HP z27x Review
by Chris Heinonen on December 2, 2014 4:00 PM ESTThe HP z27x is a display that pushes the limits of what a desktop display can do, but it has one serious drawback that will limit its acceptance. For people that want accurate color, larger color gamuts, and the ability to really have fine control over their display the HP z27x is hard to beat. The post-calibration and pre-calibration numbers are some of the best we have seen. The built-in management makes it easy to tie users down to the correct color space and to switch between them as needed. Self-calibration removes the PC from the equation when it comes to getting colors correct.
The uniformity of the display is a big deal to me, though. Professionals need the colors they see on the screen to be accurate, even if they are at the edge of the screen and not in the center. Having to reposition anything you are looking at to the center of the screen to know it is correct is something that most people will not want to do. That the uniformity of the HP is so far off is surprising to me.
It also limits whom I think the HP z27x will apply to. If you don’t need the larger color gamut, there are other displays out there with very accurate color but also fantastic uniformity. The NEC Professional displays let you switch between color spaces easily and their uniformity is the best out there. They don’t offer the same self-calibration or management that the HP z27x does, but that might not matter to you.
If you need the larger DCI or Rec.2020 color gamuts, then I don’t know what other choices you might have. The HP can do these larger gamuts but you need to look at the center of the screen for them to be accurate. Of course, there is the chance that my sample just has a uniformity issue and most displays are much better. That same logic could also apply to the quality of the calibration; maybe every other display is worse than mine, so I don’t like to make that leap. I can only go by what I see and measure and not what might be. Even if my sample is worse than average, it says something about quality control that this sort of unit could end up shipping to a customer.
The price is quite high compared to many other 27" QHD displays, but we expect that from a professional level monitor. While many would balk at the $1500 MSRP ($1400 online), given all of the features it's actually not too bad. NEC's PA272W has a $1300 MSRP and the PA272W SpectraView model has a $1550 MSRP, so considering the wider gamut and management features the z27x is pretty competitive. Except a professional display really needs uniformity.
If the uniformity on the HP z27x was better then I wouldn’t have a reason to really criticize it. The colors are accurate, the gamut is huge, and it is very nice to use as well. It has a specific target market, and it fits that well, but the backlight uniformity holds it back. As it is, I’m conflicted on what to do with the HP. The backlight bleed on the left side is a serious issue, but it doesn't take away for everything else the HP does right. The HP z27x is an impressive display, and if HP can improve the backlight uniformity on it, it might be the best display I've reviewed to date. As it stands, it does exceptionally well in most areas but it has an Achilles' Heel that needs to be addressed.
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Olaf van der Spek - Wednesday, December 3, 2014 - link
Cheap? It might not be as expensive as this one but the ZR2704w isn't cheap.DiHydro - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - link
To me, that uniformity error looks like problems I've seen in monitors with bent or squashed frames. Sometimes in shipping, the inner metal frame can bend or get squeezed, and this will cause the diffuser to get moved slightly closer to the screen or away. This will case atypical uniformity along the edges of the monitor. Does this monitor have a very sturdy outer casing? Was it picked up by one side, or maybe bent just a little while unpacking? It's certainly worth investigating for such a strange result.joelypolly - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - link
Would be interesting if liquidmetal will ever be used as internal framing due to its more crystalline structure which is less likely to bend or warp.anactoraaron - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - link
I was thinking the same thing, especially since it's in the top corner.mapesdhs - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - link
Amusing that so much is being made of 4K issues for professionals, when studios are
already working with 8K. :D For example, see the article on creativecow entitled,
"Quantel Unveils 8K 60p Pablo Rio Workflow" (they use quad-4K monitors for preview,
three Tesla K80s for processing).
Ian.
tyger11 - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - link
Maybe _some_ are working with 8K, but most high-end cinematographers say they don't want more resolution than 4K, they want much more dynamic range. I saw a discussion panel with 3-4 very high-end hollywood cinematographers, and every one of them were disinterested in resolutions higher than 4K, but were salivating at next year's big expected jump in dynamic range (in the area of 20-21 stops of DR). If we can get rid of the Bayer sensor once and for all, 4K resolution will have a noticeable amount of increased detail; no need for any more than that, even in a cinema setting. More DR - especially if we can get to 20-21 stops - will be huge.Doach - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - link
I really dont know what to say. I dont think you realize what display you are reviewing. Or know the history behind the dreamcolor display. Know this. A retina display from a 5k imac cannot come close to the performance of the display you just reviewed. Not even in the same ballpark. Do you even now that this is a dreamcolor display? From the article it appears you do not. They really dont need any introduction as most movie production companies use these displays.You just reviewed a display that was damaged in shipping, which would impact all aspects of your review. Black levels, uniformity etc.
That monitor was damaged in shipping. I work for dreamworks and we have several of these. We had one with the same problem. The box it came in was damaged on one side.
You should have called tech support before writing this review and got another one. Saying that this shipped from the factory like that to your readers implies that HP has a quality issue is amatuer at best without knowing for sure.
There is a reason we use dreamcolor displays and not NEC displays. It seems you need to reeducate your self on why rec 2020 is important in a professional display.
Poorly written review. You guys need to do better if you want to be taken seriously by the professional community. Anand was more through and would contact the company first before writing such a review. You just threw them (HP)under the bus over a shipping error.
These monitors are calibrated and tested for accuracy and yes uniformaty issues before they leave the factory. If they were not they would not be used very long by the professional community. As it stands now HP dreamcolor displays own the professional market.
You should know this. If you do not you should not be writing articles for anandtech.
Techinator - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - link
I'm sorry, but there's an awful lot of arrogance in your comment. How do *you* know the box was damaged in shipping? You're making a pretty big assumption there, and you know what they say about those. But let me just make sure you understand what I'm saying: you are being a complete ASS in your comment. There. We're now clear.I could say more, but there's not much point. You're so biased that you can't even objectively point out problems with the review and resort to simple blanket statements. "Poorly written" -- what part, the part where he ran all the tests, talked about why Rec 2020 and other wide gamut options matter, and all of the other text? Or just the part where he showed that HP sent a reviewer a display that clearly has a uniformity problem?
anactoraaron - Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - link
Yeah, but he may have a point about it being damaged in shipping. None of the other $1k+ displays reviewed here are THAT off in one corner. A quick email to HP about this should have been done.cheinonen - Wednesday, December 3, 2014 - link
If I were to request a new sample from HP, then I'd be accused of having HP pick me out a perfect review sample that isn't anything like what they ship to people buying one. If I don't, then I get these comments. As I said, the only real negative about the HP is the uniformity on mine. This is my 2nd sample, as the first developed a pink stripe and HP replaced it. However, I've not had the same uniformity issues with samples from NEC in their professional lines. Perhaps they hand pick them, or perhaps their packaging (which is the best out there, IMO) helps to prevent these issues.There's a very good chance this is just a sample issue and most don't have this problem, but unless I get in 20 samples to test I really won't know.