The X35 does measure the about same as the X55R in "brightest" mode, despite the 100 lumen difference, although the 3D mode on the X35 is more than 50 lumens brighter than anything the X55R measured. Interesting that our "best" and "brightest" measurements were almost identical for both. In fact, both projectors measured exactly 703 lumens calibrated.
| 20 IRE |
6592 |
| 30 IRE |
6485 |
| 40 IRE |
6458 |
| 50 IRE |
6549 |
| 60 IRE |
6567 |
| 70 IRE |
6571 |
| 80 IRE |
6550 |
| 90 IRE |
6599 |
| 100 IRE |
6625 |
| Average gamma= 2.22 |
Those are very nice numbers above. The color temps we we measure, 20 - 100 IRE, within a 150 degree range.
JVC Gamma Control:
Gamma controls are extensive, but all the settings are a below the target of 2.2. Mike used the custom feature to create a better gamma. More on that on the calibration page.
Mike's NOTES: Typical of JVC projectors, gamma was too low in any of the presets (Normal was the high with an average gamma of 2.14). Going to the Custom gamma allows for an actual gamma of 2.2 or higher.
The rest of Mike's comments are on the Calibration page. The Calibration page provides the settings we used. That includes basic settings as well as gain and offset.
Pretty good for a three panel projector. Fancy alignment abilities notwithstanding, good single chip DLP's still rule when it comes to native sharpness. In comparing the JVC X35 to an Epson Home Cinema 5020UB, with all the fancy controls turned off, I'll give the JVC the slightest advantage. For perspective, the difference between the two, is minor compared to either vs. a good $3000+ DLP.
This is the only JVC in the lineup without JVC's e-shift2 technology. Ilike e-shift2, and consider it a dynamic detail and sharpness enhancement tool. There are a number of ways to try to make an image seem sharper and more detailed. E-shift2 is one of the good ones. Remember there's "the good stuff" native sharpness, and then there's simulating it. In my further observations side by side with the Epson, I found that Epson's Super-Resolution, gave it the advantage in simulated detail, etc. By the same token, I consider the X55R with it's e-shift2 to be superior to the Epson's Super-Resolution.
Let's take a look at the X55R here, with it's default settings.
For your consideration, our usual close up images from the Sony Playstation 3 :
JVC DLA-X35: Bottom Line Sharpness
JVC DLA-X35: Bottom Line Sharpness
Standard sharpness is a bit soft as expected, compared to good single chip DLP projectors. Overall, the projector looks very nicely sharp when viewing film based movies. Switch to some all digital content, though and those DLP's will have a modest but visible edge. Relative to the competition in LCD and LCoS projectors, the JVC does very well, although the Sony HW50ES in particular can seem noticeably sharper/more detailed, with it's Reality Creation engine engaged. Reality Creation, and JVC's e-shift2 have similar goals.
X35 Light Leakage
The DLA-X35 projector leaks light out the lens like the proverbial sieve!
The good news is that the light leaking is very, very dark. It's mostly visible all around the normal viewing area, but extends outward a good bit. When viewing side by side against the Epson on a black screen, there was just enough light leaking onto the Epson's area to see it having a miniscule impact on the Epson's blacks. By comparison, the Epson leaks essentially no light.
You are going to need a really dark or blank screen and a white wall, to notice it In other words, I wouldn't be concerned at all.
DLA-X35 Image Noise
Other than noise generated (as expected) by the various dynamic controls including Clear Motion (CFI) consider the JVC to be very good. It handles my favorite tough panning a touch better than the Sony, and comparable to the Epson, Mitsubishi HC8000D and Panasonic. Background noise is minimal, well below competing DLP projectors.
Since crosstalk is a form of noise, then I can say that this year's X35 is far cleaner than last year's RS45 (aka the X30). 3D has been dramatically improved. JVC took a lot of heat last year from most reviewers, as we were unimpressed with JVC's crosstalk, etc.
Perhaps JVC heeded the press? Stranger things can happen.
3D picture quality this year is very competitive. That's a major improvement.
I can't think of any traditional noise issues worth reporting. I must confess I did not get around to running my old Silicon Optix test disk. I'm getting spoiled, as today's projectors are typically rather good, with only a rare, serious problem out there. The X55R did fine on the disc, and since these two are in most ways identical, I wouldn't have expected anything serious to show up.
JVC DLA-X35 Audible Noise
Anything this big, I would expect to be fairly quiet compared to smaller projectors Rather, it's more in line with the Epson, which at full power is not really quiet. I find I normally forget about it, but switching to low power one is surprised by how much the noise level drops.
We do not measure audible noise but based on those projectors that publish a noise spec for full power (High), I'd put the JVC X35 around 32db. JVC claims 23db in low (Normal) power.
In its price range, the DLA-X35 is going to be a little noisier than some, with its noise comparable to DLP projectors, and a little noisier than the quieter of the 3 panel projectors around its price. The Sony competition is quieter, the Epson competition is not.
In other words, there are very few projectors that are significantly quieter at full power, but several are going to be "a bit" quieter.
