IPS vs TN vs MVA

[CB5000]

I've been researching to get a new panel but first I was wondering what easy way is there to differentiate these two different types of monitors with out actually looking at them live... I know that TN panels have 160/160 viewing angles and IPS have 178/178 viewing angle. But other people claim that some of the monitors advertised that are 178/178 are TN panels instead of IPS. How could this be?? a TN with 178/178?? Only thing I can think of is false advertisement but almost all of NEC's monitors are advertised as 178/178 and are also very expensive. Are people having insane expectations from an IPS panel or are the 178/178 monitors really TN?? If that's the case how does anyone tell the difference just from online specs if one is a TN or another is an IPS? If 178/178 is TN then what is IPS?? 180/180?! Somehow that seems physically impossible.

[crazybus]

Link to 178/178° TN monitor?

Usually you see TN film monitors advertised with 170/160° viewing angles or worse. The response times are another way to tell. 2 and 5ms are generally TN while most 6ms are *VA (the curious thing is that 6ms *VA panels are effectively quicker than 5ms TN panels which lack response time compensation). I don't know if there are any IPS monitors below 8ms but honestly once your have real response times below 10ms it's largely irrelevent.

The cost is another good way of picking a TN monitor out of a crowd .

[Vrock]

Does anyone know if there are industry standards for measuring viewing angles? I'm betting that there aren't any, which would explain some of the over-optimistic viewing angles listed for TN panels.

[Usacomp2k3]

Does anyone know if there are industry standards for measuring viewing angles? I'm betting that there aren't any, which would explain some of the over-optimistic viewing angles listed for TN panels.

I think they are based on brightness. But just like a TV/projector bulb as being measured in how many hours until it is half as bright, by then it's too late. I think 90% should be the limit.
Also, it doesn't take into account color reproduction, IIRC. Sure it might be as bright, but it looks like crap.

[scare]

Does anyone know if there are industry standards for measuring viewing angles? I'm betting that there aren't any, which would explain some of the over-optimistic viewing angles listed for TN panels.

There really aren't any binding guidelines. Contrast ratio is what determines viewing angles. However, some manufacturers count an angle "visible" all the way down to 10:1 or 5:1. It does lead to a sort of wild wild west just like power supply ratings. The one thing you can always do with monitors is to actually see them before buying them though.

[MrJP]

This is a reasonably comprehensive database for researching panel types.

There's also some useful information here on the different technologies which can be helpful in spotting the panel types from the published specifications.

Price is a pretty good guide though: it it's cheap, it's TN; if it's not cheap, it's probably S-PVA or S-MVA, or maybe S-IPS; if it's really expensive, it's S-IPS .

[Voldenuit]

Here's another resource:
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/