JVC RS-25/35 discussion thread

[Mike Osadciw]

These two projectors represent the holy grail of video under the $10 000 mark.

Installer and calibration friendly. Allows the calibrator the use of external software to manipulate the image to standards and looks exceptional. Grayscale, gamma, and gamut can all be corrected.

To the eye:

• very analogue looking
• perfect grayscale
• colour gamut conforming to Rec.709
• ISF Day/Night modes for different viewing (e.g. two colour temperatures - D65 for colour film, 5400K for B&W)

The RS-35 technically offers a slightly improved contrast ratio which can be realized with the right screen in a blackened room. Hand-picked parts.

The RS-15 would offer an image similar ONLY when purchased with the DVDO DUO processor to correct its inaccurate and non-adjustable colour gamut.

There are many other offerings at these price levels that are respectable, but each have their drawbacks.

Any shortcomings with this JVC? Sure... It doesn't quite appear as the sharpest 1080p device (just a little soft compared to DLP). It's ANSI contrast ratio, while much better than LCD, isn't as great as that of a DLP. DLP will offer just a bit more punch, albiet a less analogue look.

[Suave]

As per the poll question I just started in the "TV Tech & General TV Discussions" forum, I am considering upgrading my Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 UB projector - so I appreciate you sharing this info with us Mike!

JVC is kind of a weird brand, in that you don't really hear about it very much. It's not really promoted or advertised anywhere especially in Canada. Nevertheless...

By RS-25/35, I'm assuming that you're referring to the JVC DLA-RS25U and DLA-RS35U projectors (these are the full model numbers on the JVC website).

Here's the product page for the DLA-RS25U:
http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/f...l_id=MDL101890

Unlike LCD or DLP projectors, these projectors use D-ILA (which is JVC's variation of LCOS) technology to produce their image and like Mike says these projectors are designed to produce the ultimate picture in the $10,000 projector range.

Pioneer also used to offer an LCOS projector - the Pioneer Elite PRO-FPJ1, although it's no longer listed on their website so I'm assuming it's no longer available. Are there any other LCOS projector manufacturers out there Mike that are comparable to JVC?

[Mike Osadciw]

I have some interesting photos to post on the forum about these...he heh...or for anyone currently owning an Anthem LTX-300/500 or JVC DLA-RS10/20.

[Mike Osadciw]

I did a calibration on an Anthem LTX-500 a few weeks back. Walked into the calibration with the client viewing at very low light output...only 3fL measured before I got to work. Yikes. When finished, I still ended up with extremely low light output...about 7fL in HIGH lamp mode on a 110" diagonal screen...which is very dim and not like this projector considering I did a JVC RS-35 that morning and ended up with about 17fL with the projector mounted a bit closer to the screen. My client adds an anamorphic lens in front and that didn't help the situation. I knew something was wrong...so I investigated. Bad bulb, maybe? After discussing with a few fellow calibrators south of the border, one suggested contacting JVC as there has been a reported instance of the glass plate between the bulb and the prism getting dirty... Sure enough, this was confirmed by JVC. I suspect that within a few hundred hours this will need cleaning.

On the return trip to my client's, with an extra bulb on hand just in case we had a bad or cracked bulb, we dismounted the projector with Panamorph lens and all (because accessing the back panel was not possible in its mounted configuration). Taking the bulb out showed me what I expected...the glass was filthy.

Take a look at the pictures here. I made a wipe down the middle and you can see the "pink" look caked on the glass vs. the semi-wiped area.




The second picture is completely cleaned glass.



After cleaning, light output increased to 15fL...excellent for front projection and where we want to be with light output. The projector's grayscale needed to be touched up with a re-calibration, as red was significantly deficient in the post-cleaning calibration results. The CMS and gamma needed a bit of tweeking too.

So...keep things clean guys. If you have filters, clean them. Lenses, etc, should all be checked regularly. Enjoy good pictures!

[Mike Osadciw]

can everyone see these photos? I tried viewing this thread not on my home computer and the photos did not show. I uploaded them from home so maybe that's why it's not working elsewhere??

[Suave]

Thanks for sharing this with us Mike - and yes I can see the pictures just fine.

Do you have any tips as to how to properly clean a projector lens? Does the glass plate between the lens and the prism get dirty in most projectors over time or just with this JVC that you mention above? Should most lenses be taken out for cleaning or is it sufficient in most cases just to clean the lens?