JVC DLA-RS35 Projector Review 2

Posted on October 2, 2010 by Art Feierman

The JVC DLA-RS35 is a medium largish home theater projector for the under $10,000 range. Like all other JVC's we've reviewed, it's an LCoS projector with very good placement flexibility. The finish is a shiny piano black with gold trim just on the lens trim ring, and a "stripe" running from front to back on the top. Very tasteful. While the size could be a wife issue, the combination of being almost all black and a clean look should overcome any objection - especially after it's turned on!

Since the DLA-RS35 is feature for feature, identical to the RS25, for the purposes of this review, a few of things to consider:

Is the JVC DLA-RS35 really worth the extra $2000 over the RS25? That is, will putting all the best QC'd components into a limited number of RS35s result in a picture quality that is definitely recognizable as being worth a couple thousand more dollars? That's the big question.
In writing up this review, you will find a mix of both RS25 and RS35 images used. While the end results in terms of calibrations are slightly different, I will be using some RS25 images where I don't think there is any substantial quality difference. Of course you can tell which are which by their image names, when using your browser.

Large sections of content in this review will be lifted directly from the RS25 review. There's no point in re-writing most of this review. Some areas though will be different. Performance page - and calibration pages, will have new content relating to measurements and calibration. The summary, of course will be different, as there I have to assess the value of the RS35 as a $10,000, compared to both the RS25 and all the other competition.

As you read through this review, you should end up as impressed as I have been. Having the RS35 here, along with the new InFocus, the lower priced JVC RS15, and the Mitsubishi HC3800 (not to mention the recently reviewed LG projector), I must admit it's been a challenge to disconnect the RS35 to put other projectors online, I'm so enjoying the RS35. For the Olympics, now, I'm mostly using the RS35, but I have gone to the brighter LG for some of the daytime viewing.

The last major decision I'll have to make is this: Do I sell my RS20, and lay out a lot more money for an RS35, or do I "suffer" my RS20 another year or so, before I go into hock again for another expensive projector? I will say, that if money were not an issue, I'd have already called JVC to say - "you ain't gett'in this one back, so you might as well send me a bill". I am blown away! (but not for the reason you probably suspect).