Verdict: Too many gimmicks distract from a great screen.
This 22in widescreen panel fancies itself as a media screen, with 2.1 speakers, and fancy lights and gimmicks. However, most monitors' built-in speakers are little more than tickbox features, intended for quiet and inconspicuous use in cramped offices. The Asus PG221 is therefore a rare breed among PC monitors. With a dedicated subwoofer incorporated in the stand and stereo speakers in the front bezel, it sounds more like a premium telly than something you should use with a PC.
The chunky, angular frame and circular base are reminiscent of the last Asus screen we reviewed, the 20.1in PW201. Unlike the PW201, however, the PG221's stand isn't height-adjustable, and the screen is locked fairly low to the desk.
A panel of touch-sensitive buttons and bars separates the two speaker grilles you can see below the screen. This means that the bottom of the bezel is rather chunky, so the eye is tricked into thinking that the screen isn't as wide as it is. The most striking aesthetic feature of the PG221 is the neon light strip running between the panel of buttons and the TFT panel itself, which changes colour depending on which audio mode is selected. Unfortunately, we don't use the word 'striking' in a positive way, since it's a distraction from what you really want to be looking at, which is the screen itself. Fortunately, you can turn this off, as well as the silly sounds that emanate from the speakers whenever you touch any of the flashy OSD buttons.
The presence of component, composite and S-Video inputs, as well as the usual D-SUB and DVI sockets, means that the PG221 would be well suited for use with a DVD player or console.
It's important to note, however, that the PG221's native resolution of 1,680 x 1,050 will only handle 720p HD, rather than the full 1080p (which needs a 1,920 x 1,080 panel). As this necessitates either cropping or black bars above and below the picture, the lack of HDMI is forgivable (especially since the DVI socket can take a HDCP-secured signal).
The PG221's image quality is impressive. The picture on our test HD 720p film trailers was excellent, with the screen's glossy coating enhancing its naturally bold colours and crisp 2000:1 contrast ratio without making the image appear garish. Skin tones are handled especially well, with the blue-biased colour balance avoiding making characters look jaundiced or overly hot. We had to fiddle with the display settings, though, as the screen is set to a cool colour temperature rather than the usual 6,500k or sRGB. Even when changed, we couldn't remove the blue tint. We also found that the maximum brightness of the panel was too bright and washed out colours, so we tested at 80 per cent.
The brightness and blue colour bias are great for games such as F.E.A.R. The sterilised, cold corridors and bright, clean flashlight add to the sense of foreboding. In Far Cry, the vibrant colours of the panel are perfect for reproducing the tropical paradise. Dark shadows appeared inky black, with the generous contrast range giving them richness and detail.
However, as impressive as the PG221 is - and it's one of the best panels we've seen - the accoutrements spoil it. The chunky, oversized bezel with its webcam is a distraction, as are the touch-sensitive OSD buttons, which are also imprecise and sluggish. The bar shouldn't require six or seven presses to raise the volume from 0 to 100. If you had a Turner or a Constable, you wouldn't house it in a chunky frame with neon lights along the bottom, so why does Asus do so here?
The odd speaker arrangement doesn't deliver either; the subwoofer just isn't big enough to shake small glasses of water placed near the screen, let alone the room, and the treble is weak too. The PG221's speakers might be better than the usual 1W pairings of office-bound screens, but this is hardly the most glowing of compliments. An SRS effect button on the side of the monitor increases the perceived distance between the stereo speakers, but leaves the sound feeling rather empty.
In short, the PG221 doesn't offer anything more in the audio department than a set of cheap PC speakers. We'd prefer that Asus took the simpler approach and let the PG221 be just what it should be: a high-quality screen.
Conclusion
The PG221's panel may be a little better than that of the £222 Elite-listed Samsung SyncMaster 226BW, but it still manages to be a less tempting purchase. The glossy coating, and therefore the improved contrast and vibrancy, along with a strong backlight and better colour handling give it the edge - and then all the silly gimmicks detract from these qualities. The tacked-on 2.1 speaker system is too weak for watching a film or listening to music, while the touch-sensitive buttons are annoying and distracting. Add in the PG221's far higher price, and the Samsung remains our favourite widescreen TFT.
