Compare Projectors - IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10

InFocus IN83 vs. JVC DLA-RS10

Two excellent projectors here. I mean that. As you by now know, the JVC DLA-RS10 picked up our Best In Class, Runner-Up award (losing out only to the more expensive top of the line JVC). The InFocus IN83 did the next best thing, picking up one of our Special Interest Awards. These two projectors are in many ways far more different, than similar, but each is extremely impressive in their own right.

InFocus IN83 vs. JVC RS10 Projector Overview

First off, the IN83 uses DLP technology, sporting the Darkchip4 DLP processor. By comparison, the JVC DLA-RS10 uses three LCoS chips (JVC calls their LCoS design D-iLA). The differences between two excellent projectors is not going to be any more obvious, or numerous, than matching the IN83 against the JVC RS10. Even when it comes to picture quality, these two higher priced projectors have distinct advantages and disadvantages in different areas. Glaring differences seem to be everywhere. Consider these differences: The JVC DLA-RS10 has exceptional black levels, the IN83 does not. The JVC has excellent placement flexibility, while the IN83 is extremely limited. The JVC is fairly quiet, the IN83 is louder. On the other hand: The InFocus IN83 is very bright in its brightest mode, the JVC is below average. The IN83 has an extremely sharp image, the JVC is average. The IN83 pretty much has the best, most natural color accuracy I've seen (exceptional skin tones), the JVC is merely very, very good, by comparison. Overall, the IN83 has a small advantage in terms of skin tones and overall color accuracy, while the JVC RS10 has a bigger advantage in terms of achieving blacker blacks.

Three things they really do have in common: Similar brightness in best "movie" mode, price point, and an attractive design with pretty, shiny black finish. Let's get started.

Physical Attributes

We start off with two attractive projectors. The InFocus may be more contemporary modern looking, but both have to be considered good lookers (for projectors).

Getting past the look, let's start at the front. Both the IN83 and the DLA-RS10 have their recessed zoom lenses mounted to the side. That's about where the similarity ends as far as the lens is concerned. The IN83 offers up limited zoom range with a 1.2:1, while the JVC offers 2:1 zoom, about as good as it gets (only the Epson projectors in this report do better, and even then, they are only 2.1:1). The IN83 lacks lens shift, while the RS10 has plenty. Combine these two aspects, and the IN83 is strictly a ceiling mountable projector (or tabletop), while the RS10 can be ceiling mounted, shelf mounted, or tabletop.

The IN83 lacks a control panel on the unit, instead relying completely on the remote. That doesn't really cost it points, after all, once a projector is installed, who is going to use the control panel. The only warnings would be: Don't lose the remote, and keep a spare set of batteries around. The JVC's control panel is nicely laid out on the top.

That takes us to the connection panels. Even here there are notable differences. The greatest difference is that the JVC lacks an analog computer input. There are work arounds with external devices, or you can feed the RS10 an HDMI signal if your computer has one. The IN83, like every other projector in this report, does have an analog computer input. The RS10 has a 12 volt screen trigger, the InFocus has two (they are thinking motorized screen and masking system).

The two projectors are almost the same when it comes to HDMI inputs. Both have two, although the InFocus has one HDMI connector, and one of their proprietary M1-DA connector, which with an adapter can take an HDMI cable (adapter included, if I recall correctly). So, at least they have something else in common: Both can have to HDMI sources hooked up at the same time. There are other similarities, in that both have a component video input (although the IN83 can use its analog computer input as a second component video input). And like all other projectors in this report, they both have a composite video input, an S-video input, and an RS-232 serial port for command and control.

The InFocus's cable connection area (the inputs/outputs) is deeply recessed on the back, and the projector comes with a cable cover to keep things neat. The JVC RS10 has all of its inputs/outputs on the right side (looking from the front) running from the front, to about halfway back.

Top image: JVC DLA-RS10 cable connection area. Lower image: IN83's connections

In summary: There's no question about the huge advantage the JVC has in terms of placement flexibility, and it does have a control panel. On the flip side, the IN83 has an analog computer input, an extra screen trigger, and its recessed input area, plus cable cover, do allow for a neater setup.