At A Glance
- High Dynamic Range (HDR) compatible
- 3D movie compatible
- Exceptional video specs: 2200 lumens of bright light, 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, Up to 8K (8192 X 4320) resolution with e-shift
- Great black levels and contrast
- Lens memory and installation mode lets you toggle between settings for different sized screens
- You need a very big, dimly lit room dedicated to project to a big screen
- Must replace the NSH 265 W lamp after 4500 hours
Our Take
JVC’s top-of-the-line flagship projector, the JVC DLA-Nx9, also referred to as the DLA-RS3000, will provide an enormous image that competes with reality. For the price, you would expect top image quality, along with a giant screen size, and this is what the JVC’s top model delivers.
For many years, home movie enthusiasts have waited for an affordable projector to compete with the movie theater experience. At first, the only options from JVC were the price of a midsize car. Consequently, the dream remained out of reach for most people.
Today, with the JVC DLA-Nx9, the goal is more attainable than ever, though still a considerable investment.
Why Invest in a Projector?
For many years, home movie enthusiasts have waited for an affordable projector to compete with the movie theater experience. At first, the only options from JVC were the price of a midsize car. Consequently, the dream remained out of reach for most people.
Today, with the JVC DLA-Nx9, the goal is more attainable than ever, though still a considerable investment.
Key Features
The JVC DLA-Nx9 offers the equivalent of 8K equivalent resolution, a world’s first. Now, it’s not true 8K, but rather, it uses a pixel-shifting algorithm to upscale images from native 4K. You can’t input 8K signals, but for most people, this won’t be an issue. The two smaller JVC models, the Nx5 and Nx7, have the same native 4K resolution.
25-foot screen
However, the JVC DLA-Nx9 has a much bigger 100mm all-glass lens with the highest native contrast ratio of 100,000:1. Also, this model has higher lumens at 2,200 lumens versus 1,800 in the lower-priced models. Keep in mind, all this jargon means you get an impressive picture on a screen up to the size of 300 inches, or 25 feet across with 8,192×4,320 resolution.
The latest Technology
Of course, this baby is HDR and 3D compatible and works with Hybrid Log-Gamma, which might be widely used in the future. In 2019, JVC released a firmware update called Frame Adapt HDR that optimizes the picture automatically. Thus, the feature dynamically adjusts the tone mapping of the image on a frame-by-frame basis. Before this update, users might have to change the screen settings more often, depending on the movie they were watching.
Also, the JVC DLA-Nx9 features Clear Motion Drive and Motion Enhance to reduce motion blur in moving images.
Lens Setting Memory and Installation Mode
Another great feature of this model is the ability to toggle between lens settings, depending on your screen size. Thus, you can change the size of your screen aspect ratios like 2.35:1 simply and easily. It can be a determining factor, given this feature isn’t available on similar projectors.
What Others are Saying - Online Reviews
As with any product, it’s helpful to see what people who have first-hand experience are saying. Thus, after searching the web, here are a few of the positive comments. Keep in mind; there are not many reviews from everyday consumers thanks to the hefty price tag.
Avforums provided a glowing review of the JVC DLA-Nx9, noting that the Frame Adapt system delivers excellent HDR tone mapping. Also, they said that even HD from Blu-rays looks excellent.
“…Even lowly HD from a Blu-ray can be incredibly sharp and detailed with superb skin tones and natural-looking colors”
“..The Frame Adapt system has really added a game changing edge when it comes to HDR tone mapping for a projector”
Similarly, Home Theater Review gave this projector top marks for performance, value, and overall.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the JVC DLA-NX9 and found the improvements it offers over the NX7 to be easily noticeable. In my opinion, the NX9 throws the best overall image quality for movies one can get from any current consumer home theater project under $100,000, and offers what can only be described as one of the most cinematic movie-viewing experiences available today.
Yes the price is a bit intimidating, but when you consider the staggering overall performance and features the NX9 has, especially against what competing brands currently offer, I think the asking price is fair.”
the Competition
Sony VPL-VW885ES
Considering the many features of the JVC DLA-Nx9, there currently aren’t many competitors in this price range. One exception is the Sony VPL-VW885ES. However, it is currently considerably more expensive. Also, it doesn’t go up to 8K resolution but has native 4K resolution. The main advantage of the Sony is the laser light source that lasts for 20,000 hours.
Sony VPLVZ1000ES
If you don’t have much space, but still want the biggest screen you can get, the Sony VPLVZ1000ES could be an option. As a “short-throw” projector, it only needs to be ten inches from the screen to throw a 120-inch native 4K image on a wall. Plus, the bright 2,500 lumens means your room may not have to be completely pitch black.
JVC DLA-Nx7
A third competitor for the JVC DLA-Nx9 is another model in the lineup from JVC, the DLA-Nx7. If you can do without the 8K resolution and a slightly lower native contrast ratio of 80,000:1, then you can get a great projector for considerably less cash. Both models feature the same NSH 265 W lamp that needs replacing every 4,500 hours in low lamp mode, and both weigh around the same in pounds.
The Bottom Line
Having one of these amazing projectors is probably still out of reach for many people. However, if you are one of the lucky ones with a budget and space for it, then the JVC DLA-Nx9 could be a dream come true. You can finally have the home movie theater experience without trading one bit of image quality. The only drawbacks, aside from cost, are that you may never go to your local movie theater again.