The JVC DLA-NZ8 ranks as one of the most feature-packed projectors you can buy. It uses the same three 0.69-inch native 4K D-ILA devices as before, allowing the projector to produce an ultra high-definition native 4K resolution of 4096 x 2160. However, JVC has doubled the speed of these devices, allowing it to also display images up to 240Hz.
The NZ8 has the same 17-element, 15-group 65mm diameter all-glass lens system found on the previous DLA-N5 and DLA-N7 models. However, the new Ultra-High Contrast Optics featured on the DLA-NZ9 and NZ8 are designed to dramatically improved the image quality by suppressing the return of unnecessary light to the projection screen.
The 4K D-ILA panels have been upgraded to 240Hz, the all-glass lens has improved optics, and there's a BLU-Escent laser light source
The big difference with the NZ generation is the addition of JVC's BLU-Escent blue laser diode light source. This promises increased brightness, a longer effective lifespan of up to 20,000 hours, greater consistency over that life, and faster power up and down times. The laser can also be dynamically dimmed to produce improved blacks and a higher contrast performance.
The NZ8 uses 10-bit panels (although it has processing at up to 18-bit equivalent), and has a claimed brightness of 2,500 lumens. It also has a BT.2020 mode with a wide colour gamut that JVC claims can cover 100% of the DCI-P3 colour space. In addition, the NZ8 has a claimed contrast ratio of 80,000:1 and a claimed dynamic contrast ratio of infinity to one.
All the new NZ projectors support 8K, with the DLA-NZ7 using the same 8K/e-shift technology that was first introduced on the DLA-NX9. This increases the resolution by shifting the pixels by 0.5 pixels in two diagonal directions, allowing the NZ7 to display an 8K signal. The NZ8 and NZ9 use the new 8K/e-shiftX technology that shifts each pixel by 0.5 pixels in four directions (up, down, left and right), thus allowing these projectors to display an 8K signal at its full 7680 x 4320 resolution. All three projectors use LSI circuits to handle the huge amount of data provided by an 8K/60Hz signal and the processing required to convert and display it.
Thanks to the inclusion of HDMI 2.1 inputs, these projectors not only accept 8K/60Hz, but also 4K/120Hz. The latter will undoubtedly prove popular with gamers, allowing the projectors to display high frame-rate gaming content on large screens. JVC also includes a low latency mode that suppresses display delay for a faster response when receiving signals from PCs and game consoles.
It not only accepts an 8K/60 signal, but thanks to 8K/e-shiftX with four direction shift, it can actually display a resolution of 7680 x 4320
The NZ8 supports High Dynamic Range, specifically HDR10, Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) and HDR10+ content, and is one of the first projectors to include the latter format's dynamic metadata tone mapping. There's also Auto Tone Mapping, which automatically adjusts the settings based on the values of the static metadata, such as MaxCLL and MaxFALL, so that HDR content can be tone mapped and projected at the optimum quality for various HDR images with different brightness levels. In addition, Frame Adapt HDR analyses the video signal and dynamically adjusts the tone mapping on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis, while the Theatre Optimiser adjusts the tone mapping based on the screen size and gain, the frequency of use and the settings.
The menus are largely the same, although there are few tweaks from the previous generation. As before, the Content Type can be selected automatically using the Auto Picture Mode Select feature found on the Input Signal page, but now the default picture modes include SDR (2D), SDR (3D), HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG. In the More Settings sub menu you'll find the LD Power setting for adjusting the brightness of the laser (low, mid, high), and the Dynamic CTRL (off, mode 1, mode 2), and the aperture setting. There are also basic controls like Contrast, Brightness, Colour, and Tint. The Picture Adjust page has options for Colour Profile (which automatically switches to the optimal setting based on colour gamut information), Colour Temp, Gamma, HDR Processing, Tone Mapping, Theatre Optimiser, HDR Level, MPC/e-shift, and Motion Control.
The Installation page looks the same, but the Screen Setting sub-menu has been changed slightly. You can still select the screen adjust code for your specific screen and set the screen size and screen gain, but now you can choose between 16:9 and 21:9 aspect ratios. The Theatre Optimiser also has more Auto HDR settings, with a choice of Auto, -2, -1, 0, 1, and 2. There's the usual lens controls and lens memories, plus the Information page has been expanded to provide for detailed feedback about the signal and metadata.
The NZ8 includes JVC's Clear Motion Drive (C.M.D.) frame interpolation feature, along with Motion Enhance which is designed to optimise the driving of the D-ILA panels according to the motion of the image, thus reducing motion blur. In general C.M.D. should be left off, unless you want film to look like video, but there's no harm in experimenting with video-based content like sports broadcasts.
The menus have been tweaked to add extra features and more detailed feedback, and 3D fans will be glad to know the format is still supported
Other features include a six-axis colour management system, and an ISFccc (Certified Calibration Controls) mode. There's also an Auto-Calibration Function that uses exclusive JVC software and a third-party optical sensor to optimise the greyscale, gamma, colour space and colour tracking.
Finally, the NZ8 supports active shutter 3D, which uses a wireless RF (radio frequency) transmission system for 3D viewing. However, you will need to buy JVC's separate PK-EM2 3D Synchro Emitter (which plugs into the back of the projector) and some PK-AG3 3D Glasses (or equivalent), in order to actually enjoy 3D content.
