The incredibly narrow viewing angle of the screen has caused so many issues for logistics using this mixer. I’ve had to source and purchase multiple solutions to get the mixer on enough of an angle to make it visible both in-studio and live. This is an extra piece of equipment to bring, even then most of the time makes it impossible to see anything without crouching down or moving left and right. I’ll also add that my CQ18t is rack mounted so the screen is closer to an ideal angle to start with. LCD screens have come so far in price vs quality and I’m really disappointed that A&H chose to go with a lower cost screen with terrible viewing angles. I hope any future hardware update addresses this. OLED would be a very welcome upgrade.
weird. my cq18t has perfect viewing when its flat on the desk just below my eyes (higher than my elbows) or on the rack flat front on.
you do know it has a brightness control right? for the lcd and the roarites and soft touch buttons… home→system→preferences (screen/leds/backlight)…..
Of the topics discussed about the CQ, the viewing angle of the screen is a rarity. I wonder if yours is mid-adjusted or faulty in some way? Was the screen on the unit you tried out prior to purchase equally bad?
By way of reference, the Yamaha DM3 forums are full of posts about the screen’s lack of brightness…
I’m starting to think I have a defective screen then - it’s a pretty glaring issue and I’d be shocked if nobody else is dealing with it. I’m going to take a video of the issue and hopefully be able to upload it here to see what you guys think.
There are many videos online that show the CQ-18T in action - under bright lighting, but also in the dark.
There don’t seem to be any abnormalities regarding brightness or viewing angle.
Just to be on the safe side: I hope you’ve removed the protective film from the display.
This could really significantly affect the viewing angle.
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Ok… I feel a little crazy here… I cannot replicate the issue with a camera lens. However, both of these photos were taken with the camera right to my eye and demonstrate the angles that the screen is almost completely black. I do not wear eyeglasses or contacts of any kind. I totally didnt expect that a camera would have a better viewing angle than the naked eye. I’m a photographer by trade and I still have no idea. I would also like to confirm upfront that the screen is at max brightness and the issue is independent from glare - this happens on a dark stage as well.
You guys can see your screens from these angles?
I voted but I also wish they would add a way to invert the colors to make it easier to see outdoors. Even the brightest indoor lights don’t compare to natural daylight. In sunlight the display is impossible to see.
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The question is, can you see your display (indoors) from the angles honeytrap photographed as clearly as in his photos, or is it for you also almost black from those perspectives?
Because it would be interesting to know whether only his display is affected by the viewing angle effect, or if it’s a general problem.
And so far, no one has confirmed it as a problem.
Mine does not get black when viewed off-angle, it just gets faded. I live with it and for me it’s not a huge issue but it could be improved. The biggest issue for me is visibility in daylight, even when under a sun shade or portable canopy. Daylight is not its friend. When mixing outside I am forced to use an iPad with the colors on the iPad inverted.
But as I’ve mentioned in other posts, the iPad app has some bugs that affect the functions I use so that’s not an ideal solution. (edit— turns out what I thought was a bug is just a confusing design choice but it does not affect the functionality. Mostly user error on my part)
I think the viewing angle and daylight visibility could be improved in one step by changing the display in future production runs or models. But the color inversion can probably be handled via a firmware update.
I was able to replicate the effect of the screen closer to what I am seeing in real life, with a different camera. You may ask yourself why these angles would matter, but in my case, they very much do so on stage when I may have to sit this box on the ground or I’m to the far left or right of it.
I hate to be “that guy“ but this isnt what this board was developed for. You have better Rack options (the “recently” launched SQ Rack) for this type of setup.
That being said, it would be nice if there was a compatible screen available as a spare part, for this highly unusual scenario use case type deal. @Keith ?!
honeytrap and I have spoken via support ticket and as @vladmoto says, the CQ-18T is not intended to be mounted/used vertically in this way (though it would be fine at eye level).
The optimal viewing angle is something like this:
Outside of this area, the screen will gradually be less visible.
Thanks,
Keith.