LAS VEGAS--A monitor's picture quality is its most important attribute, and sound quality (if it actually does sport speakers) rarely factors into the overall rating. That however may change once I get my hands on the HP Envy 27-inch IPS monitor with Beats Audio.
With the Envy 27-inch IPS monitor with Beats Audio, HP not only breaks the record for longest monitor name ever (to be honest, I didn't confirm that), but according to HP, it also marks the first time a standalone monitor has used Beats Audio.
The monitor's built-in speakers are angled upward and according to HP, deliver high-quality midrange and high frequencies as well as rich bass. Monitors with built-in sound don't usually deliver the highest quality sound, so I'm curious as to how this monitor's sound will be any different.
As its name implies, the monitor houses a in-plane switching (IPS) panel, which provides horizontal and vertical viewing angles up to 178 degrees.
The monitor also features edge-to-edge glass and, at its thinnest, a 13.95 mm profile. There's also a headphone jack, subwoofer, and a digital audio output.
The HP Envy 27-inch IPS monitor with Beats Audio should be available worldwide on February 3 for $499. For more of CNET's CES 2013 coverage, click here.
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