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The Dough Spectrum Glossy does away with picture modes in favor of three user-configurable memories. You can choose DCI-P3 or sRGB color and in the former mode, calibrate grayscale and choose a gamma preset.
Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
Dough includes a calibration data sheet with the Spectrum Glossy, but I found my sample a bit off the mark by default. It requires calibration for the best possible picture. A gray step pattern shows a visible blue tint from 40 to 100% brightness. It isn’t a huge error but the Matte sample I tested last year fared better. Gamma tracks a little light, but this issue is hard to spot in actual content.
With calibration, the result becomes reference level. Grayscale is visually perfect and gamma is nearly the same. The 90% step has become a tad brighter, but this doesn’t negatively impact the image.
In sRGB mode, the color temp presets and RGB sliders are grayed out, so you have to accept the bluish-white point shown above. Gamma tracks a bit under the line with an elevated step at 10%. If calibration options were kept active in sRGB mode, this monitor would be about as close to perfect as a display can get.
Comparisons
My Spectrum Glossy sample disappointed a bit in the grayscale test with a 4.40dE average, meaning the error is visible to the naked eye. The Matte sample I tested had no visible issues. This problem is easily solved with calibration or by using the settings I listed previously.
With adjustments to the very precise RGB sliders, the error drops to a very low 0.76dE. Only the Corsair and the Spectrum Matte are better. In the realm of the visible, all these monitors look identical once calibrated.
In the gamma test, the Spectrum Glossy has a tighter range of values but a slightly lower average. Its 4.09% deviation translates to an actual value of 2.11, which is a respectable performance. In a visual comparison, given the right room environment (i.e., no reflections), the Glossy will have a little more punch and saturation thanks to its optically superior screen coating.
Color Gamut Accuracy
Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
The Spectrum Glossy fares better in the color gamut test. You can see that it nearly fills the DCI-P3 space with slight under-saturation in green and red. The grayscale errors produce a hue issue for magenta and cyan where they are pulled off-target.
Calibration improves color visually and puts all points on their targets. Every measurement is inside or in contact with its box, which represents 1dE. It doesn’t get much better than this.
The sRGB gamut is fairly close to the mark but has the same errors as the default version of DCI-P3. If the grayscale could be calibrated, it would be more accurate. But if you need sRGB for a particular application, it is usable.
Comparisons
With calibration, the Spectrum Glossy scores higher than average in the color gamut test. Even without adjustment, it performs well with a 2.86dE result. 1.36dE is visibly better though so it’s worth making the tweaks to get the most out of it. Since the Spectrum Matte scores even better at 0.90dE, it’s safe to say that a different example of the Glossy monitor might deliver the same result. Either way, this is a very accurate display.
Though there are a few wide gamut monitors with larger color volumes, the Spectrum Glossy is above average at 93.66% coverage of DCI-P3. Only green comes up a tad short which is typical performance for the category. The sRGB gamut is close to full coverage as well. For color critical work, the DCI-P3 mode is fine on its own, but sRGB should be enhanced with a software lookup table.
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