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Brightness and Contrast
To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check outDisplay Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors.We cover brightness and contrast testing onpage two.
Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
OLED peak white levels are affected by any variable brightness in use and the size of the measuring window pattern. I use 25% for consistency and set the Spectrum Black 32’s Brightness control to Tempered for the highest possible output which is 350 nits. Standard reaches 320 nits and Uniform stops at 210. Regardless of setting, black levels and contrast are unmeasurable. Tempered has the most dynamic looking image though.
After Calibration to 200 nits
Calibration produced no benefit, so I ran this test by reducing the brightness slider to 33 for 200 nits. In the Uniform mode, you can control output with the contrast slider. The ANSI test also yields unmeasurable results as my meter cannot determine a black level.
Test Takeaway:The Spectrum Black 32 offers SDR contrast performance typical of all OLEDs. It has a bit more control with its three Brightness control options. And you can change the contrast slider in Uniform to lower output without affecting gamma. The Gorilla Glass layer increases the perception of contrast, but it does not affect the test results.
MORE:How to Buy a PC Monitor
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Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom’s Hardware US. He’s a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.
