INTRO
As far as I know there are two monitor stand models that are best for a triple monitor setup:
- 3 x Innovative EVO 5645 (year 2005 model). http://www.lcdarms.com/products/LCD_Radial_Arms/5645-08-CM.html and
- 1 x Ergotech Heavy Duty Triple Stand (Model ID: 100-D16-B03). http://www.ergotechgroup.com/products/heavy-duty-17-24-36/triple-lcd-desk-stand-from-ergotech-62/
Each of the models has aspects which are, or appear to be, ideal and aspects which are less than ideal. Merging the ideal aspects from both might yield the ideal monitor stand for a triple monitor setup.
I own 3 x Innovative EVO 5645 Stands. I haven't touched the Ergotech Heavy Duty Triple Stand. So I write "[aspects] appear to be [ideal]" with respect to the Ergotech model and on the basis of reports here at the Widescreen Gaming Forum (WSGF). When I write of a feature that it is "ideal" I think I really mean "doing the job that I/we want it to".
THE INNOVATIVE EVO 5645
The Innovative EVO 5645 (x 3) is ideal in these aspects:
- It utterly frees desk space underneath the monitors.
ArmsForTriple-Evo5645ExtendedHeight-018-Overview.jpg. No pole takes up desk space:
ArmsForTriple-Evo5645ExtendedHeight-030-PortTop.jpg. Looking behind the monitors:
ArmsForTriple-Evo5645ExtendedHeight-080-FeetUp.jpg. That I can put my feet up has become an necessary requirement in a monitor stand:
- The full range of angles between the side and centre monitors, that you could possibly want, is available. From the completely flat 180° (0° back angle) to the boxed in 90°.
- All the axes: height, side to side, pitch, yaw, and bank (rotation) are very easy to adjust. See the video at http://www.lcdarms.com/products/LCD_Radial_Arms/5545.html which demos the 5545. The 5645 is just a 5545 with an extension/height piece at the rear.
- The quick release mechanism is flawless. This is demo'd in the previous video.
- Copes with a deep desk (I have my centre monitor set at 650mm from the back, at 495mm high - to the centre of the monitor).
These aspects would make the Innovative EVO 5645 (and other variants such as the 5545) an ideal monitor stand for a single monitor. However I've deployed these in a scenario for which they where not designed: a triple monitor setup. In a triple monitor context I find myself wanting some further features (as do most of you evidently):
- The ability to precisely adjust that last 5° or 1cm of an axis; and
- To lock in a position relative to the other monitors.
The Innovative EVO 5645 is not bad, as such, in these aspects. I can adjust the three monitors to my desired height and angle, line them all up so the bezels are (reasonably) flush against each other, and leave them in place. While not bad it is less that ideal.
Firstly, this setup requires a little bit of patience as there is a bit of play in the bank and pitch axes. You move the monitor about 10° before slack in the system propagates to effect a change in the axis but once you change the axis you can effect 1 - 3° changes. Ultimately the limit of one's patience means that in practice there will be some lack of alignment at the bezel edges (a 2 mm gap or 2mm discrepancy at top compared to the bottom, with respect to some dimension). This is bearable but it plays on one's mind (at least my mind or perhaps the kinds of mind that would post to WSGF, having an eye for detail).
Secondly, once setup up the monitors do stay in place. However, over time they get slightly (further) out of alignment due to a variety of factors (e.g. bumping the desk or monitors themselves; or perhaps small differences in workings of the gas cylinder). Being able to lock them into place, rather than merely position them in place, would prevent this (at the small cost of ease of adjustability).
Incidentally, after three years my Innovative Evo 5645 have lost some of their lifting capacity, in all three arms. I suspect a slow gas leak. My local (Sydney, Australia) distributor, Uplifting Solutions, has offered to replace these under warranty (after confirming that I'm not doing something wrong). Uplifting Solutions have reported a very low failure rate with these EVOs so the hypothesis is that I received a bad batch.
I must say that Uplifting Solutions have given me superb pre and post sales service even though I'm a small fish individual and not a company. They where happy to spend time setting up a few arms at their warehouse before purchase. Some months after purchase I broke a cable management clip one morning. In the afternoon I had replacement clips that they sent out (I do live in the same sector of Sydney). If you are Australian and thinking of getting an Innovative stand (or other office gear) I'd highly recommend Uplifting Solutions.
THE ERGOTECH HEAVY DUTY TRIPLE STAND
The Ergotech Heavy Duty Triple Stand appears to address, to a large extent, these inadequacies of the Innovative EVO 5645. Principally through a hinged horizontal cross bar with adjustable pivots.
From skipclarke's Ergotech Triple Desk Stand Review and Ergotech Triple Monitor Stand Review - Discussion Thread the following aspects seem meet the above inadequacies:
[For 24" monitors] Using the included fixed wings, I could achieve a 30 degree angle [150 degree front angle] between the middle and side monitors. By swapping out for the telescoping wings, I was able to achieve 45 degrees [135 degree front angle] and still had room to increase the angle further.
See this adjustment in action from 2:10 - 3:17 in the Video Ergotech Triple Monitor Desk Stand - WSGF Review by Skipclarke.The angling of the monitor arm combined with the yaw adjustment on the pivot allows for the monitors to achieve a large variety of angles (between the monitors) and keep the bezels flush. Another way to put it, the side monitors are not parallel to the monitor arm.
Skipclarke post 6 in Ergotech Triple Monitor Stand Review - Discussion Thread
However, the Ergotech Heavy Duty Triple Stand has aspects upon which the (3 x) Innovative EVO 5645 is clearly superior:
- The Ergotech has a centre pole that must stand in the middle of your desk. The Innovative has none (these stands attach to the back of the desk).
- The centre monitor to side monitor angle is unrestricted in the Innovative. Perhaps the Ergotech allows all the range one could want. However, from the documentation that exits it is not clear. Taking my own requirements as an example I'm not clear if my preferred angle, 141° (39° back angle), can be achieved with my three 22" monitors (22" diagonal. 20.07"/510mm width). Even if the documentation where clear there is the complication of having to choose standard side arms V telescoping side arms. Not too big a deal but it is a complication that doesn't exist in the Innovative.
WHERE BOTH ARE INADEQUATE
The Ergotech appears to have a last stage precision adjustment of the outside monitor heights, relative to the centre monitor, with the thumb screw. However, there is no last stage precision adjustment (so far as I can tell for the Ergotech) in neither the Innovative nor Ergotech for the axes: yaw, bank (rotate), and pitch. Again, perhaps the height axis is of principle concern. However, a last stage precision adjustment for all axes might produce the golden model.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE IDEAL
An stand for the ideal triple monitor setup up would:
- Utterly free up desk space (not even a centre pole);
- Have a sufficient range of angles between the centre and outer monitors, while allowing the bezels to be flush against each other. A sufficient range: From 180°(0°) to 135°(45°)
- Allow for easy adjustment of all axes: Height, Side to Side (side monitors relative to centre), Bank (rotation), Pitch (tilt), Yaw.
- Allow for last stage precision adjustment of these axes. E.g. A precision adjustment of 1cm or 10° (depending on the axes).
- Allow all these axes to be locked.
- Allow the monitors to be locked relative to each other.
- Supports a range of monitor sizes and weights. I'm after from 22" (diagonal) to 24" (diagonal). I understand others would be interested in supporting up to a 27" (diagonal) ??
- Copes with a deep desk (I have my centre monitor set at 650mm from the back, at 495mm high, to the centre of the monitor).
- To be able to make adjustments from the front of the desk (at home most of our desks are against a wall).
TOWARD THE IDEAL
If they where so inclined either of the monitor stand manufacturers, Innovative and Ergotech, could produce a stand that meets the ideal, or comes closer toward it, at three levels of effort:
- By producing components to allow Innovative EVO 5645 parts to marry the Ergotech Heavy Duty Triple Stand parts. Namely, by allowing the three EVO 5645 arms to attach to the Ergotech cross beam.
Ergotech or Innovative, could you create a bracket that allows, with three of them, the three EVO 5645 arms to attach to the Ergotech cross beam? The interfacing bracket could either:
- Attach directly to the quick release plate of the EVO 5645;
ArmsForTriple-Evo5645ExtendedHeight-050-QuickReleasePlateAtArm.jpg
[list] ... or ...
[*]By producing the sort of design (without infringing patents) of the relevant missing parts to effect a conceptual marriage of the Innovative EVO 5645 and the Ergotech Heavy Duty Triple Stand.
So, Ergotech could produce three independent arms that attach to the back of the desk (to remove the centre pole in the middle of the desk) and thence to the horizontal cross beam. Innovative could produce an analogous cross beam that accommodates their EVO arms.
[*]A design requiring longer term effort that addresses the ideal requirements.
For example perhaps Innovative could build in the right combination of last stage precision adjustment and lockability that allows the three arms to remain independent.
Perhaps using adjustable chocks for lockability might do the trick. For example the rear EVO 5646 section could have a circular flange upon which an angle adjustable wedge shaped chock could be inserted to set the angle of the middle section of each arm.
Edit: Perhaps adjustable bracing cables for lockability would help.
Perhaps hinges between the monitor bezels would help could obviate the need for a cross bar. Although that is probably something for monitor manufacturers and even if they did that there is the danger of damaging monitors from incorrect support from the monitor arms.
Perhaps a horizontal cross bar is necessary regardless of the other design improvements.
In a horizontal crossbar design should there be one or three supporting arms to the crossbar? There is something mechanically appealing about having a horizontal cross beam supported by three independent arms (all attached to the desk). In that case the forces are distributed, placing less load where the arms attach to the desk, and no need to compensate for sag on the wings of the cross beam. But perhaps I write that because I'm *not* an engineer and don't know to trust the strength of materials.
[/list]
THE END
Have I missed a design, from any manufacturer, that meets these ideal requirements?
In all likelihood I'm simply going to get my EVOs fixed up, play with a few chock hacks, and I should be right for a few more years. So I'm writing principally to see if I can stimulate some design ideas in the manufacturers. However, I'd be open to any immediate propositions from any manufacturer.
Further thoughts from WSGF members?