JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality Posted on July 15, 2013 By Art Feierman 1. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Review - JVC DLA-X55R Projector Highlights - JVC DLA-X55R Projector Overview2. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Special Features - No Dynamic Iris, but a Manual One - DLA-X55R 3D Abilities - JVC X55R 3D active glasses and emitter - 2D to Simulated 3D on the DLA-X55R - JVC DLA-X55R Calibration - CFI - JVC X55R Creative Frame Interpolation3. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Special Features 2 - JVC e-Shift2 and "4K" resolution4. JVC DLA-X55R and RS48 Projectors – Physical Tour - JVC DLA-X55R Physical Appearance - Control Panel - JVC DLA-X55R and DLA-RS48 Projector Input/Output5. JVC DLA-X55R and RS48 Projectors – Physical Tour 2 - JVC DLA-X55R and DLA-RS48 Menus - JVC DLA-X55R Remote Control - DLA-X55R Lens Throw - DLA-X55R Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens6. JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality - DLA-X55R "Out of the Box" Picture Quality - DLA-X55 Projector - Flesh Tones7. JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality 2 - DLA-X55R Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Performance8. JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality 3 - JVC DLA-X55R - Overall Color & Picture Quality - The bottom line on overall picture quality9. JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality 4 - JVC DLA-X55R Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports - Bottom line for HDTV on the JVC DLA-X55R Home Theater Projector10. JVC DLA-X55 Projector – Performance - JVC DLA-X55R Brightness - JVC DLA-X55R Brightness11. JVC DLA-X55 Projector – Performance 2 - JVC 4K e-Shift 2 - Lumen Output Low Lamp, Cinema: 451 lumens - JVC DLA-X55R Projector - Post Calibration12. JVC DLA-X55 Projector – Performance 3 - JVC DLA-X55R Sharpness - JVC DLA-X55R: Bottom Line Sharpness - X55R Light Leakage13. JVC DLA-X55 Projector – Performance 4 - DLA-X55R Image Noise - JVC DLA-X55R Audible Noise14. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Calibration and Settings - JVC DLA-X55R Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range, Best mode (Pre calibration) - JVC DLA-X55R Basic Settings15. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - JVC DLA-RS45 Post Calibration Grayscale: User 1 "Best" mode - RGB Settings - JVC DLA-X55R Grayscale Calibration16. JVC DLA-X55R Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - Color Management Settings (CMS) - Notes on CMS - Calibration Charts (Before and After)17. JVC DLA-X55R Projector – Competitors18. JVC DLA-X55R Projector – Warranty - JVC DLA-X55R Projector - Warranty19. JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector – Review Summary - JVC DLA-X55R Projector - The Bottom Line20. JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector – Review Summary 2 - 3D on the JVC DLA-X55R projector - The Very Bottom Line on the JVC DLA-X55R Home Theater projector21. JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector – Review Summary 3 - JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector: Pros and Cons - JVC DLA-X55R Projector: Pros - JVC DLA-X55R Projector: Cons22. JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector – Full Specifications The JVC DLA-X55 R projector is one fine home theater projector. I’m talking image on your screen. Features vary, prices of projectors are all over the place, but when you get up here into the $5000 price range, most of us are really looking for at least one thing the same – a really great picture. We can quibble about which competitors are better, and why, but as you will see, the JVC X55R is certainly a serious player, with impressive picture quality. All of the JVC DLA-X55R screen image photos below are from either Blu-ray or HDTV source material. Screen images were taken projecting onto a Stewart Studiotek 130 screen. Comparison images (two projectors, side by side), were taken when projecting to a Carada Brilliant White screen (1.4 gain), which is basically similar to the Studiotek). Basically all the projectors we review, including this DLA-X55R, will look a lot better projecting on to your screen than they do in our photos. Although the images can reveal some things and support some points I make, they are mostly for “entertainment” for the following reasons: Editor’s Note: These JVC DLA-X55R projector screen images come to you, via a Canon 60D dSLR camera, Photoshop software where we crop and save for web, (using massive image compression which does affect color), browsers, your computer’s graphic card, and even your monitor, all with their own color and contrast inaccuracies. There are color shifts, saturation differences, etc. Take them all, “with a grain (no, make that a kilo) of salt”. There is a slight yellowish caste to the images. Part of this is, no doubt, the result of all the processes above, but note that the X55R, post calibration does seem to still have a touch too strong yellows in most skin tones. DLA-X55R "Out of the Box" Picture QualityPretty impressive but not so good that calibrating it doesn’t noticeably improve it. Oh your friends will think it’s stunning “right out of the box” but you’ll know it can be better. Right below is a good example of “out of the box”. Both projectors were in one of their “best” modes, with default settings. The X55R projector is on the right, the Epson Pro Cinema 6020 on the left. Epson is slightly brighter on bright scenes: Looking at the small image above, the Epson has a reddish caste, the JVC on the right a yellow green one. Neither looks quite right. Of course if you click and look at the larger image, try covering up one for 20-30 seconds, and the other will start looking just great. It’s the comparison that makes it easy to spot small differences. Remember, this was shot before either was calibrated. Either projector will simply look better – closer to ideal, just by plugging in our calibration settings. Check out our recommended settings for items like Brightness, Color, Grayscale, etc. on theCalibration page of this review. DLA-X55 Projector - Flesh TonesClose to excellent but not quite there. After calibration the color accuracy of skin tones is improved, but despite Mike’s calibration (including the Color Management System for individual colors) still managed to leave a slight hint of too much yellow or yellow/green. Not that anyone but us “hard core” will care about that slight a shift. I should note that for normal movie viewing I found best, most natural viewing when Sharpness was kept to no more than 10, and Detail Enhancement at 15. Most images here were taken with those settings. DLA-X55 Projector Image Quality Slideshow SKIN TONES Lord of the Rings SKIN TONES Arwen has a bit too much yellow green, however, a slight greenish caste should be there regardless. The image is taken from a forest scene, and you can see that shift due to the "environment" (especially the forehead) with most projectors, but the JVC still has a touch too much, compared to the original. SKIN TONES This HDTV image was taken with the X70 in Stage mode, the projector's brightest, rather than the User 1 "best" mode used for all the movie shots. SKIN TONES Leeloo, of course, from The Fifth Element SKIN TONES HGTV SKIN TONES Hugo SKIN TONES RED SKIN TONES RED SKIN TONES Sherlock Holmes 2 SKIN TONES Spiderman 1. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Review - JVC DLA-X55R Projector Highlights - JVC DLA-X55R Projector Overview2. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Special Features - No Dynamic Iris, but a Manual One - DLA-X55R 3D Abilities - JVC X55R 3D active glasses and emitter - 2D to Simulated 3D on the DLA-X55R - JVC DLA-X55R Calibration - CFI - JVC X55R Creative Frame Interpolation3. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Special Features 2 - JVC e-Shift2 and "4K" resolution4. JVC DLA-X55R and RS48 Projectors – Physical Tour - JVC DLA-X55R Physical Appearance - Control Panel - JVC DLA-X55R and DLA-RS48 Projector Input/Output5. JVC DLA-X55R and RS48 Projectors – Physical Tour 2 - JVC DLA-X55R and DLA-RS48 Menus - JVC DLA-X55R Remote Control - DLA-X55R Lens Throw - DLA-X55R Lens Shift - Anamorphic Lens6. JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality - DLA-X55R "Out of the Box" Picture Quality - DLA-X55 Projector - Flesh Tones7. JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality 2 - DLA-X55R Black Levels & Shadow Detail - Black Levels Comparison - Shadow Detail Performance8. JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality 3 - JVC DLA-X55R - Overall Color & Picture Quality - The bottom line on overall picture quality9. JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality 4 - JVC DLA-X55R Projector: Performance, HDTV and Sports - Bottom line for HDTV on the JVC DLA-X55R Home Theater Projector10. JVC DLA-X55 Projector – Performance - JVC DLA-X55R Brightness - JVC DLA-X55R Brightness11. JVC DLA-X55 Projector – Performance 2 - JVC 4K e-Shift 2 - Lumen Output Low Lamp, Cinema: 451 lumens - JVC DLA-X55R Projector - Post Calibration12. JVC DLA-X55 Projector – Performance 3 - JVC DLA-X55R Sharpness - JVC DLA-X55R: Bottom Line Sharpness - X55R Light Leakage13. JVC DLA-X55 Projector – Performance 4 - DLA-X55R Image Noise - JVC DLA-X55R Audible Noise14. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Calibration and Settings - JVC DLA-X55R Color Temperature - Color Temp over IRE Range, Best mode (Pre calibration) - JVC DLA-X55R Basic Settings15. JVC DLA-X55R Projector Calibration and Settings 2 - JVC DLA-RS45 Post Calibration Grayscale: User 1 "Best" mode - RGB Settings - JVC DLA-X55R Grayscale Calibration16. JVC DLA-X55R Projector – Advanced Calibration Information - Color Management Settings (CMS) - Notes on CMS - Calibration Charts (Before and After)17. JVC DLA-X55R Projector – Competitors18. JVC DLA-X55R Projector – Warranty - JVC DLA-X55R Projector - Warranty19. JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector – Review Summary - JVC DLA-X55R Projector - The Bottom Line20. JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector – Review Summary 2 - 3D on the JVC DLA-X55R projector - The Very Bottom Line on the JVC DLA-X55R Home Theater projector21. JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector – Review Summary 3 - JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector: Pros and Cons - JVC DLA-X55R Projector: Pros - JVC DLA-X55R Projector: Cons22. JVC DLA-X55R Home Cinema Projector – Full Specifications JVC DLA-X55R and RS48 Projectors – Physical Tour 2 JVC DLA-X55 R Projector – Image Quality 2