JVC DLA-RS620U Projector

[Sonnie]

Thinking about it... trying to restrain myself, but it's not working. I currently have the Panasonic 8000 at about 4 years old. I am curious how much improvement I will notice. There does not seem to be much out there about the newer 420 model, although there are some stellar reviews on last years 400.

Then of course I'll have to pickup the OPPO 4K player as well... and some 4K Blu-rays.

UPDATE: I initially started out looking at the JVC DLA-RS420 model, but ended up going with the RS620 and the OPPO UDP-205. Since we really never got into discussing much about the 420, I have updated this thread title to the 620 model.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'm an JVC RS45 owner... and a huge fan of JVC projectors. My experience with the RS has been nothing but exceptional.

I saw the new JVCs demoed at CEDIA last year. They are absolutely phenomenal...the 420 will blow your 8000 out of the water. If you run 4K discs, the HDR performance is pretty good (not TV tech good, but an improvement)... black levels are ridiculously good.

I've actually been kicking around the idea of getting a new JVC this year, too. To be honest, I think it might be worth bumping up to the 520. You'll have to investigate some, but I think you are given better color controls.

 

[Sonnie]

That 520 is listed as $3,000 more than the 420... surely it can't be worth nearly twice the cost.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Well... if their reported contrast ratios are true (because we all know that companies love to fudge contrast numbers...), the 520 offers 3x better performance. That's going to give you a better image right off the bat.

Also, traditionally, the entry JVC projectors have limited pixel convergence controls and stripped color controls. That could have changed in 2017, I'd need to see a head-to-head comparison.

A projector's native contrast is a huge driver of how we perceive image quality... Eapecially once you start introducing HDR into images.

 

[Peter Loeser]

I'll be curious to see the what you find Sonnie. I'm also running a Panasonic 8000 but UHD will probably be the first major upgrade I do once my new theater is operational. Got a killer deal on the 8000 and it's been great, but we're a point now where UHD is an attainable and worthwhile investment.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Just to be clear: the current JVCs (outside of their $30,000 flagship laser PJ) aren't capable of true native 4K (8 million pixels)...

JVC runs eShift (which is now in its 4th or 5th generation) which radically reduces pixel gap for 1080p feeds... but when it comes to 4K, it removes information and displays roughly 4 million of the 8 million possible pixels. So the 4K is really "faux-K" .

They are fully compatible with HDCP 2.2 and HDR10... and can show the DCI Color space.

I've seen these PJs in action and think their overall picture quality is absolutely stunning... but you won't see a full UHD image. Right now, I think the least expensive quality true 4K PJ is from Sony (costing about $9,000).

 

[Peter Loeser]

I anticipate my build taking a little while so I'm willing to wait till true 4K is affordable for me. The AE8000 still has plenty of life in it, and I don't own any 4K content yet. In fact, I've avoided even really watching any. Ignorance is bliss for the time being...

 

[Todd Anderson]

Yeah... the first time you see it, your heart will melt.

Honestly, for me, the most intriguing (read: eye popping) revelation is the impact of wide color gamut and HDR. It's really something to behold.

 

[Sonnie]

It can almost look fake.

I have heard and read from several sources that the JVC eShift is actually a better picture than the true 4K Sony.

That 520 does look sweet indeed. Hmmmm.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Sonnie, it's true... I've sat through quite a few demos at CEDIA over the years... and every year I walk away being completely impressed with JVC. The Sony PJ are also great...but their images (to my eye, mind you) don't look as good. Perhaps the better phrase is: not as natural.

I've alway been a big believer in PQ quality over pixels...

 

[Sonnie]

So now I am favoring the RS520. My cost on it is actually not that much more than the 420, so it makes more sense to get it with the better contrast and more flexible settings.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Interesting look at real world contrast measurements of last year's JVC flagship... which JVC has pegged at 150,000:1.

Worst case (lamp high, iris open) 37.7K:1
Best case (lamp low, iris -8): 77K:1


hmmmmmmmm...... I'd love to know what JVC does for lab measurement. I heard some stories at THX about interesting testing practices.... would love to know!

 

[Sonnie]

I wonder if JVC will offer and upgrade for the new HDR10+ ... or if they will even be able to offer it if it is going to require the new HDMI 2.1 cabling.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I doubt it... I think the only HDR10+ that we'll see (in current times) will be in the form of streaming content. I also don't think they make Dolby Vision compliant PJs.

It's another one of those weird bridge times between tech... although the bridge to HDMI 2.1 could be quite lengthy.

 

[Michael Boeker]

I own the RS520 and had the RS500 prior to that. From calibrating these projectors, the RS520 does have a better black floor than then RS420. It also has a wider color gamut for use with the new UHD Blu-rays. Note that published contrast ratio's are when measured from the lens. Actual contrast ratio varies depending on room color, light control, and screen. A higher native contrast ratio is always better to start out with, though.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Hi Michael! Thanks for chiming in. Can you comment on the RS520's measured performance out of the box (say, Cinema mode?). What kind of shape was the greyscale in?

 

[Sonnie]

Welcome to the forum Michael... good to see you here.

I am pretty much sold on the RS520.

Does JVC release a new version every year or two with these?

 

[Todd Anderson]

It's typically once a year... CEDIA is typically the reveal

 

[Sonnie]

I am thinking my universal projector mount that I am using with my Panasonic will work for the JVC, although I may need different screw sizes, which I should have or can easily obtain.

 

[Todd Anderson]

Definitely... it will work.

 

[Michael Scott]

what mount are you using Sonnie? JVC's are MONSTER projectors and sometimes require special adapter plates to be stable (I use the CHIEF RPA mount systems and the special mounting plate designed for my RS46)


oh,and you WILL notice a difference from the 420/520 and the Panny 8000. They're not even in the same ballpark

 

[Todd Anderson]

I had the 8000 and the RS45 (which should be the same size as the 520) on hand at the same time for a mini-shootout. They were roughly the same size. The JVC has more of a robust build quality, but I believe the mounting points on the bottom of the PJs were similar.

 

[Peter Loeser]

Honestly I'm surprised duct tape hasn't been considered as an option. I mean... this is Sonnie we're talking about

 

[Sonnie]

what mount are you using Sonnie?

I got this mount back when I had the Panasonic 2000. I believe it is one of the Chief universal mounts, but I can't remember. I am going to try it... if it don't work I will be delayed a couple of days until I can get one in the house. 2 days of crying won't be soooo terribly bad.

Honestly I'm surprised duct tape hasn't been considered as an option. I mean... this is Sonnie we're talking about

Okay... so now I know how to keep from crying for two days... duct tape to the rescue. Thank you Peter for reminding me how resourceful us country redneck hillbillies can be.

 

[bkeeler10]

Hey I've been looking at JVC for quite some time too. Didn't know that the 400/500 replacement had already been announced. What are the 420 and 520 MSRP going to be?

Another option would be the Epson 5040UB projector. Can't pull off the contrast ratios that JVC can, but less expensive than the JVC RS400 at least. I saw it at CEDIA last year, and it did look fantastic. Those are the two I had been considering. I suppose Epson will issue an update to the 5040 this CEDIA too.