JVC has launched a new D-ILA home cinema projector with high end features at what it claims is a “breakthrough price”, making it more accessible than its most premium models.
Announced at CES 2022, the new model is called the Precision DLA-NP5 or the Reference Series DLA-RS1100, depending on the territory it’s sold in. And although it lacks some of the high-end features of the most advanced models in JVC’s D-ILA series projectors, such as the DLA-NZ7/DLA-RS2100, DLA-NZ8/DLA-RS3100 and DLA-NZ9/DLA-RS4100 it’s still a very premium model. Hence its “breakthrough” price tag of £7,500 in the U.K. and $6,999 in the U.S.
That may seem expensive to some, but it’s an awful lot more affordable than the others in the series. So what sacrifices has JVC made to make the NP5/RS1100 so much more affordable?
The good news that the features it lacks will, by no means, be a deal breaker for most people looking for the highest-end projector technology. One of the main differences is it relies on a traditional lamp light source as opposed to a more modern laser. It also lacks support for 8K playback, and it maxes out at just 1,900 lumens brightness, versus 2,200 on the more advanced models. Last, its dynamic contrast ratio of 400,000:1 contrasts with the “infinity” claim on the most advanced NZ9/RS4100.
That said, as Forbes’ John Archer notes in his review of the announcement, the NP5/RS1100 comes with some “pretty outstanding” specifications given the price tag, especially given it boasts the extremely precise contrast and deep black strengths JVC’s D-ILA projects are known for.
Added to that, the JVC NP5/RS1100 offers lots of high-end features, being able to handle 4K resolution at 120Hz, making it an ideal platform for next-generation console experiences through its twin 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 ports. It supports low-latency gaming and the 0.69-inch native 4K D-ILA device inside the projector is exactly the same as the one in its higher-end models, ensuring maximum driver performance when playing high frame rate games.
The 65mm all glass lens is made up of 17 elements in 15 groups, helping do justice to the native pixel count, and HDR support extends to the dynamic HDR10+ format, as well as HDR10, HLG and HDR (but no Dolby Vision).
Also available is Auto Picture Mode Select allowing the preferred picture mode to be pre-set for SDR (2D), SDR (3D), HDR and HLG. Once this has been done, completely automatic picture mode selection is ensured.
Other nitbits include JVC’s Frame Adapt HDR and Theatre Optimizer features that help to adapt HDR content to the NP5/RS1100’s unique optical capabilities and also the characteristics of the viewer’s cinema room. 18-bit level gamma processing meanwhile, ensures smooth colours and greyscale gradation.
Another nifty feature is JVC’s updated Clear Motion Driver processing technology which helps to reduce blur, as well as the company’s useful Auto Calibration feature. It also supports professional calibration, has a motorised 2x optical zoom, plus motorised vertical and horizontal optical image shifting.
JVC said the NP5/RS1100 will go on sale in the U.K. and the U.S. in March.
