There are 3 types of Projection Technology on the market right now with the best offerings coming from JVC and Epson in 5K to 40K price range.
JVC D-ILA or LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) have been the industry leader for a long time with their X series projectors and now their all new NZ series native 4K laser projectors have replaced those models. And LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) – Brands such as Epson with their popular TW series projectors)
The other type of projector technology is DLP (Direct Light Processing) However DLP has it’s downfalls in poor native contrast and rainbow artifacting.
Mercury lamp based projectors are being phased out and lasers are the new technology for the light source.
JVC’s new DLA-NZ500, DLA-NZ700, DLA-NZ800 and DLA-NZ900 are the new models out now for 2025. With the DLA-NZ500 and DLA-NZ700 being the world’s smallest native 4K laser projectors with a brand new design from the ground up. The JVC DLA-NZ500 is available in black or white, the other models in black only
PIXEL GAP: Something often overlooked. D-ILA technology from JVC offer the best fill factor by a good margin. This results in a very narrow pixel gap which means the pixel gap itself becomes almost invisible for a truly enjoyable and seamless image. If you are going down the path of projection you should be looking at a large screen of at least 130 inches and a seating distance of 2 to 4 metres if using a JVC D-ILA projector. You can however sit closer or further back. The screen size is obviously dependant on your room size and throw distance of the projector itself. The advantage of a JVC and the seamless pixel gap is you can sit closer to the screen or have a larger screen in place over other technologies.
JVC’s D-ILA cells currently measure from 3.8 to 8 microns in size and the ‘fill factor’ is over 93%. In addition, the company has developed a technique that puports to control the liquid-crystal molecules floating in the gaps between cells to virtually eliminate any screen-door effect. Impressive!
Fig. 8 JVC claims to have developed a way to control the LCD molecules in the gaps between the cells, greatly reducing the screen-door effect. (Source: JVC)
For the most in-depth reviews on the new JVC Projectors and other goodies check out Roland’s website at Simple Home Cinema.
Roland is Australia’s finest reviewer, hands down. You will not find more detailed reviews on these projectors anywhere on the planet. See here https://simplehomecinema.com/
CONTRAST: Contrast is seen as the holy grail of home theatre because projectors cannot project true black as all pixels are active and lit. They can only project shades of grey and that can vary greatly from different brands and models. The blacker the blacks, without sacrificing peak whites makes for the best image. At the end of the day however, if you don’t have a blacked out cinema, you cannot view the full performance of the projectors contrast so other factors such as brightness and motion should be at the top of your list instead. In other words, there is little benefit, if any at all, of using a JVC NZ800 in a room with white walls and ceiling.
Highly recommended calibration discs with test patterns to set your brightness, contrast, sharpness and many other features.
Stacey Spears and Don Munsil, acclaimed creators of the Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray Disc, are pleased to announce the release of the Spears & Munsil HD Benchmark, 2nd Edition. The first edition of this disc was recommended by the New York Times, Widescreen Review, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity®, and many other print and online publications. The second edition adds even more features and patterns and sets a new bar for the term “state of the art.” Visit their website for more detailed information here https://spearsandmunsil.com/portfolio-item/setting-the-contrast-control
The Epson TW9400 has been Epson’s best selling Home Theatre projector to date and still selling strong with an RRP of $4,999
4K experience with pixel-shifting resolution-enhancement technology1 HDR High Dynamic Range and up to 200,000:1 contrast ratio Advanced, 3-Chip, 3LCD Technology State-of-the-art 15-element glass projection lens Delivers 100% of the 3-dimensional DCI-P3 color gamut3 Lamps are only $139 RRP
The LS12000 is Epson’s laser pixel shifter projector that puts out a stunning image with an RRP of $8,999
4K PRO-UHD1 Advanced Pixel-Shifting Technology Precision Shift Glass Plate Technology 32-Bit Epson ZX Picture Processor Laser Array Light Source 2,700 Lumens of Color and White Brightness
The Epson EH-QL3000B is Epson’s newest native 4K laser projector available in Australia, with a range of add on lenses to suit different throw ratios with an RRP $24,999 (not including lenses)
4K Display Technology3 with HDR104 for Stunning Picture Quality Up to 6,000 Lumens of Equal Colour and White Brightness2 Produces an Immersive Picture up to 300″ True 3-Chip 3LCD Technology for Exceptional Colour Compatible with a Wide Range of Optional Epson Precision Lenses
The Strong branded Projector mount is the premium option for projectors weighing up to 23KG. With pitch, yaw and tilt taken care of via fine tuning knobs at the front to get perfect alignment. This premium mount will outlast all the projectors you ever purchase. Available in black or white from Oz Theatre Screens.