The world of Home theater projectors have undergone a remarkable transformation, bringing cinematic magic right into homes, and not just in the basement movie room. Among the array of projector technologies, laser projectors have emerged as a favorite for discerning enthusiasts seeking top-tier visual quality.
For high-end home theater laser projectors, the two top names in the industry are Sony and JVC.
When it comes to achieving the absolute best picture quality, these two manufacturers lead the way. We often get asked, "Does Sony or JVC make the better projector for home cinemas?" While this debate will continue on internet forums across the web for ages to come, our team of projection professional will at least give you an in-depth look into two specific options with our projector vs. projector series by directly comparing these devices and declaring a winner.
For today's premium 4K home movie theater projector showdown we're showcasing the Sony XW5000es vs JVC NZ7. Let's meet the competitors going head to head in this contest.
JVC DLA-NZ7
Just like Sony and many other manufactures in the industry, JVC switched their main focus to laser based home theater models with their NZ lineup that includes the top of the line JVC NZ9, JVC NZ8 and their more "affordable" sibling the JVC NZ7. This upshifting 8K laser projector offers outstanding visuals at a much more reasonable price compared to the other models in its cohort. It additionally features a 2200 lumen laser light source, giving you enough brightness for watching TV and movies without the need for total darkness. Just so you know, the DLA-NZ7 is the same as the pro version, JVC RS2100.
Sony VPL-XW5000ES
Sony released their new lineup of 4K laser based home cinema projectors in June 2022. These include the premium Sony VPL-XW7000ES, the somewhat more budget friendly Sony VPL-XW6000ES, and today's competitor the Sony VPL-XW5000ES. Despite it being the relative "runt" of the litter, the XW5000ES is still one of the top 4K projectors you can get for your movie watching room. With a 2000 lumen laser light source, the Sony 5000ES model offers enough brightness output to enjoy content with some lights on in your room.
JVC NZ7 Vs Sony XW5000ES
You may have some déjà vu that we already did the JVC NZ7 against the Sony XW5000ES. But in fact it was the Sony VPL-XW6000ES vs the JVC NZ7 and the Sony VPL-XW5000ES vs JVC NP5. We told you we'd be putting the NZ7 and 5000ES into a head to head comparison. We always try to keep our promises!
With the JVC NZ7 vs the Sony XW5000ES, we're putting two of the best high end home theater projectors into a 4K showdown to see who will come out on top.
So, without further ado, our projection experts bring you their detailed analysis of these highly rated laser projectors from Sony and JVC to help you decide which is better for your home cinema needs. Let's get this party started!
| |
JVC NZ7 |
Sony VPL-XW5000ES |
Our Thoughts: |
Brightness |
2200 |
2000 |
The JVC NZ7 has an edge with an extra 200 lumens of brightness. Not a tremendous difference in a dark room but significant with the lights on and for HDR. |
Max Resolution |
8K e-Shift, 4K Native |
4K Native |
The JVC NZ7 has a big advantage. By being able to project an 8K resolution image your investment is futureproofed as more and more 8K content gets released. |
Throw Ratio |
1.36:1 - 2.75:1 |
1.38:1 - 2.21:1 |
JVC offers a wider throw range allowing you to place your projector closer or further back as needed. |
Screen Size |
60.00" - 200.00" |
40.24" - 200.40" |
Each home cinema laser projector can produce a 200 inch image size. Minimum screen size is one of the least important specs for projectors but Sony is able to separate itself in this regard. |
Projector Lens Shift |
Horizontal +/-34% & Vertical +/-80% |
Horizontal +/- 25% & Vertical +/- 71% |
The JVC NZ7 gives you a significant amount more lens shift giving you increased installation flexibility. |
Chipset |
0.69" D-ILA LCoS |
0.61" SXRD LCoS |
JVC offers a full 8.9 million pixels while the Sony SXRD chip only offers 8.3 million. |
Light Source |
Single Laser |
Single Laser |
Both new projectors utilize a single blue laser. |
Color |
82.6% DCI-P3 |
95% DCI-P3 |
Both projectors offer a wide color gamut for home theater usage but the Sony has a clear advantage when it comes to color coverage. |
Contrast Ratio |
40,000:1 |
?:1 |
Sony claims an infinate:1 dynamic contrast ratio. It's good, but it's not infinitely good. Reviewers have measured a 10,000:1 native contrast ratio on the Sony. JVC has a huge advantage with a 4X better contrast ratio. |
Input Lag |
36 ms |
21 ms |
The JVC NZ7 has a pretty low input lag. But if you're a more hardcore gamer, the Sony home theater projector is superior for gaming. |
Price |
|
|
You can buy the Sony VPLXW5000ES for around $2,000-3,000 less than the JVC DLA-NZ7. So the Sony 4K projector gets a big boost with regards to how much it costs. |
JVC DLA-NZ7
The Pros
- Bright laser light source
- Supports 8K resolution and has native 4K resolution LCoS chipset
- Outstanding black level and superior contrast especially when watching content
- Best black levels in the industry
- Effective dynamic tone mapping for HDR and Supports HDR10+
- Lots of installation options for easier setup
- Supports 3D
- Picture looks great out of the box but also gives you many options for calibrating to your personal preference
- 120 FPS 4K gaming
The Cons
- High price tag
- Chassis is bulky and heavy
- Doesn't come with any built in streaming apps
- Requires calibration to get the best possible picture
Sony VPL-XW5000ES
The Pros
- One of the sharpest pictures we've seen
- Fantastic black levels
- Wide color gamut with vivid colors
- Buttery smooth motion handling
- Native 4K LCoS chipset
- Can produce an image up to 200 inches
- Available in either white or black
The Cons
- Not as bright and isn't ideal in a well lit room
- Aesthetically unpleasing design
- Doesn't come with any built in streaming apps
- No 3D support
- No HDR10+ support
- Lacks 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 inputs for 4K@120 playback
So Which Projector Should You Buy, The JVC DLA-NZ7 Or The Sony VPL-XW5000ES?
After watching hours of content on each, it's clear that the Sony VPL-XW5000ES and JVC DLA-NZ7 are both phenomenal laser projectors for watching tv and movies in your media room. Each of their picture output is exceptional in their own ways and any cinema enthusiast would be satisfied with their performance.
Of course, the whole reason you've read this far into our projector comparison is that you need help deciding which is the best for your needs. (We'd also recommend talking to one of our projection experts over the phone at 888-392-4814 to discuss your particular needs.) As such you probably want us to declare a victor in this matchup.
So, between the Sony VPL-XW5000ES and JVC DLA-NZ7 our winner is the………
JVC NZ7
Why Buy The JVC DLA-NZ7
While JVC and Sony are both giants in the projection industry, deciding between the JVC NZ7 and the Sony XW5000ES was actually one of the easier choices for our judges. When you watch content side by side on a projector screen, the JVC NZ7 is clearly the overall better projector when it comes to picture quality.
What really puts the JVC NZ7 over the top compared to the Sony VPL-XW5000ES is it's ability to produce an 8K resolution picture. This futureproofs your investment, allowing you to watch content in 8K when it becomes widely available. Plus their upshifting technology gives more detail to 4K resolution content. Only JVC projectors are currently capable of producing this 8K resolution and that gives it the win today.
Another thing that stands out on this JVC home cinema projector is the significantly deeper black levels when you put them side by side. With such deep black levels comes superb contrast. The JVC NZ7 packs an absolutely exceptional 40,000:1 contrast ratio. JVC is confident enough to report the native contrast as compared to the wildly exaggerated dynamic contrast measurements published by Sony's marketing team.
The extra brightness on the JVC is a nice advantage if you plan to watch with the lights on. It also helps with HDR content. Speaking of HDR, the JVC NZ7 offers HDR+ support, making it a true HDR projector.
If you're a fan of 3D content, the JVC DLA-NZ7 is the projector for you because it supports Full HD 3D with a 3D RF emitter.
With the significantly wider lens shift offering found on the NZ7, installation is a much easier process.
While design is not really that important for a home theater projector in a darkened room, we do think the more simple design just looks classier.
All of these features and the overall superior picture quality, more than make up for the higher price tag on the JVC NZ7.
Why Buy The Sony VPL-XW5000ES
While it didn't win this head to head contest, the Sony VPL-XW5000ES would still be a recommended projector for the home theaters of many potential customers.
The biggest advantage the Sony XW5000ES has over the JVC NZ7 is the lower price. While it's certainly not a cheap 4K projector, the Sony 5000ES allows you to save $2,000-3,000 on your purchase making it a more budget friendly option.
If you're a more serious gamer, especially for fans of fighting and FPS games, the Sony XW5000ES is probably the way to go thanks to it's lower lag time and somewhat smoother motion handling.
For those of you who value vibrant colors more than contrast, the XW5000ES’s wider color gamut enhances color saturation, making them stand out more. In that case, Sony could be the preferable choice to achieve your ideal picture.
Being able to get it in either a black or white chassis is also a nice bonus.
Which Home Cinema Projector Do You Think Is Better?
Which laser home theater projector do you like better, the JVC NZ7 or the Sony XW50000ES? Which one would you want to get for your home cinema room? Which projectors do you want to see go head to head next in our projector vs projector series? Let us know in the comments below!
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Our Experts Are Here To Help At ProjectorScreen.com
If you have any questions on these 4K home theater projectors or anything else projection related don’t hesitate to hit us up at ProjectorScreen.com. Thanks for reading and keep on projecting!
Need help picking the right projector for your home movie theater? Give us a call:
(888) 392-4814
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | JVC |
Product Status: | Contact Us to Place Order |
Lumens: | 2200 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Contrast Ratio: | 40,000:1 |
Chipset: | LCoS |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.40:1 - 2.80:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 8192x4320 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 44.7ms | 1080p/60Hz: 36.5ms | 1080p/120Hz: 36ms |
3D Support: | Full HD 3D |
Warranty: | 3 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Motorized |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | Sony |
Product Status: | Contact Us to Place Order |
Lumens: | 2000 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Chipset: | LCoS |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.38:1 - 2.21:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 21ms |
3D Support: | No |
Warranty: | 3 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
Projector Resolution: | 4K |
Brand: | Sony |
Product Status: | Contact Us to Place Order |
Lumens: | 2000 |
Projector Type: | Standard Throw |
Light Source: | Laser |
Chipset: | LCoS |
Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 [HD] |
Throw Ratio: | 1.38:1 - 2.21:1 (D:W) |
Native Resolution: | 3840x2160 |
Lens Shift: | Horizontal & Vertical |
Input Lag: | 4K/60Hz: 21ms |
3D Support: | No |
Warranty: | 3 Years |
Standard Lens Focus: | Manual |
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