The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 continues the tradition of tailor-fitting brilliant gaming monitors to enthusiasts and beginners alike. It lets you specify what you want in an endgame monitor, possibly making the already competitive monitor more budget-friendly than its competitors. We loved the built-it-yourself concept of the brand since the beginning, but let’s take a closer look at its performance numbers.
Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 ES07E91 Specifications
- Screen Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: OLED
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Response Time: 0.03ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000000:1
- Brightness: 275 cd/m2 (1000 cd/m2 Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – None
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB-C for Firmware x 1, 3.5mm x 1
Design and Features
The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 doesn’t look that different from other monitors, but its functional design is where it will stand out. The monitor has a black chassis, while the optional stand comes in mostly matte black. The screen doesn’t have bezels, but it has inner borders like most modern OLED monitors.
Unboxing the Spectrum Black was straightforward, but it felt like a premium experience. This review sample shipped in two boxes, but that’s natural since you can buy the monitor and stand separately. There isn’t a lot in the box, but getting rid of the extras guarantees that this model is priced lower than comparable options.
We think they went one step too much with the omissions since the package only includes a power cable and brick. It should at least have either a DP or HDMI cable since not every buyer out there will have one that supports the crazy bandwidth this monitor requires. You also get a calibration report and quickstart manual in the box.
The huge power brick is worth mentioning since most modern monitors now have internal packs to keep the mess at bay. However, this monitor is very thin, so there is no room for such in the chassis. It’s a slight hassle, but it’s not a dealbreaker in our books.
The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 is quite large, so you might have to make way for it if your desk is tiny. However, its base is thin and flat, so it can easily slip under your peripherals like a stream deck or a soundbar if needed. It’s also very easy to move around, although it’s not a complete flyweight since its base is still mostly made of metal.
Assembly is a breeze since the stand only snaps into place on the VESA mount. Unbox the stand first, install it into the chassis while it is lying in its box, and lift it out easily. We really dislike the fact that we have to source our own DP cable for this, but we did have a few on standby in our toolkit.
Some may think that the Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 is of cheaper quality, but it’s actually quite good. The plastic panels are thick and sturdy, and there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is firm and stable, plus everything feels like it was treated like a luxury product just from the packaging alone.
The control layout for this monitor is found under the bottom bezel, right smack in the middle of it. It’s led by the power button with a white LED, an OSD joystick, and a hotkey to switch between 4K 240Hz and 1080p 480Hz. The joystick is set too deep, so it’s a bit more difficult to use if you are calibrating the monitor.
The included stand offers height, tilt, and a limited range of pivots for adjustments. It’s not that flexible, but the beauty of this monitor is that it was designed to be used with an aftermarket stand or arm for more flexibility. You have the option to exclude the stand from your purchase and save some money that can go towards getting a premium VESA mount instead.
The hubless Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 version only has DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and a USB-C slot for firmware upgrades. You can choose a variant with USB-C DP Alt Mode and USB-A slots if you need them, but that will cost slightly more than the unit that was given to us. We’d rather have the dubbed version, but it’s always nice to have an option that drops the price of something that’s this expensive.
The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 also has speakers, but we also think that it should be made optional. Not all users will use built-ins, especially since monitors like this are better paired with gaming headsets. They sound decent and clear enough to make conversations understandable but are incapable of deep bass and detail like desktop sets.
Display and Performance
The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 sports a 32-inch OLED panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03ms response time. The panel has a 275 cd/m2 brightness and up to a 1000 cd/m2 peak, while its contrast is listed at 1500000:1. This model has HDR 400 True Black certification and is capable of “dual resolution” output, which switches it to 480Hz 1080p when needed.
It may seem strange or strictly a fad for some, but the dual-resolution capability brings more gamers into the fold. The 4K 240Hz mode takes care of the immersive gaming aspect, which requires the best eye candy, while the faster 480Hz output works great for E-Sports. This essential makes the monitor dual-purpose, so those who focus on each style of gaming can still enjoy the other without buying another monitor. “
It’s no secret that a 4K monitor like this will require a flagship GPU, but the 1080p output will now require a powerful CPU as well. 1080p games become CPU-bound when the framerates are too high, so getting a top chip that can be overclocked is ideal for keeping your system relevant. We’ve always championed value-oriented options, but getting the most out of your investment is more practical if you have this monitor.
The monitor boots into 4K 240Hz mode with no issues when plugged in via DisplayPort to our test PC. The power button glows a steady white in this state, but it will softly blink if it’s in standby mode. It takes a couple of seconds for the monitor to switch its output to 1080p and vice versa, but that’s normal, even if the black screen in between seems a bit scary.
The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 covers 100% sRGB and 94% DCI-P3 for great color in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 2.43, so it’s decently accurate and out of the box. The monitor also has an sRGB and DCI-P3 mode with a dE average of 1.65 and 1.73, respectively, so you can easily switch it down if you need it for editing work or content creation.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 1.4, balancing out the extra warmth of the default setting. The improvement isn’t immediately noticeable, so calibration won’t be necessary if you are only using this for gaming. We recommend getting a colorimeter if you use the monitor for color-critical work, but it’s impractical otherwise.
The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91’s maximum brightness reached 343 cd/m2 in SDR, but it peaked at 1031 cd/m2 when its HDR mode was active. Its contrast is naturally incalculable, allowing it to produce deep blacks and range compared to its mini-LED IPS counterparts. It is capable of fantastic HDR performance in games and movies, just like its premium counterparts.
Panel uniformity was a bit off for this model, with the top and bottom right edges having variances that go over the typical threshold. However, it is not noticeable up front, and there is no backlight leak since the panel is self-illuminating. The only issue with OLEDs is their susceptibility to burn-in, but the manufacturer has already installed multiple safeties for this excellent product.
The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91’s pixel response time is fantastic, thanks to its lack of a delayed backlight. The monitor even has a BFI feature for when your frames fail to match the refresh rate, but it’s mostly unnecessary. Switching to the 480Hz output makes it even better, securing the best possible motion clarity for E-Sports.
The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing and stutter-free performance. Dual compatibility is a must-have for expensive monitors, so you won’t have to ditch it in case you switch to the other GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 3ms at 240Hz, making it one of the fastest 4K monitors around.
Thoughts on the Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91
The Dough Spectrum Black ES07E91 is a fantastic product that gives power and brilliant performance to the masses. It can be pre-configured to match your needs and budget, so you only have to pay for what you need from the manufacturer. Its not the most accurate out there, but it can stand toe to toe with the best 4K OLED gaming monitors currently in the market.
There is some room for improvement, but we haven’t seen any real deal-breakers from this product. It’s a minor hassle to double-check what you are getting, especially when you are not buying from Dough Spectrum itself, which advertises the product’s modularity throughout its website. It’s a fantastic buy all around, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
Pros:
- Excellent Pricing and Customization
- Rich Colors and Contrast
- Sleek and Functional Design
- Great Pricing
Cons:
- Joystick Hard to Use
- OSD Could Use Some Improvements
- Overall
About the Author: Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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