NEC MultiSync EA305WMi Professional Monitor With ControlSync Review
The NEC MultiSync EA305WMi Monitor
For many users, one monitor just isn’t enough. Sometimes, two displays won’t cut it either. If your latest project has you searching for multiple, high-end monitors, you’re likely going to be looking at professional workhorses like NEC’s MultiSync EA305WMi. The venerable display maker designed this 30-inch monitor specifically for multi-monitor configurations and added something it calls ControlSync technology, so you can manage multiple displays from a single interface.
The MultiSync EA305WMi is a 30-inch (29.8-inch viewable area) monitor with a 2560x1600 resolution in a 16:10 aspect ratio. Although displays with 3840x2160 UHD resolution have been hogging the spotlight recently, 2560x1600 still makes for incredibly detailed images, and you won't have to deal with the scaling issues associated with HiDPI displays and legacy applications in Windows. The display features a 1000:1 contrast ratio and has a brightness of 350cd/m2.
The monitor is outfitted with an AH-IPS panel which provides wide viewing angles – nearly 180 degrees in both vertical and horizontal angles, in fact. It features GB-R LED backlighting and can automatically adjust brightness settings based on its built-in ambient light sensors. Another sensor, known as the “human sensor,” detects when you leave your desk and reduces the screen’s brightness within 40 seconds of your departure to conserve power. (You can disable this feature in the settings if you often need to see your monitor while standing away from your desk.)
Another power-related feature is the Carbon Footprint Meter, which is meant to provide real-time green gas emissions tracking. It also supports picture by picture (PBP), meaning it can draw from two video inputs simultaneously.
For those who plan to connect multiple EA305WMi displays, one of the most important features is ControlSync, which supports up to six monitors at once. Whenever you make a settings change on one monitor, those changes extend (with ControlSync enabled) to as many as five other connected monitors. Turn the volume down on one display, and you’re turning down the volume for all of them. That goes for brightness, too, as well as other settings. It’s a handy tool in any multi-display setting, but it’s easy to imagine that there are many situations in which this type of control is critical.
All of the monitors in your setup must be MultiSync EA Series displays for ControlSync to work, but you aren’t limited to identical models. We tested the EA305WMi with a 27-inch NEC MultiSync EA275WMi monitor without any trouble. Each EA305WMi ships with a ControlSync cable and a DisplayPort cable so you can daisy-chain the monitors.
NEC also shipped the EA305WMi with an optional accessory, the MDSVSENSOR3 color calibration sensor. Although we aren't reviewing this accessory separately, it’s worth mentioning. If you’re in the market for a monitor like the EA305WMi, color calibration tools like this one can make an important difference.
The MultiSync EA305WMi is a 30-inch (29.8-inch viewable area) monitor with a 2560x1600 resolution in a 16:10 aspect ratio. Although displays with 3840x2160 UHD resolution have been hogging the spotlight recently, 2560x1600 still makes for incredibly detailed images, and you won't have to deal with the scaling issues associated with HiDPI displays and legacy applications in Windows. The display features a 1000:1 contrast ratio and has a brightness of 350cd/m2.
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| Display Size | 29.8 Inches |
| Pixels Per Inch | 101 at Native Resolution |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 |
| Panel Type | AH-IPS |
| Response Time | 6ms |
| Bits | 8 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Brightness | 350cd/m2 |
| Backlight Type | GB-R LED |
| Viewing Angle | 178 Degrees Vert., 178 Degrees Hor. |
| Displayable Colors | 16.8 million |
| Input Signal | DisplayPort, DVI-I, HDMI |
| Speaker | Integrated |
| Height Adjustment | 130mm |
| Power Consumption | 86W On, 0.47W Power Savings Mode |
| Special Features | ControlSync For up to 6 Displays |
| VESA Wall Mounting | 100 x 100mm |
| Warranty | 3 Years Parts & Labor, Including Backlight |
| Price | $1,399 MSRP ($1,108 Currently At Amazon) |
The monitor is outfitted with an AH-IPS panel which provides wide viewing angles – nearly 180 degrees in both vertical and horizontal angles, in fact. It features GB-R LED backlighting and can automatically adjust brightness settings based on its built-in ambient light sensors. Another sensor, known as the “human sensor,” detects when you leave your desk and reduces the screen’s brightness within 40 seconds of your departure to conserve power. (You can disable this feature in the settings if you often need to see your monitor while standing away from your desk.)
Another power-related feature is the Carbon Footprint Meter, which is meant to provide real-time green gas emissions tracking. It also supports picture by picture (PBP), meaning it can draw from two video inputs simultaneously.
For those who plan to connect multiple EA305WMi displays, one of the most important features is ControlSync, which supports up to six monitors at once. Whenever you make a settings change on one monitor, those changes extend (with ControlSync enabled) to as many as five other connected monitors. Turn the volume down on one display, and you’re turning down the volume for all of them. That goes for brightness, too, as well as other settings. It’s a handy tool in any multi-display setting, but it’s easy to imagine that there are many situations in which this type of control is critical.
All of the monitors in your setup must be MultiSync EA Series displays for ControlSync to work, but you aren’t limited to identical models. We tested the EA305WMi with a 27-inch NEC MultiSync EA275WMi monitor without any trouble. Each EA305WMi ships with a ControlSync cable and a DisplayPort cable so you can daisy-chain the monitors.
NEC also shipped the EA305WMi with an optional accessory, the MDSVSENSOR3 color calibration sensor. Although we aren't reviewing this accessory separately, it’s worth mentioning. If you’re in the market for a monitor like the EA305WMi, color calibration tools like this one can make an important difference.
