JVC DLA-RS15 - Screen Recommendations
3/8/2010 - Art Feierman
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JVC RS15 Projector Screen Recommendations
This section on projector screens for your JVC DLA-RS15, is essentially the same as the versions for the RS25 and RS35 projectors, due to their similarity. In reality, even the RS15 here, who's blacks aren't as good as the RS25/RS35 is close enough that the same "arguments" hold for all three projectors.
Great projectors tend to look great on any good screen. The trick with the RS15 is to match the screen to your room, and your viewing requirements.
For example, the RS15 does'nt have the best black levels around, but is so close to the best that you really don't need to consider a high contrast gray screen, (like the Firehawk G3 I use in my main theater), unless it is to deal with some (side) ambient light. For those with a fully light controlled room, for example, the StudioTek 130 G3, or other moderate gain white surfaces should be an excellent match. Mind you, some of you with smaller screen sizes may want to lower overall black levels so might choose a high contrast gray surfaced projector screen. I had only minor issues with the black levels when switching to my Carada Brilliant White 106" screen (gain 1.4), in terms of black levels.
The RS15 projector filling my 128" screen has black levels only slightly noticeable on dark scenes, when looking at the letterbox area. Not bad at all. Personally, I like that, and probably favor a screen like my Firehawk over a tyical white surface. That said, a lot of that, is my personal preference. I'm willing to give up a little corner roll-off for those even blacker blacks.
Thanks to the RS15's brightness in "best" mode, the RS15 has plenty of horsepower to handle the full 128" diagonal size of my Firehawk G3.
For those of us who also like to watch sports, or typical TV/HDTV programming in an environment with some intentional ambient light, the Stage and Dynamic modes are just a tad brighter, so there's not a lot of spare lumens to deal with ambient light. In a room like mine, while I don't need the Firehawk surface for great movie watching (room fully darkened), the screen's handling of side ambient light really comes in handy for dealing with the intentional ambient light I like for sports viewing, much of which comes from the sides. For that, the Firehawk does a great job.
Bottom line, get a good screen that meets your lighting requirements. Preferably it should be a very fine surface, designed for 1080p projectors. For those wanting really large screens, higher gain screens may do the trick but remember, they have a narrow viewing cone (where you sit) and tend to roll off brightness in the corners.
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