The Asus ProArt PA329CV belongs to the company’s series of monitors intended mainly for professional users, such as graphic artists and video editors, who need a display that reproduces colors accurately. For these uses, the selection of screens available for purchase is reduced and the prices skyrocket. In this model, Asus tried to offer a professional display at a (relatively) reasonable price.
Of course, trying to fit the PA329CV into the price segment involves compromises. This is definitely not a screen that will suit everyone and it is certainly not perfect, but as far as image quality is concerned, it is a display that is simply a pleasure for the eyes. At this price you can certainly find better monitors for gamers or general home use, but for heavy professional graphics work the PA329CV is definitely an interesting proposition.
Huge screen, but you won’t feel it
The ProArt PA329CV comes in a size of 32 inches, and for those who have not yet experienced daily work with a screen of this size, it is important to emphasize that it is simply a huge display. Asus chose an almost completely borderless design except for the bottom side of the screen, which gives the impression of an even larger display. It is important to check in advance that this monster can be integrated into the desktop, a non-trivial matter at all.
We have definitely made an effort here to make the installation easier. The screen is indeed heavy, evidence of production from quality materials, but it comes with a metal arm that holds it securely while maintaining a slim and minimalist design. Inside the package you will also find a clamp capable of attaching the screen to the table without a base, a great solution that saves a lot of space and usually requires an additional payment. The ProArt PA329CV also supports the VESA standard for attaching to the wall, so if there is room, the installation itself is convenient and the end result is even nicer than usual.
The variety of inputs and outputs is comprehensive and impressive: the screen comes with a DisplayPort 1.2 input, two HDMI 2.0 inputs, a headphone input and no less than five USB 3.1 inputs. The USB-C input that supports the PD90W may actually replace all other inputs with a single cable, while providing the screen with both data and energy, when connected to supporting computers of course.
At the bottom of the screen is a row of buttons used to control the settings menus, next to a sort of small plastic joystick. The feeling when pressing the buttons is surprisingly not of high quality, and the menus themselves also tend to be confusing. A certain cost savings is evident here, with an interface that comes directly from Asus’ much cheaper monitors. It’s better not to talk about the speakers either: they’re just bad, and won’t be suitable for talking except maybe video calls. This means that in addition to the huge screen, you will also need to save space for a pair of higher quality speakers on the table.
Excellent picture quality, except for HDR
As mentioned, an investment is evident here mainly in regards to the quality of the display. ProArt PA329CV has an IPS panel with a 4K resolution (ie – 3840X2160 pixels), a brightness level of 400 cd/m2 and a contrast of 1:2000. The response rate is 5ms with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. These, almost needless to say, are not told to gamers, except for more relaxed strategy games that can definitely be played between projects. That’s fine, that’s not what the screen is for.
According to the manufacturer’s data, the PA239CV is able to display 100 percent of the color range in the sRGB standard, 97 percent in the DCI-P3 standard, 100 percent in the DICOM standard and 93 percent in the Rec standard. 709. These are not just numbers: the quality is visible, as well as the uniformity of the display. The colors just pop to the eye, with a fantastic level of accuracy and even convincing black tones, although of course a true black tone is simply impossible to get on an IPS panel.
Unlike the situation with some of the competitors (even the more expensive ones), it doesn’t take too much tinkering to achieve great performance: this screen looks great right out of the box. On the other hand, HDR 400 support is only theoretical, with performance that doesn’t really justify the sticker. The maximum level of brightness that the PA239CV reaches is simply not capable of providing a quality HDR image, and it is better to simply ignore this possibility.
Within the settings menus you can find an option to filter blue light, which is divided into no less than 5 different levels, and in complete contrast to many other screens does not completely distort the image. This is a hardware solution unique to Asus, and the company boasts official certificates that show that this feature is able to contribute significantly to the user’s health over time.
The bottom line
The ProArt PA329CV does not try to be everything to everyone, but a screen that is precisely adapted to professional users looking for a display that can be used by them without breaking the budget limits to areas that are difficult to justify outside of the big companies. It is, therefore, a good choice for freelancers, with acceptable compromises in regards to gaming performance, which are mostly irrelevant. The bonus: it even looks good. The disadvantage is mainly the price, which is about NIS 4,200.
Technical Specifications
- Size: 32 inches 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) LED backlight
- Panel: IPS with a viewing angle of 178 degrees, matte, HDR10
- Color: 100% of sRGB and 100% Rec. 709
- Calibration: Calman Verified, Delta E < 2 color accuracy.
- Connections: DP on USB-C up to 90 watts DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB hub
- Adjustments: tilt, rotation, axis and height adjustment
- Brightness: 350cd/㎡
- Maximum brightness (HDR): 400 cd/㎡
- Contrast: 1000:1
- Color range: 1073.7M (10 bit)
- Responsiveness: 5ms (GTG)
- Refresh frequency: 60Hz