JVC HD250 – Review Summary

JVC DLA-HD250 Brightness

Very typical for an LCoS projector, the HD250 offers up a calibrated 650 lumens at midpoint on the zoom (more if placed closer, less from further – see the Performance page for details).

Placement flexibility is excellent, close to the best. the 2:1 zoom should work in just about every room. The only real limitation is that some projectors have a little more vertical lens shift. Only a very few projectors, like the Panasonic PT-AE4000 and the Epson projectors have a bit more vertical lens shift. JVC, though motorizes theirs, for convenience (lens shift as well as zoom and focus). By comparison, most projectors with lens shift, tend to have manual shift. As to zoom and focus about half of the home theater projectors sold out there have those motorized.

The JVC HD250 is a great value, and for that we offer our Hot Product Award. This JVC is the first one ever, affordable enough to compete in our $2000 – $3500 Class, for Best In Class award. (Those will be out late August 2011.)

The JVC will be one of the most expensive in that class, but also definitely one of the best.

My original RS1 – the true forefather of the HD250, was almost $8000. I sold mine (cheap at the time) with over 2000 hours on it, for almost $3000. Today, you can buy a slightly updated version, so to speak, brand new, with a warranty, for the same price!

And that’s progress!

Simply stated, picture wise, the HD250 is a well behaved projector. No nasties. Not quite excellent color, but that will only dissapoint a few percent of home theater projector shoppers, and it won’t bother any of their friends…

It’s very bright in its best mode, compared to the average, and can handle above average sized screens thanks to that. In brightest, it could use more for us sports fans, and TV viewers.

Just remember, like previous JVCs, this one does not have a computer input (analog), so plan on HDMI, or some real jerryrigging, if you do want to run your computer though this projector.

I loved my JVC RS1. The HD250 is slightly better. If you’ve got the $3K, don’t care about 3D, or CFI – smooth motion, don’t worry about the more expensive than most, replacement lamp cost, and other minor points, this is a projector you can live with for a very long time! Enjoy.

JVC DLA-HD250 Projector: Pros

• Excellent black level performance for a projector in its price range
• Very nicely above average best mode brightness measured 758 lumens
• Really very good color
• Remote has good layout
• Very good shadow detail
• A quiet projector, even at full lamp power
• Has the brightness in best mode to handle screens up to 130″ diagonal in a theater room
• Great value proposition

JVC DLA-HD250 Projector: Cons

• Minor oversaturation of reds (slight “sunburned look”)
• No color management system
• Lamp life could be longer, and lamps could cost less (higher than typical)
• Lacks CFI
• Lacks Computer input (can use HDMI, or work around the component input
• I miss the shiny piano finish of the old RS15, replaced by flat gray/black
• Remote could use more range

JVC DLA-HD250 Projector: Typical Capabilities

• Selection of inputs
• 2000/3000 hour lamp life is definitely the short side of average these days.
• Documentation (I’m still waiting to see a projector that really does provide good explanations of all the menu functions). Actually it’s pretty good, just nothing truly noteworthy.
• Size (for an LCoS projector) Although the 3D capable JVC’s and Sony’s are definitely a size larger
• Warranty – standard limited 2 years parts and labor

As we finish here with an image from the movie Star Trek, it occurs to me, that perhaps the image that best reflects the feel of the RS15’s abilities, is the one of Captain Pike, found back on the first page.

Other than that, a nap, a meal, another review. Stay tuned!