Samsung SyncMaster 931c
Although the SyncMaster 931C looks like a standard modern monitor with a fast matrix when you read through its specs, it has one feature that I’ve previously seen only in much more expensive models like the 27” SyncMaster 275T. It has backlight lamps with improved phosphors that extend the monitor’s color gamut far beyond the limits of the standard sRGB color space. But does a games-oriented model really need this? And do its other characteristics match its enhanced gamut? Let’s see…
The monitor’s appearance is intriguing due to the original mixture of a somber black front panel and a thin silvery band along its bottom. Some people doesn’t like this design, but most find it attractive and serious at the same time. The monitor’s stand is designed in Samsung’s classic style. It allows to rotate the monitor freely and keeps it very steady.
Unfortunately, this model lacks screen height adjustment which is often implemented even in inexpensive models from Samsung. This stand allows adjusting the screen tilt only.
The connectors at the back are hidden by a protruding panel which, however, does not prevent you from replacing the stand with a standard VESA mount. There is a normal selection of connectors here: analog and digital inputs, and a power connector. The monitor has an integrated power adapter.
A metallized Power button is conspicuous on the front panel. The rest of the buttons are hidden under the right part of the front panel and are not normally visible. The buttons are labeled on the front panel, so it is easy to use them. Quick access is provided to the brightness setting, to selecting the input and to switching the MagicBright modes.
This is a standard Samsung menu, quite user-friendly and functional, and the same as in many other monitors from the company. Remarkable in this menu is the lack of color temperature modes. Instead, you are offered three modes – Mild, Normal and Brilliance – that obviously change color saturation.