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Review of the Asus ProArt Series PA32UCX monitor / UHD Mini LED
I really liked the Asus PA32UC which I had given a very good rating. What changes have been made by Asus in this version X? Mainly one thing: backlighting by mini LEDs. In addition, there is something to please photo retouchers or video editors: 32-inch matte panel UHD / 4K, IPS, displaying the Adobe RGB gamut, Rec 2020 support, DCI P3, sRGB, Rec 709, state-of-the-art connectors.... To this, Asus also adds two delicate attentions: this screen comes with the excellent i1Display Pro colorimeter in PA32UCX-K and a custom hood. But what is it worth in production (photo and video) and especially what do mini leds bring to its display?
This new Asus display, released in the second half of 2019, has all the finesse of a reference display: ProArt series (synonymous with Delta E under the bar of 2, therefore favourable for retouching or viewing precise colours), 32 inches displaying the UHD definition, i.e. 3840 x 2160 (137 ppi) in the 16:9 ratio. Its panel is matt, with IPS technology (mini white LEDs), 10-bit LUT table and displaying the Adobe RGB / Rec 2020 gamut support and of course below. Very high-end in 2019. The finish and ergonomics are in line with this. Finally, it should be noted that this monitor has the famous future-proof connector: the USB-C (Thunderbolt 3.0) with 60W charging capability and, not to spoil anything, is sold with the excellent i1Display Pro colorimeter from X-Rite and a hood. I look forward to checking it out!
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Introduction to the Asus ProArt PA32UCX monitor
Here are some illustrations of this very beautiful UHD display, impressive in size and thickness: |
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| Prix moyen : $3,950.00 |
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Panel size |
32 inches 16 : 9 - 3840 x 2160 - 137 ppi |
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Panel technology |
IPS Mini LED White (matte panel) |
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Uniformity check |
Yes on 1152 zones |
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Gamut |
100% Adobe RGB (Measured), REC 2020 support, 97% DCI P3, 100% sRGB.... |
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HDR10 compatibility |
Yes |
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Brightness/contrast |
630 Cd/m2 / Infinite or 750 : 1 (measured) * |
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LUT table |
10 bits |
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Response time |
5 ms |
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Screen dimension |
730 x 470 - 600 x 240 mm (stand) - 14,4 Kg |
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Border widths |
9 mm only! |
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Color calibration soft |
Calibrage usine (Delta e <1) |
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Inputs |
DP 1.2 + HDMI 2 + USB-C (TB 3.0) + USB 3.0 |
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VESA compatibility |
Yes - 100 mm |
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Hood |
Yes |
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Warranty |
3 years |
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Company |
asus.com |
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* depending on whether the "Dynamic display" option is checked or not. |
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You'll find in the box...
The monitor is sold with:
- The power cord... of course!
- A Display Port > Display Port cable
- An HDMI cable > HDMI
- A USB 3.0 > USB-C cable
- A Thunderbolt 3.0 cable > TB 3.0 (60W recharge)
- One USB-C to USB-C cable
- The factory calibration report
- The CD supports
- A hood
- + The i1Display Pro X-Rite colorimeter with PA32UCX-K
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This Asus PA32UC-K does not have a built-in colorimeter but is sold with the excellent i1 Display Pro. The Asus PA32UC is sold without colorimeter.
Read my test : i1 Display Pro 
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The monitor and its panel
1 - Definition/resolution - This matt IPS panel displays the 16:9 elongated aspect ratio in UHD 3840 x 2160 definition! Its resolution is therefore 137 ppi. Images will be soft and sharp at the same time thanks to the "Sharpness" mode of the monitor which allows you to accentuate micro-contrast. Eventually try a level (10) but not more in my opinion because it exaggerates the micro-contrast of the texts. |
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To operate this UHD display in good conditions, i.e. at 60 Hz, you will need a recent graphics card, less because of the power required but because of the connections that must be state-of-the-art (for example HDMI in version 2.0 or even better in my opinion in Display 1.2 or USB-C).
 My advice: which graphics card and cable to choose for 4K or UHD displays?
2 - The gamut - All gamuts that run in 2019 are displayed at 100% on this Asus PA32UCX: 100% of Adobe RGB, 100% of Rec 2020, 100% of sRGB or REC 709.
 Note! This measurement was made with the SpyderX Elite sensor, (released in February 2019) which was also excellent for calibrating this monitor.
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What is the Asus PA32UCX-K monitor worth after calibration with the i1Display Pro, SpyderX Elite and proprietary Asus Pro Calibration software?
To begin with, I calibrated this monitor - like all the monitors I test - with the i1Display Pro + i1Profiler software (version 1.8.2) the same one that is sold with and the SpyderX Elite (v5.3) in order to be able to position it against its competitors knowing that from the views of its technical sheet, we can expect the best. Then I calibrated it with the Asus calibration software.
 Important note! I connected this display in Display Port with a very good quality cable on my Mac Pro and in USC-C on my Dell XPS 13'' laptop. This is essential on a UHD monitor because, at 60 Hz, there is a lot of information to pass every second.
Second important remark! The i1Display Pro X-Rite colorimeter is sold with this display.
As display settings, I chose:
- Color mode: Adobe RGB (This requires a gamma of 2.2 and a white point of 6500K),
- Brightness: 90 Cd/m2 or 120 Cd/m2 (screen value between 8 /100 and 14 / 100 depending on whether digital signage was enabled or not),
- Contrast: 80% (not 100%)
- Color temperature: 6500K (default in Adobe RGB),
- Black: 50 (Enough!)
- Dynamic display: two measurements in on and off mode.
And as target values in the i1Profiler 1.8.2 software in advanced mode...
- Display technology: Choose white diodes,
- D65 or possibly a little less if you want a slightly warmer screen. (Note that at D55, the display) is really warm but not yellow like on the low end displays,
- Luminance: 90 Cd/m2 or more (120 cd/m2) depending on your main use (printing or web) and especially the brightness of your room,
- Contrast: Native,
- Gamma: 2.2,
- ADC function disabled,
- ICC standard: V2 (to avoid incompatibility problems with some image viewing software (images too dark) and obviously V4 if you know what you are doing.
Make sure to reset the factory settings AND select the generic profile before calibrating! Once the color reset is complete, choose the generic screen profile from the MacOS or Windows 10 system preferences.
And the result is?
As the brand states in its communication, the results are really excellent or close to excellence and we are dealing with a high-end display, with, as you will see, two different personalities depending on the settings chosen.
Methodological note! To calibrate this display, I used a Mac and a PC, a Display Port or USB-C connector and the dynamic display mode on or off. The settings depend on it a lot so it is essential to take into account according to your use: photographer or video maker.
Objective data: what does the final report say after calibration?
1 - Contrast and Color Temperature: Before switching to Delta E, it is interesting to note the color temperature values achieved and the contrast obtained according to these different setting options.
Important note! The contrast read depends very much on whether the "Dynamic display" option in the monitor menu is enabled.
My opinion! The "Dynamic display" option does have a very important influence on the contrast you will observe.
a - Dynamic display enabled (Default) - Achieving a color temperature (TC) of 6514K for 6500K requested is obviously excellent and worthy of the Asus ProArt series or the best Eizo displays. Contrast - N/A simply means... infinite because black is measured at 0 Cd/m2. So this is my record measure! No doubt about it: the blacks will be absolutely black as well as the strips of films and other series. It's really a slap on the Internet or to watch movies, especially since the anti-reflective coating is really beautiful. If you get the crazy idea of activating one of the HDR modes to watch a movie, I assure you it's a slap in the face! Beautiful. This screen is therefore capable of being incredible for video editing. Congratulations!
b - Dynamic display disabled - Here you will find "standard" values - Contrast measured at 720:1 - that will be more suitable for photographers who print their photos. I remind you that the contrast of a photo on paper is not very high so it is advisable not to display a too strong contrast on its display if you do softproofing.
In short, a single screen and two facets for video or photo oriented use!
2 - Delta e: Now, let's move on to the famous Delta E after calibration according to the 2000 standard which I use for the calibration of all the monitors on this site:
Importat note! The Delta e was very little influenced by whether or not the "Dynamic Display" option in the display menu was enabled.
My opinion! The average Delta E standard 2000 is 0.36 which is obviously excellent! But where this display shows its professional qualities is on the Delta e Max. on all patches: only 0.80. No doubt, this is a top-of-the-range display!
Note! This display belongs to the Asus ProArt series so it is calibrated and certified Delta e < 1 at the factory, which my calibration confirms with the excellent i1Display Pro sensor sold with the display.
Now the luminance uniformity tests:
Despite the option in the OSD menu of the "Uniformity Compensation" display on this display, I made the same measurements, very good ones, in fact, in uniformity. Only Eizo does even better on its ColorEdge series.
My advice about uniformity! The "Uniformity Compensation" option in the OSD menu of the display can only be activated when the "Dynamic Display" option is stopped. But frankly, in reality it doesn't change much. So if you are videographers and you want to activate this last option for the increased contrast it will offer you, don't hesitate!
... and color temperature:
Again, this is really very good.
About calibration with Asus Pro Calibration software....
I am rarely enthusiastic about proprietary software (Asus or BenQ) - most often an evolution of the X-Rite iProfiler software - and this Asus Pro Calibration is no exception. The calibration process is significantly longer - especially in 25-zone mode - and the results are less good. I would advise against it.
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And my subective data: what does my eye see?
A very beautiful display with many facets and which will therefore be suitable for different uses. Let me explain. A video editor and a retouching photographer do not have the same needs. An editor needs contrast, real black stripes and HDR display, while a photographer, especially if he often prints his photos, will need less contrast and especially no HDR display. Well, this display will satisfy both these uses with ease. And even better: if you do video editing, graphic design for the Internet and photos to illustrate your customers' brochures, you have the perfect display that will perfectly cover your different needs. It is therefore a favorite in very high-end for those who want to offer themselves the "most versatile" without falling into the Eizo prices see need more contrast to make video editing or surf the Internet thanks to the "Dynamic Display" mode.
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| Uniformity of the panel |
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| Resolution |
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| Ergonomic design |
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| Inputs |
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| Manufacturing quality |
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| Value for money |
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- Beautiful and large 32 inch UHD panel,
- Matt IPS Mini LED panel with perfect anti-reflective coating,
- Wide range verified: 100% Adobe RGB, Rec2020, DCI-P3, Rec 709, sRGB.
- The ingenious i1Display Pro calibration sensor is sold with the display (Reference -K),
- Color accuracy after calibration,
- Two types of contrast are available: infinite contrast with the dynamic display option enabled or more "standard" contrast for photographers who print by disabling this option,
- High brightness available if needed,
- Compatible with HDR 10, HLG, Dolby Vision,
- 10-bit LUT table synonymous with beautiful progressive gradients,
- Top connectivity: HDMI 2.0 + Display Port 1.2 + USB-C + Thunderbolt 3.0 + 60W load in TB 3.0 + USB 3.0,
- OSD settings with the convenient rear multidirectional slider,
- Very thin edges for the multi-monitor possibly (two screens maximum given the size!),
- Price (taking into account the competition!)
- VESA 100 mm,
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- No certifications like at Eizo,
- A gamma curve closer to 2.14 than 2.2,
- This is still expensive, so it is not accessible to all budgets, even if the Eizo CG319X and many monitors are even more so.
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10 / 10, My favorite! |
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 This new generation Asus display thanks to its mini led backlighting is a real favorite as you have two or three per year! It has two facets: either you set it for video editing or Internet use and you will have a near infinite contrast at your disposal or you set it for photo use with a lower contrast, much more suitable for screen/print comparison. But in both cases, you will have a monitor with very precise colors, a very nice homogeneity, a matte tile with a magnificent anti-reflective coating. Surfing the Internet with this panel is as pleasant as with the iMac Pro Retina, without the glare! We look forward to making this technology more accessible to the greatest number of people. Last but not least, this display in its reference PA32UCX-K is sold with the excellent i1Display Pro display calibration sensor.
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$3,932.47 |
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$3,932.47 |
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CDN$ 4,889.66 |
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£2,782.67 * |
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* Asus PA32UCX-K (+ i1Display Pro) |
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