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JVC DLA-X95R Performance 2

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Art Feierman

JVC DLA-X95R Projector - Post Calibration

Color Temp over IRE Range (Post calibration):
20 IRE 6245
30 IRE 6415
40 IRE 6517
50 IRE 6569
60 IRE 6536
70 IRE 6534
80 IRE 6645
90 IRE 6643
100 IRE 6680

Average gamma= 2.20

DLA-X95R Best mode- User 1: 658 lumens @ 6860

JVC Gamma Control:

The measured gamma, in all the preset gamma modes comes in under 2.2.  Normal setting, at 2.14 measured is the closest the JVC gets to the correct number.  That' translates into brighter than proper in the mid-range brightness areas). Fortunately JVC offers extensive gamma custom controls. Mike setup a custom gamma successfully, which hit his 2.2 target.  Otherwise, note: Gamma setting A, lifts the very dark regions of an image. When engaged, it seems that the very dark shadow detail is improved, but in reality, it's really just lifting that which was already there, making it far more obvious (and too much).  That A setting might be a setting gamers would like, since they really want to easily see dark shadow detail, some of which is often lost with projectors.

Art's NOTE: The JVC X95 R does seem to have a slight shift to red in the very dark regions.  That's supported by viewing and the drop in color temp at 20 IRE shown above.

Mike's Notes: Grayscale calibrated pretty well, with an average Delta E of only 1.3.  The RGB balance was also pretty good, other than a spike in Red at 20 IRE.  Adjusting Gain has a greater effect on the total IRE range than it should, whereas Offset has less of an effect on upper IREs.  So, if you adjust Gain, then compensate for the adjusted gain effect with Offset, it works out pretty good.  As Animation (the brightest mode) is only 81 lumens more than THX mode, there’s no need for a quick cal of a “bright” mode. 

Typical of JVC projectors, gamma was too low in any of the presets (Normal was the high with an average gamma of 2.14), so I used the custom gamma.  The custom gamma started with the Normal preset, but I dropped the numbers -15 from 5 to 75%, -10 at 80% and -5 at 90 and 95%.  This results in a pretty smooth gamma with an average of 2.20.  Luminance tracking is quite good as well. 

The standard color gamut is decent and doesn’t have the oversaturated green that prior models had, but the secondaries are all off a little in hue.

Fortunately, the CMS works quite well and I was able to dial in the colors pretty well.  Overall, colors look very good.

Art's note:  Future subscribers, starting in 5/13 you will be able to view the CIE charts, and get our settings from calibrating the individual primary and secondary colors with the CMS, plus Mike will have additional commments related to that extra calibration work). 

The Calibration page provides the settings we used and report on. That includes basic settings as well as gain and offset for the grayscale balance.

JVC DLA-X95R Sharpness

The JVC DLA-X95R starts out "typically sharp" for a 3 chip or 3 panel projector. All else being equal, single chip DLP projectors have a sharpness advantage as they don't have to align and converge separate Red, Green, and Blue light.

But this is JVC with their "4K" e-shift technology, which I discussed on the first page of this review. While I don't buy into their marketing of 4K, e-shift2 definitely is a player when it comes to providing a sharper seeming image.

Not surprisingly the DLA-X95 seems to be at least as sharp as any other 3 panel/3chip type projector I've seen, at least if we exclude some many times the price 3 chip DLP projectors (with optics that probably sell for more than this projector).   Even when using e-Shift2, though, the JVC is no match for the true 4K Sony, when both are handling 1080p images.

For your consideration, our usual close up images:

JVC DLA-X95R
Runco LS-5
Epson Home Cinema 5020
Panasonic PT-AE8000
JVC X55R
Sony VPL-VW1000ES

Also for your consideration:

The standard size image is a frame from the latest Spiderman movie.  Click on it, though and you will get a 1000 pixel wide image that is very closely cropped, showing only about 1/4 of the whole image.  e-shift2 is set to Film:

Click Image to Enlarge

JVC's own focus screen for the power lens, also makes for a good indicator of sharpness: Looking at the larger version of these two, may drive you crazy. Differences are hard to spot.  Your initial reaction is likely wrong.  The first image is with e-shift on Film, and it's turned Off on the second.  After you've stared at these a while, you come to the realization that e-shift on isn't adding detail, only the "feeling" of more detail.

JVC DLA-X95R: Bottom Line Sharpness

Overall, very good sharpness (definitely better than most in the corners), for a 3 chip device. A number of competitors are slightly sharper, or "sharper still", as I like to say, and that includes several DLP's as well as a few 3 panel based projectors. But that's no longer true with e-Shift2 engaged.  Use the higher settings at this JVC will easily seem sharper than those DLPs.  It may be "image processing" but it seems that way, none the less.  It's a tough call, stay a purist, or use these fancy dynamic features that always have to take something away, for everything they give you.  My solution, with this projector has been moderation.  Thus, I've had e-Shift2 engaged for almost all viewing, but Film setting for movies, and no higher than High Resolution for the rest, although HD is very tempting for sports.

 

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