Spectra Blue vs Dix Blue
Spectra Blue (Benjamin Moore) and Dix Blue (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Spectra Blue reads as blue, while Dix Blue reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 15-point LRV gap — 56 for Spectra Blue vs 41 for Dix Blue — means Spectra Blue will open up a space more effectively. Where Spectra Blue leans blue, Dix Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 13.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Spectra Blue vs Dix Blue in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Spectra Blue and Dix Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Spectra Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Spectra Blue vs Dix Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Spectra Blue on one side and Dix Blue on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Spectra Blue comparisons
See how Spectra Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 56, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 56), opening up a space where Spectra Blue encloses it.
At LRV 56 vs 6, Spectra Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Spectra Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 56 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Spectra Blue reflects far more light (LRV 56 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (56 vs 52) makes Spectra Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 56), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 58 vs 56), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 56 vs 27, Spectra Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Spectra Blue reflects far more light (LRV 56 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Spectra Blue reflects far more light (LRV 56 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 56 vs 55), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 56 vs 13, Spectra Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 56 vs 44, Spectra Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 56), opening up a space where Spectra Blue encloses it.
Spectra Blue reflects far more light (LRV 56 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (66 vs 56) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 56, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 56, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 56 vs 12, Spectra Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 56, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Calamine reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 56), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Spectra Blue reflects far more light (LRV 56 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 56 vs 12, Spectra Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (56 vs 45) makes Spectra Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Spectra Blue reflects far more light (LRV 56 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Spectra Blue reflects far more light (LRV 56 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Spectra Blue reflects far more light (LRV 56 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
With LRVs of 57 and 56, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 56), opening up a space where Spectra Blue encloses it.