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49-inch 32:9 monitors are still an unusual product category, but they offer something no other display can. Not only are they the next most immersive gaming experience after VR goggles, but they can also easily mimic two 27-inch QHD panels. If you’ve ever wanted multiple monitors but didn’t want the dividing line, it’s a great way to go.
Monoprice continues to up its game in the monitor biz with offerings that get better with each new introduction. The Dark Matter 49 43305 delivers solid gaming performance, a sharp bright picture, a huge color gamut and a super-useful four-window feature for multiple video sources. And its 1800R curve means you get the wraparound effect without much image distortion.
For workday tasks, the 43305 is best used like two 27-inch QHD screens. You can either manage app windows from a single PC, or connect a second PC or a video player. If I hooked up an Apple TV to this thing, I’d probably get a lot less work done!
However, gaming is the 43305’s best feature. Its huge gamut, 97% of DCI-P3, provided richly saturated reds and greens in my favorite first-person games. Though it didn’t offer any more contrast for HDR content, the VA panel still rocks at around 3,000:1, more than any IPS monitor can boast. The only flaw there is that calibration is required. At a minimum, one should set the gamma to 2.0 to brighten up the picture.
The 43305’s 120 Hz refresh rate is typical of the price category and provides smooth movement with decent control response. If you need a more competitive tool, the Samsung G9 is a better choice with its 240 Hz. But if you want maximum flexibility and maximum immersion with tons of color for $1,000, the Monoprice Dark Matter 49 43305 is a great choice. Definitely check it out.
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.
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Pollopesca The specs look solid for the price. The articles picture of it doesn't seem to do it justice 😕. Seriously though, someone at Tom'sHardware PLZ set the correct resolution and take a shot in decent lighting...Reply -
JTWrenn It just doesn't make sense considering 2 27 inch monitors are $500. Seems like a lot to ask for basically the same thing in one frame. This needs to be at the $750 price point to make sense if you ask me.Reply -
HideOut you can get the far superior Samnsung G9 on sale for that price if you look around (got mine for $800 back near black friday).Reply -
digitalgriffin 15.7 degree diagonal. This is basically two 27" put together.Reply
I can have my 2x Dell 32" 165Hz with excellent color for less money. But having a single screen is nice.