar set of questions on creativecow.net: http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/223/7928#7953
The responder, Dan Bennett, claims it is a 10bit panel created especially for HP, commits to follow up on the dithering issues and has a new firmware release (not sure if its related to the dithering).
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you mentioned playing games on the hp and said that it would look better.
do game writers code the colors on a 24bit range or what?
pictures i can see benefiting but if it was drawn on a pc it would be in 16.7m colors right?
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I had to read my review again to make sure, and I did mention playing Doom with this monitor, but you have to put that comment in context. I was referring to how well it did distinguishing dark colors. Here is what I said:
“The next picture shows the DreamColor LP2480zx displaying dark pictures. With a contrast ratio of 1000:1 this monitor does a really great job, even when you are dealing with dark subjects. I would love to try out this monitor with Doom, I might actually be able to tell the monsters apart from the dark.”
As far as games being coded for 24-bit color, I cannot say because I am not a game programmer, but I doubt it. Like I mentioned in a previous comment, this monitor is not for consumers (gamers), because it will not benefit them in any meaningful way. Even consumers who view a lot of pictures are not going to benefit from this, because they are not going to have a 30-bit graphics card or even pictures that are high enough quality to need a monitor like this.
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Thanks for good post
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Comparing this monitor to Apple Cinema Displays is pointless. They’re not even among the best color-critical displays on the market (not even close). High end screens from LaCie, NEC and Eizo are all better points of comparison to see what this monitor can really do because they cover close to or over 100% of Adobe RGB, have between 12 and 14 bit gamma correction, etc. ACDs are prosumer displays at best despite how Apple advertises them.
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I have had display port problem running HPZ800 with NvideaQuadroCX and LP2360 monitor. Out of box monitor runs fine. Installed updated firmware and drivers. No problem. Calibrated moditor with Colorvision spider Elite. No problem.
One hour later, no video input on display port. Run display port with adaptor to DVI cable and DVI input works. New display port cable did not fix. Seems to be a display port monitor input issue. So far HP has been little help. Going to get another Display port monitor to exclude my workstation and thecable.
Any thougts would be appreciated. Hoping HP will escalate this soon. Very frustrating
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Greetings,
I am having trouble identifying a video card for this new monitor and calibration software that will work with Snow Leopard. Currently the monitor is grossly over saturated and am at a loss as how to calibrate it so that I can be assured of it’s accuracy. I bought it, based on reviews, to do professional color correction using Apple Color for video as well as Photoshop. My computer is the latest MacPro, with Two 2.93GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, processors and 16 gig of ram. It currently has a stock video card installed, the # NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512MB. I have purchased two Hp monitors, one the LP2480xz, the other is the HP LP2475w.
Some time in the next 6 months I need to get a video card that will drive it’s 30 bit capabilities as well as proper calibration hardware software. If it can not be done I need to return these monitors and find another solution.
Thank you so much for your review!
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