Dough Spectrum Black 32 Ultra HD OLED Gaming Monitor Review: Tremendous Performance And Tweakability

An Ultra HD OLED gaming monitor with 240 Hz, 480 Hz in FHD resolution, Adaptive-Sync, HDR10, and wide gamut color.

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Dough Spectrum Black 32
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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Dough Spectrum Black 32
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

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

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Dough Spectrum Black 32
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

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.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

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.

11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • DoughIsAScam
    Dough is a SCAM company, they stole $700 from me and never had any intention of actually shipping me a monitor in return. DON'T FALL FOR IT, they have screwed me and countless others, don't give these losers a cent. The only reason I trusted them to begin with was because Tom's Hardware gave them a positive review. You need to take this article down and quit giving these SCAMMERS publicity.

    The fact that they've already had to change their name to dodge the bad publicity they got from their previous scams should be evidence enough that they are NOT trustworthy.

    DON'T BE DUMB, DON'T BUY DOUGH.
    Reply
  • UnforcedERROR
    It bothers me that Toms published another article about a Dough monitor despite the fact that the "company" is clearly predatory.

    Read the comments from the previous Dough review:
    https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/dough-spectrum-black-27-inch-oled-gaming-monitor-review-pro-level-accuracy-and-premium-performance.3845054/
    When your own staff member is calling out the company it should tell you that they don't deserve coverage.
    Reply
  • Clowny
    Tom's risks their integrity even mentioning this scam company, but publishing a product review? Shameless. This is a SCAM company that will take your money and never send you a product and never refund your money once you tire of waiting.
    Reply
  • rikemomoLA
    Like others, I am still owed money ($800) from this company from years ago (I asked for a refund and despite countless emails assuring me they were working on it) and would strongly recommend not trusting this company with your own hard-earned funds. I am kind of disappointed that Tom's is reviewing this product, given the many years this has been going on.
    Reply
  • COLGeek
    I would recommend all of you experiencing issues with this company that you dispute the charges with your credit card company to cancel these transactions. Good luck.
    Reply
  • LabRat 891
    Still, only DP 1.4 input.
    Non-starter vs. LG's own 32" OLED (1st party) offerings. -and, that's before considering this company's sordid past
    Reply
  • hannibal
    LabRat 891 said:
    Still, only DP 1.4 input.
    Non-starter vs. LG's own 32" OLED (1st party) offerings. -and, that's before considering this company's sordid past

    Did you read they also have same monitor with dp2.1 port…
    Reply
  • LabRat 891
    hannibal said:
    Did you read they also have same monitor with dp2.1 port…
    Nope.
    I opened the article, scrolled to specs, saw DP 1.4 and Dual-Mode 240hz/480hz, and realized I've seen this display before under another brand. -the LG, sitting in front of me.
    Which, I bought after a very disappointing experience with another fresh-to-market 3rd party 32" 240/480hz OLED.

    In-context,
    Dough has a worse reputation than ASRock, and I wouldn't buy another ASRock display, myself.
    Reply
  • Sluggotg
    COLGeek said:
    I would recommend all of you experiencing issues with this company that you dispute the charges with your credit card company to cancel these transactions. Good luck.
    It sounds good in theory but companies like Dough just string you along till you can no longer get money back from the Credit Card company. (Is it like 4-6 weeks before your SOL?). I have had that happen to me a few times. I try to be the nice guy and keep believing their lies and in the end they keep my money and there is very little I can do, I do agree with COLGeek but make sure you file the complaint with your CC company within the time limit.
    (Also look up customer complaints about Dough. Some sights have 95% one star reviews because they have ripped off so many people).
    Reply
  • thestryker
    I don't necessarily mind reviews of something like this, but to do so without any warnings about the company in question is an extreme disservice at best. Between the outright theft when they were called Eve and doing crowdfunding to shoddy QC and awful service this just isn't a brand to recommend (or at the very least attach giant caveats to any recommendation).
    Reply