Friday, May 15th 2020

EVE Distribution Announces the Spectrum Crowd-Sourced Monitor Lineup - Up to 4K 120 Hz IPS and FreeSync Premium

EVE Distribution, the company that's already crowd-sourced the Microsoft Surface-rival Eve Hybrid, which launched to very positive feedback from the tech community (even with the incredible delays in shipping and distributing the purchased Eve Hybrids, though the company now says they've rebuilt their logistics and distribution mechanisms. Now, the company is eyeing next-generation gaming with its Spectrum monitor lineup, which aim to be both PC-centric and console-centric gaming monitors.

The three monitor models all share LG as a panel source (specifically, the same panel used in the LG UltraGear 27GL850. All of them also share the same IPS technology with 1 ms response times, 98% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB coverage, as well as the same 1,000:1 contrast ratio. Freesync Premium (from 48 Hz VRR support through to the maximum refresh rate of every monitor) and G-Sync Compatible support is standard on all monitors. Differences start to appear when looking at maximum resolution, brightness and refresh rates.
Starting from the bottom of the feature-stack, the Spectrum QHD 144 Hz sports a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 27" IPS panel with 1 ms response times and 144 Hz refresh rates. The $389 price tag also nets you a maximum 450 nits brightness and VESA DisplayHDR 400 badge with HDR10 support. The Spectrum QHD 240 Hz panel, on the other hand, improves maximum brightness up to 750 nits, and VESA DisplayHDR 600 badge with HDR10 for $529. The Spectrum 4K 144Hz ups the resolution to 4K, as the name implies, and reduces refresh rates to a sane 120 Hz at that resolution, while keeping the same 750 nits and VESA DisplayHDR 600 badge. This one will cost you $629. I don't know about you, but these look like extremely sensible prices to me.
All monitors further feature the same connectivity: 2x USB-C (100W PD output), 3x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.0a, and 1x 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Spectrum 4K 144 Hz and Spectrum QHD 240 Hz are expected to ship in Q4, but due to the impact of COVID 19 in the manufacturing and logistics worlds, Eve has pushed the Spectrum QHD 144 Hz's release date to Q1 2021. Eve's 144 Hz 4 K gaming monitor has sold the most so far (which makes sense as that's the one gamers will be looking for to pair the most with their PC and next-gen console), followed by the 240 Hz QHD model, a more purely PC-based affair. The delayed Spectrum QHD 144 Hz represents less than one-fifth of total sales, according to Eve, thus the lesser priority it's receiving.
Sources: EVE Distribution, via Tom's Hardware, via EuroGamer
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20 Comments on EVE Distribution Announces the Spectrum Crowd-Sourced Monitor Lineup - Up to 4K 120 Hz IPS and FreeSync Premium

#1
Metroid
Related to 4k 120hz, still no hdmi 2.1 48 gbps, shameful, dp 1.4 only gives 32.40 gbps and for that resolution and 10 bit color depth it needs 35.83 gbps. This is still a no go for me, price looks good. This monitor might be a 8 bit color + frc.

k.kramerav.com/support/bwcalculator.asp

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

Funny, in this website it says it will come with hdmi 2.1 www.tomshardware.com/uk/news/eve-spectrum-gaming-monitors-ps5-xbox-series-x

"Today, Eve announced that the Spectrum QHD 240Hz and Spectrum 4K 144Hz will each feature two HDMI 2.1 ports. This allows for up to 4K resolution at a 120 Hz refresh rate, as well as variable refresh rates (all the monitors support FreeSync Premium Pro and are G-Sync Compatible). "

I advise not to pre-order it, a lot of crowdfunding projects scams.
Posted on Reply
#2
sutyi
EVE Spectrum QHD 144Hz + STAND = 489EUR

27LG850B with the same panel and a better stand = 457EUR
Granted it is only HDR10.
Posted on Reply
#3
TristanX
4K @ 120Hz - poor
there are Asus and Nixeus with 4K @ 144Hz with DSC, so no quality loss
Posted on Reply
#4
Solaris17
Super Dainty Moderator
sutyiEVE Spectrum QHD 144Hz + STAND = 489EUR

27LG850B with the same panel and a better stand = 457EUR
Granted it is only HDR10.
I looked at these several weeks ago and lold when they said the stand was separate and an additional $100usd
Posted on Reply
#5
Vayra86
sutyiEVE Spectrum QHD 144Hz + STAND = 489EUR

27LG850B with the same panel and a better stand = 457EUR
Granted it is only HDR10.
Yeah I really don't understand these products either. They do nothing really special, but stick a new brand on already released panels and call it new.

I mean, sure everyone wants pieces of pie but... where is the selling point?
Posted on Reply
#6
demian_vi
MetroidRelated to 4k 120hz, still no hdmi 2.1 48 gbps, shameful, dp 1.4 only gives 32.40 gbps and for that resolution and 10 bit color depth it needs 35.83 gbps. This is still a no go for me, price looks good. This monitor might be a 8 bit color + frc.

k.kramerav.com/support/bwcalculator.asp

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

Funny, in this website it says it will come with hdmi 2.1 www.tomshardware.com/uk/news/eve-spectrum-gaming-monitors-ps5-xbox-series-x

"Today, Eve announced that the Spectrum QHD 240Hz and Spectrum 4K 144Hz will each feature two HDMI 2.1 ports. This allows for up to 4K resolution at a 120 Hz refresh rate, as well as variable refresh rates (all the monitors support FreeSync Premium Pro and are G-Sync Compatible). "

I advise not to pre-order it, a lot of crowdfunding projects scams.
a more lot are not scams and they have proven once they aren't
Posted on Reply
#7
sutyi
Vayra86Yeah I really don't understand these products either. They do nothing really special, but stick a new brand on already released panels and call it new.

I mean, sure everyone wants pieces of pie but... where is the selling point?
I mean if this was good bang for the buck you might consider purchasing it... but for the same price or even worse being more expensive, then what is the incentive to pick this up instead of the "original" LG monitor that has LG customer support and RMA services backing it up? A different bezel?
Solaris17I looked at these several weeks ago and lold when they said the stand was separate and an additional $100usd
Same here.

At was like that is nice value for mon... and then saw that they are charging 99USD/99EUR for a basic stand. Guess you can mount it on a ~20USD/EUR VESA arm and call it a day.
But then there is the Acer Nitro VG271UPbmiipx /1440p, IPS, HDR10, 95% DCI-P3/ has a 100x100 VESA mount and goes for ~370EUR with a 5-year warranty.
Posted on Reply
#8
fynxer
THIS ARTICLE HAS OLD SPEC INFORMATION! Why write such a bad and incomplete article.

ALSO ALL SPECS are SUBJECT TO UPGRADE AT ANY TIME, development is ongoing and hardware specs and functions is added and upgraded all the time.

evedevices.com/pages/full-specs

Monitors will have ELMB-SYNC and HDMI 2.1, also Displayport 1.4 with DSC to maximixe 4K@144Hz, even been discussions about DP 1.5 if possible

The 4K@144Hz will NOT only have 120Hz as stated in this article. It will run 4K@144Hz with Displayport 1.4 and DSC.

It will have an feature rich firmware with massive amount of settings and configuration possibility so you can configure it as you like without major limitations.

Also an user upgradable firmware.
Posted on Reply
#9
Caqde
I feel the need to compare the two monitors discussed against the Spectrum QHD 144hz.

The LG 27GL850 and Acer VG271U have similar specs to eachother and are as such priced about the same both are 144hz QHD monitors with a 350cd/m2 brightness rating and AMD Freesync. They also have 2HDMI and one Displayport Input. The LG panel has two USB 3.0 ports on the panel. They are also both HDR10 monitors.

The Spectrum QHD 144hz on the other hand has a higher brightness at 400cd/m2, is DIsplayHDR 400 certifiied, complies with the higher Freesync Premium Pro certification, has a USB C input with Displayport Alternate Mode capable of USB 3.1 Gen 2 as an upstream or downstream port (when not connected to the computer and the USB type B is used), has 3 USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports and another USB C gen 2 Port.

These differences place the Spectrum QHD 144hz above the LG and Acer monitors and as such should be a bit more. For comparison Acer's VG272U P is $568 DisplayHDR 400 monitor similar to the VG271U a $119 premium for the DisplayHDR certification. Another is the Asus ROG Strix XG279Q 170hz(OC from 144hz) for $599. Those are also the closest monitors I can find today to the specs of the Spectrum QHD 144hz this monitor as far as I can tell is unique compared to what is on the market today.
Posted on Reply
#10
Vayra86
CaqdeI feel the need to compare the two monitors discussed against the Spectrum QHD 144hz.

The LG 27GL850 and Acer VG271U have similar specs to eachother and are as such priced about the same both are 144hz QHD monitors with a 350cd/m2 brightness rating and AMD Freesync. They also have 2HDMI and one Displayport Input. The LG panel has two USB 3.0 ports on the panel. They are also both HDR10 monitors.

The Spectrum QHD 144hz on the other hand has a higher brightness at 400cd/m2, is DIsplayHDR 400 certifiied, complies with the higher Freesync Premium Pro certification, has a USB C input with Displayport Alternate Mode capable of USB 3.1 Gen 2 as an upstream or downstream port (when not connected to the computer and the USB type B is used), has 3 USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports and another USB C gen 2 Port.

These differences place the Spectrum QHD 144hz above the LG and Acer monitors and as such should be a bit more. For comparison Acer's VG272U P is $568 DisplayHDR 400 monitor similar to the VG271U a $119 premium for the DisplayHDR certification. Another is the Asus ROG Strix XG279Q 170hz(OC from 144hz) for $599. Those are also the closest monitors I can find today to the specs of the Spectrum QHD 144hz this monitor as far as I can tell is unique compared to what is on the market today.
Just 'more higher' does not automatically mean it should be valued higher. As long as we are looking at the exact same panel, but a different backlight, the result of higher peak brightness is quite simply also a higher black point. But.... low black point is visually a much better way to achieve high contrast images than substantial increases in peak brightness. If you have ever bought a new monitor you will find the factory settings at 100 brightness. Completely disgusting to look at or use, most of the time. For comfortable use AND proper calibration, most users drop the brightness substantially. The end result is a better more balanced image and no crushed tones.

Its the same way OLED achieves near infinite contrast values. It is not a bright panel at all, on the contrary; but the black point is 0.00 cd/m2 or extremely close to it. True blacks. It has always been the holy grail of visual content and this has not changed, despite the utterly retarded VESA-inspired HDR-spec (its straight up criminal, and only serves to keep selling inferior LCD tech). You need to understand this HDR spec should be completely ignored. These panels are all high brightness, and high black point panels. Some of them have local dimming but not all, and the implementation varies massively, and the cost increases massively too. You need a shit ton of dimming zones to really make it work, and that's expensive.

None of these cost effective high brightness panels should be seen as pro's - they are CONS. You're buying a higher number, not a better monitor. In the end you're still stuck with an abysmal 1000:1 static contrast ratio, and that is the defining factor here. IPS = IPS no matter how much shit you pour over it.

Often times enough is enough. 350cd/m2 is very much enough, and more won't benefit you at all; even for a strobe function (which can cut the number in half) it will still be sufficiently bright. Even for resolution people are slowly figuring out 4K might just be 'too much' and 1440p is a great middle ground... true nerds figured this out 6-8 years ago when they bought their imported Korean IPS on the cheap... :)

Monitors these days are overloaded with features and the better half is quite simply useless. Variable sync, yes. Its nice. But what are we getting now, FreeSync Premium, Gsync Ultimate... ELMB... a handful of HDR specs, ever increasing refresh rates... none of this is a game changer and it inflates the price across an otherwise pretty average panel. Same goes for a shit ton of ports... didn't we have a case for that already?

Don't get me wrong though, this is probably not a bad monitor at all. But be wary of attributing value to specs that don't directly, knowingly benefit you. Its the marketing talking through your own mouth ;) It is that self fulfilling prophecy that leaves us wondering 'why yet another 'spec war' like the Megapixel race. We do it ourselves...
Posted on Reply
#11
Elysium
I'm glad somebody pointed out the mistake in the article.

4K that doesn't cost a limb, with high refresh rate and decent connectivity? Count me in. I pointed out to Alienware, because I have one of their pre-refresh AW25 models, that their lack of a 4K product in the 27in space was hurting them but they haven't listened at all. I was thus planning on picking up the XG27 from Asus but it looks like EVE has just saved me.
Posted on Reply
#12
goodeedidid
MetroidRelated to 4k 120hz, still no hdmi 2.1 48 gbps, shameful, dp 1.4 only gives 32.40 gbps and for that resolution and 10 bit color depth it needs 35.83 gbps. This is still a no go for me, price looks good. This monitor might be a 8 bit color + frc.

k.kramerav.com/support/bwcalculator.asp

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

Funny, in this website it says it will come with hdmi 2.1 www.tomshardware.com/uk/news/eve-spectrum-gaming-monitors-ps5-xbox-series-x

"Today, Eve announced that the Spectrum QHD 240Hz and Spectrum 4K 144Hz will each feature two HDMI 2.1 ports. This allows for up to 4K resolution at a 120 Hz refresh rate, as well as variable refresh rates (all the monitors support FreeSync Premium Pro and are G-Sync Compatible). "

I advise not to pre-order it, a lot of crowdfunding projects scams.
What's the deal if it isn't true 10bit? How does that relates to games?
Posted on Reply
#13
Unregistered
Solaris17I looked at these several weeks ago and lold when they said the stand was separate and an additional $100usd
Add shipping and taxes and for most people it's a bad deal.

I rather like the sound of that iiyama 144hz uwqhd monitor though, especially since

a) it's flat, which is good for editing photos/videos and even drawing

b) it's supercheap

c) if need be I can get a spyderx pro and still only have spent about 600 euros, or the same price as the wqhd eve with a stand.
#14
spnidel
4k, 120 hz, 750 nits, DisplayHDR600 rating for just $629?
what the FUG, I've been out of the loop in monitor hardware improvements for a while it seems
Posted on Reply
#16
RH92
sutyiEVE Spectrum QHD 144Hz + STAND = 489EUR
27LG850B with the same panel and a better stand = 457EUR
Solaris17I looked at these several weeks ago and lold when they said the stand was separate and an additional $100usd
This is why they offer the panel without a stand !

I pre-order mine at 360EUR + 30 EUR nice stand from Amazon = 390 EUR
VS
Cheapest GL-850 i can find online = 475 EUR

Because you don't see the deal doesn't mean it ain't there :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#17
Unregistered
RH92This is why they offer the panel without a stand !

I pre-order mine at 360EUR + 30 EUR nice stand from Amazon = 390 EUR
VS
Cheapest GL-850 i can find online = 475 EUR

Because you don't see the deal doesn't mean it ain't there :laugh:
But you also have to pay roughly 20% tax in europe
Posted on Edit | Reply
#18
sutyi
Hugh MungusBut you also have to pay roughly 20% tax in europe
If I have to pay my local VAT (27%) plush shipping and imports (20EUR stated on their site) on top of the prices on the website I'm looking at like 640EUR for the panel and the stand...
Posted on Reply
#19
RH92
Hugh MungusBut you also have to pay roughly 20% tax in europe
No you don't , for EU customers panels will ship from either Germany or UK warehouse , taxes are included in the shipping price !
Posted on Reply
#20
goodeedidid
MetroidWell you could say is related to all, this article explain some www.benq.eu/en-cee/knowledge-center/knowledge/10-bit-vs-8-bit-does-monitor-panel-bit-color-depth-matter.html

After I went 10 bit I just can't go back to 8 bit, to me is a night and day difference.
Doubt that for gaming and almost every other use case scenario I doubt there is a difference. The only difference you can see it I guess in color gradients. Just because it's 10 bit doesn't mean you can see difference right away.
Posted on Reply
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