Thomas J. Norton

Price: $8,000 At A Glance: Superb black level and shadow detail • Accurate 2D color • Complete but complex features

JVC has a problem—a problem more projector manufacturers wish they had. When the company launched its relatively affordable DLA-RS1 LCOS projector several years ago, it created a sensation. Every model year since then brought new updates. Expectations rose, and prior to every CEDIA (the September trade show that is the traditional launching pad for new home theater projectors), we’ve wondered what JVC would next bring to its lineup. The cosmetics have changed several times, but more importantly, a basic run of slow but steady improvements has continued. It has even inspired other projector manufacturers to up their game, and the increased value available to the consumer across the market in general has been substantial.

Deeper into this blog thread you’ll read more about JVC’s impressive new lamp-based 4K projector lineup. I arrived late to the press event and had to take screenshots from the back. But I couldn’t resist bringing you an MST3000 moment.

While JVC introduced no new projectors at CEDIA EXPO for the first time in years, it still produced some of the best-looking images at the show. Using a native 4K source, its top of the line DLA-X900 looked particularly striking in low lamp mode on an approximately 130-inch wide screen. For those unfamiliar with JVC's current models, its higher-end designs can accept a 4K input and process it so that can be reproduced by the projector's 2K (1920 x 1080) LCOS imaging chips. Through further processing it then simulates 4K. Though it isn't true 4K, it can look very good.

I'm guessing that in the depths of JVC's R&D facilities they're working on a way to produce an affordable true 4K home theater projector. So far no one has done this--unless you consider Sony's $16,000 VPL-VW600ES affordable (but see the story above).

A number of new 4K Ultra HDTVs (in the Diamond line) and 1080p Full HD TVs (in the Emerald line) were announced at the show by Amtran/JVC. The DM65USRLCD is a 65-inch, 4K set favorably reviewed in our February/March 2015 issue (right in photo). There's also a 55-inch Diamond model at $899 and a new 85-incher (left), expected to hit stores later this month at the remarkable price of $7,500.