Mar 21 Podcast #627: JVC 4K UltraHD Projectors
Podcast Tags: 4K, LCoS, Projectors, Ultra HD 
We haven’t spent too much time talking about 4K projectors because, to be blunt, they’re just too expensive to be within reach for us, and for the majority of our audience. While they’re cool to think about, and maybe drool over, why spend too much time on them when you know you’ll never drop $28,000 on a projector? But what if they were a fraction of that cost?
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JVC 4K UltraHD Projectors
We haven’t spent too much time talking about 4K projectors because, to be blunt, they’re just too expensive to be within reach for us, and for the majority of our audience. While they’re cool to think about, and maybe drool over, why spend too much time on them when you know you’ll never drop $28,000 on a projector? But what if they were a fraction of that cost?
At a recent stroll through our local Magnolia Home Theater store inside Best Buy, we happened across a JVC 4K projector for only $5000. The JVC DLA-X500R sounds like an amazing deal, but there has to be a catch. It turns out that when you read the fine print, JVC isn’t really selling 4K projectors, they’re selling simulated 4K projectors. The difference is subtle, but real. JVC has three models in their 4K lineup, the entry model, DLA-X500R, for $5000. The mid-range DLA-X700R for $8000 and the top of the range DLA-X900RKT for $12,000. Magnolia carries them all, but they weren’t all available in our area; only the X500R. JVC points out very clearly on their website that these projectors, projectors in the Procision line, are not sold online. If you find one online, it isn’t coming from an authorized dealer. The specs for all three projectors are fairly similar, with obviously some improvements in specs and technology as you move up in the models. We’ll go over the specs for the top of the line X900RKT to see if the same thing we noticed when we started to look into them, jumps out to all of you... DLA-X900RKT specs
The Projectors
Did you notice that there’s no mention of a native 4K resolution? Only a reference to a 4K projected image and a set of 4K compatible inputs. As it turns out, if you read between the lines, these projectors aren’t truly 4K at all. Instead they’re a special blend of two 1080p imaging chips that work together to improve pixel density. The technology does an incredible job eliminating any notion of pixel lines in the image, like retina for your 120” screen, but not a true 4K image.
What the …?
So what exactly is JVC selling? They’re selling a future proof 1080P projector that outperforms almost any other 1080P projector in terms of image quality, but they aren’t selling a 4K projector. The secret is JVC’s e-Shift technology. E-Shift produces 4K levels of pixel density by utilizing two separate 1080P chips diagonally offset from each other by half a pixel. Pixel density, or Pixels per Inch, is great for producing very clear images with no visible pixel lines, but it’s different than resolution.
It turns out that since the projectors only have 1080P imaging chips in them, everything has to be converted to 1080P before being passed through e-Shift for the 4K-like display. Even the native 4K inputs have to go down to 1080P before being blast back out in Ultra density. The result is a very impressive 1080P display that approaches 4K in clarity, but from what we’ve heard and read, doesn’t stand up too well if you compare side by side with a native 4K display
The trade-off makes sense when you compare their prices with Sony, who is selling a true native 4K projector. After all, these projectors are 10 to 20 thousand dollars cheaper. But not for long. Sony has the new VPL-VW500ES available for around $10,000 that may force a change in JVC’s approach. But until more manufacturers are making 4K projectors for less than $5000, JVC will continue to have a marketable offering.
More than just pixels
But as with any TV or projector, resolution isn’t the whole story. There are so many other factors that go into how well a projector performs: contrast and black levels, color reproduction, smooth motion, the list goes on. When you consider contrast and black levels, especially at the $5000 price point, the JVC D-ILA technology is hard to beat. The quoted contrast ratios on the three projectors are 600,000:1, 1,200,000:1 and 1,500,000:1 Dynamic or and 60,000:1, 120,000:1 and 150,000:1 Native. That’s pretty awesome.
And the colors are great as well. The JVC LCOS technology, what they call D-ILA, has always been impressive, all the way back to the rear projection days of yore. (Yes, Braden still owns one). And that carries on in their projectors, and Ara owns one of those. Color representation is great; among the best you can get on a consumer-priced projector.
Bottom line
If you’re in the market for a new Home Theater projector and were thinking 4K was too expensive, you can pick up a pretty decent compromise in the JVC Procision lineup. They provide the inputs to natively watch 4K content when you can get your hands on some, while also converting your standard 1080P content into something quite impressive. Sure it isn’t 4K, but it’s every bit as good as a 1080P projector, with the e-Shift bonus for better pixel density. What do you have to lose?
Reader Comments (2)
Ara & Braden,
Thanks so much for the shout out on today's show!
For any HT Guys HDTV & Home Theater Podcast Listeners (and for Ara & Braden, too) who maybe haven't heard AV Rant Podcast in a while, we've really changed up the old format! Braden mentioned that our two shows were "similar but different", and that was certainly true in the past. But over at AV Rant, we really wanted to become much more of a compliment to the HT Guys, rather than covering many of the same headlines and topics in much the same way.
So, yes, this is a shameless plug (since I'm a regular co-host these days), but I genuinely think a lot of HDTV & Home Theater Podcast Listeners might enjoy the new AV Rant format, and maybe even think of us as a good "companion" show :)
Tom and I, we have the utmost respect for the HT Guys. We love your show. We're loyal fans and listeners. So it means a lot to us to be able to call you friends, and to share the podcast airwaves with you gentlemen.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, though --
We really do miss our former co-host Liz Vinci. She brought a unique perspective, a ton of personality, and some much needed wrangling of Tom's and my geekiness to AV Rant!
So we would really, really like to find a new female co-host, and we're hoping that the HT Guys' larger audience might be able to help us in that endeavour.
AV Rant started out with Tom and Dina, and the motto became, "a geek and a girl" :) It'll be "two geeks and a girl" as long as Tom lets me stick around :p But we definitely want to keep a female's perspective as part of our show!
So if you're a female listener, or if you're a guy who knows a woman who might be interested in being a podcast host on a pretty geeky home theater-related podcast, please hit us up:
tom@avrant.com
and/or
rob@avrant.com
Thanks a million, guys. And keep up the excellent work! You're the masters :D
About a year ago, my wife and I renovated our home in Fort Lauderdale. We wanted to enjoy a cinematic experience from the comfort of our own home, but we did not have a huge room to work with. Thanks to the team at Pure Audio Video, we got a beautifully designed room that looks and sounds far better than the local movie theaters! What I admired the most is that they listened to our priorities and delivered the room that we envisioned. Contact them today at www.pureaudiovideo.com or (954)-581-4434.