Youtuber makes his own dual-layer monitor with two LCDs for better contrast

YouTube channel DIY Perks has created its own dual-layer monitor by combining two LCD panels. This means the screen offers better black levels than a standard LCD. Several manufacturers already offer such monitors, but they cost tens of thousands of euros.

DIY Perks shows in a video how he made his two-layer monitor. He did this by placing an LCD panel from a monitor on top of his existing monitor. The YouTuber encountered several problems. For example, both LCD panels contain a polarizing layer, which means that the additional LCD panel does not transmit light and therefore does not display an image. The YouTuber managed to solve this by placing tracing paper between the two LCDs. This functions as a kind of depolarization filter by diffusing the light from the first LCD.

In addition, the additional LCD panel meant that the screen was less bright than before, as some of the light is blocked. To increase the lost brightness, the YouTuber also created a new LED backlight with more tracing paper as a diffusion layer. The whole thing was housed in a new housing with four 120mm fans and two smaller Noctua fans to cool the LCDs and the new LED backlight.

The end result cost about $180 to $230, according to DIY Perks, on top of the cost of the monitor he already had. The YouTuber states that the contrast and black levels of the screen are significantly improved compared to a single LCD. DIY Perks says that the contrast comes close to the pixel-level dimming of OLED screens, for example. The color reproduction would also be a lot more vibrant, since both LCDs contain a color filter. The YouTuber does note some slight blurring of the image, which can be seen, among other things, when text is displayed. This is caused by the distance between the two LCDs.

Multi-layer monitors are not a new concept. Several manufacturers, such as Eizo and Sony, use the same technology for professional reference monitors. However, these screens cost tens of thousands of euros and are mainly intended for use by professionals who, for example, do color correction for film or television. Hisense also introduced a television in 2019 with an additional black-and-white LCD for better contrast.