Is JVC's D-ILA the best of both worlds?

With projector technology, the underlying question is usually LCD vs. DLP. Stereotypically, LCD, a transmissive technology that shines light through separate red, green, and blue panels, produces strong colors, whereas DLP, a reflective technology, begets smaller, brighter, higher-contrast models. Yet, there's a third technology — LCoS, or liquid crystal on silicon — that claims the best of both: three-chip color accuracy and the light efficiency of reflection. JVC clearly believes in this technology and its well-regarded D-ILA projectors are LCoS-based.

JVC's DLA-SX21U features SXGA resolution that's a noticeable step up in image quality over most projectors on the market, but it doesn't come without compromises.

With D-ILA, and more generally LCoS, the discussion really begins with resolution. The SX21U, JVC's baseline projector, has a higher resolution than virtually all non-digital cinema projectors on the market, and that really puts it in a class by itself in comparison to other projectors similar in size and brightness. Its high resolution invariably yields sharper, more detailed images. Text is wonderfully crisp, even if the source is a scaled up version of a lower-resolution computer image. Video is smooth and clean, especially from HD sources, but even standard-definition source material looks very good.

D-ILA technology also does a good job of hiding individual pixels, even on a large screen. That's especially true compared to the micro-mirror technology of DLP and LCD panels since the physical distance between pixels is smaller. D-ILA images tend to have a smoother, more natural appearance and feel. Detractors claim that the effect is actually a lack of true sharpness, and certainly D-ILA can appear less sharp side-by-side with DLP. However, with most sources, particularly video material, that hint of softness, or lack of unnatural sharpness, is quite pleasant and is often associated with a film look.

In keeping with its role as an installation projector, the SX21U's chassis is a rectangular box with few frills. It has a manual zoom, manual focus lens controlled by lens rings that peek through the unit top, and it has no lens shift. There are straightforward navigation controls on the unit top and the accompanying generic remote, but other than the dedicated keys for horizontal and vertical keystone correction, there isn't a plethora of dedicated buttons. Aspect ratio, for example, is buried a couple of levels down in the onscreen menus.

On the side of the unit, the SX21U supports up to three simultaneous computer inputs: one 15-pin RGB port, one DVI-D port, and a 5-BNC RGBHV set. However, that set of BNCs doubles as the component video input, while the only other video I/O is for the obligatory S-Video and composite jacks. It's all standard fare for today's generic 1500-lumen portables, but you'd expect more options from an $11,000 projector.

Panel view of JVC's DLA-SX21U D-ILA (Direct Drive Image Light Amplifier) projector.

JVC's claim of 1500 lumens is competitive but not groundbreaking. In fact, it is about what you'd find in today's generic units for about one-tenth the price. That's really no exaggeration, particularly against my measurement of 1209 ANSI lumens. The SX21U contrast ratio — at 871:1 full on/off measurement — sounds impressive, but it's mostly a function of the technology.

As statistics go, JVC is much more impressive with consistency across the image. I measured brightness uniformity at a very strong 94%, just a 6% variation from the bright center to the top corners. There is effectively no bright spot to speak of.

The other very important element of control for the SX21U is color, and this takes us back to the best of the technology. JVC's color is good, both with saturated and subtle colors. And, whereas the statistical contrast ratio sounds marginal, the reflective nature of D-ILA means that very little light is wasted with low luminance levels across an image. That allows JVC to retain impressive color through a wide range of colors and grayscales, and to avoid definition loss on darker movie scenes.

That all may sound like something of a mixed bag, and perhaps it is. Better brightness would certainly help, as would better blacks. It might be nice, too, if JVC broadened the menu options. At the end of the day, however, image is pretty close to being everything, and that's where the DLA-SX21U really shines. If you're working in a controlled light environment, it will be very easy to overlook minor shortcomings and just look at a nice picture.