Every year at CEDIA Expo, projector manufacturers try to outdo each other: better performance, more features, support for bigger screens. And while Sony may have been first to announce a 4K home theater projector with the VPL-VW1000ES projector, JVC wasn't far behind with not one but four new 4K home theater projectors. The top models in JVC's 2012 consumer and custom installation line-up will offer four times the detail of a full 1080p HD image, improved performance in 3D mode and new features such as a custom automated zoom lens memory which supports ultrawide CinemaScope content without the need for an external anamorphic lens and processor. And they've done all this without raising prices.
A 4K projector produces an image that has approximately four times as many pixels as a 1080p HD image (in the case of JVC, it's a 3840 x 2160 pixel image). JVC's new 4K projectors produce this image from a standard 2K imaging chip using a process called e-Shift. E-Shift uses a liquid crystal panel in front of the D-ILA imaging chip to shift the pixels on the D-ILA panel one half pixel width in each direction. Combined with JVC's video processing engine (co-developed with NHK), this process creates three additional pixels from each original pixel. The net effect is more perceived detail, and a virtually invisible pixel structure even when the image is viewed from close-up on a very large screen. The process works electronically, with no moving parts.
For best results, a high quality original source such as a full HD 1080p Blu-ray Disc should be used, though the processor also works on 720p, 1080i and even standard definition content. Unlike Sony's 4K projector, these new JVC projectors will not accept a native 4K source, but of course, there really aren't any of these yet. At a press event this week at CEDIA Expo, JVC demonstrated the technology, and it was clear to see that that this new feature improves the detail, minimizes pixel visibility and removes artifacts such as jagged edges on diagonal lines and aliasing on text.
JVC has also made some improvements to the net brightness of its projectors, particularly in 3D mode. Brightness and contrast figures have been improved over last year's models. Also, the duty cycle of JVC's active shutter 3D glasses has been modified to allow the shutter lenses to stay open longer, thereby improving perceived brightness in 3D mode while still minimizing 3D crosstalk.
JVC has also taken a cue from Panasonic by offering a new zoom lens memory feature. With it, you can create multiple zoom memory settings, optimized for different aspect ratios. For example, you can switch over from native 16:9 HD screen aspect ratio to ultrawide CinemaScope aspect ratios (2.35:1 or 2.4:1) at the touch of a button. The projector will automatically apply zoom, lens shift and focus as needed in order to eliminate black bars on CinemaScope content while preserving resolution and screen geometry.
These improvements -- 4K resolution, enhanced 3D performance and zoom memory -- come with no increase in cost over last year's models. In fact, JVC's new entry level 3D-ready projectors (without the 4K enhancement) are significantly less expensive than last year's models. All seven of the new projectors are 3D-ready, with the top two models coming complete with 3D emitter and two pairs of active shutter 3D glasses (emitter and glasses are sold separately for the remaining five models). In addition to the JVC PK-AG1 active shutter 3D glasses currently available, JVC announced new glasses -- the PK-AG2 -- which are more compact, lighter and rechargeable. The PK-AG1 glasses remain available and are recommended for use over eyeglasses. Both models are compatible with the currently available PK-EM1 3D 3D emitter.
According to JVC, the new D-ILA home theater projectors will be available in November at the following prices:
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