Which 4k monitor to get

[wickfut]

LG is doing a 38" 3840x1600 'wide' (same aspect ratio as the many 34" 3440x1440 monitors) - gets around a lot of the issues with a 43" 3840x2160, much closer to just have a pair of 23" fullHD monitors side by side (but no annoying 'gap')

Only trouble is right now it's the only game in town, so price is totally mental - but as other brands get access to that panel it'll drop.

What issues would that be? The height?



The height is a few inches difference at most between a 34" ultra wide and a 39" 4k. Sit 6" further back from the monitor and it'll be the same as you're used to. I'm sitting 28" back from a 49" and the height isn't an issue. Don't get me wrong, it's weird when you first see it, but you get used to it within a day. It wasn't until I'd done a track when I realised just how much better the extra real estate is. I basically get the Cubase 9 sample track or mixer window across the bottom for free over a 1440p screen.

You know if you really wanted to you could just set a 3840x1600 custom resolution and force the TV not to scale and you'll have black bars across the top and bottom to give you an ultrawide 21:9 ratio

[ghettosynth]

The height is a few inches difference at most between a 34" ultra wide and a 39" 4k. Sit 6" further back from the monitor and it'll be the same as you're used to. I'm sitting 28" back from a 49" and the height isn't an issue. Don't get me wrong, it's weird when you first see it, but you get used to it within a day. It wasn't until I'd done a track when I realised just how much better the extra real estate is. I basically get the Cubase 9 sample track or mixer window across the bottom for free over a 1440p screen.

That few inches can make a lot of difference. I like it too, I've been using my 39" for some time now, but, like I said, the height does change things and you have to determine whether or not your setup can accommodate that. I don't like it too far back, so, ymmv.

I would also say that it takes time to realize that this is a real problem. I do notice additional neck strain from my setup.

YMMV.

[wickfut]

I guess it'd be a problem if you have one of those desks with the rack shelf for your screens and monitors. On a regular flat desk though the top of the screen would probably be lower than a regular monitor on one of those shelved studio desks.

32" monitor on its stand (notice the height of the speakers to the top of the monitor, the speakers in the top image are 8" lower than in the 2nd picture, as I got taller stands)



49" monitor , but the speakers have also been raised by 8" , again notice the height of the screen to the monitors. The TV stand is lower than the 32" monitor stand so the actual difference in screen height is maybe an inch or two at most.

[ghettosynth]

You can talk about inches all you want, I know from experience that it can make a difference. Same is true with so many other RSI issues. Minor changes in setup can have a huge impact long term. My current keyboard desk is only about an inch and a half lower than standard height but that was all that I needed to make a long term difference in my wrist issues.

If you get the top of a large monitor at a good height, the bottom can be annoyingly low. I wouldn't use your setup for a number of reasons. It's way too cramped and unbalanced for my tastes. The monitor is too high in the upper setup as well. Just because you've aligned the tops of your monitors doesn't mean that other people, and frankly, even you, won't have ergonomics problems over time. That table is way too small for me to work comfortably and you are close enough that the left to right distance will annoy you after a while. Mark my words, you'll see value in a curved screen in a few years. You will likely also notice what I'm talking about with respect to the height. It's fine when you are setting back looking at the big picture, but when you need to work in detail you will use the screen and when you do that you might start to grok what I'm talking about. This is particularly true if you wear glasses. I had fewer problems before I started wearing them.

As I said, if you care about ergonomics then a large monitor will introduce issues that you likely haven't dealt with before. After experiencing pretty severe RSI in my wrists for a few years from daily computer use, I started to take it seriously.

If that setup works for you, then fine. But please recognize that some people take ergonomics a lot more seriously than you do and it can have serious health consequences.

BTW: That's before we even start talking about having a reference monitor crammed into a corner and against a wall.

[jdnz]

What issues would that be? The height?

precisely - for games 4K/43" is probably fine as they're sitting a bit further away, but as a general use monitor when you're sitting in the right spot the top of the monitor is higher than ideal (neck strain)

[wickfut]

You can talk about inches all you want, I know from experience that it can make a difference.

That settles it then. You have spoken....

* That table is way too small for me to work comfortably and you are close enough that the left to right distance will annoy you after a while.

* The monitor is too high in the upper setup as well. Just because you've aligned the tops of your monitors doesn't mean that other people, and frankly, even you, won't have ergonomics problems over time.

* I wouldn't use your setup for a number of reasons. It's way too cramped and unbalanced for my tastes.

Yes the desk is currently on the small side. I'm just starting getting back into it and buying the main basics first before I spend a large sum of money on a fancy desk with rack spaces which I may not need.

Look at most "home studio" desks. They resemble something like this:



When you take into account the rack area shelf it wouldn't be a surprise to find out that the top corners of my screen and those two screens are in the same place yet nobody is complaining of their ergonomics.

Mark my words, you'll see value in a curved screen in a few years.

A curved screen doesn't have enough of a curve on it to make a difference. I looked at the curve screens when I was choosing the TV and they only concave about an inch, you're just paying an extra £100 for the sake of it.

If you get the top of a large monitor at a good height, the bottom can be annoyingly low.

Are you trying to win a daft comment of the day award here?

* If that setup works for you, then fine. But please recognize that some people take ergonomics a lot more seriously than you do and it can have serious health consequences.

* As I said, if you care about ergonomics then a large monitor will introduce issues that you likely haven't dealt with before. After experiencing pretty severe RSI in my wrists for a few years from daily computer use, I started to take it seriously.
BTW: That's before we even start talking about having a reference monitor crammed into a corner and against a wall.

Your acting as if being hunched over a keyboard is fine while looking at a screen isn't. I've been playing on computers and synths since the 80's and have never suffered RSI, maybe it's you rather than everyone else?

[ghettosynth]

You can talk about inches all you want, I know from experience that it can make a difference.

That settles it then. You have spoken....

What's your point? It's a real issue that several people have pointed out. I'm not sure what you're trying to deny here. Neck strain is a real thing, it's about the height (and width, but curved monitors mitigate that somewhat), and just because you don't seem to care doesn't mean that it isn't a real problem with large monitors.

I don't think that until you've used it for a while you'll know. And, as you point out, not everyone will have issues the same way in any case.

The only thing that's "daft" here is your understanding of the issues. Going on about "inches" shows that you don't know anything about it and have never had to deal with it.

Just because you've never had RSI issues doesn't mean that 1) you never will, and 2) that what you're doing is correct, either for you, or for anyone else. I never had them either, they came on suddenly a few years back. I've always had the largest available monitors, but when I got the 39" neck strain did become a problem, but not until after a few years use.

The bottom line, whether you feel offended or not, is that you don't know what you're talking about. There are real issues from both moving your head up and down, and from side to side. I'm sure that you didn't see the benefit of a curved monitor because you aren't even aware of the range of dimensions that cause issues. There are several reasons why they reduce eye and neck strain.

http://www.electis.co.il/fckfiles/file/ ... -PRINT.pdf

It has been well known that wide monitors cause neck strain, but there is typically more than one can do about dual monitor setups. My caution here is because that there isn't much you can do about the height of large monitors.

https://ohsonline.com/Blogs/The-OHS-Wir ... drome.aspx

Note in the following link a point is made regarding the optimum level for the bottom of the monitor as well.

http://superuser.com/questions/231377/w ... e-monitors

Nobody cares about "your" setup, this isn't about you. BTW: Those giant studio desks are not appropriate for really large monitors either, so I'm not sure what you're point is by posting your shopping list?

I'm posting because the ergonomics of large monitors are a genuine health concern and the question title of the thread is "which monitor to get." There is nothing for you to refute, the points I'm bringing up are not about me, they are a common problem. So please, spend a little time reading something other than glossy catalogues before you spout off more nonsense again.

[Kalamata Kid]

I set up the 43" Samsung UN43KU6300 just to check things out
http://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-h ... u6300fxza/
and noticed that on a white background there is an obvious
hot area in the middle. On FL Studio the center brightness is
not as noticeable. For Audio work this will not be so important.

I opened Photoshop and noticed my images had a brighter center.
The whites and light colors are most effected.
I may turn down the brightness level. This will likely
give a better image for printing.

I ordered this bracket
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311640555407
I will have to re-arrange the shelves behind the bracket.
I will have my work cut out for me.

Edit. I love the added sharpness!
and my large printed images are 30"x 24" and now can almost see them full size!

[incubus]

The jelly is strong with some of the pics/setups.

I think "size matters" is important here

[ghettosynth]

I set up the 43" Samsung UN43KU6300 just to check things out
http://www.samsung.com/us/televisions-h ... u6300fxza/
and noticed that on a white background there is an obvious
hot area in the middle. On FL Studio the center brightness is
not as noticeable. For Audio work this will not be so important.

I opened Photoshop and noticed my images had a brighter center.
The whites and light colors are most effected.
I may turn down the brightness level. This will likely
give a better image for printing.

I ordered this bracket
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311640555407
I will have to re-arrange the shelves behind the bracket.
I will have my work cut out for me.

Edit. I love the added sharpness!
and my large printed images are 30"x 24" and now can almost see them full size!

You will find that if you are using a TV for a monitor that the color calibration may be way off. I know that mine is. Obviously any monitor needs to be calibrated if you care about that sort of thing, but, I was surprised how far off my TV/Monitor was. I hadn't seen that kind of variation since CRT days.

[Kalamata Kid]

You will find that if you are using a TV for a monitor that the color calibration may be way off. I know that mine is. Obviously any monitor needs to be calibrated if you care about that sort of thing, but, I was surprised how far off my TV/Monitor was. I hadn't seen that kind of variation since CRT days.

My main concern it the TV image versus the printed image.

As I did before with my 28" Hanns-G monitor the printed image color was pretty good but the printed image came out too dark. Darkened the monitor a bit and brightened the image in Photoshop. The second attempt at printing came out very close to the monitor image.

Yes, for doing commercial art and flesh tones the monitor must be calibrated. If I find someone cheap to do this I may just get it done.

I was lucky the the old HDMI cable works with this TV.

[Kalamata Kid]

Glad I got the 43" 4k rather than the 40" 4k.
The text is already too small. But when I set things
up it will be better. I will also be getting new glasses.

I just noticed that the TV dims. The image is not as bright.
Is this done intentionally?

There are three HDMI ports. Does it make a difference
which port I use? I believe I have it set up on the PC mode.

Edit: The screen surface is semi-gloss. My previous screen which was 28"
was matte. I prefer the matte! So it seems I have deviated from my
purchase specs a bit.

[DJ Warmonger]

I'm now going to get 27" 4K monitor - these are quite cheap and will fit on my desks. Will run Windows scaled at 150% and Ableton at 133%. This way all scalable plugins will look sharper, but non-scalable will be over 1/3 smaller :/

4K working area seems too much to me, as well as 40" screen on the desk. With 133% scaling I will get 150% dimensions in Ableton, which is 225% of current workspace - enough to hold anything.

[Kalamata Kid]

I'm now going to get 27" 4K monitor - these are quite cheap and will fit on my desks. Will run Windows scaled at 150% and Ableton at 133%. This way all scalable plugins will look sharper, but non-scalable will be over 1/3 smaller :/

4K working area seems too much to me, as well as 40" screen on the desk. With 133% scaling I will get 150% dimensions in Ableton, which is 225% of current workspace - enough to hold anything.

In Windows 10 where to look for scaling?

[DJ Warmonger]

I'm now going to get 27" 4K monitor - these are quite cheap and will fit on my desks. Will run Windows scaled at 150% and Ableton at 133%. This way all scalable plugins will look sharper, but non-scalable will be over 1/3 smaller :/

4K working area seems too much to me, as well as 40" screen on the desk. With 133% scaling I will get 150% dimensions in Ableton, which is 225% of current workspace - enough to hold anything.

In Windows 10 where to look for scaling?

Display settings...



Also you may disable system-wide scaling for certain apps: