TESTED: JVC DLA-HD350 HD Projector
A Great Performer
June 19th, 2009 -- by David Birch-JonesSource: Playback
Color: Turned up to 11. Unfortunately, the JVC comes with an expanded color gamut which over-emphasizes colors, and the set doesn’t provide a second, more accurate HDTV gamut option, as is usually the case with other projectors. Throughout the movie, the various actors’ skin tones feature over-embellishment, providing orange-y fake-tanning salon tones.
Blacks: Here's where JVC's D-ILA LCOS technology shines, with rich deep blacks clearly evident. Two lamp settings and three iris settings let me get just the right combination of overall picture brightness and great deep blacks.
Shadow Detail: An evening scene in Tony Stark’s office shows easily visible shadow details in the nighttime view through the windows, with no black crush to impair shadow detail.
Artifacts/Noise: None noted.
Broadcast HD Evaluation: HDNET World Report [HDNET]
Detail: On-screen captioning showing an interview translation is pixel-perfect, sharp and clear.
Color: Still turned up to 11. Same problem with over-emphasized colors, which is most noticeable with skin tones. Turning the color down helps tame things a bit, however.
Blacks: A two-second fade-to-black between the program and a promo spot shows just how great the JVC is at keeping the blacks as black as possible—it’s a stellar performer in this critical area.
Shadow Detail: A scene showing Malawi workers unloading bags of corn off the back of a truck reveals dark details all the way back to the truck body’s inside back wall—an excellent result without the black crush that some other projectors exhibit.
Artifacts/Noise: None noted.
Bottom Line:
JVC has come up with an excellent projector that achieves the elusive combination of high performance and high value. Highlights include motorized optics, extensive picture-adjustment options, a vertical stretch mode for anamorphic lens compatibility, plus a Standard (low) lamp mode that extends lamp life. What’s more, the JVC is smaller than earlier models and whisper quiet. The only drawback is an over-emphasized color gamut with no secondary HDTV standard gamut choice. But once you dial back the color a few notches you’ll be able to savor the JVC’s superb deep blacks and rich shadow details.
SPECS & PRICING
JVC DLA-HD350 LCoS HD projector
Pixel resolution: 1920 x 1080
1:1 Mode: Yes
Video inputs: 2 HDMI, 1 component/RGB, 1 S-video, 1 composite
Other connections: RS-232C serial port
Dimensions (WxHxD): 14.4” x 6.6” x 18.8”
Weight: 24.3 lb.
Warranty: 2 years parts & labor (90 days lamp)
Price: $4,500
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1999 - 2011 NextScreen. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
Comments
You mention the color is "dialed up to 11" in Spinal Tap-speak.
Is it correctable with the projector's controls or do you need to use other means to bring it into a more standard color space?
On page two I notice that your setting have the color set to -3. Was this enough to lower the color saturation to a more correct level?
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
As a former JVC Engineer in Pro-Video, I have long respected their commitment to innovation and high quality at realistic prices. I did not see mention in your excellent review of this model's specifications, life expectancy and cost for replacement bulbs -- potentially a deal breaker for many otherwise excellent projectors. Could you follow up with some of these specs from JVC?
As a second comment, I wish to underscore your wonderful understanding of black level/contrast and detail, vis-a-vis the cost to value relationship of a top quality projection or in fact, any video display. Many movies, especially action or thriller type movies seem to have a great percentage of their action shots captured in relatively dark or shadowy surroundings -- and lesser quality products reduce this to simply a washed out dark gray mumble that reveals no details whatsoever -- very disappointing. Many products can look quite stunning displaying a full daylight park or seaside resort, but move the action to a dimly lit gothic thriller and -- woosh -- the film may as well have been shot in a cave, at night, during an eclipse, whilst wearing welding goggles -- but worst of all -- the picture is still not actually black but dark gray with artifacts. Your comments were very astute and clearly identified benchmarks for consumers to compare performance in a realistic manner without the need for technical test gear. Thank You!
The article describes this JVC as the most affordable 1080p LCOS-based projector yet, at $4500 list. But, the
Sony BRAVIA VPL-HW10 1920 x 1080 SXRD projector uses LCOS-based chips and lists for $3500, a full $1,000 less than the JVC. Hence, the article was incorrect on this point.