SONY SDMHX73

If you use a laptop for long periods, chances are you find the small screen size tiring to look at after a while. And even if you’re lucky enough to have a machine with a larger screen, its close proximity to the laptop’s keyboard makes it far from ergonomically perfect. A flat panel display is the ideal solution, allowing you a larger viewing area and a greater distance from your screen, without taking up huge amounts of space on your desk. Sony’s SDMHX73 is a 17-inch LCD TFT screen that offers a maximum resolution of1280 x 1024 pixels.

At £700 (inc. VAT) it’s in the mid-range price group, however its design is more unusual than the majority screens in this price bracket. The crescent shaped stand allows you to rotate and swivel the screen to your required position, while also giving the panel a stylish and contemporary feel that makes it ideally suited to home users. At the base of the silver casing is a rounded black speaker grille, while on the back of the unit a panel slides up to reveal the hidden plug sockets and connection cables, keeping everything neat. The SDMHX73 has two analogue HD15inputs and a digital DVi connection as well as three audio in ports. Laptop owners won’t be able to make the most of the digital connection just yet, however, as current machines are only supplied with the analogue ports. One analogue and one digital cable come suppliedas standard.

We found that the monitor provided a clear picture quality that’s as good as we’d expect to see in this price range. The colours were clear and text was in focus and well defined. The stereo speakers provided good quality sound and volume. While they lacked the bass levels required for listening to music, they would be adequate for watching a film or giving a demonstration. Our only major quibble was with the stand, which cannot be raised up or down and so will not suit all users. However, apart from this, we found the SDMHX73 an attractive and good quality monitor at a realistic price.

RATING: 8

PRICE: £596/£700 (EX/INC. VAT)
PANEL TYPE: 17-INCH LCD TFT
RESOLUTION: 1280 X 1024 PIXELS
CONTRAST RATIO: 400:1
PRIMARY INPUT: HD15, DV-D
CONTACT: 08705 424424 WWW.SONY.CO.UK