JVC DLA-RS25 – Performance Posted on October 11, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Review - DLA-RS25 Projector Highlights - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Overview2. DLA-RS25 Projector – Special Features - THX Certification - Color Management System (CMS) - Motorized Lens System - CFI - Creative Frame Interpolation3. JVC DLA-RS25 Physical Tour - JVC DLA-RS25 Physical Appearance - Control Panel - Input/Output4. JVC DLA-RS25 Physical Tour – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25 Menus - JVC DLA-RS25 Remote Control - DLA-RS25 Lens Throw - DLA-RS25 Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens5. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector - Image Quality - DLA-RS25 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones6. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality – 1 - JVC RS25 Black Levels & Shadow Detail7. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality – 2 - Shadow Detail Performance8. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality – 39. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality – 4 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - JVC DLA-RS25U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports10. JVC DLA-RS25 – Performance - JVC DLA-RS25 Brightness - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector - Uncalibrated: - Sharpness11. JVC DLA-RS25 – Performance – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - JVC DLA-RS25 Image Noise - DLA-RS25 Audible Noise12. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Calibration and Settings - JVC DLA-RS25 Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom): - JVC DLA-RS25 Basic Settings13. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Calibration and Settings – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25 Post Calibration Grayscale - Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration): - Gamma settings: - JVC DLA-RS25 RGB Settings - CMS Settings: H=Hue, S=Saturation, B=Brightness14. JVC DLA-RS25 – Projector Screens & Competitors - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Screen Recommendations - JVC DLA-RS25 - Competitors - DLA-RS25 vs. Epson Home Cinema 8500UB, Pro 9500UB - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Mitsubishi HC7000 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. BenQ W6000 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z300015. JVC DLA-RS25 – Projector Screens & Competitors – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Planar PD8150 and Optoma HD8600 - DLA-RS25 vs. InFocus IN83 and SP860216. JVC DLA-RS25 – Projector Screens & Competitors – 2 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Panasonic PT-AE4000 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. JVC DLA-RS20, DLA-RS15 and RS35! - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Sony VPL-HW15, VPL-VW85, Optoma HD860017. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Warranty - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector - Warranty18. JVC DLA-RS25 – Review Summary - JVC DLA-RS25 - Review Summary - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector - The Bottom Line - Brightness19. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Warranty & Summary – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector: Cons - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector: Typical Capabilities20. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Specifications JVC DLA-RS25 BrightnessNo surprises here. The new JVC DLA-RS25 projector is very similar to last year’s RS20 in terms of brightness. In this case, the JVC DLA-RS25 – and, therefore also the JVC HD950 – measured just a little less bright than the older model, in some modes, and a little brighter in others. (Bolded modes are the ones we worked with. Ultimately a calibrated THX mode was saved in User 1, and a calibrated “Brightest” mode was saved in User 2. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector - Uncalibrated: Cinema 1 753 @ 6029 Cinema 2 753 @ 6878 Cinema 3 769 @ 8040 Natural 748 @ 6863 Stage 769 @ 8050 Dynamic 853 @ 9586, 862 with Color Sat. set to 0 THX 748 @ 6865 User 1 or 2 753 @ 6860 After doing our calibration of “best mode” we measured Cinema 2 (placed in User 1) at 727 lumens down only 25 lumens from uncalibrated. Mike felt that the color handling and picture quality of Dynamic mode was already extremely good, and did not do our basic “quick-cal(ibrate)” of Dynamic because he felt that further improving it would eliminate any additional brightness. The good looking, and unadjusted Dynamic mode measured 853 lumens, only 125 lumens more than our calibrated THX mode The Effect of zoom lens positioning on brightness: Our standard measurements reported are done with the zoom at its mid-point. Here are relative numbers from the Cinema 1 mode, for different lens positioning From a percentage standpoint, the differences will be the same for any mode, as you change the lens angle: Zoom out (closest position – wide-angle): 819 lumens Mid-zoom: 753 lumens Zoom in: 625 lumens (furthest from the screen – tele) Thus, at the maximum zoom distance, the lumens are 17% lower. At the closest distance (wide angle), they are 9% greater, than with the projector lens at the middle – the mid-point of its zoom range. (The same ratios should apply to any preset mode) The Effect of low lamp (eco) mode on brightness: Low lamp power (“Normal” lamp mode), for Cinema 1: 506 lumens High lamp power (“High” lamp mode) for Cinema 1: 753 lumens That works out to a drop of almost a 1/3 in brightness when running the lamp in Normal (low) mode. That same percentage difference should be unchanged, regardless of preset mode. Even in low power, in a “best” mode, the JVC DLA-RS25 and HD950 should be slightly brighter than the average home theater projector running at full power. With the JVC lamp on normal (High) setting, the JVC is one of the very brightest projectors available under $10,000, when comparing “best” modes. It’s when you are willing to sacrifice some picture quality for a lot more lumens that the JVC RS25, like my own RS20, runs into “trouble”. With the JVC projectors you get a relatively small bump in brightness going from “best” to “brightest” (in this case, Dynamic) mode. That small bump is only about 13%. That is, the RS25 is 13% brighter at it’s brightest, than at its best. We’re talking a measured 853 lumens in Dynamic with lamp on normal (High setting). That’s a bit below average, which we deem to be about 1000 lumens. This fits nicely with my experience with the RS20. The lack of extra brightness in “brightest” mode, is my only real complaint about the RS20 after owning it for the better part of a year. (OK, it could be a touch sharper too.) With the JVC RS25 (like the older RS20), you can also control brightness (and slightly effect contrast) by closing down the manual iris. Closing the iris all the way down (-15) decreases brightness by about 54% to 403 lumens, from 753 lumens. Closing it part way down (-8) decreases brightness 23% to 580 lumens. (We used the manual iris to reduce brightness in our side by side shoots with the Epson 9500UB.) Again, this is a manual iris – the JVC projectors do not use a dynamic iris. SharpnessNothing exciting an dnew to report here: JVC’s have never been among the very sharpest looking 1080p projectors around, nonetheless, it isn’t a serious issue. I refer to the JVC projectors as having average sharpness, simply because they do look sharp. Any differences on movie viewing between the RS25, and the sharpest images out there is slight. Where you might notice a bit more difference is with a straight digital video signal, as you don’t have the softening effects of the film, that comes with movies. All told there just isn’t that much difference between a projector with “average” sharpness, like the JVC, and “sharper still” as I like to describe the sharpest of the 1080p projectors. As I pointed out last year, the average “sharpness” may be due to JVC’s use of LCoS panels which have the least visible pixel structure. That may inherently make them look a little softer, even as they reveal the same amount of detail. That wouldn’t surprise me, as the Sony’s are typically similar to the JVC’s and they too are LCoS. The other major projector that tends to fit in the group (in terms of sharpness) is the Panasonic PT-AE3000 and PT-AE4000 which use their SmoothScreen Technology on their LCD panels to end up with a pixel structure no more visible than LCoS. Generally the best of the DLP projectors, probably thanks to not having 3 panels (chips) to align, tend to have slightly sharper imagery, than the three chip devices like the 3LCD and LCoS projectors. One thing significant about the JVC’s sharpness, is that it is pretty consistent from the center of the screen to the corners. This is likely due to having excellent optics. Many projectors have very detectable softening of the image in the corners and outside area, if you focus from the dead center. We recommend that with any projector you should pick a spot for dead on focus, that is about 1/3 of the way from the center to the corner. That will give the best overall sharpness across the image. For your consideration, our usual close up images Top left: JVC DLA-RS25, Top Left Center – Planar PD8150, Top Right Center – Sony VPL-VW60, Top right – Mitsubishi HC7000 2nd row left: Epson Home Cinema 6500UB, left center: Panasonic PT-AE3000, right center: Optoma HD8000, right: InFocus IN83 Note, starting with this review, now that my DTS test disc died, for this sharpness demo, we will be using a closeup of the PS3 system screen, showing the Video icon JVC DLA-RS25Planar PD8150Sony VPL-VW60,Mitsubishi HC7000Epson Home Cinema 6500UBPanasonic PT-AE3000Optoma HD8000,InFocus IN83 PreviousNext 1. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Review - DLA-RS25 Projector Highlights - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Overview2. DLA-RS25 Projector – Special Features - THX Certification - Color Management System (CMS) - Motorized Lens System - CFI - Creative Frame Interpolation3. JVC DLA-RS25 Physical Tour - JVC DLA-RS25 Physical Appearance - Control Panel - Input/Output4. JVC DLA-RS25 Physical Tour – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25 Menus - JVC DLA-RS25 Remote Control - DLA-RS25 Lens Throw - DLA-RS25 Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens5. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector - Image Quality - DLA-RS25 Out of the Box Picture Quality - Flesh Tones6. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality – 1 - JVC RS25 Black Levels & Shadow Detail7. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality – 2 - Shadow Detail Performance8. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality – 39. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality – 4 - Overall Color & Picture Quality - JVC DLA-RS25U Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports10. JVC DLA-RS25 – Performance - JVC DLA-RS25 Brightness - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector - Uncalibrated: - Sharpness11. JVC DLA-RS25 – Performance – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25: Bottom Line Sharpness - Light Leakage - JVC DLA-RS25 Image Noise - DLA-RS25 Audible Noise12. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Calibration and Settings - JVC DLA-RS25 Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range (Pre calibration): - Lumen Output and Color Temp at 100 IRE (mid zoom): - JVC DLA-RS25 Basic Settings13. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Calibration and Settings – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25 Post Calibration Grayscale - Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration): - Gamma settings: - JVC DLA-RS25 RGB Settings - CMS Settings: H=Hue, S=Saturation, B=Brightness14. JVC DLA-RS25 – Projector Screens & Competitors - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Screen Recommendations - JVC DLA-RS25 - Competitors - DLA-RS25 vs. Epson Home Cinema 8500UB, Pro 9500UB - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Mitsubishi HC7000 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. BenQ W6000 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Sanyo PLV-Z300015. JVC DLA-RS25 – Projector Screens & Competitors – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Planar PD8150 and Optoma HD8600 - DLA-RS25 vs. InFocus IN83 and SP860216. JVC DLA-RS25 – Projector Screens & Competitors – 2 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Panasonic PT-AE4000 - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. JVC DLA-RS20, DLA-RS15 and RS35! - JVC DLA-RS25 vs. Sony VPL-HW15, VPL-VW85, Optoma HD860017. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Warranty - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector - Warranty18. JVC DLA-RS25 – Review Summary - JVC DLA-RS25 - Review Summary - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector - The Bottom Line - Brightness19. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Warranty & Summary – 1 - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector: Pros, Cons, and Typical Capabilities - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector: Cons - JVC DLA-RS25 Projector: Typical Capabilities20. JVC DLA-RS25 Projector Specifications JVC DLA-RS25 Projector – Image Quality – 4 JVC DLA-RS25 – Performance – 1