JVC D-ILA projectors are renowned for having great black-level performance. While a dynamic iris (aperture) can be used to increase the perceived Dynamic contrast, this feature is not 100% transparent so it is sometimes noticeable as the projector adjusts from scene to scene.
JVC home theater projectors have a reputation for delivering the highest native contrast in the industry. Even without the RS1100’s dynamic iris engaged, there are few projectors that can come close to this JVC’s black-level performance during dark scenes.
The projector’s default BRIGHTNESS setting is a little too high, resulting in the slightly evaluated black level. I suggest reducing the BRIGHTNESS setting to fully take advantage of the projector’s capabilities.
While great black levels are important, so is shadow detail. Not only did the DLA-RS1100 handle the darkest scenes it also did a great job reproducing details in the darkest areas. When it comes to black level, I would wager that the DLA-RS1100 would easily match or beat any DLP projector anywhere near its price point.
HD AND 4K PICTURE QUALITY
Due to its native 4K imager and excellent optics, the DLA-RS1100 had no problems delivering sharp detailed 4K imagery. While the image from pixel-shifting 3LCD projector has gotten sharper over the last few years, they still can’t match a native 4K projector.
The fact is most TV shows, and live broadcasts will continue to be produced in HD for several more years, so good 4K upscaling will continue to be important. The JVC 4K upscaling was excellent. Whether I was watching 720P sports from ESPN or 1080p Blu-ray content, it looked very good. Most TV and movies do not have enough fine detail to make the difference between watching 4K SDR and HD noticeable.
Due to its 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 inputs, the DLA-RS1100 can accept and playback 4K SDR or HDR content at 120 frames per second. While there isn’t a lot of video content available at such a high frame, the latest gaming consoles and graphic cards can output 120fps.
Due to its 48Gpbs HDMI inputs, the RS1100 can accept and display 4K@120fps content
The RS1100 had no problem displaying 120fps video from my Murideo Seven G test pattern generator or games rendered at 120fps from my Xbox Series X and my Razer gaming PC. The RS1100 can support gaming at 120 frames per second. When the LOW LATENCY setting is engaged under the MOTION CONTROL sub-menu, we measured the RS1100's input lag at 37ms when displaying 4K@120fps. This response time is fast enough for most casual gamers.
HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE
The RS1100, like all current JVC home theater projectors, utilizes dynamic HDR tone mapping. The Frame Adapt HDR feature allows the projector to measure and tone map HDR10 content either Frame-by-Frame or Scene-by-Scene. For my HDR viewing, I choose the Frame-by-Frame option.
JVC’s new Theater Optimizer feature combines information provided by the user with the projector’s current status information to provide a more accurate baseline on which to apply dynamic Tone Mapping. By utilizing that user-inputted information and default projector information, the projector can more precisely adjust itself for optimum tone mapping and brightness.
In most situations, when viewing HDR10 content, the Adaptive HDR tone mapping feature combined with the Theater Optimizer did a great job balancing the need to deliver good full-screen brightness while still displaying bright highlight detail. Users can adjust the HDR tone mapping brightness curve using the HDR LEVEL setting, but I never felt the need to do so.
The RS1100 supports HDR10+
The RS1100 also supports the HDR10+ format, an enhancement to HDR10 that includes dynamic metadata that can be used during HDR tone mapping. HDR10+ is a royalty-free technology that is accessible to content creators and device manufacturers. HDR10+ content is available on select UHD Blu-ray and various streaming services like Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Paramount+.
When I took some time to compare HDR content dynamically tone mapped by the RS1100 to HDR10+ material, the picture quality differences were subtle. This was probably due to fact that JVC's Frame Adapt HDR tone mapping feature is so effective.
AUDIBLE NOISE
Like all JVChome theater projectors, the RS1100 is super quiet. We do not measure audible noise, but JVC rates the projector’s noise level at 24dB, which LAMP POWER is set to Low. This makes the RS1100 one of the quietest projectors on the market. There is a noticeable increase in fan noise when the LAMP POWER is switched from Low to High. However, the RS1100 is quieter than most home theater projectors, even at full power.
