JVC DLA-NZ7 4K DILA Laser Projector Review

The JVC DLA-NZ7 measures 19 ^3/4” by 9 ^1/4” by 20” deep and weighs nearly 50 pounds so it is larger and heavier than most Home Theater projectors. While the DLA-NZ7 dimensions are similar to the DLA-NX7 it replaces, it is about 6 pounds heavier. The DLA-NZ7 has a black chassis with black/silver trim and its twin model the RS2100 has gold trim around the lens assembly.

Front and center is the recessed, and motorized, 2.00:1 zoom. Since the lens is motorized, there are no manual controls/knobs for zoom, focus or shift.

Other than the exhaust vents on either side of the lens, the only other thing on the front of the projector is the IR sensor and three LED indicator lights (Warning, Light, Standby). In addition to providing Power status, if there should be a problem, there's a list of warning codes in the manual.

The DLA-NZ7 uses the same remote control that JVC included with the previous 4K DILA projectors. It is backlit, and the buttons are well-spaced and easy to find. I like that there is a PICTURE MODE button accompanied by additional buttons to directly access the projector's Color Profiles and the Gamma settings menus.

On the back side of the projector is the Control Panel, as well as the inputs and connectors. The DLA-NZ7 control panel is very simple but most people will only use the control panel for initial setup, then rely on the remote control or a home automation system for those types of functions.

On either side on the lower portion of the back side are air inlets which are covered by replaceable/cleanable filters. In between the two inlets is the power terminal. There is also a 3D SYNCHRO terminal to connect the optional 3D Synchro Emitter.

For "old school" command and control, there is also a traditional serial RS-232C port (DB9 connector) along with a USB terminal used for service and firmware updates. Lastly, there is the RJ-45 jack for standard Ethernet networking and a single 12volt trigger output which can be used to control a screen, the sled of an anamorphic lens, or motorized shades.

The NZ7 includes a pair of 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 (HDCP 2.3) inputs which support 8K@60fps as well as 4K@120fps.  While the inputs can support up to 48Gbps, we should note that HDMI inputs/outputs found on most A/V Receivers, video switchers, and gaming consoles are limited to 40Gbps.

Currently, there isn't a lot of 8K or high frame rate video content available, but 4K@120fps can help deliver a smooth, high-quality gaming experience from a high-end gaming PC as well as the latest PlayStation and XBOX gaming consoles.

Good optics have a major impact on picture quality. The better lens assembly is one of the major reasons why the DLA-NZ7 cost more than other home theater projectors. The 65mm lens utilizes 17 all-glass elements divided into 15 groups to reduce chromatic aberration and maximize edge-to-edge image sharpness.

The Lens offers a zoom range of 2.0:1 along with a good amount of vertical and horizontal lens shift for more installation flexibility when ceiling, rear shelf mounting, or tabletop mounting the projector.

The menu system is similar to what JVC has utilized on its projectors for several years. There are some new setting adjustments to support newly introduced features. For example, a firmware upgrade last year added a new FILMMAKER MODE picture mode, two additional Frame Adapt picture modes, and a new Laser Dynamic Control mode for laser-equipped models.

The menus on higher-end models also have picture presets, adjustments, and settings that are not available on lower models. For example, the menus of the NZ8 and NZ9 include an adjustment for a Cinema Filter that is not found on the NZ7.

Overall, the menu is well-organized and easy to navigate, which is probably due to several years of finetuning. While the type size on the menu is a little small, it is still readable at a "normal" distance. The position of the menu can also be moved.

In addition to the Picture Modes, the NZ7 has over dozen built-in color profiles to help fine-tune the look of HDR and SDR material.

While the DLA-NZ7 does not include the Cinema Filter found in higher-end JVC models, it can still reproduce approximately 88% of the DCI-P3 color space. When a Color Filter is utilized, there is a noticeable drop in brightness, so I usually don’t engage it anyway.

When viewing HDR on a projector, maximizing brightness is more beneficial than maximizing color gamut coverage. When viewing HDR on the NZ7, I did not miss the additional color range that the Cinema Filter would have provided.

Like all Home Theater projectors, I took the time to calibrate the unit. Since your room and screen material significantly impact the overall picture, I don't recommend using someone else's calibration adjustments. If your room is brighter/darker or your walls are a different color, your settings would probably be different. Also, the color characteristics of different individual projectors can vary. Therefore copying someone else's results can actually be detrimental to the picture quality rather than improving it. However, I am including my specific room's before and after calibration results.

If you want to make BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST, and SHARPNESS adjustments to optimize your projector for your room, several free test patterns are available on Murideo’s website and YouTube channel. Check out our YouTube video on utilizing several of these test patterns called Optimize The Image of a Projector or TV Using Free Murideo Test Patterns. Murideo also has written instructions located under the resource section of its website.

To test the projector's color accuracy, we use Portrait Displays Calman color calibration software.

Delta E, as a measure of grayscale/color accuracy of 3 and under, is considered 'Excellent' and imperceptible by the human eye. The color tracking out of the box was just 1.38, which is better than many calibrated projectors.  While the pre-calibration white balance deltaE was high after adjustment, was 2.5 which is respectable.  

Like SDR, viewing HDR content, there was a little too much emphasis on green, making the image appear too cool. However, adjusting the 2Pt grayscale settings produced a good RGB balance (Grayscale).

While there was a noticeable improvement to the picture after HDR and SDR calibration, colors, and skin tones looked good the instant I turned the unit on. I will note that the NZ7’s cooler greenish pre-cal RGB balance was noticeably different from the warmer reddish DLA-NZ9 we reviewed several months ago.

The RGB balance of the projector light source can vary from unit to unit, even if it is the same model. This is another reason you shouldn’t use someone else’s calibration settings.  Anyone spending over $10,000 on a projector should definitely spend the money to get the unit professionally calibrated.

For those who would like to calibrate the NZ7 themselves, JVC offers free Projector Calibration Software. Utilizing the software and a Datacolor SpyderX Elite/ Pro or x-Rite i1 Pro2 color sensor, when retail for about $200, you can automatically fine-tune the image for your environment. I have utilized the JVC auto-cal feature in the past, and while the process is complex, I was impressed with the results.

While many 4K UHD DLP projectors can produce higher max brightness, it is usually at the expense of accurate colors. Once these projectors are calibrated, their brightness advantage quickly disappears. Those projectors often lose nearly half their brightness when they are adjusted to reproduce accurate colors.

The DLA-NZ7 can still deliver most of its rated brightness even after calibration. For example, the NZ7 retained About 85% of its pre-calibrated brightness after calibration. The NZ7’s great black levels and 2200 ANSI of brightness delivered excellent SDR and HDR picture quality that few home theater projectors can match.

While many Home Theater projector still struggle to reproduce HDR, the JVC DLA-NZ7 delivered one of the best-looking HDR images I have seen from a projector. There are nine present picture modes dedicated to HDR, including three FRAME ADAPT HDR modes, three USER modes, and FILMMAKER MODE.

The DLA-NZ7 retails for $10,999 and delivers 2200 Lumens with a high native contrast ratio of 40,000:1. The NZ7 utilizes JVC's 0.69-inch 4K D-ILA devices to offer not only native 4K resolution but higher native contrast than any projector in its price range.

By combining native 4K D-ILA devices with JVC's proprietary 8K e-shift technology, the NZ7 can display beyond 4K resolution. The NZ7 does an excellent job upscaling HD and 4K content, and due to its 48Gbps HDMI input, it can also accept 8K@60fps and 4K@120fps signals.

The DLA-NZ7 is equipped with a 65 mm diameter lens which adopts an all-glass design with 17 elements in 15 groups to deliver a high-resolution image with sharp focus across the entire screen.

The Adaptive HDR tone mapping combined with Theater Optimizer dynamically increases the brightness of HDR10 content and automatically adjusts the DLA-NZ7's settings to maximize onscreen brightness while maintaining hightlight detail.  JVC’s proven dynamic tone mapping technology delivers class-leading HDR picture quality. The NZ7 also supports HLG and HDR10+.

The JVC D-ILA projectors' true competition is Sony 4K SXRD projectors. Looking at the Sony FPJ lineup, the XW6000ES ($11,999 SRP) is comparable to the DLA-NZ7 ($10,999). The XW6000ES is 300 ANSI lumens brighter and offered better out-of-the-box color reproduction. However, the JVC’s overall HDR performance is better, and it can deliver higher native contrast for $1,000 less.

The projector's out-of-the-box color reproduction could have been better, but it can be quickly corrected during calibration. Due to its fantastic black levels, and bright, vibrant HDR image, I would have been happy to have the projector as a permanent part of my reference system. Overall, I was highly impressed with the performance of the DLA-NZ7,  so we believe it is the best home theater projector under $15,000.