| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HOME > 4K Shootout: JVC RS440U vs Optoma UHZ65
If "4K" describes both the resolution you want and how much you want to spend, the JVC DLA-RS440U ($3,999) and the Optoma UHZ65 4K Laser Projector ($4,495) are two prime home-theater candidates. Both deliver solid image quality but with different sets of features. For example, the RS440U adds powered zoom, focus, and lens shift along with lens memory, while the UHZ65 offers a laser-phosphor light engine with 20,000 hours of life and an actual 4K image rather than the RS440U's close approximation of 4K using pixel shifting on 1080p panels. We've reviewed each of these projectors separately, so read both reviews for more detail: (JVC DLA-RS440U review ; Optoma UHZ65 review) In this article we'll focus on the advantages of each and the differences between them.
A Side-by-Side Comparison |
MODE | ||
Cinema | ||
Animation | ||
Natural | ||
HDR |
MODE | |||
Bright | |||
Cinema | |||
HDR Sim | |||
Game | |||
Reference |
Eco Modes. The RS440U's Low lamp mode lowers brightness by about 30%. The 10 steps below 100% for the UHZ65 each lower the measured brightness by 5% of the Full brightness measurement.
Zoom lens light loss. The RS440U's 2x zoom lens curtails light by 18% at the telephoto end of the range compared with the maximum wide angle setting, while the UHZ65's lesser zoom, at 1.6x, curtails light by 23% at the telephoto end.
Brightness uniformity. The RS440U's 87% brightness uniformity translates to a variation in brightness that's barely visible with a solid white image and not visible at all with any image that breaks up the field of view. The brightness variation with the UHZ65's 56% uniformity is easy to see with a solid white image. However, almost any film or video image masks the variation since the eye will tend to interpret any visible variation as being in the original image.
Rainbow artifacts. The RS440U's LCoS design eliminates any possibility of rainbow artifacts. The UHZ65 shows them infrequently enough that it is unlikely anyone will find them bothersome.
Onboard stereo. Because home theater projectors in this price range are intended to be used with a high quality external sound system, many of them, including the RS440U, don't have onboard speakers. The UHZ65 offers stereo 4-watt speakers with sound quality and volume in the same league as a large-screen TV.
Input lag. The RS440U produces an input lag of 42 ms with video processing features like frame interpolation turned off. The lowest lag the UHZ65 delivers is almost twice that, at 80 ms.
Fan noise. The RS440U has the lower level of fan noise of the two--so much so that the audible noise rating for its High power mode is lower than the rating for the UHZ65's lowest power mode, at 26 dB vs. 29 dB. That said, even with the UHZ65 in its highest power mode, unless fan noise is one of your pet peeves, the low-pitched whoosh isn't likely to be an issue if you're sitting more than five feet away.
JVC says to use the RS440U's High Altitude mode at 3,000 feet and above. The recommendation for the UHZ65 is 5,000 feet and above. With both set to High Altitude mode, RS440U is far quieter. The UHZ65's High Altitude mode is loud enough that if you need to use it, you should consider positioning the projector behind a false wall or behind the screen to deaden the sound.
Warranty. Both projectors come with a three year warranty, with the UHZ65 warranty including the laser light source. JVC warrants the lamp on the RS440U for one year or 1,000 hours.
The JVC DLA-RS440U and Optoma UHZ65 both deliver high quality images with fine detail, high contrast, saturated color and a notable sense of three dimensionality. The one exception is that if your installation requires you to reduce brightness on the UHZ65, it will lose enough contrast to notice. That won't happen with the RS440U, which is a good enough reason to choose it for smaller screen applications in a dark viewing space.
For other situations, choosing between the two can still be easy. The RS440U is the obvious pick if you want to have Full 3D, a lower input lag for game playing, lower fan noise, a powered lens and lens memory for a CIH setup without needing an anamorphic lens, or its large zoom range and lens shift for flexible positioning.
If you don't need those features, the Optoma UHZ65 offers a set of advantages of its own. You would select the UHZ65 if you want its subtely higher resolution of true 4K (which is most noticeable with particularly demanding, high-resolution graphics, like CAD/CAM images with lots of fine lines close together), a maintenance-free unit, compellingly watchable HDR even without tweaking settings, the ability to get exactly the brightness you need by adjusting the power setting in 5% increments, or onboard audio. Also for altitudes between 3,000 and 5,000 feet, the UHZ65 has the advantage of not needing High Altitude mode. At 5,000 feet and above, the RS440U has the advantage of its High Altitude mode being much quieter.
If none of these stands out as a "must have" feature, the choice may come down to whether you'd rather have a lower initial cost with the JVC DLA-RS440U or a lower total cost of ownership with the Optoma UHZ65. Either projector will give you excellent--and in most circumstances essentially equivalent--image quality, each offers its own unique combination of features, and either one will deliver an outstanding home theater experience.
Where to buy:
Posted Feb 1, 2018 9:16 AM |
|
By Peter |
Post a Comment Alert Moderator |
Posted Jan 30, 2018 3:49 PM |
|
By HarperVision |
Post a Comment Alert Moderator |
Posted Jan 26, 2018 11:35 AM |
|
By M. David Stone |
Post a Comment Alert Moderator |
Posted Jan 26, 2018 7:24 AM |
|
By Tom Floading |
Post a Comment Alert Moderator |
Posted Jan 26, 2018 3:24 AM |
|
By Somecomments |
Post a Comment Alert Moderator |
Posted Jan 25, 2018 2:36 PM |
|
By M. David Stone |
Post a Comment Alert Moderator |
Posted Jan 25, 2018 1:02 PM |
|
By DavidK |
Post a Comment Alert Moderator |
Commenting on this article is easy and does not require any registration. Your email address is necessary for you to activate your comment once it has been submitted. It will not be shown to other site viewers. ProjectorCentral reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Foul language is not permitted, nor are personal attacks. No HTML allowed. All comments should remain on topic.
Share this Page | Send this Page | Print this Page | Report Errors |
Posted Feb 1, 2018 12:24 PM
By M. David Stone
What the two sentences you're asking about really relate to is contrast ratio. To the extent that the effective contrast depends on black level (as opposed to video processing and the like), what really matters is contrast ratio--the ratio between the brightest and darkest levels the projector can produce. By definition, the brightest level drops at lower power and brightness levels. If the darkest level stays the same at all power levels, the ratio of brightest level to darkest level will also fall, and so will the effective contrast.
On your question about a break point for the loss of contrast, there's no good answer. Go from 100% to 95% and it is hard to see any difference. Go from 100% to 85% and you'll see a difference, but may still consider it acceptable. There is no sudden leap at any one 5% step from okay to not okay. And where you want to draw the line is really a subjective judgment.
Finally, I don't know if the typo was mine or in some Optoma material, but the site and data sheet are indeed showing a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Thanks for pointing that out. It's now correct in the text.