An unbeatable value for money ?

2023-08-25 17:39:51

In the battle of computer peripherals for gamers, the curved screen has a place of choice. Samsung, LG, MSI, Asus… the big names in the industry all offer their products for sometimes stunning results. However, the budget needed to buy these screens is quite large, especially if you want to get good hardware. With its model called H32S17, KTC intends to offer a powerful and yet affordable device to a wider audience. Enough to satisfy gamers around the world. However, is it possible to have a good curved screen at a low price? The answer after these few lines.

Technical characteristics

Marque : KTC

Model : H32S17

Category : Curved gaming screen

Display technology : LED

Screen size : 32 inches (31.5)

Curve : 1500R

Connexions : HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort x2, USB 2.0

standard resolution : 2K 2560 x 1440 (1440p)

Nits : 350

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KTC is a Chinese brand little known to the general public. However, you have probably already looked at one of its screens without knowing it. Indeed, in operation since 1995, this manufacturer from Shenzhen in southeastern China has produced screens for other brands such as Samsung, NEC or Viewsonic. In 2021 they decided to take a step forward and produce screens for gamers under their own label with all the know-how acquired in more than 25 years of practice.

Several models are available, curved or not, ranging from 24 to 42 inches. Today we are testing their 32-inch curved screen designed for gamers.

Design and ergonomics

The KTC H32S17 is a 32-inch (actually 31.5-inch) curved display with a 1500R arc. That is to say that if it is extended on both sides to complete a circle, it has a radius of 1m50. It is a curvature which is thus relatively slight. You must then position yourself at a slightly further distance to take full advantage of the screen.

KTC offers us here a beautiful screen. With three very thin edges and the bottom one a little thicker, it gives the impression that the image takes up all the space and that there is nothing superfluous. On the back we find on the one hand a single button. It is used both to turn the screen on and off and to launch the settings menu and navigate through it. And on the other hand, the different sockets to connect it to sources. We observe the presence of a power socket, an HDMI 2.0 input, a USB 2.0, two DisplayPort 1.2 and a 3.5mm jack input for headphones. The screen is therefore well supplied at this level, even more so than certain brands with a premium positioning.

The screen is easy to mount with a foot that clips onto the back. Stable and sturdy, the stand inspires confidence. It is also possible to install it with a wall bracket directly on a wall. The criticism that can be made at this time concerns the low level of pivoting offered by the support. It is only possible to tilt the screen a few degrees up or down. No possibility of sliding it in any direction.

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Features

KTC’s screen is designed for gamers. This means that it is equipped with characteristics sought after by assiduous video game players. The main arguments here are the refresh rate at 165 Hz and a response time calculated at the highest at 3 ms. The first makes it possible to obtain a sharper and more fluid image. The second erases the impression of latency between the player’s actions and their effects on the screen. Finally, FreeSync and G-Sync, two options for synchronizing the screen with the graphics card to erase the stretching effect of the image (also called tearing).

But that’s not all since the Chinese manufacturer has also integrated some additional options which should delight some players. The permanently exposed FPS (frames per second) counter helps keep an eye on game performance. sniper rifle in hands.

The options menu also allows you to adjust all kinds of parameters, to activate or deactivate certain functions. Everyone can choose to increase the intensity of the colors, the sharpness of the image, the contrast, etc.

The only thing missing from this display is a pair of built-in speakers. In our opinion, this is not a great loss. Gamers are often equipped with good dedicated headsets and music lovers prefer a good sound system or a good pair of speakers. But we also know there are gamers among them who like to have an all-in-one system so they don’t have to mess around with extra gear.

Image quality

We have said it before, this KTC H32S17 is a 31.5 inch curved screen. What we have not yet said on the other hand is its maximum resolution. It is 1440p, that is to say an image of 2560 by 1440 pixels. We are talking here about a 2K image, in classic 16/9. We are therefore not in 21/9 with an extra large image. This is often the good compromise sought in video games.

The display has a W-LED panel, which is the same as saying LED, but with the W in white for a marketing issue we guess. Note, however, that KTC does not insist on this. The brightness announced by the manufacturer is 350 nits. This places the device between entry-level and mid-range, for this element. Indeed, the average screen is more around 400 nits. However, the recommended brightness for a lighted indoor computer monitor is between 250 and 350 nits. Suffice to say that this is enough here. Especially since gamers like dark rooms (generally assumed), but an overly bright screen is not recommended in this case.

A rich, sharp and precise image

Once we have given these few figures, we can move on to the feeling. He’s really good. Contrasts are pronounced with sharp colors and deep blacks. We can even say that KTC’s screen exceeds our expectations. At this price we did not expect such good quality. With its 16 million colors and its HDR10 option which enhances the rendering of the image, we took full advantage of it. Some adjustments are necessary at the start, in particular that of reducing the Black Equalize which gives a slightly dull tone the first time you turn on the device.

The only flaw that I noticed concerns the reflections. Despite the presence of what KTC calls anti-glare screen, it’s not that anti-glare. However, we specify that this happens under certain conditions, that is to say with a window located just behind, so not really the best configuration for its PC gaming installation.

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Image from game Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Image from game Atomic Heart Image from game Forza Horizon 5

Conclusion

KTC, acronym for Key To Combat, we had not yet specified it, offers us here a beautiful screen. This 32-inch curved monitor delivers a crisp, rich and crisp image for a highly satisfying experience. We liked the image quality, the settings options, the many sockets on the back to connect up to three different sources. And above all, its very affordable price makes this curved screen of this size a serious challenger for brands that are already well established. We must now rely on Chinese brands to deliver quality products capable of competing with historical manufacturers. We should soon be hearing more from KTC, and that’s a good thing.

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Very good image quality Sober and elegant design Connectors provided Very good value for money A single HDMI port Restricted Linux system

Design and ergonomics – 7.5

Features – 8

Image quality – 8.5

Value for money – 9

8.3

Design and Ergonomics : Sober and elegant design. Too bad we can’t tilt or rotate it more

Features : Many settings to adjust the image and some nice options for gamers.

Image quality : A clear, precise image with rich colors and deep blacks. Good contrast and good reactivity in game.

Quality / Price ratio : Difficult to find better at such a price

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