JVC's new rear projection By John Archer

JVC new rear projection technology to the UK should arrive in the UK this month. Called HD-ILA, it's based on a different kind of imaging device called 'Liquid Crystal on Silicon' (LCoS). LCoS differs from its close relative, LCD, in its use of a unique inorganic alignment layer that supposedly makes for a longer device life and a performance that never reduces over time.

JVC's HD-ILA system also allegedly improves matters by leaving practically no space between each pixel (thus hopefully avoiding the chicken wire effect of LCD technology). Next, because its upcoming HD-ILA sets use three separate microchips, there are no problems with the rainbow effect of motion noise seen with DLP technology.

Finally, even though the HD-ILA pictures are allegedly the brightest in the rear projection world, the technology means that they only consume around a third of the power of plasma and LCD TVs.

The only problem we've seen with LCoS/HD-ILA technology previously is that black levels can be a bit washed out. JVC claims to have sorted this for the new TVs, so we'll keep our fingers crossed.

JVC HD-70ZR7J

Alternative
JVC is bringing two HD-ILA TVs to the UK this month: the 56in HD-56ZR7J and the enormous 70in HD-70ZR7J - and needless to say we'll bring you a review as soon as we can get hold of a test sample.

It's worth pointing out that Sony has launched in Japan yet another rear projection technology. Dubbed SXRD, it's actually very close in technology terms to HD-ILA/LCD, but uses proprietary driver circuits and special 'silicon wafer' processing to deliver greater pixel density.

It also employs a new system of vertically aligning the liquid crystal molecules that's reckoned to boost black level response. It's currently unclear, though, if any SXRD rear projection models are going to be launched in the UK.

You can find more info on JVC here.

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