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We measured all the PA32UCX’s gamut modes and calibrated the Rec.709 preset to test its adjustment capability. Every mode except sRGB can be changed with gamma presets, RGB gain and bias and six-color saturation and hue controls. You can also set the backlight level and adjust contrast. We performed the following tests with zone dimming turned off.
Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
The Rec.709 mode (first chart) is the PA32UCX’s least accurate but is still well within parameters and doesn’t require calibration. It runs a bit warm with a red tint just visible from 80-100% brightness. Gamma is visually perfect, despite a slight dip at 10% picked up by our meter. DCI-P3 mode (second chart) also runs slightly warm and is locked to a gamma setting of 2.6. Additional gamma presets aren’t available in this mode, but you can adjust the color temp in the OSD.
Adobe RGB (third chart) offers slightly better grayscale tracking with no visible errors and near-perfect 2.2 gamma tracking. Rec.2020 (fourth chart) is the best of all with no grayscale issues and just a slight gamma dip at 90% brightness.
You can see the results of our calibration in the final Rec.709 chart. All grayscale errors are less than 1dE. Gamma was visually perfect; although, our meter showed tiny dips at 10% and 90% brightness. This level of performance can be achieved with any of the PA32UCX’s preset color modes either in the OSD or Asus' ProArt software. And you can create and save any combination of settings to one of the two User modes.
Comparisons
The charts above represent the PA32UCX’s Rec.709 mode. Uncalibrated, it ran mid-pack in a fairly tight race. After a small OSD adjustment, it was just shy of matching the first-place HP in the grayscale error test. We have no complaints about grayscale performance. The PA32UCX is well-qualified as a premium professional tool.
Gamma tests produced similar results from all our comparison monitors. None showed visible issues. The sample group shows tight tracking with a small range of values and final averages close to the 2.2 standard. The PA32UCX tracked equally well at all its gamma presets. Plus, the labels correspond to the measured values: if you set it to 2.6, it measures 2.6.
Color Gamut Accuracy
For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
All the PA32UCX’s color modes are pretty much spot-on. As the gamut gets wider, the average error level drops. Regardless of mode, all errors were too small to see with the naked eye.
In Rec.2020 mode (first chart), all three primaries are just short of the mark at 100% saturation, but all the inner points are right on target. The PA32UCX doesn’t quite fill 100% of this enormous gamut but comes closer than any other monitor we’ve tested. Calibration of the Rec.709 mode (final chart) produced an even lower dE score -- one of the best we’ve recorded, in fact.
Comparisons
After we calibrated the Rec.709 mode (see our recommended settings) the PA32UCX posted one of the lowest average color errors of any monitor we’ve tested. Only the PG27UQ bested it here. And that’s splitting hairs. Any score below 1dE is a win.
The second chart above shows that the PA32UCX’s gamut volumes for both sRGB and DCI-P3 are comfortably over 90%. You can boost DCI volume with the Asus ProArt software. Our measurement revealed a slightly under-saturated red primary by default. The Adobe RGB gamut volume was 96.6%, and we calculated 82.96% for Rec.2020.
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