3D Projector Reviews

JVC Procision DLA-X70R D-ILA 3D Projector HT Labs Measures

HT Labs Measures

Full-On/Full-Off Contrast Ratio: 10,727:1

All of the measurements here were taken with the projector in the User Picture Mode, calibrated and adjusted for the most accurate image. For the above contrast-ratio reading, the Lamp Power was in High, the Lens Aperture (iris) wide open (0), and e-Shift On.

The Full-On/Full-Off contrast ratio above (sometimes referred to as the peak contrast ratio, the sequential contrast ratio, or the dynamic range), was not the best we’ve seen from a projector. I can only refer to the measurements I made on the DLA-HD950 in early 2010—a peak contrast ratio of 12,546:1 on a different, smaller screen, with the Lens Aperture much lower and the lamp on Normal. Considering the fact that the DLA-HD950 was 2D only, however, the measurements here are relatively consistent with my past results on JVC projectors. With a peak brightness level of 15.72 foot-lamberts on the DLA-X70R (High lamp setting, Lens Aperture wide open), that translates to a black level of 0.0015 ft-L on the 101-inch-wide Elite screen, the measurements taken with about 275 hours on the lamp and the projector about 13.5 feet from the screen.

The before/after calibration results are shown in the accompanying figures. As you can see, and as noted in the review, the before results, taken in THX mode, were unimpressive. But the projector calibrated exceptionally well, with the Delta E an average 0.84 across the board and a maximum of 2.06 at 100 IRE. Similarly, the overall Delta Es for the individual colors, after minister-ing to the color gamut using the projector’s CMS, averaged 1.94, with a maximum of 3.86 (green). The lower the Delta E, the closer the result to the desired Rec709 HD standard, with values under 3.0 generally considered excellent.

The gamma, after some work in the custom gamma menu, averaged 2.28—about 2.3 above 30 percent brightness and 2.2 below that (the slightly lower gamma at the bottom end was an intentional tweak, as described in the review).

The 3D charts are not shown. As described in the review, I achieved the best subjective 3D image with settings that decidedly didn’t produce an impressive measured result. These settings may be found in the online version of this review. I suspect (but can’t confirm) the reason these settings measured poorly in this situation was due to the very low 3D-brightness levels on this relatively large, low-gain screen. Colorimeters don’t like extremely low brightness levels and the conditions likely induced inaccuracy in my measurements. —TJN

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COMMENTS
chrisheinonen's picture
Submitted by chrisheinonen on April 19, 2012 - 6:02pm

Tom,

The Sony 95ES has lens memories, and has 5 positions to the 3 of the JVC models. Having used both, it seemed that the JVC was more likely to hit the target dead on and not require any adjustments than the Sony, but also took much longer to get there than the Sony, so it really was a wash on that aspect. The two extra memory positions were useful to allow for 1.78 and 1.85 memories to go with 2.40, 2.35 and 2.20 in my use.

On the X30 version, which has a much different CMS than the X70, doing those manual tweaks to the gamma at the low end that you did would lead to some severe posterization in the image. I assume this didn't come up in the X70 then?

Anthony's picture
Submitted by Anthony on May 22, 2012 - 5:03pm

What amazes me are the front projector reviewer with a tiny 78" screen. Projectors are for large projection. Thomas Norton seems to be still thinking of getting a larger screen. Let's wait before we can get a real review that merits the size a projector deserves.

Scott Wilkinson's picture
Submitted by Scott Wilkinson on May 23, 2012 - 8:02am
As stated in the review, Tom conducted most of this review on a 101-inch 2.35:1 screen. As he writes, "I briefly used the DLA-X70R on my resident 78-inch-wide, 1.3-gain, Stewart StudioTek 130 screen. I’m currently considering moving on to a new 96-inch-wide screen, and since many of you want something larger than 78 inches, I elected to do most of this review, and all of the measurements, on the 101-inch-wide, 1.1-gain, 2.35:1 Elite Osprey screen I reviewed in the October ’11 issue (posted at hometheater.com). Today’s projectors are getting brighter than they were when I acquired the 78-inch-wide screen, and once you’re accustomed to a bigger screen with a projector capable of lighting it up brilliantly (at least in 2D), it’s hard to go back."
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