Monoprice’s Dark Matter series has garnered attention for offering impressive performance at affordable prices. This review aims to provide a comprehensive look at the series, focusing on its strengths, weaknesses, and overall value proposition.
Design and Build Quality
- Sleek Gaming Aesthetic: The Dark Matter monitors typically feature a gaming-oriented design with aggressive lines and RGB lighting (on some models). The overall look is modern and appealing to gamers.
- Solid Construction: While not premium, the build quality is generally solid for the price point. The stands are often adjustable for height, tilt, and swivel, offering good ergonomics.
- Connectivity: The Dark Matter series provides a good selection of ports, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and often USB-C, catering to various device connections.
Image Quality
- Focus on Gaming: The Dark Matter monitors prioritize fast response times and high refresh rates for gaming. Color accuracy is decent but may not match professional-grade displays.
- Contrast and Brightness: Contrast ratios are generally good, offering decent blacks for gaming. Brightness levels are adequate for most indoor environments.
- Viewing Angles: IPS panels are commonly used, providing wide viewing angles with minimal color shift.
Performance
- Gaming: The Dark Matter series excels in gaming performance. High refresh rates, fast response times, and low input lag make them suitable for competitive and fast-paced games.
- Office Productivity: While not optimized for office work, the Dark Matter monitors can handle productivity tasks adequately. Color accuracy might not be as precise as dedicated office monitors.
- Media Consumption: The Dark Matter series is capable of delivering a satisfactory media consumption experience. However, dedicated media monitors might offer better color accuracy and contrast for movies and TV shows.
Features
- Gaming-Centric Features: Many Dark Matter models include features like Adaptive Sync (FreeSync or G-Sync compatible), low blue light filters, and customizable RGB lighting.
- Additional Features: Some models offer built-in speakers, USB hubs, and other convenient features.
Price and Value
- Excellent Value: The Dark Matter series consistently delivers exceptional value for the price. They offer impressive gaming performance and features without breaking the bank.
Overall
The Monoprice Dark Matter series is a compelling option for gamers seeking a high-performance monitor without a hefty price tag. While they may not be perfect for every use case, they excel in gaming and offer a solid overall package.
