JVC DLA-RS6710, RS67U, X900R Projector Review Summary

DLA-RS6710 (and siblings) Picture Quality Summary

When it comes to overall color accuracy, this JVC is truly very good, right out of the box.  Post calibration it is excellent.

Translated, the final color accuracy is almost as good as it gets.  It rivals other projectors that calibrate great, including the three Sony 4K projectors, and their two lower cost 1080p models, although I would have to give the 4K Sony’s the slight – and the operative term here is slight, advantage.  And that’s probably within what can be accomplished by a good calibrator who has the time to continue to tweak the calibration to smooth out some of the minor issues.

If color accuracy was the only requirement needed to declare a $12,495 projector as excellent, that wouldn’t tell the whole story, and I could easily say that there are other projectors – some down around $2000 than calibrate just as well.

Black Level performance is the one area that does set the JVC apart.  Fortunately for the competition, including the best Sony and the Epson LS10000 (and LS9600e), that come pretty close, as does JVC’s RS4910 (and its siblings) for less than half the price.  Still, dynamic range and black levels are the JVC’s ace in the hole – the best but not by a great amount. On the other hand, none but those few come close.

The other aspect that is critical at this level of performance is perceived sharpness.  While neither this JVC nor the Epson laser projectors can match the native sharpness of the three 4K Sony projectors, they can seem pretty close.  In fact on 1080p content, the Epson’s seem sharper than even the 4K Sonys.  Not so the JVC which despite pixel shifting (like the Epson) seems softer than those others.

Yes, I have two complaints about the JVC.  When it relates to picture quality, the perceived sharpness is one.  Compared to the Epson and the 4K Sony’s it does appear softer.  Even with 4K content, it doesn’t let me move my viewing chair near as close as the others.  It relates to sharpness.  My take is that 1080p has never been sharp enough for great home theater.  It’s fine for a 50 inch LCDTV, but I want to be able to sit close enough (well inside of 10 feet for my 124″ diagonal screen), to be fully immersed, like siting 1/3 back at an IMAX movie theater.

4K Content Compatibility

JVC RS6710U Brightness

Not bad, not bad at all.  940 calibrated lumens is plenty for just about everyone’s 2D viewing – on screens up to about 130 inches, with enough spare lumens for much of the loss of lumens one expects with all lamp based projectors.  At 100″ diagonal there are tons of lumens to go around with typical screens in your theater.

3D brightness is of course an issue, it is with most projectors, as you lose about 2/3s of total brightness, when viewing 3D.

Bottom line on brightness:  Plenty for the average home theater setup, a bit “thin” for larger screens, not quite bright enough for many home entertainment media/family room type setups with some ambient light, including sports viewing.  This projector’s closest competitors are mostly modestly to moderately brighter.  Still very good brightness overall.