Acer XR382CQK Curved FreeSync Monitor Review

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Color Gamut & Luminance

For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, please click here.

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Like the grayscale results, none of the modes we tested for color are too far off the mark. One might look at the saturation charts and conclude that the Standard, sRGB, and Action modes are near perfect. The issues lie in the luminance measurements, which are a bit too high. That gives the impression of more vivid color, but it isn’t as balanced as if the levels were closer to the zero line. By adjusting gamma and contrast, we’ve over-saturated the red primary a bit, but luminance values are much closer to the neutral balance point. The average error starts at 2.23dE which is quite good. Our adjustments take it down to 1.27dE which is a small but visible gain in quality.

Comparisons

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Given the XR328CQK’s second-place finish, we think calibration is worth doing. The gains are minor, but when you’re spending this kind of money for a monitor, you should squeeze out every possible performance gain, no matter how small. Plenty of professional displays can’t achieve a 1.27dE average, so Acer is in good company. Again, the LG 38UC99 takes the accuracy crown in our color test.

Thanks to a little bonus red, the XR breaks the 100% sRGB barrier. The other primaries are right on target, so graphics apps will benefit from a custom profile. Gamers will see slightly more vivid reds, but if you turn down the contrast slider a bit, no detail will be clipped. With a profile in place, the monitor can render sRGB perfectly.


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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.

27 Comments Comment from the forums
  • toddybody
    Hasnt this monitor been available for a while? I feel like Tom's is often behind the release curve of most displays.
    Reply
  • Lucky_SLS
    isnt the G sync version cheaper than this? the X34A got a 100hz refresh rate. strange to see a similarly spec'ed free sync monitor costing more than a G sync one. would have been convincing if it had HDR
    Reply
  • shrapnel_indie
    Would have liked to see the Response Time (GTG) a little lower, say 3 or 4, for the price range.... but 5ms just makes the cut for gaming. The cost is truly a bit pricey, but at least it is an IPS panel for the cost.
    Reply
  • Ryguy64
    Why do Freesync monitors always have such a narrow range when it comes to variable refresh? I would love to get a Freesync monitor buy my RX 480 probably couldn't keep up with 48 fps in plenty of games at this resolution.
    Reply
  • shrapnel_indie
    19757349 said:
    isnt the G sync version cheaper than this? the X34A got a 100hz refresh rate. strange to see a similarly spec'ed free sync monitor costing more than a G sync one. would have been convincing if it had HDR

    If I were to just use PCPartPicker.com as a guide, This XR382CQK model is the only model Acer has at this resolution. The LG 38UC99-W, being the only other one at the same/similar specs, is just shy of $400 USD more expensive.

    Also note that the XT382CQK is 38" class (37.5") and the XR342CK, Predator X34, and Predator XR341CK are 34" class (34".) The X34 itself being the 100Hz, 4ms IPS panel (The XR341CK is the only one that is 75Hz 4ms, the XR342CQK is 75Hz 5ms.) These 34" class monitors are also 3440 x 1440 instead of 3840 x 1600.
    Reply
  • JakeWearingKhakis
    Check out this monitor that I have.

    Viotek GN27C - $249.00
    27" Curved 1800
    1080p
    144hz Freesync (minimum is around 30hz I think)
    3 or 4 ms response time with a boost option in the settings
    VA Panel 16:9, 20,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast

    All at $249.00. No it's not the latest Acer Predator, but it's a serious gamer's dream.
    Reply
  • shrapnel_indie
    19758109 said:
    Check out this monitor that I have.

    Viotek GN27C - $249.00
    27" Curved 1800
    1080p
    144hz Freesync (minimum is around 30hz I think)
    3 or 4 ms response time with a boost option in the settings
    VA Panel 16:9, 20,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast

    All at $249.00. No it's not the latest Acer Predator, but it's a serious gamer's dream.

    Source?
    Reply
  • WyomingKnott
    Why no portrait mode?

    (just kidding)
    Reply
  • bjornl
    Pity there is no G-Sync version. Free-sync = entirely uninteresting to me.
    Reply
  • photonboy
    It's almost exactly the width of my entire DESK.
    Reply