4K Content Handling by the JVC RS6710U
JVC was the first company to release projectors that are inherently 1080p projectors, but that could accept some true 4K content. This is one of them.
The qualifier is "some content". Keep in mind this projector was launched in the fall of 2013. a 4K version of Blu-ray was a topic of future interest. And when it comes to cable / satellite, those guys are way behind Blu-ray when it comes to such things.
As a result of lack of standards, and that this projector and its siblings that are a year older than some competition, lack some of the basic ingredients to be a serious player in "4K space." Notably, Blu-ray UHD (4K) is requiring two standards:
HDMI 2.0 (currently most projectors run HDMI 1.4a. The 1.4a version was needed to support Blu-ray 3D).
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HDCP 2.2 (that's copy protection) Devices without support for those newer standards inherently will not be Blu-ray UHD compatible. Now that's a potential big bummer for people very interested in this projector and other current JVCs, but it is not yet time to despair:
Although there are no guarantees, it would seem reasonably likely that someone will be capable of offering up an intermediate product - an image processor that would sit between the source and the JVC, and handle the HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2, so that the Blu-ray UHD content will play on these JVCs. I'm not an engineer, so I'm not taking any bets.
Let's just say that if there is an outboard processor solution, it's likely to be affordable - certainly relative to the $12,495 price of this projector. Some who can afford this JVC won't mind shelling out perhaps $1,000 to $3000+ for such a solution, if it opens up the world of general 4K content.
So, in the meantime, what can you do in terms of 4K? Well, I've had servers here with 4K on them, that are not copy protected and that has allowed me to view this JVC doing 4K content. In addition, I can view personal photos through my Sony PS3. We're talking roughly 9 megapixel sized images (4K). Go out and buy yourself a 4K camcorder, and you can view that content. Or, maybe you are a game designer, or CGI expert - render your own 4K content.
That said, cable / satellite, and especially Blu-ray UHD is where most of the content will be coming from (and 4K download services). The 4K download service I have been using does HDCP 2.2 copy protection, so I've been unable Men In Black III and other movies with this JVC.
Of course, keep in mind, we're only talking compatibility with 4K content. This is not a true 4K projector. The LCoS panels are 1080p resolution, meaning that each panel has only 1/4 the number of pixels as a true 4K panel would have (i.e. Sony's competition - the VW350ES at $9999 and the VW600ES at $14999), and these JVC pixels would be 4X the size as well.
That's where JVC's pixel shifting comes in. But we'll discuss that next. Let's just say that while various sharpening techniques and features like pixel shifting can enhance one's perception of sharpness, ultimately it's still not true 4K, even if you might be fooled from time to time. When there are fine lines or very small text, a true 4K projector will show off its real advantages and just be sharper, and there will be no getting around that.
By interpolating the data, this allows for smoothing of the image, and in some cases improved perceived sharpness. With 4K content, it definitely can be a huge help in making 4K content seem a lot sharper than 1080p, despite the panels being only 1080p.
Basically there are two companies currently using pixel shifting - these JVCs and also Epson's LS10000. For that reason, in the player above I've got a couple of comparison images showing the same content on both. There are 1080p images using pixel shifting and 4K.
There will be a follow-up comparison of the two projectors since I'm lucky enough to have them both here at the same time.
Bottom line: JVC's e-shift3 does enhance the image. I find that this JVC has a good balance between "enhanced perceived sharpness" and a smooth look to the image. By comparison, the Epson LS10000 to me, seems better at that "enhanced perceived sharpness" with its pixel shifting engaged, but the Epson has a slightly harder look to its pixel shifted imagery. Ah, there are always trade-offs!
I love 3D, but consider it a luxury item - that is, I can forgive some things with 3D that I wouldn't think of tolerating in 2D. One such thing is color accuracy. Because 3D is a brightness killer (figure you are lucky if a 3D projector is more than 1/3 as bright in 3D than 2D), you really don't get to typically choose a lower brightness "best" mode to use for viewing. Oh, you can choose it, but the brightness is likely to be just plain unsatisfactory unless your screen size is pretty small, or your screen gain unusually high.
So when I'm watching 3D on any projector, I'm willing to live without highly accurate color. That said, the JVC does pretty good in terms of 3D color in its near brightest mode, at least better than that Epson LS10000 in its brightest 3D mode, and probably at least comparable in color accuracy as the 4K Sony projectors. On the other hand, it's not as bright as the Epsons or Sonys in their brighter modes.
Last evening I watched some 3D from several movies, including the last Harry Potter, and MIB III. At 100" diagonal, I found the brightness in 3D to be barely acceptable to me - I am not a fan at all, of dim! I tried to get up to filling my full 124" diagonal, but the horsepower just wasn't there. I gave up at about 110" diagonal in a fully dark room on a 1.3 gain Stewart Studiotek 130, as the largest I could tolerate and favored returning to the smaller image so I didn't do much viewing at 110" size.
So, as good as, or better color in 3D than the competition, but less brightness to go around. Mind you the competition isn't hugely brighter, but have enough extra for an extra 10 to 20 inches diagonal with comparable brightness.
Bottom line on 3D on this JVC: You've got it, enjoy it, but if you are really a 3D fanatic, you would almost certainly favor someone elses projector for your 3D viewing. Hey, the kids will love it, they won't quibble about crosstalk or brightness.
