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Planar PL1700M

The Planar PL1700M's good speakers don't make up for below-average image quality.

Friday, June 11, 2004 01:00 PM PDT

Planar PL1700M
Artwork: Rick Rizner, John Goddard

The Planar PL1700M's TrueMedia 2W integrated stereo speakers produced the richest sound of any monitor tested for the July 2004 issue. The volume control dial is more pleasant to use than a button. Despite having the speakers at the bottom of the bezel, the PL1700M has a slender profile. Unfortunately, the PL1700M disappoints in a monitor's key mission: It ranked second to last for image quality among the monitors we looked at for our July 2004 issue.

Upshot: The Planar PL1700M's disappointing image quality outweighs its above-average sound features. Rated 2.5 stars

Planar PL1700M
Rated 2.5 stars
17-inch screen, 1280 by 1024 native resolution, 11 pounds; vendor does not disclose panel type; analog input. Three-year warranty (including backlight); 13-hour weekday tech support.
$489
866/752-6271
www.planar.com

Laura Blackwell

Planar PL1700M
FrontArtwork: Rick Rizner, John Goddard
Planar PL1700M
RightPhotograph: Rick Rizner
Planar PL1700M
BackPhotograph: Rick Rizner