I felt strongly after the exposure to the Video Quality of the JVC latest Flagship 3rd Generation Native 4K D-ILA Device that Upscale to 8K Laser Projector DLA-NZ900 (retail at Ringgit Malaysia RM119,999), at its recent launch event at AV DESIGNS (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD with KLINGEN & ERLESEN SDN BHD,…merited a dedicated article that could be considered its ‘review‘.
Many guests of the industry, after viewing the JVC DLA-NZ900‘s Video Quality exclaimed it was at a…
Totally Different League of Performance…
compared to its smaller sibling, the JVC DLA-NZ500 Native 4K D-ILA Laser Projector, which already provided an ‘Amazing Video Performance‘ that could be considered a CATEGORY BENCHMARK!
Even I who have lived and enjoyed very much the previous Flagship, the JVC DLA-NZ9 (similarly retail at Ringgit Malaysia RM119,999) could not resist the latest Flagship’s better Video Quality,…
some reviewers elsewhere claimed that the latest JVC DLA-NZ900 has better Overall Video Quality by an estimated Thirty Percent [30%] than the previous NZ9.
The showing of the JVC DLA-NZ900 started with the playing of a blu-ray titled ‘U-571‘, and that the following photo was taken from the movie at ‘play‘ (not at ‘pause‘).
The Skins were presented with so much more details at Tones of Multi-Layers, with apparent natural Pores and Roughness,…
Realistically Human as per recorded!
The hair was not just a patch of black (or color) spot but fine details of Threadlike Strands at the Skin of the head,…
the leather jacket was presented in layered textures (not Paper-like),…
and the metal belly of the submarine was presented with all the Metal-ness (not wooden nor plastic) with coarseness, imperfections, scratches and gritty texture,…
and that was Refine Resolution!
Then, the show proceeded to the playing of some 4K UHD discs,…started with the ‘Greatest Showman‘.
The Brillance and Contrast in both Colors and Black were nothing short of Astonishing,
…and in Great Balance (there was no unnatural and over-whelming of any color and/or black).
James Tan of AV DESIGNS continued the show with the play of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) that has some ‘infamously difficult dark scenes‘ to track. He continued that even with the best of components, ancillaries and circumstances, the result remained ‘difficult‘ and ‘unsatisfactorily‘. (he did admit ‘maybe‘ at that time, his skill at calibration of the then projectors was not as good as present?…ahem)
However, to our surprise, the latest JVC DLA-NZ900 managed to present those dark scenes
with Details, Depth and (true) Black (and shades thereof)…
that was not apparent with some ‘previous and other‘ projectors.
Here, even the Batman’s lighted eye visor was presented with Depth and Details.
The much improved High Contrast Ratio of 150,000:1 at the JVC DLA-NZ900 did highlight the brimming details of the Black Bat Suit in those Dark Scenes,
as if there were Lights Shone at it to Highlight the Details,
which was the case at the shooting of those scene.
Finally, at the movie ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga‘, the JVC DLA-NZ900 convinced me that there were (still)…
more Details and in better Colors and Textures, and Depth to be seen…
from movies that I thought I have seen and knew well.
THE TESTAMENT OF PROJECTION.
Some may argued that the ‘Difference‘ in Video Quality between the latest JVC DLA-NZ900 with the previous NZ9 may not be ‘Heaven and Earth‘…
However, the Difference was (so) Obvious (to me) and a Testament to The Art of Projection!
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.
| Device | |
| D-ILA Technology | Yes |
| Chip Type | 3rd Generation 0.69-inch 4K D-ILA device |
| Native Resolution | 4096 x 2160 |
| Number Of Chips | 3 |
| 8K/e-shiftX | Yes |
| Display Resolution | 8192 x 4320 |
| Light Sourcce | |
| Laser | Yes |
| Type | New BLU-Escent Laser Diode |
| Life Time (Standard Mode) | 20000 hours |
| Picture | |
| Brightness | 3300 lm |
| Dynamic Contrast | Infinity : 1 |
| Native Contrast | 150000 : 1 |
| Dynamic Light Power control | Yes |
| Modes | Low, High, Balance, Off |
| Manual Aperture | Yes |
| Range | -15 (stops down) to 0 (opens up) |
| DCI-P3 Color Gamut | Yes |
| 100% REC 709 | Yes |
| Color Bit Depth | 12 bit |
| ISFccc Certification | Yes |
| HDR | |
| HDR10 | Yes |
| HDR10+ | Yes |
| Frame Adapt HDR | Yes |
| Theater Optimizer | Yes |
| HLG | Yes |
| Auto Tone Mapping | Yes |
| Mastering Info Display | Yes |
| Info data | MaxCLL, MaxFALL and DML |
| Deep Black Tone Control | Yes |
| Lens | |
| Zoom | 2 x |
| Throw Ratio | 1.35-2.75:1 |
| Diameter | 100mm |
| Material | All-glass |
| Build | 18-element, 16-group in full aluminium lens barrel. |
| Lens Shift | Yes |
| Range Horizontal | ± 43 % |
| Range Vertical | ± 100 % |
| Motorized Zoom | Yes |
| Motorized Shift | Yes |
| Motorized Focus | Yes |
| Projection Display size (diagonal) | 60 – 300 inch |
| Memory Function | Yes |
| Number of user presets | 10 |
| Lens Cover | Yes |
| HDMI | |
| HDMI | Yes |
| Number of Inputs | 2 |
| Data Rate | 48 Gbps |
| HDCP Version | 2.3 |
| 8K60P signal input | Yes |
| 4K120p signal input | Yes |
| 4K60P signal input | Yes |
| Video Signal range | 480p, 576p, 720p 60/50, 1080i 60/ 50, 1080p 120/ 100/ 60/ 50/ 30/ 25/ 24, 3840 x 2160p 120/ 100/ 60/ 50/ 30/ 25/ 24, 4096 x 2160p 120/ 100/ 60/ 50/ 30/ 25/ 24, 7680 x 4320p 60/ 50/ 30/25 /24 |
| PC Signal range | VGA / SVGA / XGA / WXGA / WXGA+ / SXGA / WSXGA+ / UXGA / WUXGA / WQHD (60) / WQHD (120) |
| Input Level Adjustment | Auto / Standard (16-235) / Enhanced (0-255) / Super White (16-255) |
| Color Space Range | Auto/ YCbCr444 / YCbCr422 / RGB |
| EDID Modes | A , B and C (older hardware may need to use B settings) |
| Connections | |
| Trigger out | Yes |
| Connector | Mini-Jack (3,5mm) |
| Power | DC 12V / 100mA |
| 3D Synchro | Yes |
| Connector | Mini DIN 3-pin |
| LAN | Yes |
| Connector | RJ45 |
| RS-232 | Yes |
| Connector | D-sub 9-pin |
| Service | Yes |
| Connector | USB (Type A) for firmware update or backup |
| 3D | |
| 3D Capability | Yes |
| 3D Versions | Frame Packing, Side-by-Side, Top & Bottom |
| Frame Packing Resolutions | 720p 60/50, 1080p 24 |
| Side-by-Side Resolutions | 720p 60/50, 1080p 60/50/24, 1080i 60/50 |
| Top & Bottom Resolution | 720p 60/50, 1080p/24 |
| 3D Emitter (Optional) | Yes, PK-EM2 |
| 3D Glasses (Optional) | Yes, PK-AG3 |
| Picture settings | |
| Picture Modes | Natural, Cinema, Film, Vivid, HDR10+, Frame Adapt HDR, HDR10, HLG, 6 User modes |
| Color Temperatures | Xenon 1, Xenon 2, 5500K, 6500K, 7500K, 9300K, High Bright, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, Custom 1, Custom 2 |
| Gamma Processing Depth | 12 bit |
| Gamma Adjust | HDR (Auto), HDR(PQ), HDR(HLG), 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, Cinema 1, Cinema 2, Film 1, Film 2, 3 Custom modes |
| Color Management | 6-Axis adjustable CMS |
| MPC | Yes |
| Filmmaker Mode | Yes |
| Low Latency Mode | Yes |
| Clear Motion Drive | Yes |
| Motion Enhance | Yes |
| Auto Calibration | Yes |
| Optional Probe needed | Yes |
| Installation Mode | Yes |
| Number of modes | 10 |
| Included settings | Lens Control, Pixel Adjustment, Mask, Anamorphic on or off, Screen Adjust, Installation Style, Keystone, and Aspect |
| Anamorphic Modes | 4 Modes (A, B, C, D) |
| Control4 SDDP | Yes |
| Power & Environment | |
| Power Requirement | AC100-240V, 50/60Hz |
| Projector in Use | 440W |
| Standby | Eco-mode: 0.3W |
| Network Standby | 1.5W (LAN) |
| Fan Noise | 24 dB |
| Eco Mode | Yes |
| Standby Timer | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | 5°C to 35°C |
| Operating Humidity | 20% to 80% |
| Installation Angle | Horizontal +/- 10 degree / Vertical +/- 10 degree |
| Installation Height | Below 2,000 m |
| In the box | |
| Remote Control | Yes, RM-MH27 |
| Quick Guide | Yes |
| Power Cord | Yes |
| Batteries | Yes, 2 x AAA-size batteries |
| Dimensional & Weight | |
| Product Dimensions (WxHxD) | 19-11/16 x 9-7/32 x 20-13/16 (inch) |
| Product Weight | 55.7 Lb |
HIGHLIGHTS.
- 2nd Generation 8K/e-shiftX technology reproduces 8K image quality
- New BLU-Escent Laser Light Source
- 3rd Generation 0.69-inch 4K D-ILA (4096 x 2160) device x 3.
- High brightness of 3,300 lm provides vibrant and dynamic images
- Native Contrast Ratio of 150,000:1 translates to a spectacular Dynamic Contrast Ratio of ∞ :1
- 2x HDMI (48 Gbps, HDCP 2.3) inputs, supporting 8K60P and 4K120P input signals
- HDR10+ contains the metadata of the producer’s intentions for each scene, and with such data, the projector is able to automatically reproduce images as the creator intended.
- Auto Tone Mapping function automatically adjusts settings for optimum HDR10 image quality.
- 18-element, 16-group all-glass 100mm diameter high-quality lens.
- Wide Color Gamut above exceeds DCI/P3 spec creating saturated, beautiful images that come to life.
- Low Latency Mode suppresses display delay for faster response when receiving signals from PC and game consoles.
- Frame Adapt HDR dynamically tone maps any HDR10 content frame-by-frame or scene-by-scene and automatically performs adjustment to achieve optimal images close to reality as seen by human eyes. As a part the Frame Adapt HDR, the projector offers improved gamma processing accuracy from 12- to 18-bit equivalent to reproduce smoother and finer gradation. Additional Frame Adapt HDR picture modes allows for optimum playback with the widest variety of lighting conditions or theater environments.
- Theater Optimizer function, which works in Frame Adapt HDR mode, offers optimum HDR images by analyzing usage environments using the screen size and gain information and intelligently adjusts tone mapping. HDR Quantizer with New Auto (Wide) level mode provides brighter/more dynamic HDR images. *
- FILMMAKER MODE™ that faithfully recreates the creator’s intentions.*
- Eight settings of Installation Mode include Lens Control, Pixel Adjustment, Mask, Anamorphic on or off, Screen Adjust, Installation Style, Keystone, and Aspect; stored installation modes for various environments can be called up.
- ISF C3 (Certified Calibration Controls) mode to reproduce excellent picture quality optimized for specific environments
- Auto-Calibration Function using an optical sensor.