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One trait many value displays have in common is weak out-of-box color accuracy. The VI-01 is no exception, but it isn’t too hard to make it into a much better monitor.
Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
The VI-01 starts out with a very cool grayscale. You can see this as a flatter image with a two-dimensional quality. Because of the light gamma, the default picture lacks brilliance.
Calibration improves grayscale tracking enormously to where there are no visible errors at any point in the brightness scale. Gamma is still too light though. The picture is much better thanks to greater color saturation, which I’ll talk about below, but there is potential for more. A darker gamma preset would be welcome.
Comparisons
The VI-01’s default 6.59dE result is typical of value displays. While the error isn’t huge, the monitor will look much better with calibration. I recommend using the settings I posted on page one at a minimum. That will get you close to the mark. My sample finished at 0.90dE, which is excellent for this category and price point.
The VI-01’s light gamma is a flaw that cannot be fixed. A 0.25 range of values isn’t too bad relative to most monitors, but the 12.73% deviation from standard should be corrected with a firmware update. Galax could either adjust the gamma or add presets to the menu options. This affects both perceived contrast and color saturation.
Color Gamut Accuracy
Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
You can see what I’ve been talking about in the first color chart. The primaries, especially red, are significantly under-saturated. The hue errors in magenta and yellow are easy to fix with a grayscale calibration, but the only way to increase saturation is with a darker gamma option.
Luckily, my adjustments add color back in. The hue errors are fixed except for blue, which is a little off the mark. The lower points, 20-60%, are much closer to their targets which is a major visible improvement in quality. Calibration makes the VI-01 a lot better, but there is still some upward potential.
Comparisons
Though the VI-01 is last in the color gamut comparison, 3.50dE is a respectable score for the money. Remember that this monitor costs less than $300. It undercuts much of its competition while only sacrificing a little color accuracy and contrast. In other words, it’s still an outstanding deal.
Gamut volume is not a problem here with the VI-01’s 88.19% coverage of DCI-P3. My only complaint is that there’s no sRGB mode, but that won’t be a problem for most gamers. Like most wide gamut screens, the Galax comes up short in the green primary.
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