Sony SDM-X93B LCD Monitor (Sony-SDMX93B)

The SDM-X93's image quality scores came out average compared with other models in our March 2004 roundup. However, the Sony was up against some very stiff competition--with a small point spread between the highest and lowest scores--and it still earned a rating of Very good for both text and graphics. Costing $750 (at the time of our review), the X93's price is about average for a 19-inch display.

The monitor has easy tilt and swivel movement; and it also provides height adjustment--a feature missing on most Sony displays but fairly common on 19-inch models from other vendors. You have numerous options for connecting the SDM-X93 to multiple PCs: A panel on the back of the monitor hides one digital input and two analog inputs. Each video input also has its own stereo audio input, so audio always matches your video source. The integrated stereo speakers produced far better sound than we typically hear on monitors; not only were they relatively loud, but they didn't distort the sound when pushed up to high volume.