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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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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

There is no better display tech for HDR than OLED thanks to its infinite black levels. But those seeking high brightness can get more from a Mini LED panel with some topping 2,000 nits peak. OLED is making strides though as my tests of the Spectrum Black 32 prove.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

Image 1 of 3
Dough Spectrum Black 32
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The Spectrum Black 32 is one of the brightest OLEDs I’ve yet tested. Only a couple of examples come close including the Asus PG32UCDP. The highest peak I’ve recorded is Corsair’s 45-inch Xeneon Flex which has the record at 1,036 nits.

With most screens topping out at 450ish nits, Dough has a standout display, and it shows in HDR content. Blacks are unmeasurable of course so contrast is infinite in all cases. But with true 1,000-nit highlights, the Spectrum Black 32 presents a superb HDR image. I ran this test using the Maximum brightness mode rather than Accurate which peaked at 434 nits, more on that below.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

Image 1 of 4
Dough Spectrum Black 32
(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)

The Spectrum Black 32 has two HDR modes called Accurate and Maximum, and they do exactly what they say. Accurate mode is represented by the first chart above and you can see that it has nearly perfect luminance tracking. This means all detail present in the original content will be clearly rendered.

For more pop, the Maximum mode delivers but skews the EOTF somewhat. Shadow areas are a bit darker though detail is still visible. And midtones up to the tone-map transition are slightly blown out. How this manifests will depend on what peak value the content is mastered to. Most HDR10 games and video use 1,000 nits but some titles can be higher. I suggest using Accurate and Maximum on a case-by-case basis.

In the color tests, you’ll see the same result in either mode, which is as it should be. Inner points are over-saturated like most of the HDR monitors I test. This gives color a nice injection of vibrance without crushing fine detail. The Spectrum Black 32 fills the DCI-P3 gamut fully. In the BT.2020 test, it runs out of color at 85% red, 75% green and 95% blue. This is typical of non-QD OLED displays.

Test Takeaway: The Spectrum Black 32 delivers excellent HDR quality thanks to its accurate luminance tracking and the option to take the peak highlights up to 1,000 nits. Color is vivid and saturated while being filled with fine detail. You won’t find better HDR than a bright OLED like this.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

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.

19 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