OK, before I unveil the mystery projector let me ask you a question. What is contrast?
Contrast: Contrast increases as the white point increases. Increasing the white point creates a greater difference between white and black.
So the higher the rated contrast ratio the better that picture right? Brighter colors, more realistic and natural looking.
Sony’s VPL-VW50/100 have a contrast ratio of 15,000:1 pretty good right?
Problem is the SXRD panels the Pearl and Ruby use are only rated at around 5,000:1, the 15,000:1 rating comes from a dynamic iris that’s controlled with a motor and software program. On dark seen’s the iris closes down limiting the amount of light from the lamp and giving you better black levels, but on bright seens it opens up. The down side to this is you can get a pumping effect of the iris opening and closing, my HS51A has an iris and it does work but I can see it some times and it can be distracting, but I was prepared for that possibility.
One thing I was not prepared for was how flat light sources can look when the iris closes down. An example of this would be in the Fast and The furious movies, underbody neon kits don’t have that pop to them, they glow you would expect, and wile blacks look BLACK, shadow detail can still be missing. So the dynamic iris is not perfect but I would rather have it then not at all.
So now to the mystery projector. Drum roll please…
JVC’s new DLA-RS1
This beast is a full 1920X1080 D-ILA front Projector with a rated contrast ratio of 15,000:1. So what the big deal? It’s completely native, no dynamic iris or optical tricks.
JVC's DLA-RS1 is a breakthrough home theater projector that features full 1920 x 1080p three-chip imaging and a new display technology that achieves a previously unattainable native 15,000:1 contrast ratio without the need for dynamic iris or other artificial means of contrast enhancement. This Reference Series video projector provides home theater enthusiasts with an extraordinary home theater experience at a fraction of the cost of--and with better performance than--high end digital cinemas. While the DLA-RS1 is targeted for the finest home theater installations, its price makes it accessible to a much wider range of home cinema buffs.
Native 1920 x 1080 resolution
D-ILA™ New Three Chip technology
15,000: 1 High Contrast Ratio without using Iris by new optical engine
Outstanding Gray-scale reproduction
Wide Lens Shift Range (V: 80%, H: 34%)
Zoom Lens with 2 times Throw Ratio (1.4:1-2.8:1)
Various Input Signals (2xHDMI, Composite, S-Video, Component)
Fan Noise (27dB)
RS-232C
The DLA-RS1 incorporates JVC's renowned D-ILA (Direct Drive Image Light Amplifier) chip technology in a 3 panel design, eliminating the color separation and "rainbow" effects found in competing technologies. Each of the three D-ILA chips has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 allowing the projector to fully display a full HD 1080p signal without scaling. JVC's new optical design provides a native contrast ratio of more than 15,000 to 1, a first in home cinema projectors.
The DLA-RS1 can be used in a variety of room environments due to its adjustable 80% vertical and 34% horizontal shift lens. The manual zoom lens has a range of 1.4:1 ? 2.8:1, making it suitable for screens up to 200 inches wide in a typical home theater. The projector is finished in a sleek black cabinet with a non-reflective front panel to eliminate light reflections onto the projection screen.
The DLA-RS1 is equipped with an HDMI input and accepts full HD 1080p signals provided by Blu Ray and HD-DVD players. Component and analog inputs are also provided. The unit can be externally operated by popular home theater automation contollers via its RS-232 port.
MSRP is $6295,00
It has a Gennum chip built in for scaling, people that have seen the prototype at CEDIA’06 have said its brighter then the peril, has better shadow detail then the pearl and ruby, and is almost has sharp as a good DLP but still has that smooth picture from SXRD. JVC has a killer projector on there hands that look to take the thrown as king. The more I read about it the more I want it; the RS1 will be my next big purchase when its released around February of next year.
