Posted on February 16, 2013 By Art Feierman
The JVC DLA-X95R is the flagship projector of JVC’s Consumer Group. It is JVC’s effort at excellence, in that it starts with a great projector design, and enhances that by using only the best components. The DLA-X95R basically is built from individually selected components. Effectively that means that a DLA-X95R should have the best lens, the most stable power supply, the best light engine, etc. All the “normal” lenses, etc. go to building the lower cost X75R. Perhaps it’s not surprising with the goal of creating the best projector, that the DLA-X95R is rated 100 lumens less than the DLA-X75R, and with that, sports the higher contrast number.
If you want the best JVC has to offer in a home theater projector, it will set you back $4000 more for the X95R over the $7999 X75R. Is it worth it? I can say from past experience, there is a visible difference between the hand-built JVC projectors and their standard build equivalent. However, this year we are only reviewing the X95R, not the X75R.
We will do a short write-up for the X75R, based on our expectations, and previous years’ comparisons of JVC’s flagship vs. the similar lower cost version. I suspect the bulk of the difference is having the best optics. But don’t forget that higher contrast, which is probably related.
The DLA-X95R may be the flagship of JVC’s Consumer Group, but also know that there’s an essentially identical projector from JVC Pro, the DLA-RS66U. Only some minor cosmetic differences set them apart.
Which one should you buy, Pro or Consumer, keeping in mind that the projectors are effectively identical except for a touch of cosmetics? Warranties are the same. Pricing seems to vary by about $1 (ninety nine cents). It likely will come down to which one your favorite AV dealer carries.
That’s a tough call. Personally, I’ve reviewed projectors from both groups. For the last two years, I’ve switched from getting review projectors from the Pro side to the Consumer side. (I did review one JVC Pro projector last year – the RS45, but I had to borrow it from a dealer.) My reasons may not have any bearing on your decision.
My reason relates to the response and support I get as a reviewer. Since due to some personnel changes at JVC Pro, I have since found JVC Consumer folks to be more responsive to me, in terms of getting product in on a timely basis for review, and getting quick response when I have questions, or an issue. My last JVC projector – my RS20, came from the Pro side. However, if my next projector is a JVC, it will almost certainly be bearing an X, not an RS. Either way, it will have the same great picture.
To keep the record straight, the JVC DLA-X95R projector’s equivalent in JVC’s Pro line, is the DLA-RS66U, and the “mass produced” DLA-X75R’s twin is the DLA-RS56U projector.
This JVC projector is designed for a dedicated theater, or at least a cave of sorts.
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