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Pixio PXC325 32-inch Curved 165 Hz Gaming Monitor Review: Big Screen, Small Price

The Pixio PXC325 delivers a large, curved screen and 165 Hz at an attractive price point.

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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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Pixio PXC325
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The PXC325 requires changing its default settings to achieve maximum brightness. You must select the Movie picture mode or the User color temp. If all settings are left at their factory values, the max brightness is closer to 270 nits. As tested, 352 nits is plenty of output for any environment, including sunlit windows like my office.

The PXC325 wins the black level contest convincingly. This monitor delivers deep blacks in all content making the picture pop with a wide dynamic range. The resulting 4,510.9:1 contrast ratio is one of the highest I’ve measured from a desktop monitor.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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Pixio PXC325
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

After calibration, the PXC325 is about even with the AOC for black levels and contrast. Visually, there is no difference and the picture looks fantastic. Contrast this high goes a long way towards mitigating the effects of the FHD resolution.

The ANSI score is only a tad lower than the static one. That bodes well for Pixio’s quality control which is very good for a monitor this inexpensive. Thanks to its superb intra-image contrast, I never saw an image I didn’t like here.

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.