Hey community!
Remember your exclusive look of our development samples’ inspection back in September? Since then, many Spectrum advancements occurred – four generations of hard tooling took the overall build quality to a whole new level, slight design tweaks resolved annoyances, and I traveled to our manufacturing partner’s offices to check on the results. We now follow up on this sample review topic.
Improvements
We fixed most of the imperfections found in the previous inspection based on our solutions and your feedback.
The exposed metal subframe didn’t fit with our design
Following your suggestion, we have applied dark paint to the exposed parts of the metal subframe. The contrast between the box and the back frame is now minimal.
The paint on the sides of the housing felt different from the back
The use of hard tooling achieved an even surface across the housing, and subsequently the paint on all angles feels identical to the touch. Soon, all paints will be monitored by professional quality engineers on the assembly lines.
Lack of tactile feedback
A nub has been added, so now you can feel when the monitor is rotated to a perfect landscape or portrait position. Also, when the monitor is attached to the stand, there is now a satisfying “click” to let you know the quick-release is securely in place.
The monitor was shaky on the stand
Four generations of changes to the hard tooling have created a precise fit for all parts. Now even when I rotate, tilt, or make height adjustments, Spectrum does so rigidly.
Bumpy edges and corners allowed light to pass through the monitor frame
Adjustments have been made to the manufacturing process, so now the mid frame’s edges sit flat against the display component. In these samples, no more light escapes around the edges of the panel.
The stand could be mounted to its base backward
The connector where the two parts join has been keyed so that it only fits in one direction. A user can now only connect the stand in the correct direction. Spectrum now offers a foolproof setup process.
The joystick was unusable
Its material and texture has been changed, and the OSD can now be appropriately navigated using the refreshed joystick design. It easily clicks in each of the five directions (up, down, left, right, depress). The surface feels good and grips my fingertip slightly during usage.
There was a concern about the cooling
The ventilation holes have been enlarged to increase cooling performance as recommended by our manufacturing partner following software thermal analysis. Additionally, several tests have been run on the printed circuit board (PCB), and improvements have been made to counter heat generated by Spectrum’s superior power delivery capability.
Cables could not be plugged into the Type-C port on the side
The Type-C cut-out on the housing has been enlarged, so that cables can now be easily plugged into this port.
We will continue to observe the list of improved aspects to check their consistency.
Ongoing exploration
The stand’s joint has a smaller gap, but still larger-than-ideal
The tolerance will be further reduced for future samples.
The stand’s various plastic parts still don’t match in color
We will consult with our engineer about why it is still the case.
LED was on and bluish all the time
We will check it and other OSD functions on upcoming samples loaded with more mature firmware.
Findings to address
Tolerance
Tightening the tolerance to make a part sit flush up against another helps Spectrum achieve a more aesthetically pleasing look.
| Picture reference | Solution |
|---|---|
 |
Minimize where the vertical part pops out. |
 |
Extend the plastic cover on the left. |
 |
Even the top of the plastic and aluminum parts. |
 |
Add ribs to fix assembly position. |
CMF
Attention to color, material, and finish lets us optimize Spectrum’s function, look, and feel.
| Picture reference | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
 |
The stand’s mounting hooks are too sharp, which makes it possible to scratch the paint accidentally when attaching the stand. | Shorten the hooks and smoothen their tip. |
 |
The plastic part and screws’ color do not fit our design. | Use black plastic and screws. |
 |
There are molding marks at the top of the stand’s base. | Evenly spread the residual pressure. |
 |
Ejection marks appear at the bottom of the stand’s base. | Optimize pressure from ejection pins. |
 |
Partition lines can be found in all corners. | Further polish the surface before applying the paint. |
 |
The rear cover’s edges are too sharp. | Observe the next run of samples. |
 |
One paint has an optimal color while the other’s smoothness is perfect. | Adjust the paints’ formula to achieve a good mix of the two. |
Others
Any adjustment counts!
| Description | Solution |
|---|---|
| Rotating the monitor meets too much resistance. | Adjust the force. |
| The vent hole pattern is not centered. | Change parts of the mold based on new dimensions. |
These are a lot of foreseeable improvements! We will soon meet with our manufacturing partner again to discuss the root cause of a few persisting issues and adjust Spectrum accordingly. After the tuning, we will get even better samples. What do you think? Leave us a comment!
Though I’m glad you guys fixed it this sample