Why You Can Trust CNET DoubleSight DS-1900 review: DoubleSight DS-1900
The DS-1900 is a novelty display for people who want two monitors on the same stand. Many other 19-inch monitors can provide better performance, and buying two could cost much less than the DS-1900.
The $1,399 DoubleSight DS-1900 isn't your typical monitor; it consists of a pair of 19-inch LCD panels that sit on a thick, telescoping neck and a three-legged stand. As with any dual-monitor setup, your computer will need a graphics card that supports dual-digital or dual-analog connections--if you don't already have a capable card, buying one could set you back a couple hundred dollars. DoubleSight has an interesting concept that spreadsheet jockeys, stock traders, writers, Internet shoppers, or any other users fond of a dual-monitor setup may find useful, but a pair of other 19-inch LCDs, such as the Dell UltraSharp 1905FPW or the Philips Brilliance 190P6, will deliver better image quality and more adjustability for less money.
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Dressed completely in matte black, the DS-1900 measures almost 3 feet wide and 22 inches tall (at its maximum height). A very large Y-shaped base keeps both panels quite stable. Despite its large size, the DS-1900 is fairly flexible: the stand offers 3 inches of height adjustment, the panels swivel about 10 degrees to the left and the right and tilt forward 5 degrees and back 20.
The DS-1900's bezels are not especially thin, measuring 1 inch along the top and the sides and 1.5 inches along the bottom. This creates a 2-inch wide interruption in the viewing area, which we found a bit disruptive. Putting together two monitors with thinner bezels--the Dell UltraSharp 1905FP, for example--would create a more fluid viewing area.
Each monitor has its own six-button control panel on the lower-left side of the bottom bezel. We appreciate the ability to configure the monitors separately, since you may choose to use them for separate tasks. On the back of each display is one analog and one digital signal port.
Setting up the DS-1900 is a bit of a pain. Not only do you have to attach the monitors to the stand, but to connect it to your computer, you have to wrestle with two separate input cords, as well as two power cords, each with their own power brick. Luckily, there is a cable management clip to keep the cords somewhat corralled.
The DoubleSight DS-1900 turned in average scores on CNET Labs DisplayMate-based tests. Its grayscale performance showed an overabundance of the color red, which tinted light grays violet and made darker grays look purple. Color screens were better, with few color errors, though color fade wasn't consistent. The DS-1900's text was dark black and completely legible, but small amounts of jitter, or fluctuations in the electronic signal, made the image appear unsteady.
DVD playback was average: we saw lots of movement in the backgrounds and noticeable ghosting. Gaming screens looked better, with nice bright colors, excellent details, and no streaking.
The DoubleSight DS-1900 comes with a standard three-year warranty, a three-year advance-replacement program, and three years of toll-free technical support. If your DS-1900 fails, DoubleSight will send you a replacement within three days. DoubleSight will pay the shipping one way, and you pay to return the defunct unit. Toll-free telephone tech support is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT or you can use the form on DoubleSight's Web site and send your questions via e-mail. E-mailed questions are generally answered within a few hours on weekdays and within 24 hours on weekends.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)