What do you do when you make some of the top-rated home theater projectors on the market? Do you sit on your laurels, add a few new features and just slap a new badge on them? Not if you’re JVC. The company just unveiled the details on its 2024 line-up of high-end D-ILA home theater projectors and they beat the previous models in just about every measure: up to 1.5 times improved contrast, higher peak brightness and expanded dynamic range. The new projectors also accept native 8K/60p and 4K/120P resolution sources thanks to an improved LSI (Large Scale integration) module with increased processing power.
The company has introduced a total of four new models, two “Reference Series” projectors for the consumer market, and two “Procision” projectors for the CI (Custom Install) market. The Procision and Reference Series versions of each projector offer identical specs, with slightly different badging and chassis coloring. The flagship DLA-NZ900 (also known as the DLA-RS4200) will sell for $25,999.95 while the DLA-NZ800 (also known as the DLA-RS3200) will sell for $15,999.95. All four projectors are expected to begin shipping next month (June, 2024). The DLA-NZ900 replaces the highly acclaimed DLA-NZ9 which won the top spot at the 2022 Value Electronics Projector Shootout.
All four projectors feature the company’s latest 3rd generation 0.69” 4K Native D-ILA device. D-ILA (Direct Drive Image Light Amplifier) is JVC’s proprietary LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) imaging module. The new projectors also feature JVC’s new proprietary BLU-Escent laser light engine, which increases brightness and luminosity over previous models. And while JVC is already known for its exceptionally good black levels, these new models feature the company’s latest Gen2 Frame Adapt HDR technology which is said to produce ever Deeper Blacks on 4K/HDR content.
8K content is displayed on the new projectors at its native 8K resolution. JVC’s second-generation 8K/e-shiftX pixel shifting technology generates four images per frame on the projector’s native 4K imaging devices. A similar method is used by most 4K projectors on the market to generate 4K images from 1080p imaging devices. On the new JVC projectors, 4K, 1080p, 1080i, 720p and SD sources are all upconverted to 8K resolution for improved detail. The projectors support all HDR10, HLG and HDR10+ Dynamic HDR formats (but not Dolby Vision). They also include FILMMAKER MODE for automatic optimization of image settings such as motion interpolation, brightness, color temperature and contrast.
All projectors feature precision all-glass lenses. The DLA-NZ900/DLA-RS4200 uses an 18-element, 16-group 100-mm lens housed in a full aluminum lens barrel. The DLA-NZ800/DLA-RS3200 is equipped with a 17-element, 15-group 65-mm all-glass lens. For installation flexibility, both projectors include a wide range of motorized lens shift with lens memory. The DLA-NZ900/DLA-RS4200 features 100% vertical and 43% horizontal lens shift. The DLA-NZ800/DLA-RS3200 offers 80% vertical and 34% horizontal lens shift. Lens memory allows owners to create presets for a CIH (Constant Image Height) screen installation. This enables the projectors to automatically adjust zoom, focus and lens shift to fill virtually any aspect ratio screen depending on the content.
JVC says that the improved manufacturing precision of the D-ILA device has enabled additional improvements in image uniformity and in native contrast with the DLA-NZ900/DLA-RS4200 rated at 150,000:1 and the DLA-NZ800/DLA-RS3200 rated at 100,000:1 native contrast. JVC’s BLU-Escent Laser, which uses a blue laser diode as the light source, has been optimized to achieve a brightness rating of 3,300 lumens on the DLA-NZ900/DLA-RS4200 and 2,700 lumens on the DLA-NZ800/DLA-RS3200. Rated life of the laser light engine on all projectors is 20,000 hours. All four projectors support 3D content via optional active 3D glasses.
Detailed Specs and Model Comparison:
Models | DLA-NZ900 DLA-RS4200 | DLA-NZ800 DLA-RS3200 | |
Body color | Black | ||
Device | 3rd generation 0.69-inch native 4K D-ILA device (4096 x 2160) x3 | ||
8K60p input | Yes | ||
4K120p input | Yes | ||
Display resolution | 8,192 x 4,320 (8K/e-shiftX) | ||
Lens | x2 motorized zoom & focus, all-glass lens 100 mm diameter | x2 motorized zoom & focus, all-glass lens 65 mm diameter | |
Lens shift | 100% vertical range, 43% horizontal range (motorized) | 80% vertical range, 34% horizontal range (motorized) | |
Projection display size (diagonal) | 60 – 300-inch | 60 – 200-inch | |
Light source | BLU-Escent Laser | ||
Brightness | 3,300 lm | 2,700 lm | |
Contrast ratio | Dynamic | ∞:1 | |
Native | 150,000:1 | 100,000:1 | |
Ultra-high contrast optics | Yes | ||
Cinema filter (DCI-P3 color gamut) | Yes | ||
Connections | HDMI in | x2 (48 Gbps/HDCP 2.3 compatible) | |
Trigger out | x1 (Mini-jack, DC 12V/100mA) | ||
3D Synchro out | x1 (Mini‐Din 3-pin) | ||
RS‐232C | x1 (D-sub‐9pin) | ||
LAN | x1 (RJ45) | ||
Service | 1 (USB Type A) for firmware update and backing up settings | ||
Digital video signal range | 480p, 576p, 720p 60/50, 1080i 60/50,1080p 120/100/60/50/30/25/24,2560 x 1440p 120/603840 x 2160p 120/100/60/50/30/25/24,4096 x 2160p 120/100/60/50/30/25/24,7680 x 4320p 60/50/48/30/25/24 | ||
3D resolution versions | Frame packing | 720p 60/50, 1080p 24 | |
Side-by-side | 720p 60/50, 1080p 60/50/24, 1080i 60/50 | ||
Top & bottom | 720p 60/50, 1080p 24 | ||
Power consumption | 440W (Network standby: 1.5W, Eco-mode standby: 0.3W) | ||
Fan noise | 24 dB | ||
Power requirement | AC 100-240V, 50/60Hz | ||
Dimensions (W x H x D) | 19.66 in x 9.21 in x 27.78 in (500 mm x 234 mm x 528 mm) | 19.66 in x 9.21 in x 19.88 in (500 mm x 234 mm x 505 mm) | |
Weight (net) | 55.7 lb / 25.3kg | 50.9 lb / 23.1kg |
The Bottom Line
JVC’s latest high-end home theater projectors promise better contrast, higher brightness and improved dynamic range, and all at the same price points as the models they’re replacing. We can’t wait to check out these bad boys in person.
Where to Buy:
- JVC DLA-NZ900 – $25,999, available at:
- JVC DLA-NZ800 – $15,999, available at:
Related Reading: Best Home Theater Projectors Revealed at 2022 Projector Shootout
Robert Zohn
May 4, 2024 at 8:37 pm
Thank you for the great coverage of JVC’s new 8K Laser Projectors! The 1st allocation/shipment of the NZ900 and NZ800 is scheduled to be on display/demo in our new suite of 16 Cinema Demo room the week of June 3rd.
Chris Boylan
May 6, 2024 at 11:15 pm
Hey, Robert,
Sounds like someone needs to start planning a 2024 projector shootout (hint! hint!).
Robert Zohn
May 23, 2024 at 5:37 pm
Thank you Chris! Yes we have the UST and Long Throw Projector Shootout® Evaluation event tentatively scheduled for February 8-9, 2025 and possibly sooner.
Our 2024 TV Shootout® Evaluation event will be August 3-4, 2024. Hope you will join us again!!