JVC DLA-X55 R Projector - Image Quality

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Art Feierman

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 Quality

Pretty 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.

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DLA-X55 Projector - Flesh Tones

Close 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.