Symphony Blue vs S 5040-R60B
Symphony Blue (Benjamin Moore) and S 5040-R60B (NCS) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Symphony Blue belongs to the blue family and S 5040-R60B to the purple family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 6 vs 4 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Symphony Blue leans blue, S 5040-R60B reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 23.9 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.
Symphony Blue vs S 5040-R60B in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Symphony Blue and S 5040-R60B in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.
Color Details
Symphony Blue vs S 5040-R60B Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Symphony Blue on one side and S 5040-R60B 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 Symphony Blue comparisons
See how Symphony Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
