Published On: June 26, 2017

JVC DLA-X970R D-ILA Projector Reviewed

Published On: June 26, 2017
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
We May Earn From Purchases Via Links

JVC DLA-X970R D-ILA Projector Reviewed

Adrienne Maxwell explores JVC's THX-certified DLA-X970R e-shift projector, which supports both High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut technologies and has a rated light output of 2,000 lumens.

JVC DLA-X970R D-ILA Projector Reviewed

By Author: Adrienne Maxwell
Adrienne Maxwell is the former Managing Editor of HomeTheaterReview.com, Home Theater Magazine, and HDTVEtc.com. Adrienne has also written for Wirecutter, Home Entertainment Magazine, AVRev.com, ModernHomeTheater.com, and other top specialty audio/video publications. She is an ISF Level II-certified video calibrator who specializes in reviews of flat-panel HDTVs, front video projectors, video screens, video servers, and video source devices, both disc- and streaming-based.

JVC-DLA-X970-225x129.jpgJVC has been nothing if not consistent when it comes to its Procision line of e-shift projectors. Since introducing the first e-shift models back in 2011, the company has released updated versions every 12 to 18 months to keep up with the rapid evolution of the 4K market. Over the past few years, the line has consisted of three models: the lowest priced X5, the mid-level X7, and the top-shelf X9. In January, the latest upgrades arrived; the DLA-X970R ($9,999), the DLA-X770R ($6,999) and the DLA X570R ($3,999). We've covered the X5 and X7 series in years past, so this year JVC sent us the top-shelf X970R. I won't call it the flagship because that honor now belongs to JVC's Reference Series DLA-RS4500, a native 4K projector that uses a laser light source, is rated at 3,000 lumens, and sells for $34,999.

In comparison, the DLA-X970R is a steal at $9,999. This is a D-ILA (aka LCoS) projector with a rated light output of 2,000 lumens and a rated native contrast ratio of 160,000:1. It features an auto iris to improve dynamic contrast, Clear Motion Drive technology to reduce motion blur and film judder, and active 3D capability with the addition of an optional 3D emitter and glasses. In stepping down from the Reference Series to the X970R, you lose the laser light source and the native 4K resolution; as you probably already know, e-shift projectors are technically 1080p projectors that employ pixel-shifting technology to improve pixel density and simulate 4K detail. Just like with last year's models, all three 2017 Procision projectors accept 4K input signals and support the HDR10 High Dynamic Range format. The X770R and X970R models add support for the wider DCI-P3 color gamut, as well as THX certification. Improvements to this year's Procision line include a modest step up in brightness (a 100-lumen increase for each model), the use of full-bandwidth 18-Gbps HDMI 2.0b inputs to ensure the passage of 4K/60p 4:4:4 signals, and the addition of a low-latency mode for gaming.

As you can see from that list of improvements, JVC isn't exactly trying to reinvent the wheel with this new Procision generation. For that reason, many aspects of this year's review of the DLA-X970R will be similar to last year's review of the DLA-X750R, although there are a few minor differences of note in terms of overall performance. JVC has made one key improvement that makes this year's models a better choice for UHD fans. What is it? Well, you gotta keep reading to find out.

Setup and Features
The DLA-X970R is a more substantial piece of hardware than all the tiny, portable, high-brightness home entertainment projectors that are growing in popularity these days. It measures 17.88 by 7 by 18.5 inches and weighs 34.4 pounds--which is identical to last year's model and on par with competitively priced models from Sony and Epson. The projector has a glossy black finish and features a center-mounted lens with an automatic lens cover. It uses a 265-watt NSH lamp with a rated lifespan of 4,500 hours in the low lamp mode; fan vents run along each side of the projector. In its low lamp mode, the X970R is pleasantly quiet; even in a silent room, it draws little attention to itself. When you switch to the high mode, fan noise definitely gets more noticeable, but it's still not excessive.

The only video inputs on the back panel are the dual 18-Gbps HDMI 2.0b inputs, both with HDCP 2.2 copy protection. There are no analog video inputs, and the projector does not accept a 480i resolution. Other connection options include RS-232, a 12-volt trigger, a LAN port for network control, and a 3D Synchro port to attach the optional 3D emitter. Around back is also where you'll find buttons for power, input, OK, menu, back, and navigation.

The supplied IR remote control is the same one that has accompanied previous JVC projectors. It's a full-sized, fully backlit remote that provides dedicated buttons for each picture mode and the ability to quickly access picture adjustments like gamma, color temp, color profiles, lens memory, and more. The X970R features motorized lens control, so you can adjust the 2x zoom, focus, and lens shifting (+/-80 percent vertical and +/-34 percent horizontal) using the remote. The combination of the motorized controls and the generous zoom/lens shifting made the process of positioning the X970R's image on my 100-inch-diagonal Visual Apex drop-down screen very simple. The projector supports an image size between 60 and 200 inches diagonally.

The X970R has the full complement of advanced picture adjustments that one would hope to see in a higher-end model. As a THX-certified projector, it includes THX picture modes for both 2D and 3D. Other picture-mode options include Film, Cinema, Animation, Natural, HDR, and five User modes. Did you catch the new one on the list? That's right, JVC has added a dedicated HDR picture mode set for BT.2020 color and ST.2084 gamma; best of all, the projector automatically switches into that mode when it detects an HDR signal. If you read my review of last year's DLA-X750R, you might recall that setting up the projector to display HDR content properly was no simple task. Even though the projector manually switched to the correct gamma mode for HDR, the picture did not look correct and required that I input specific picture settings that I had to track down through JVC support. This year's HDR experience was totally plug-and-play, and the DLA-X970R worked fine with all three UHD Blu-ray players I had on hand: the OPPO Digital UDP-203, Samsung UBD-K8500, and Sony UBP-X800 (link tk). Also, JVC has added support for the HLG High Dynamic Range format that will most likely be used for TV broadcasts. It does not support Dolby Vision.

Advanced picture controls include multiple color temperature presets, as well as RGB gain and offset controls; four color profiles (standard, video, reference, BT.2020) and a full six-point color management system; multiple gamma presets and the ability to create custom gamma settings; high and low lamp modes; blur reduction tools (Clear Motion Drive and motion enhance); 3D settings (parallax and crosstalk cancellation controls); and the ability to choose between two auto lens apertures or manually adjust the aperture in 15 steps. For most of my tests, I used the manual aperture, since the JVC has such a high native contrast ratio anyhow. But I did experiment with the auto options and found that they were quick and silent in their functionality; I didn't see any unnatural brightness fluctuations and could barely hear the automatic lens adjustment.

The MPC (Multi Pixel Control) menu is where you can enable or disable the e-shift4 technology. Turn it off to get a straightforward 1080p image; turn it on to enable the pixel shifting. When you input a 4K signal, MPC is locked in the on position. The MPC menu includes independently adjustable controls for enhance (sharpening), smoothing, and noise reduction, and there's a helpful before/after tool to see what difference these controls can make.

The X970R has three aspect-ratio options (4:3, 16:9, and Zoom), as well as an anamorphic lens mode, a masking function, and the ability to store up to 10 different lens memories. The "Pixel Adjust" function allows you to align the pixels if necessary. If you notice color around the borders of objects, it means the D-ILA devices are out of alignment. My review sample looked fine out of the box.

Performance
As always, I begin each performance assessment by measuring a display's various picture modes to see which one is the most accurate out of the box--using my Xrite I1Pro 2 meter, CalMAN software, and DVDO iScan pattern generator. As was the case with last year's DLA-X750R, the X970R's THX mode was the closest to HD reference standards. Color accuracy was excellent: all six color points had a Delta Error way below three, with yellow being the least accurate at just 1.28 (an error number below three is considered imperceptible to the human eye). The color balance was generally neutral, leaning slightly red with darker signals and slightly bluish-green with brighter signals. The one parameter that was not as accurate as it was in last year's model was the gamma, which averaged a fairly light 2.0 (we use a target of 2.4 for projectors; the higher the number, the darker the gamma). This resulted in a maximum Delta Error of 6.74 for the grayscale.

I discovered that the reason for the lighter gamma is that projector's input signal automatically defaults to the "Enhanced" setting that shows a full 0-255 signal (as opposed to the standard 16-235 signal). The simple act of either switching to the "Standard" input signal mode or properly adjusting the X970R's brightness and contrast controls (using test patterns from a disc like Video Essentials) produced a darker gamma that tracked closely along the 2.2 curve. But to get even closer to the darker 2.4 curve, I had to use my meter and CalMAN software. The THX picture mode does not let you choose between multiple gamma presets like the other modes do; there's only one preset called THX. You have to use the advanced tools (picture tone, white level, and dark level) to customize your preferred gamma. I also used the RGB gain and bias controls tighten up the color balance, and I did only the most minor tweaking of the color management system--since the color points were already so accurate. After calibration, the DLA-X970R had a maximum grayscale Delta Error of just 1.88 and a gamma average of 2.31.

As I mentioned, this year's models are only slightly brighter than last year's. The THX mode's default light output, with a full-screen 100 percent pattern on my 100-inch 1.1-gain screen, was about 30 foot-lamberts (and I kept it close to that after calibration). Compare that with 28.3 ft-L in last year's X750R. The brightest picture mode is the Natural mode, at about 52 ft-L in the high lamp mode. For those who plan to do some viewing during the day or in a room with modest ambient light, the Natural mode is a great option. It measured quite close to the THX mode in its color balance, and the color points were also very close to reference standards--with blue being the least accurate at a Delta Error of 3.13. I used the Natural mode to watch HDTV shows and sports during the day; and, with the blinds in the back of the room opened halfway, I was still able to enjoy a nicely saturated, nicely detailed image.

On the flip side, the DLA-X970R is a true theater-worthy projector that serves up a lusciously dark black level and offers very good shadow detail. I compared the X970R with my older Sony VPL-VW350ES native 4K projector using black-level demo scenes from Blu-ray discs like Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Flags of Our Fathers, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Gravity, and the JVC clearly produced a deeper black level and a richer overall image contrast, with a greater sense of depth.

When comparing this e-shift4 projector to the native 4K Sony, I struggled to see any difference in detail (both with 1080p and UHD Blu-ray discs) on my 100-inch screen. If your screen is notably larger, perhaps the difference between e-shift4 and native 4K will be more apparent. JVC's MPC control gives you a nice degree of flexibility to tailor the image to your taste: If you want an image that seems more detailed, you can turn up the Enhance control, which really does a nice job of producing a sharper-looking picture that emphasizes the finer details without adding excessive edge enhancement. It's a bit like the improvement that DARBEE Visual Presence offers. However, the Enhance tool also makes the image look a bit more grainy. If, on the other hand, you prefer the smoother, noise-free look that LCoS projectors are so good at rendering, you can leave Enhance set to zero and turn up the Noise Reduction control a bit. I struck a balance between the two was very pleased with the results.

Click over to Page Two for more on this projector's performance, as well as Measurements, The Downside, Comparson & Competition, and Conclusion...

Performance (Continued)
As I said above, the fact that this year's model switches automatically into a correctly configured HDR picture mode with UHD BDs makes for a much more user-friendly experience. I watched clips from a variety of UHD BDs--including The Revenant, Sicario, The Martian, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, and Batman vs. Superman--and every time, with every player, the X970R switched correctly into HDR mode. When I measured the projector in HDR mode, it served up 52.4 ft-L, or 179.6 nits, with a full white field. That's not as bright as the 65 ft-L put out by the Epson 6040UB I recently reviewed. Then again, the Epson can't give you a wider color gamut when putting out that level of brightness. You have to choose between brightness and P3 color. With the JVC in HDR mode, you get both--and the result was a very engaging viewing experience, thanks to the improved dynamic range, excellent detail, and rich color. I got so used to the gorgeous well-detailed UHD discs that, when I switched back to 1080p BDs, everything looked somewhat soft.

One last performance note: JVC did not include the 3D emitter and glasses with my review sample, so I could not do a 3D evaluation. I don't imagine the 3D performance will vary much from last year's DLA-X770R model, aside from the minor brightness improvement. Here's what I wrote last year: "I tested out the 3D performance with my favorite demo scenes from Life of Pi, Ice Age 3, and Monsters vs. Aliens. There are only two 3D picture modes, of which the THX mode is the most accurate and natural-looking. I saw no obvious crosstalk, and the improved light output helps to offset the image brightness that's lost through the active glasses. Overall the JVC's 3D image looked clean, crisp, and well-saturated. I was aware of a bit more flicker with the JVC glasses, which can be a distraction if you view 3D content in a room with some ambient light."

Measurements
Here are the measurement charts for the JVC DLA-X970R projector, created using Portrait Displays' Spectracal CalMAN software. These measurements show how close the display gets to our current HDTV standards. For both gray scale and color, a Delta Error under 10 is considered tolerable, under five is considered good, and under three is considered imperceptible to the human eye. Click on each photo to view the graph in a larger window.

jvc-x970r-gs.jpgjvc-x970r-cg.jpg

The top charts show the projector's color balance, gamma, and total gray-scale Delta Error, below and after calibration in the THX mode. Ideally, the red, green, and blue lines will be as close together as possible to reflect a neutral color/white balance. We currently use a gamma target of 2.2 for HDTVs and a darker 2.4 for projectors. The bottom charts show where the six color points fall on the Rec 709 triangle, as well as the luminance (brightness) error and total Delta Error for each color point.

JVC-DLA-X970-eotf.jpgWe also measured the projector in HDR mode. It measures a maximum brightness of 179.6 nits at 100 IRE in full white field. To the right, the top chart shows the HDR mode's EOTF (aka the "new gamma") tracking; the yellow line is the target, and the JVC (gray line) tracks fairly close. The bottom chart shows how close the DLA-X970R gets to the DCI-P3 color gamut. Although the larger Rec 2020 triangle is the ultimate goal for UHD, no displays can do it right now, so we use DCI-P3 as the current target. This projector comes closer to P3 than other recent models we've tested, such as the Sony VPL-VW675ES and Epson 6040UB; the red, green, and blue points all have a Delta Error under three, JVC-X970R-P3.jpgand cyan is the least accurate with a DE of 4.3.

The Downside
The X970R's downsides are the exact same ones I had for the X750R last year. This projector does not support Dolby Vision, although no other 4K-friendly projectors do, either. It's very slow to switch between different resolutions, and it doesn't accept a 480i signal. The latter is only a concern if you prefer to use the source direct mode on your Blu-ray player or cable/satellite box. You can easily get around these problems by locking your source to a set resolution (ideally 4K on your UHD player).

The X970R's video processor didn't handle 1080i deinterlacing as well as other displays I've tested. With the 1080i cadence tests on the Spears and Munsil 2nd Generation Benchmark disc, the DLA-X970R correctly detected a 1080i film cadence (although it was slow to do so), but it failed at 1080i video and other cadences like 5:5 and 6:4. You probably won't see too many artifacts in film-based 1080i HDTV shows, but video-based 1080i content could be another story. Again, if you lock your source device to a 1080p or 4K resolution, this won't be a concern.

The X970R lacks a USB input, which is now a common feature on many front projectors and can serve multiple purposes, including media playback, firmware updates, and powering wireless HDMI dongles like the DVDO Air.

Comparison & Competition
The main competitors to the JVC DLA-X970R, price-wise, come from Sony and Epson. The DLA-X970R's $9,999 price lands it in the middle of two of Sony's native 4K projectors: the $14,999 VPL-VW675ES and the $7,999 VPL-VW365ES. You can read Brian Kahn's recent review of the VPL-VW675ES here: Like the JVC, it supports the HDR10 and HLG formats, but it doesn't have full 18-Gbps HDMI inputs, and its color points are further off the P3 mark than the JVC. It has a lower rated light output at 1,800 lumens, but real-world numbers were comparable. The VPL-VW365ES, meanwhile, supports only HDR10, doesn't do P3 color, and is rated at 1,500 lumens.

Epson's $7,999 Pro Cinema LS10500 is a pixel-shifting model that uses a laser light source and supports HDR10 and P3 color. As I mentioned above, Epson also offers the pixel-shifting $3,999 Pro Cinema 6040UB that supports HDR10 and P3 color, although not in the same picture modes.

Conclusion
Purely from a performance standpoint, JVC's DLA-X970R projector is an easy recommendation. It produces a beautiful image with both 4K and 1080p content, combining deep blacks with improved light output, accurate color, and a vastly improved HDR experience compared with the previous JVC generation.

It's when you add price into the equation that things get more complicated. Yes, the JVC is $5,000 cheaper than Sony's native 4K VPL-VW675ES while offering comparable (and, in some respects, better) performance. If you're working with a more modest screen size, the Sony's step up to native 4K probably won't be that obvious of an advantage; so, in that sense, the DLA-X970R is the better value. Where it gets really tricky, though, is when you compare the DLA-X970R with JVC's own $6,999 DLA-X770R. On paper, the only performance spec that differentiates the X770R from the X970R is a 100-lumen decrease in brightness. With the X970R, you do get hand-picked optics to ensure the best possible performance, as well as a longer five-year warranty (three years for X770R). Are those three elements really worth $3,000? I suppose that depends on the size of your screen and your bank account. If it were my money being spent on a high-performing UHD/HDR-friendly projector, I'd first take a serious look at JVC's DLA-X770R, which I think more successfully hits the trifecta of performance, features, and price.

Additional Resources
• Check out our Front Projectors category page to read similar reviews.
JVC Debuts New e-sihft4 Projectors at HomeTheaterReview.com.
• Visit the JVC website for more product information.

Subscribe To Home Theater Review

Get the latest weekly home theater news, sweepstakes and special offers delivered right to your inbox
Email Subscribe
HomeTheaterReview Rating
Value: 
Performance: 
Overall Rating: 
© JRW Publishing Company, 2023
As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.

magnifiercross
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram
Share to...