JVC RS4500 (native 4K laser projector)

[ozhdht]

Gents, I've gotten feedback from JVC today. They passed on the thoughts that came out the local production house who was testing the Z1 for suitability for film grading. Apparently firm has said that now they've calibrated their unit in conjunction with a local company called Mojo Media Solutions. So far they are apparently happy with results including brightness on screen and accuracy of gamma profiles including DCI, Rec 709 etc. However, the odd comment was added that it seems that you need to manually change the colour temperature when in DCI mode from factory preset (D65) to 5500 Kelvin or colours will appear non compliant. It was suggested I try this setting. Would like to hear Kris' take on this one. Feedback on noise levels was also given and the obvious correlation between ambient room temp was made. The other Z1 was used in room with dedicated cooling and was 'fine' according to them. They tested another in a smaller room and observed noise levels that were far too high also. I may have the opportunity to have the other unit brought to compare to my unit, however I can't see it being particularly different in any respect at this stage. JVC are also sourcing a bunch of those side vents from the factory as soon as possible.

[Kris Deering]

I would expect to have to do a calibration for each user mode. Grayscale should change since you are now putting a color filter in the light path. I would expect that to have some effect on the grayscale and gamma.

[ozhdht]

I would expect to have to do a calibration for each user mode. Grayscale should change since you are now putting a color filter in the light path. I would expect that to have some effect on the grayscale and gamma.

What you're say Kris is that commercial calibration guys like these from Mojo Consulting would have calibrated DCI mode and would that take into account the colour temp in the process? I was thinking this when the D5500 colour mode suggestion was passed on to me by JVC's rep. Perhaps they were assuming I hadn't calibrated mine.

EDIT: JVC have also now told me that the production house testing the Z1 are only just now testing 4K and HDR on it. So I await further feedback after they've completed this part of the testing.

[mark_h]

Mike, does the vent make a noticeable difference in projector noise?

[Kris Deering]

What you're say Kris is that commercial calibration guys like these from Mojo Consulting would have calibrated DCI mode and would that take into account the colour temp in the process? I was thinking this when the D5500 colour mode suggestion was passed on to me by JVC's rep. Perhaps they were assuming I hadn't calibrated mine.

EDIT: JVC have also now told me that the production house testing the Z1 are only just now testing 4K and HDR on it. So I await further feedback after they've completed this part of the testing.

Just saying that I would do separate calibrations for each type of viewing mode (709, DCi, HDR, etc) making sure I had the proper grayscale and gamma for each and obviously the desired peak white on screen (which would probably mean different aperture settings, which also effect grayscale).

[AVSMike]

Mike, does the vent make a noticeable difference in projector noise?

It makes a little bit of difference, since it directs the noise to the side.

[AVSCraig]

It makes a little bit of difference, since it directs the noise to the side.

I can send you mine if you want two.

[AVSCraig]

I'm curious if everyone has the same initial software ? Mine says V 1.04 .

HDTV ( Dish ) looks cleaner, sharper and better vs my previous VW600 and RS600 - provided Dish is sending a good 1080i signal.

[mark_h]

1.04 here too (UK).

[Kris Deering]

1.04 here, which is the latest firmware according to JVC.

[AVSMike]

Also 1.04 here. The clarity and how clean the image is blows me away. Was using high power mode for HDR with iris on -5. Image looked great, but did not like the added noise and heat. Switched to medium with iris open and I am not losing any brightness, but much better with noise level and less heat output. Was going to add a dead vent, but may not have to do this now.

[Kris Deering]

Installed the vent covers yesterday on both exhaust vents. It does knock the pitch down slightly, but I don't know how much it actually quiets it down. Depending on where you sit in relation to the projector it may dull it enough to make it less noticeable. I noticed a difference more with high laser than mid laser (where I typically run it).

I also got the chance to watch the new UHD release of Billy Lynn, which is 4K60p. Using the Panasonic player this sent 4K60 in 12 bit 4:2:2, and the projector had no issues at all with it. As for the movie, it was awful. Heavily scripted and poorly acted and shot IMHO. I also felt like I was watching a video produced for an after school special that just used good cameras. Sure lots of detail, but it didn't look or feel like a feature film at all. Too many other titles out there that look fantastic that actually are good to waste time on this simply for the novelty of 60p. Blows me away that Ang Lee did this.

[AVSCraig]

Also 1.04 here. The clarity and how clean the image is blows me away. Was using high power mode for HDR with iris on -5. Image looked great, but did not like the added noise and heat. Switched to medium with iris open and I am not losing any brightness, but much better with noise level and less heat output. Was going to add a dead vent, but may not have to do this now.

I'm going to 2nd the clarity and clean image. Forget 4K Blu Ray's for a second. Yes, I know this is a 4K projector, but with over 480 Blu Rays in my collection, I'll probably be watching them for the rest of my life. Since Kris reported that the RS4500 was doing excellent upscaling, I did a test last night with my Oppo BDP103 in " source direct " mode. First I watched some of " Avatar ". I watched first upscaling to 4K from my Panasonic UB900, then I switched to the Oppo outputting 1080p. I think it looks ever so slightly better from the Oppo " source direct ". I don't need any motion enhancements on at all - motion looks very good. Super clean image. Virtually no picture noise. Excellent detail. And at least 2 fade to black moments that were very nearly as dark as my RS600 ! Mid laser power, -7 manual iris, mode 2 laser dimming.

For those that complained that the e shift projectors had a " busyness " to the picture, once again, that is non existent on the RS4500 for sure.   

I switched to " Prometheus " next. It's a good dark movie " torture test ". I have to say that 95% of the time, dark scenes look just fine compared to my RS600, and better than my VW600. Bright scenes - no contest - this Blu Ray also looked extremely detailed and super clean. And there was another fade to black that blacked out my theater.

I've got all MPC settings at 0, Graphics mode 4K, all motion enhancement off. Picture mode - Natural, BT.709, 6500K. Gamma - 2.4. Input level 16 - 235. Manual iris -7, mid laser power, dynamic dimming mode 2.   

[AVSMike]

Not a 3D fan, but decided to check it out and see how it looks on the RS4500. With the lamp based versions, I see flicker. The flicker does not bother me a whole lot, but with the 4500, I did not see any flicker. Nice image and I did not notice any ghosting in the 40 minutes of 3D that I viewed.

[AVSMike]

If anybody wants to come to south central Kentucky to see the RS4500, let me know. Craig has his in CA and shortly we will have our demo theater up and running, with the RS4500 featured in that room.