JVC DLA-RS1100 4K D-ILA Projector Review

Posted on July 20, 2022 by Phil Jones

The JVC DLA-RS1100 is a 1,900 lumen native 4K home theater that retails for $6,999. The RS1100’s high contrast ratio of 40,000:1 combined with true 4K (4096x2160) resolution and JVC’s industry-leading best black levels delivers exceptional picture quality at a reasonable price.

The RS1100 is part of JVC’s new D-ILA home theater projector models. These models all include 48Gbps HDMI inputs, which can accept 4K@120fps signals. While higher-end 8K e-Shift models are equipped with BLU-Escent laser light sources, the RS1100 is a lamp-based unit.

The JVC DLA-1100 Is a lamp-based projector

The DLA-RS1100 has a rated brightness of 1,900 lumens, slightly brighter than the DLA-RS1000 it is replacing. This is more than enough brightness to produce a good HDR picture on screens up to 120” and an excellent SDR image on much larger screens.

The rated lamp life is 4,500 hours in Low Mode, allowing use for several hours daily for a couple of years. Even with the Low Mode’s reduced lumen output, the RS1100 can still produce more than enough light for a dedicated home theater.

All JVC D-ILA projectors, including the RS1100, utilize JVC’s new 3^rd generation 0.69-inch native 4K D-ILA devices. Since this is a native 4K unit, unlike a 2K pixel shifting projector, it can faithfully reproduce all 8.8 million pixels found in 4K content.

Due to its D-ILA imagers, the RS1100 has a native contrast ratio of 40,000:1 (Dynamic Contrast Ratio 400,000:1), which is exceptional compared to 4K DLP projectors in its price point.

The RS1100 is equipped with three native 4K DILA devices

The DLA-RS1100 includes two JVC proprietary technologies to maximize HDR performance. First is the Frame Adapt HDR feature enables dynamic scene-by-scene and frame-by-frame HDR tone mapping of HDR10 content. The goal is to display highlight details while maintaining good screen brightness.

The brightness of a projected image can change depending on the screen size, screen gain, throw distance, and light source life. To precisely tone map, the projector’s processor needs to account for its exact brightness capability in your specific system.

The second feature, called the Theater Optimizer, combines information provided by the user, like screen size and gain, with the unit's current status, like lens zoom position and lamp condition to provide a more accurate baseline on which to apply dynamic tone mapping.

Theater Optimizer combined with Frame Adapt HDR results in great-looking HDR picture

The projector can automatically and precisely adjust itself for optimum tone mapping and brightness by utilizing that user-inputted information and default projector information.

Theater Optimizer combined with Frame Adapt HDR results in great-looking HDR10 content while eliminating the hassle of having to constantly make manual Brightness and Contrast adjustments from bright to dark scenes or from movie to movie. The RS1100 also supports Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) to ensure that users are ready for live future HDR broadcasts.

JVC DLA-RS1100 Specs
Price	6,999
Technology	Native 4K DILA
Native Resolution	4096x2160
Brightness (Manufacturer Claim)	1900
Contrast	40000:1
Zoom Lens Ratio	2.00:1
Lens Shift	Yes
Lamp Life	4,500 hours (Low Mode)
Weight	42.3
Warranty	3 years

JVC offers two different series of 4K D-ILA Projectors, which differ mainly in their cosmetic appearance. Both series can be found in home theaters and production facilities but are sold through different sales channels.

For example, the JVC Procision Series projectors are sold through retailers like Best Buy and Crutchfield, while the Reference Series models are available through the custom installation dealer network. I reviewed the JVC DLA-RS1100 from their Reference lineup, however, the nearly identical Procision Series version is the DLA-NP5.

Except for cosmetics, the DLA-RS1100 and DLA-NP5 are identical but sold in different retail channels

With a retail price of $6,999, the JVC DLA-RS1100 is the least expensive model in the new JVC’s 4K D-ILA projector lineup. The RS1100 is very similar to the RS1000 it is replacing, but the new model is 100 lumens brighter and includes two 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 inputs to accept and display 4K@120fps signals.

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

The new RS1100 also supports HDR10+. This format is based on HDR10, but in HDR10+ content, the luminance information for each scene is embedded into the content as dynamic metadata so that tone mapping can be performed according to the specific scene. This format aims to help the projector faithfully reproduce the HDR images as intended by the creators.

While HDR10 and Dolby Vision are the main ways HDR content is distributed, Amazon Prime Video has announced support for HDR10+. There is also a limited number of 4K UHD Blu-ray discs available and a select number of UHD BD players from companies like Panasonic that support it.

The RS1100 supports 3D, which is great news for movie enthusiasts who have libraries containing 3D Blu-ray discs because users can still take advantage of the content they paid for.

Four new JVC laser projectors exist in both the Procision Series and Reference Series lines. The new Procision Series includes the DLA-NZ9, DLA-NZ8, DLA-NZ7, and DLA-NP5, while the Reference Series equivalents are the DLA-RS4100, DLA-RS3100, and the DLA-RS2100 and RS1100.

	NP5/RS1100	NZ7/RS2100	NZ8/RS3100	NZ9/RS4100
Price	$6999.95	$10,999.95	$15,999.95	$25,999.95
Resolution	4K	8K/e-shift	8K/e-shiftX	8K/e-shiftX
Light Source	Lamp	BLU-Escent laser	BLU-Escent laser	BLU-Escent laser
Brightness	1900lm	2,200lm	2,500lm	3,000lm
Native Contrast	40,000:1	40,000:1	80,000:1	100,000:1
Lens Assembly	65mm All glass	65mm All glass	65mm All glass	100mm All Glass
Cinema Filter	NO	NO	YES	YES

Spending $4,000 more to step up from the DLA-RS1100 to the DLA-RS2100 ($10,999 SRP) adds 8K/eshift and BLU-Escent light source, which is 300 lumens brighter. Like most JVC D-ILA projectors, the RS1100 utilizes a 17-element all-glass 65mm lens assembly to ensure that all the resolution provided by these 4K imagers reaches the screen. While JVC does offer a higher-end 100mm lens assembly on the DLA-NZ9 / DLA-RS4100, the image from the RS1100 was crisp and clear.

The lens assembly of the RS1100 is motorized with lens memories. You can quickly change between different zoom and shift preset settings to display content in different aspect ratios on a fixed 2.35:1 aspect projection screen.

The RS1100 is also equipped with a new “Installation Mode” that saves and recalls up to 9 different combinations of settings, including Lens Control, Pixel Adjustment, Mask, Anamorphic on or off, Screen Adjust, Installation Style, Keystone, Pincushion of lens settings, different aspect ratios, lens presets, convergence and screen masking positions. This RS1100 is compatible with commercially available anamorphic lenses and ultra-wide format screens for an immersive movie theater experience.

The RS1100 is targeted at serious home theater enthusiasts who desire JVC's legendary picture quality, black levels, along with tons of installation features at an approachable price.