JVC DLA-RS20 Projector – Image Quality3

Consider two additional images which are good ones for considering black levels. Look for the richness in the black part of some of the buildings and, also, the sky, in the second image. Both of these first two, are digital hi-def images from the DVE-HD calibration disc.

Shadow Detail Performance

The JVC is very good in terms of shadow detail. Good projectors today don’t vary a whole lot in how much dark shadow detail they reveal. Yet, there still are differences. Differences in the gamma can make a difference, but ultimately it’s more about getting a projector set up for its best performance. The JVC is definitely a solid performer. I’ve seen other projectors adjusted well enough to do better than I have been able to get out of the JVC, but were talking pretty negligible on all but the most difficult scenes, when properly set up.

This first comparison image is a good one for both black levels and shadow details. It is from Men in Black. Look at the clouds, the details in the structures at the top, actually there’s plenty to look at in the image. This image will become a standard one for comparisons, going forward. This image has the InFocus IN83 on the left (and it has about as good a shadow detail performance as I have seen). The JVC is on the right. You will see that the buildings at the bottom are hard to spot on the JVC. As is some of the detail in the band around the saucer. Note, though, most of the detail is there, it’s just darker, and the eye has trouble picking it out because of brighter areas. Of course, that’s what happens when watching movies. In scenes with lots of bright areas, you never pick up the dark shadow detail:

showing the JVC’s performance on shadow detail and black levels compared to many of the other 1080p projectors out there.