To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.
Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
The Spectrum Glossy was slightly less bright than its Matte counterpart, but this difference should not be attributed to the screen coating. 30 nits is a normal variation between samples of the same monitor. And 410 nits is more than enough juice for any office or game room. That slightly lower number means a little lower black level as well. The contrast is nearly the same at 1075.5:1. Again, that 19-point difference from the Spectrum Matte is normal. The two panels are identical except for the screen coating. All the panels here are very close in their contrast performance. But the Spectrum Glossy will seem a little punchier to the naked eye.
After Calibration to 200 nits
Calibration of the DCI-P3 gamut mode brings the two Dough monitors to almost identical numbers. They are generally about average among IPS panels and slightly ahead of the 4K monitors in the comparison group. My only comment here is that you can’t use the zone dimming feature for SDR material. It’s available in HDR mode only.
The ANSI results are nearly identical to the static ones for both Dough monitors, which speaks to their component quality and precision of assembly. Getting the all-important grid polarizer aligned properly can make or break a monitor’s intra-image contrast and Dough has clearly gotten that right.
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MORE: How We Test PC Monitors