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TRUE NATIVE 4K projectors have only been widely available—and reasonably affordable—for the past few years. Prior to that, most home projectors used a process called “pixel shifting” to produce 4K images: A 2K imaging device first presents half of the pixels in each 4K frame, shifts the image by less than the distance of a single pixel, and then displays the other half of the pixels. All of the pixels in the 4K source appear on screen—just not at the same time. The shift takes place so rapidly that it is undetectable to the human eye.
Projectors that use pixel shifting are still available because the process works surprisingly well and helps keep the cost of projectors down. I’ve been using JVC’s pixel-shifting DLA-X790R (a.k.a. RS540) for the past three years and have never been disappointed. Even so, I welcomed the opportunity to swap it out with a true 4K projector—JVC’s new DLA-RS1100. At $7,000, the DLA-RS1100 (also available as the DLA-NP5) is the second least expensive model in JVC’s D-ILA projector lineup, which as of mid-year included 10 models ranging in price from $4,000 to $26,000; six of which are pixel-shifting 8K projectors (JVC calls the technology 8K e-shift and 8K e-shiftX), including the $26,000 DLA-NZ9 we reviewed in 2021.
Weighing in at just over 42 pounds, the RS1100 is a beast compared with many home projectors, so if you’re planning a ceiling mount, it’s a two-man
