JVC Releases Three 8K HDMI 2.1 Laser Projectors – First Look

Image Credit: JVC

I just sat through an very informative on-line presentation of this new range of 8K laser, HDMI 2.1 projectors that was arranged by The Screening Room, Chris Deutsch of JVC and Kris Deering of Deep Dive AV. See the recorded presentations with Q&A here.

This new range of laser projectors are based upon the designs, experience and hundreds of thousands of hours of use that JVC have amassed from their simulation projectors. All three projectors will use the same ‘BLU-Escent’ laser light source(s).

Image Credit: JVC

This new range of three 8K laser projectors supports brightnesses of up to 3000 lumens, 20,000+ hours of laser life, the dynamic HDR10+ standard and a significantly improved low latency game mode, plus their new four axis 8K/e-shiftX allowing 8K pixel mapping (top two models only).

JVC claims that these are the worlds first 48Gbps rated 8K HDMI projector ports. All three can support up to 60fps gaming at 8K resolution or 120fps at 4K. Added to the list of video processing for movies is support for HDR10+, allowing industry standard dynamic HDR creating the best possible pictures on a frame-by-frame basis. JVC’s still offers a similar solution with their Frame Adapt HDR system for other HDR material.

JVC’s new ‘BLU-Escent’ laser is the light source for each projector model. With a maximum light output of 3000 lumens and life span of 20,000+ hours. These light sources provide more precise control and higher dynamic range than the conventional mechanical iris, which is still available. Together with the all-glass ultra high contrast optics found in the RS4100/NZ9, create brightness levels not seen in any earlier models yet still support those natively high contrast levels that the DILA technology is famous for.

The 0.69 inch DILA panels are still native 4K. However, JVC has added its 8K e-shiftX pixel-shifting technology to its top two models to increase the on-screen pixel density four-fold and create an 8K resolution image that the 8K signal can be pixel mapped to. This is achieved by using a 4 way, 240Hz driver that moves the panels diagonally, and new high speed video processing chips.

Image Credit:JVC

The basic specifications below show the major differences between models. All come with fully motorized lens control (100% or 80% vertical and 43% or 34% horizontal) and the usual array of memories for almost any conceivable configuration of input, aspect ratio and screen arrangement. There are also various universal improvements to video processing, input configuration, HDMI lock time and of course that all important improvement in latency for those gamers amongst us.

Image Credit: JVC

Basic Specifications:

All projectors use the same ‘BLU-Escent’ laser light sources that have a life of 20,000+ hours, can produce a dynamic contrast ratio of infinity:1 and in low brightness mode produce a noise level of 24dB. Projector throw is also slightly shorter for the RS4100/NZ9 model.

• DLA-RS4100, DLA-NZ9
  • Brightness: 3000 lumens
  • Native contrast ratio: 100,000:1
  • Native resolution: 4K (4096 x 2160), (8K (8192 x 4320) pixel mapping with 8K/e-shiftX)
  • Color gamut support: > 100% DCI-P3 (Cinema Filter)
  • Lens: 18-element, 16-group all-glass 100mm diameter high-quality lens
  • Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps/HDCP 2.3)
  • Support: HDR10, HDR10+, Frame Adapt HDR
• DLA-RS3100, DLA-NZ8
  • Brightness: 2500 lumens
  • Contrast ratio: 80,000:1
  • Native resolution: 4K (4096 x 2160), (8K (8192 x 4320) pixel mapping with 8K/e-shiftX)
  • Color gamut support: 100% DCI-P3 (Cinema Filter)
  • Lens: 17-element, 15-group all-glass 65 mm diameter high-quality lens
  • Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps/HDCP 2.3)
  • Support: HDR10, HDR10+, Frame Adapt HDR
• DLA-RS2100, DLA-NZ7
  • Brightness: 2,200 lumens
  • Contrast ratio: 40,000:1
  • Native resolution: 4K (4096 x 2160), ((8192 x 4320) 8K/e-shift)
  • Color gamut support: < 100% DCI-P3
  • Lens: 17-element, 15-group all-glass 65 mm diameter high-quality lens
  • Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps/HDCP 2.3)
  • Support: HDR10, HDR10+, Frame Adapt HDR

MSRP (USA):

• DLA-RS4100, DLA-NZ9: $24,995.95
• DLA-RS3100, DLA-NZ8: $14,995.95
• DLA-RS2100, DLA-NZ7: $9,995.95
• Warranty – all models: 3 years with 1st year advanced replacement.
• JVC are proposing to release pricing in the future for those needing to replace their lasers if they fail outside the warranty period or after a “suitable time”.

Availability (America) – Late October 2021

Just A Thought

Many will ask “do I really need 8K?”, especially with no programming or movies available now or in the near future at this resolution, except for the 8K gamer. Furthermore, 8K can perceptually decrease the sharpness of an image as it starts to really smooth out all those “jaggies”. The pixel density increase is NOT the important take away here, it is all the other significant technical improvements that are really going to impact your viewing enjoyment of movies from SD to 4K, the improved:

• brightness & contrast
• light source gamut & control
• lens optics resolution & refinement
• upgraded scaling engine
• upgraded image processing
• HDR 10+ support (Dolby Vision is currently not in a projectors future)
• AND of course 8K scaling and the ability to pixel map an 8K signal

So while we may not be watching many 8K movies in our near future the benefits of the supporting 8K technologies will significantly improve what we see at these lower or scaled resolutions.

Happy Viewing.

For the full technical specifications see them here on the JVC website.

Check out this video for JVC’s official announcement.

Read my review and ISF calibration of my DLA-RS640 here.