My monitor is set to 5500^o white and I calibrate it from time to time with Monaco software and hardware.  My photographs look pretty good (not, I'm pleased to say, as good as the originals) on it. 

You should be able to see all the steps in the wedge below, 95% should be just discernable from black, and 5% should be just discernable from white.  If not, try adjusting the brightness and contrast of your monitor.