JVC’s D-ILA home theater projectors have been revered by home cinema fans for many years now, thanks to their peerless contrast performance. JVC isn’t exactly the most prolific brand around when it comes to refreshing its projector ranges, though – so for it to suddenly unveil its first new projectors in more than two years is a big deal. Especially as all four of the new JVC projectors are set to benefit from a new, third generation of the D-ILA optical system that’s been at the heart of JVC’s enduring projector popularity.
The four newly unveiled models are the DLA-NZ900, DLA-RS4200, DLA-NZ800 and DLA-RS3200. The two NZ models belong to JVC’s so-called Procision Series, while the RS models belong to the Reference Series – though it appears that the only practical difference between the RS and NZ models is an aesthetic one, with the NZs getting a silver ring around their lenses while the RSes get a gold ring. The NZ900s seem to share the same specifications and features as the RS4200s, and the NZ800s seem to share the same specifications and features as the RS3200s.
All four models are illuminated by a new iteration of JVC’s proprietary BLU-Escent Laser Light engine, which combines with the new D-ILA optical design to deliver a claimed 1.5x higher native contrast ratio than JVC’s previous DLA-NZ9 model could achieve. The DLA-NZ900/RS4200 claim a native contrast ratio of 150,000:1, while the NZ800/RS3200 claim 100,000:1. These native contrast figures – which don’t depend on consistency-affecting light manipulation devices such as dynamic irises or laser light output modulation – are in a whole other league to the native contrast figures of any other projectors.
The new JVC projectors do also carry dynamic contrast tools, though, for anyone who wants to use them. In particular, it can control the amount of light its lasers output with little or no latency, contributing to a ‘dynamic’ contrast ratio that JVC boldly states as essentially infinity to 1. (Note that this figure depend on the projector simply shutting its light engine completely off for pitch black images.)
While JVC’s D-ILA projectors have long been dark scene/black level heroes, they’ve historically been a little short of brightness compared with some rival projection technologies. The new D-ILA light engine, though, sees the NZ900/RS4200s claiming very impressive 3,300 brightness peaks, while the NZ800/RS3200s claim 2700 lumens. This should be more than enough in conjunction with D-ILA’s peerless black level reproduction to deliver a phenomenally dynamic contrast performance by projector standards. Which should also mean the new projectors will deliver a fuller sense of high dynamic range video’s potential impact than any previous JVC model.
Normally, delivering a brightness increase of the scale promised by JVC’s four new models would entail an increase in power consumption. The new D-ILA optical design, though, is actually claimed to deliver a x1.9 improvement in brightness per effective wattage versus JVC’s first laser projector, the DLA-Z1.
The 8K resolution capabilities of JVC’s new projectors aren’t native in the sense that each projector carries 7680×4320 individual pixels. Instead they use JVC’s e-Shift system to create an 8K effect (JVC actually claims 8192×4320 pixels) by offsetting two 4K mages by a diagonal half pixel. This approach at the very least makes images look more dense and cinematic than regular 4K projectors, though – especially if you’re using a really big screen. This latter point makes 8K a worthwhile projector pursuit even while we don’t yet have much native 8K content to feed it. Though JVC is also keen to suggest in its information on its new projector quartet that it believes more 8K content is coming via YouTube and the latest high-end PC gaming cards.
All of JVC’s new projectors are equipped with full-bandwidth 48Gbps HDMI ports so that they can take 8K/60Hz feeds if you manage to find any – though perhaps more usefully in today’s world, these high bandwidth HDMIs also enable the new projectors to take in 4K/120Hz gaming feeds from the latest Xbox/PS5 consoles and PC graphics cards. The projectors also support the HDMI 2.1 Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) feature, meaning they will automatically switch into their low latency Game modes when a game source is detected.
As you’d expect of any premium projector these days, JVC’s new D-ILA quartet all support high dynamic range playback. This extends to support for the BT2020 wide colour gamut (with integrated filters allowing actual colour reproduction equivalent to the digital cinema DCI-P3 gamut), 10-bit colour gradation, and playback of the premium HDR10+ format, with its extra scene by scene image data, as well as the more basic HDR10 and HLG formats.
The new projectors’ handling of HDR also benefits from generation two of JVC’s impressive proprietary Frame Adapt HDR technology, which instantaneously analyses the maximum brightness of HDR10 content on a frame by frame basis and optimises its playback according to each projectors’ specific capabilities.
All four new projectors also now include a Deep Black component in their Frame Adapt HDR features, where an extra algorithm works to bring out more subtle detailing and toning in the darkest parts of HDR images.
Other premium features shared across all four models include support for the UHD-Alliance-designed Filmmaker Mode; JVC’s Clear Motion Drive motion smoothing processing; a new Vivid picture mode designed to enhance the colour of SDR sources; 3D compatibility (though you’ll have to buy the necessary 3D emitter and glasses separately); support for auto calibration, as well as ISFccc certification if you’d prefer to get a professional calibration done; 10 installation modes; and a Screen Adjustment Mode that lets users input information about the screen they’re using with their projector, including aspect ratio, size, and gain, so that the projector can adjust its picture output accordingly.
One last key feature of the new projectors that also provides another difference between the NZ800/RS3200s and step-up NZ900/RS4200s is their impressive lens configurations. While all four models feature all-glass lenses, the flagship models carry a 100mm lens to help you never miss a detail even with native 8K images. This large front lens is backed up by an 18-element, 16-group optical array encased in a full aluminium lens barrel. The NZ800/RS3200s switch to a 17-element, 15-group 65mm lens array.
JVC will be showing off the NZ900 at the upcoming High-End Munich technology show, and all four of the brand’s new projectors are set to start shipping from June 2024. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but I’ll update this article as soon as it is.
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