YouTuber Compares Apple Pro Display XDR to $43K Sony Reference Monitor, Says It's a 'No Go' for Professional Colorists

[theluggage]

You’re not entitled to a $3-4k mid-tower, or a $6k tower with specs of your choosing. Nor a 30” 5.5K iMac that you think people want. Nor a 27” monitor.

The only thing I'm entitled to is an opinion. You're entitled to disagree and state your reasons, but I don't see much reasoning going on above so there's really nothing to respond to.

Sorry, I have to go now, because I'm waiting for the man from Eizo to turn up with the huge bag of cash I somehow get for criticising Apple products on page #20 of a long MR thread that's being followed by about 3 people...

 

[PickUrPoison]

The only thing I'm entitled to is an opinion. You're entitled to disagree and state your reasons, but I don't see much reasoning going on above so there's really nothing to respond to.

Sorry, I have to go now, because I'm waiting for the man from Eizo to turn up with the huge bag of cash I somehow get for criticising Apple products on page #20 of a long MR thread that's being followed by about 3 people...

I responded to your rant with my opinion 🤷‍♂️

I get it. Apple doesn’t make what you want. As I said, Apple doesn't make what a lot of people want. You wanting it isn’t enough.

If you were a video editor or colorist saying the XDR doesn’t meet your needs, that could be an interesting discussion. But just re-hashing well-worn complaints about how Apple has failed to make you the products you want? Not quite as interesting, at least to me.

 

[alstrike]

The thing is, by definition, Vincent Teoh IS a YouTuber. If Vincent Teoh saw being a YouTuber as derogatory, I’m sure Vincent Teoh would NOT be a YouTuber (on account of the amout of work it requires to prepare and upload the video). Some people, maybe including you, see being a YouTuber as derogatory, but that doesn’t alter the definition.

There are several things in thread for you to go on the extreme defensive for this Vincent person for. This isn’t one.

I don't see "Youtuber" as a derogative term but that it's used sometimes as such, just as Macrumors did. They went the clickbaity route which is a shame, although I'm not really surprised.

Bold part: Nice stealth stab :/

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Yeah Bill Gates is my favorite “youtuber”...

Yes, he’s a YouTuber. See, you get the definition.

 

[chucker23n1]

Yeah Bill Gates is my favorite “youtuber”...

I didn’t even realize Bill Gates made a significant amount of his money from producing videos now. That is so interesting!

…or you just don’t know what you’re saying.
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Apple thinks people want an extremely accurate 32” high resolution monitor. People can want it to be cheaper; that’s no surprise because people always want Apple products to be cheaper 🤷‍♂️

Given how niche that market is, I fail to see what cutting $1k or $2k does for anyone.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Given how niche that market is, I fail to see what cutting $1k or $2k does for anyone.

About the same difference a $1,000 stand or non-glare coating makes: almost none. Those for whom the product makes sense and want it will pay $5-7k.

Same situation with dropping the price of the Mac Pro to $4-5k. imo, the increase in Mac Pro revenue would be buried in the noise. (The entry level box is a low-margin SKU in any case, even at $6k, compared to the average config.)

 

[citysnaps]

You not needing a high-end Mac Pro Xeon workstation or XDR targeted at the corporate/enterprise market and working pros isn’t particularly relevant to those who do. Why begrudge pros who need that performance a solution for their requirements?

For sure on that. Have never understood why some get so upset at a company because a couple of products, out of many the company produces, are either not what they need or cannot afford.

Would be like me wasting my time going to Samsung forum and having a good whine about their $70K 98" 8K television. Even though I don't have the space for such a huge set, or the money to purchase it. More power to those that have both and can enjoy the display. I'm sure it's amazing.

 

[PickUrPoison]

For sure on that. Have never understood why some get so upset at a company because a couple of products, out of many the company produces, are either not what they need or cannot afford.

Would be like me wasting my time going to Samsung forum and having a good whine about their $70K 98" 8K television. Even though I don't have the space for such a huge set, or the money to purchase it. More power to those that have both and can enjoy the display. I'm sure it's amazing.

I’m sure that microLED TV called “The Wall” is really nice as well. Still haven’t heard any pricing details on it but its rumored to be into six digits.

 

[AppelGeenyus]

I didn’t even realize Bill Gates made a significant amount of his money from producing videos now. That is so interesting!

…or you just don’t know what you’re saying.

What 🤨

 

[HandITOVER]

SMH.

 

[PickUrPoison]

It turns out that wasn't as accurate as the reference monitor for color grading and that's why colorist will not be able to recommend.

Correct. As I said on page 1 of the comments, “Not good enough for a colorist or mastering.” (post #14.)

It’s been well established in this thread that the XDR can’t replace the $43k reference monitor, hasn’t it? Or are we just continuing to beat a dead horse?

 

[MacBH928]

Whats the point of all this expensive color testing, and once it hits the market everyone has his display calibrated differently showing different results.

honestly, if you can't tell the difference by eye sight it shouldn't matter. If you can tell the difference by eye sight but its a slight difference, maybe its better you save that $30K because the benefits are minimum. No need to use laser guns to tell you how many nits one display has over the other to convince you its better.

 

[MEJHarrison]

Whats the point of all this expensive color testing, and once it hits the market everyone has his display calibrated differently showing different results.

Why are you assuming the only end goal is a screen in your house? There's also theaters, blu-ray releases, etc. The picture needs to look go when it's measured in feet, not just inches.

Also, "everyone" does NOT have their display calibrated differently. Many people who are into home theater equipment has their displays professionally calibrated. Stop assuming the rest of the world is fine with your low standards. Also, there is no "calibrated differently". Things are calibrated to a standard, not to what the technician thinks looks best. It's done right or it's not really calibrated. Think eyeglasses. There's the correct prescription, then all the other prescriptions. These isn't a range where you're good or close enough. It's correct or it's not correct.

Finally it's done because it's the right thing to do. You don't half-ass things because some people don't care. This is a forum about Apple and their products. Take this attitude to a dedicated home theater forum and you'll soon learn that there are people out there who care a lot more about having things "correct" than the average consumer.

I don't understand this attitude that Hollywood should only be putting in enough effort to please the lowest common denominator.

 

[MacBH928]

Why are you assuming the only end goal is a screen in your house? There's also theaters, blu-ray releases, etc. The picture needs to look go when it's measured in feet, not just inches.

Also, "everyone" does NOT have their display calibrated differently. Many people who are into home theater equipment has their displays professionally calibrated. Stop assuming the rest of the world is fine with your low standards. Also, there is no "calibrated differently". Things are calibrated to a standard, not to what the technician thinks looks best. It's done right or it's not really calibrated. Think eyeglasses. There's the correct prescription, then all the other prescriptions. These isn't a range where you're good or close enough. It's correct or it's not correct.

Finally it's done because it's the right thing to do. You don't half-ass things because some people don't care. This is a forum about Apple and their products. Take this attitude to a dedicated home theater forum and you'll soon learn that there are people out there who care a lot more about having things "correct" than the average consumer.

I don't understand this attitude that Hollywood should only be putting in enough effort to please the lowest common denominator.

Are you saying that every tv out there from all the different brands with different technologies like Plasma, OLED,LCD, CRT,QLED,Mini-LCD when calibrated correctly will all produce the same image output?

Literally the title of this thread is that Apple Pro 32-inch $5000 monitor does not display colour correctly and you need to buy the $43K Sony one, what makes you think that you $1000 50inch LG 4K tv will?

 

[AppelGeenyus]

Are you saying that every tv out there from all the different brands with different technologies like Plasma, OLED,LCD, CRT,QLED,Mini-LCD when calibrated correctly will all produce the same image output?

Literally the title of this thread is that Apple Pro 32-inch $5000 monitor does not display colour correctly and you need to buy the $43K Sony one, what makes you think that you $1000 50inch LG 4K tv will?

You literally just made the case for needing and maintaining maximum colour accuracy when creating content. As you just pointed out, there are many screen types, because screen technology never stops improving. There will be even more in the future, and the accuracy of your standard screen even when uncalibrated is also constantly improving.

Content created on any old rubbish display, especially when uncalibrated, will slowly look worse and worse over time as newer and more accurate screens are released, because you would not have been aware of all of the inaccuracies in your work at the time of creation.

 

[MEJHarrison]

Are you saying that every tv out there from all the different brands with different technologies like Plasma, OLED,LCD, CRT,QLED,Mini-LCD when calibrated correctly will all produce the same image output?

Within the hardward limits of the device, I would say so. Not every device can be made perfect. This very thread is about a device that's really, really close to perfect, but isn't. Or at least that's how it used to be. I've not followed home theater stuff in many years. But I would say two perfectly calibrated displays should look the same regardless of the underlying technology. Much like a properly tuned instrument should play middle C at 261.6Hz on a guitar, clarinet, trumpet, piano, etc. Instruments are tuned to a standard and displays are calibrated to a standard. Standards that can be measured.

 

[Ryth]

I'm a bit confused. I get that as a creator you want the best you can do. Makes sense, you want that extraordinary lens flare, add it in and you'll see it on an expensive reference monitor. But us consumers that are going to just be watching what you did will never see that slightly increased flare because our panels generally are exponentially worse than what you just created it on. Didn't that happen with GoT? They can see all the dark details on their reference monitors, but when it hit consumers, we couldn't see squat. So what is it referencing to if the majority aren't even using what is considered a reference?

So I actually work in Post and this is something I bring up all the time to our company. Grading on these high end displays (we have the 43K Sony) the consumer never sees what they see which is exactly your point. WYSI'NOT'WYG. This is the huge issue with all these color profiles, different displays, etc. Now you do not want to go with the lowest common denominator though. You have to grade for the best and use the best grading monitors.

But yes you are 110% correct that what is referencing even matter if the majority aren't using what's considered a reference.

I'll give you a great example...we had a client in grading her indy film & when she took it home on a drive to watch it, she complained it didn't look good on her home LED LG TV. They went through multiple iterations until she finally brought in her personal TV into the suite & said to grade it according to that.

This is where Apple went wrong...and I was telling my color guy this...

Apple should have fashioned their XDR display/color accuracy as the best monitor for everyone using THEIR APPLE devices...you can guarantee that the color will be accurate from Post, to your iPhone, iPad, iMac, MacBook, etc. if you grade on this thing.

You'll have an eco-system where what you see on the XDR is what you see on your Apple device which is where most people are consuming now.

They also should have come out with a 4K & 5k versions with the 6k that were much lower in price point.

 

[turbineseaplane]

They also should have come out with a 4K & 5k versions with the 6k that were much lower in price point.

So true. It's a really crappy experience that Tim has set up here where you either sell an organ for a PD XDR or they push over to cheap and ugly LG plastic crap.

It's insane how many people out there using iMacs, iMac Pro's and high end MBP's would love a beautifully enclosed first party 4k/5k or even less specced 6k panel on their desk.

The vast majority of people simply have no need, at all, for the XDR's insane spec sheet -- but also don't want the ugly quality control dumpster fire that has been the LG UF monitors.

 

[upandown]

So true. It's a really crappy experience that Tim has set up here where you either sell an organ for a PD XDR or they push over to cheap and ugly LG plastic crap.

It's insane how many people out there using iMacs, iMac Pro's and high end MBP's would love a beautifully enclosed first party 4k/5k or even less specced 6k panel on their desk.

The vast majority of people simply have no need, at all, for the XDR's insane spec sheet -- but also don't want the ugly quality control dumpster fire that has been the LG UF monitors.

Very true. IMO the best route is to buy the very color accurate LG CX 48 inch for gaming and computer work. It’s almost the perfect solution unless it’s too big still.

And if someone brings up burn in, don’t direct it at me. Talking to the wrong guy. There’s plenty of recent material on the internet proving burn in is not an issue even with heavy gaming with the newest OLEDs. I will admit it might be an issue as a computer monitor if abused.

 

[turbineseaplane]

IMO the best route is to buy the very color accurate LG CX 48 inch for gaming and computer work.

Interesting - haven't heard of that.
Probably too big for me, but thank you for mentioning it. I'm going to research it anyways..

Too bad they aren't making one another size down

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Isn't this like the people that go out and buy a huge megapixel camera and then complain that the pictures look like crap on their phone/tablet/PC. I tried to talk someone out of a very expensive DSLR camera. No, I don't know what I'm talking about. They weren't happy, but were to weird about it to mention it to me. *shrug* Life goes on...

 

[turbineseaplane]

Isn't this like the people that go out and buy a huge megapixel camera and then complain that the pictures look like crap on their phone/tablet/PC.

No, not particularly. lol

 

[MisterAndrew]

The Pro Display XDR has terrible color for the price point IMO. There are much cheaper monitors that achieve a significantly wider color gamut. I think it's geared towards media creation for internet and broadcast. It's not designed for photography or other color critical work.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The Pro Display XDR has terrible color for the price point IMO. There are much cheaper monitors that achieve a significantly wider color gamut. I think it's geared towards media creation for internet and broadcast. It's not designed for photography or other color critical work.

What are some recommendations you have if photo work is top of mind?

 

[MisterAndrew]

What are some recommendations you have if photo work is top of mind?

Any of the EIZO ColorEdge displays are probably first choice within a somewhat reasonable budget. I would look for a display that achieves at least 99% of the Adobe RGB gamut. There are even a couple cheap monitors from Lenovo in their Professional lineup that have good colors. Dell, BenQ, and Asus have some as well.