JVC’s top-tier video processing and high native contrast give the RS1100 remarkable image sharpness. Aside from the slight pixel shift that a few of our tests revealed, it looked sharp in everything we threw at it. Click Here >
The RS1100 uses a traditional lamp and features an 1900-lumen brightness rating, so it may be hard to match its image quality with alternatives using laser light sources like Epson’s EH-LS12000 or Sony’s VPL-XW5000. However, it does include JVC’s blur-reducing Clear Motion Drive and HDR10+ support.
1.900 Lumens
Compared to the DLA-RS1000 it replaces, the new DLA-RS1100 is 100 lumens brighter and comes with dual 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 inputs that support 4K@120fps from your high-end gaming computer and the latest PlayStation and Xbox consoles. There is also an RS-232 and RJ-45 ethernet port for system control and network IP functionality, as well as a single 12-volt trigger, and a 3-pin DIN port to attach a 3D emitter (sold separately).
As with JVC’s previous projector models, the DLA-RS1100 offers a wide range of motorized lens settings that you can easily recall by pressing the Setting Memory button. This allows you to easily change between different aspect ratios, or between a widescreen and HDTV format. You can even store multiple combinations of horizontal and vertical lens shift positions, as well as convergence and screen masking positioning.
In terms of image quality, the RS1100 performed well on our tests, with excellent dynamic range and great black levels. It also managed to retain most of its rated brightness after calibration, and did better on our color saturation test than many other single-chip DLP projectors that offer a much lower lumens rating. The RS1100 also boasts top-notch video processing and is very sharp, even with 4K resolution content. It’s also very quiet and has a long lamp life rated at 20,000 hours.
2. Native 4K Resolution
JVCKENWOOD’s e-shift technology allows this projector to accept and display native 4K 60P (4:4:4) content without the need for a down converter. E-shift uses a proprietary method of shifting the image by 0.5 pixels vertically and horizontally to achieve 4K resolution with the same imaging device as a conventional FHD projector. This produces eye-opening high definition content with the highest pixel density that can be displayed. A refined 0.69″ native 4K D-ILA device and JVC’s own Clear Motion Drive combine to deliver superior image clarity.
The RS1100’s built-in real-time dynamic tonemapping helps this projector take advantage of the large dynamic range in HDR content with outstanding shadow detail, natural skin tones and impressive peak whites. Its class leading 40,000:1 native contrast ratio also contributes to excellent picture quality.
Like the model it replaces, the RS1100 retains HDMI 2.1 input support for 4K@120fps video, which is ideal for high frame rate gaming from the latest Sony and Microsoft consoles and high-end PCs. It also supports a low latency mode for smoother gameplay with less lag.
The RS1100 has a pair of 48Gbps full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, an RJ-45 ethernet port for system control and network IP functionality and a single 12-volt trigger. It has a 1.3″ motorized lens shift adjustment and zoom preset settings to accommodate different screen sizes and formats.
3. HDR10+
JVC has added HDR10+ support to this projector which means it can deliver the full brightness and rich color of HDR content that is available on Blu-ray & streaming sources. The RS1100 is also capable of outputting 1080p at 120 frames per second which is ideal for gaming and provides a smoother image than 60fps.
The RS1100 has extensive white balance, color, and gamma controls to allow you to fine-tune the images to your liking. It can even be calibrated to reference level by a professional, thanks to the ISF Function.
Using the information embedded in the HDR metadata, the RS1100 is capable of dynamic scene-by-scene and frame-by-frame tone mapping to help deliver highlights and shadows that are true to the director’s intention. This feature, along with the Theater Optimizer, helps to ensure that you get the best possible HDR performance out of this projector.
JVC has also built in an auto-calibration feature that uses the projector’s sensor to automatically optimize image settings. This will help you achieve a better picture right out of the box, though it is still recommended that you have your system professionally calibrated. Other features include a pair of high-speed 18Gbps HDMI 2.1 inputs, a 3-pin DIN port for 3D emitter and glasses, and an RS-232 and RJ-45 ethernet port for system control. The RS1100 is also very quiet and has plenty of horizontal lens shift to give you the flexibility you need to align the projector to your screen.
4. Real-Time Dynamic Tonemapping
Tone mapping operators are computationally complex to implement, but must be fast for interactive and realtime applications. In order to reduce memory access and latency they must use a downscaled previous frame (1/64). However, such a scheme may introduce artifacts such as halos. To overcome this, local algorithms can be used that adapt to the current scene and generate more natural looking results.
This is precisely what JVC has done with the new Frame Adapt HDR picture mode that is available after the firmware update. The projector analyzes peak brightness on a frame-by-frame or scene-by-scene basis, depending on the HDR source (selectable by the user) and adjusts the tone mapping accordingly.
I tested the JVC RS1100 with the latest HDR release of The Revenant and found it to look great, with no signs of artifacts or halos. It is true that it has less dynamic range than a more aggressive linear tonemapping, but I feel it was able to handle the subtle highlights presented in the film’s campfires and snowy landscapes.
Another impressive feature of the JVC RS1100 is its native contrast, which is arguably one of the best in the industry, even without its built-in dynamic iris. It passed our black level test and did a good job of preserving the details in dark scenes. The RS1100 also did well in our gamma and color tests.