Hands-on with the JVC HD750/350

Philip Wong | Sep 18, 2008

We recently had a hands-on session with the JVC DLA-HD350 and DLA-HD750, currently making their rounds worldwide. Despite using out-of-the-box factory settings, the almost silent DLA-HD750 was putting out some pretty amazing pictures. Blacks were definitely better than before and was matched by a strong depth of field and smooth visuals. Having said that, the projector's sharpness was a bit on the soft side, just like the DLA-HD1, and exhibited a distinct film-like appeal.

If you're in the market for new home theater projectors, there will be another announcement soon on these JVC models which will probably rock the market. While we were given strict instructions not to disclose any information, here's a teaser to get you on the right track. Do you seriously believe the new HD750 will feature the same 30,000:1 native contrast offered by the 2007 DLA-HD100?

The 1,000-ANSI lumens HD350 and 900 ANSI lumens HD750 will also ship with a built-in lens aperture--which allows fine-tuning of brightness levels without compromising contrast performance--and an automatic protective lens shutter. Other useful niceties include zoom and wide lens shift capabilities (similar to the HD100) with upgraded fully motorized adjustments and focusing.

To further whet your appetite, the HD350 and HD750 are slated for launch throughout Asia in October and December, respectively. According to James Yap, assistant general manger for JVC's Professional Product Divison, the two new entries will complement the existing HD1 and HD100 on shelves and be priced accordingly to reflect their individual propositions.

Here are some closeups and comparison shots between the HD350 and HD100.