JVC Updates 4K HDR Projector Performance


JVC Updates 4K HDR Projector Performance

JVC Updates 4K HDR Projector Performance

JVC will be rolling out a free firmware update to its native 4K and e-shift 8K projectors that is said to provide a major improvement to their HDR performance and ease of use.

JVC’s Theater Optimizer technology, was originally released as a firmware upgrade in 2019, optimizing the projector’s tone mapping and brightness based on installation characteristics. It evolved from the Frame Adapt HDR mode that JVC introduced to add dynamic tone mapping ability to HDR performance.

Theater Optimizer allows users to input their screen size and gain information, from which the projector software then determines the optimum lens zoom position, lamp condition and settings, adjusting them to obtain the best brightness and colour reproduction results to optimize the HDR performance.

A new Content Type Menu is now available to help reduce the complexity of manual adjustment and JVC has also improved Frame Adapt HDR by increasing number of brightness steps to five, and only displaying pictures modes that are best suited to the input signal being displayed.

This update also introduces a picture mode specifically for the Panasonic DP-UB9000 Ultra HD Blu-ray player, promising automatic picture optimisation during disc playback.

The Theater Optimizer update will be available from November 2020 for the following models; DLA-NX5, DLA-NX7, DLA-NX9, DLA-RS1000, DLA-RS2000, DLA-RS3000DLA-NX9 and DLA-RS3000.


Here’s an extract from the JVC press announcement:

“Updated Frame Adapt HDR:

JVC originally introduced Frame Adapt HDR in October 2019 — adding dynamic tone mapping to their Native 4K and 8K e-shift home theater projectors. With the updated version, 4K HDR10 streaming, games and Blu-ray content are automatically adjusted for optimized brightness, color and detail on a frame by frame or scene by scene basis.

Color grading of HDR10 content varies depending on the source material. Optimal viewing can be difficult as the brightness of this content also varies dramatically. Using JVC’s original algorithm, Frame Adapt HDR instantly analyzes the peak brightness of HDR10 content (including Dolby Vision titles) and adjusts the optimal dynamic range in real time. All HDR10 related picture settings are automatically fine-tuned for the best on-screen image with no need for user adjustment.

Theater Optimizer:

Each projection home theater environment is unique, as is each projector. Image brightness varies from system to system, and changes over time. JVC’s new Theater Optimizer is a smart function that addresses these distinct characteristics.

Theater Optimizer allows the integrator or user to input the screen size and gain information, which varies depending on the theater design, and then calculates installation information such as lens zoom position, and lamp condition and settings. It then automatically adjusts the projector for optimum tone mapping and brightness. By adding this function to Frame Adapt HDR, JVC allows each user to enjoy HDR10 content matched to the viewing environment without complicated manual adjustments.

18-bit level gamma processing is maintained while the feature is in use, bringing out deeper blacks in darker scenes, and higher peak whites in brighter scenes, along with the most realistic color, to reproduce high precision images with smooth gradations.

In response to user requests, the upgrade offers newly added settings and improved menu operations with this firmware update. Frame Adapt HDR brightness adjustment has been increased to five steps (previously three steps), and users can choose the picture mode according to input signals.

Complicated individual manual settings that were required in the past are now eliminated. With the newly added functions, users can easily enjoy powerful HDR images with these JVC projectors.

Firmware Upgrade Summary:

1. Theater Optimizer smart function, analyzes the usage environment for each user, and displays HDR content with optimum brightness. (Frame Adapt HDR picture mode only)

2. New Settings & Menu Structure:

  • Brightness levels settings are increased to five steps for the Frame Adapt HDR function (was previously three steps).
  • New Content Type menu, which displays usable Picture Mode based on each input signal. Only the Picture Mode matching the input signal can be selected, preventing image distortion due to gamma and color gamut mismatch.
  • Function which automatically switches to the optimal Color Profile according to the color gamut information of the content.
  • Added Auto Pic. Mode Select function transitions according to each input signal (SDR/3D/HDR10/HLG).
  • Picture Mode for Panasonic’s Ultra HD Blu-ray player DP-UB9000 Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Added Picture Mode, which allows easy and optimized connection without individual manual settings.
  • Improved JVC Calibration Software.

Overview of Firmware Upgrade:

  • Firmware release date: Mid-November 2020.
  • Supported products: DLA-NX5, DLA-NX7, DLA-NX9, DLA-RS1000, DLA-RS2000, DLA-RS3000.
  • Content: Free of charge firmware Version 3.50.
  • How to upgrade: Upgrade is possible with the file downloaded from the support website.”

See here for the complete firmware upgrade announcement by JVC.

See the original software release information here.

See my review of the RS640 here.

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