JVC / D-ILA PROJECTOR

JVC NX5 / NX7 / NX9 + Vertex

These JVC projectors have no Dolby Vision, but they can show Dolby Vision as LLDV from the Vertex. This guide shows how to put the projector in its PQ (HDR) mode, which mode and colour profile to use, and what to switch off.

JVC DLA-N5 / DLA-N7 / DLA-NX9 (US/Asia), EU names DLA-NX5 / DLA-NX7 / DLA-NX9, US ProCision DLA-RS1000 / RS2000 / RS3000. DLA-N6 / N8 / N11 use the same firmware. Not covered: the later NZ/NP series (see the JVC NZ guide).

DOLBY VISION WITH THIS SETUP

No native Dolby Vision; LLDV from the Vertex works once the JVC is in a PQ mode, set by hand or triggered by the Vertex HDR InfoFrame.

Native Dolby Vision: NOThe projector does not accept a Dolby Vision signal. It supports HDR10 and HLG.
LLDV via the Vertex: YESThe player does the Dolby Vision processing and sends LLDV. LLDV carries no HDR10 InfoFrame, so the JVC does not switch to HDR by itself. Select a PQ mode by hand, or let the Vertex add an HDR InfoFrame.
HDR10: YESHDR10 selects an HDR picture mode automatically. Firmware v3.10 added Frame Adapt HDR (dynamic HDR10 tone mapping); v3.50 added Theater Optimizer.

Before you start

Check the firmware version in the Information menu. Latest is v3.52 (27 Apr 2021).
v3.10 (9 Oct 2019) added Frame Adapt HDR and HDR Level. Without v3.10 there is no dynamic tone mapping.
v3.50 (12 Nov 2020) added Theater Optimizer and a new menu layout with Content Type. Input Signal → 'HDR10 Auto Select' (before v3.50) became Input Signal → 'Auto Pic. Mode Select' (v3.50 and later).
You need a player that outputs LLDV and an LLDV EDID on the Vertex. The Vertex passes up to 18Gbps (4K60 4:4:4 8-bit, 4K60 4:2:2 12-bit, 4K120 4:2:0 8-bit). HDMI 2.1 modes (4K120 10-bit HDR, VRR, ALLM) do not pass.

1. Basic picture settings

Get HDR10 working through the Vertex first. Then add LLDV.

Input levelInput Signal → Input LevelAuto (or 16-235 (Video) if the source sends limited range)A wrong level crushes blacks or makes them grey.
Colour spaceInput Signal → Color SpaceAutoThe projector reads YCbCr 4:4:4, 4:2:2 or RGB from the signal.
EDID modeInput Signal → HDMI 2 EDIDAJVC: set to A under normal conditions; B is only for old devices.HDMI 2 input only
HDR10 reference modePicture Adjust → Picture ModeFrame Adapt HDR (or HDR10)Play an HDR10 disc first to prove the normal HDR path. JVC: Frame Adapt HDR is only effective for HDR10 content.Frame Adapt HDR: firmware v3.10 or later
Frame Adapt brightnessPicture Adjust → HDR LevelAuto (options Auto / Low / Medium / High)Only shown when Picture Mode is Frame Adapt HDR.Firmware v3.10 or later
Theater OptimizerInstallation → Screen Setting (Screen Size, Screen Gain), then Picture Adjust → Theater OptimizerOn, enter your real screen data, press SetWorks only with Picture Mode Frame Adapt HDR.Firmware v3.50 or later

2. LLDV: force the PQ (HDR) mode by hand

This route needs no HDR InfoFrame from the Vertex. Use a spare User mode so your SDR modes stay unchanged.

Pick a spare User modePicture Adjust → Picture ModeUser 1-6 (one you do not use for SDR)A User mode can use the HDR gamma no matter what the signal says.
Set the PQ curvePicture Adjust → GammaHDR(PQ)User 1-6 allow Gamma HDR(PQ). Without it LLDV looks grey and flat.
Set wide colourPicture Adjust → Color ProfileBT.2020LLDV is BT.2020 content; other profiles give wrong colours.
Fine-tune brightnessPicture Adjust → Gamma → Picture Tone (and Dark Level / Bright Level)Start at 0, change in small stepsPicture Tone (-16 to +16) shifts the overall brightness of the PQ curve.
Leave auto switching as it isInput Signal → HDR10 Auto Select (before v3.50) / Auto Pic. Mode Select (v3.50 and later)No changeIt reacts to HDR10 signalling, which LLDV does not carry, so it will not pick your LLDV mode. Select the User mode yourself.
Back to SDRPicture Adjust → Picture ModeYour normal SDR modeThe User mode keeps HDR(PQ); SDR in that mode looks wrong.

3. LLDV alternatives: Vertex HDR InfoFrame or JVC custom gamma

Option B: let the Vertex trigger HDRInput Signal → HDR10 Auto Select (before v3.50) / Auto Pic. Mode Select (v3.50 and later)Your HDR10 picture mode (HDR10 or Frame Adapt HDR)With the Vertex 'Enable Custom HDR' InfoFrame the JVC sees an HDR10 signal and switches automatically (Vertex steps: see the central Vertex page).
Frame Adapt HDR with LLDV: comparePicture Adjust → Picture ModeFrame Adapt HDR only if you compare it against the User mode of section 2JVC documents Frame Adapt HDR for HDR10 only; its behaviour on LLDV is not documented.Firmware v3.10 or later
Option C: JVC custom gammaPicture Adjust → Picture Mode → User 1-6, then Picture Adjust → GammaYour own custom gamma curve for LLDVHDfury says the original Vertex works for LLDV with a JVC custom gamma curve; the Vertex 'Disable HDR' then removes all HDR metadata so your curve is used.

THE VERTEX PART

Vertex settings for this setup

LLDV: either force HDR on the display (see the steps above) or let the Vertex send an HDR10 InfoFrame with Enable Custom HDR (part B2). Use one of the two, and undo it for SDR.
Connect the JVC to a Vertex output (often TOP when a Dolby Vision TV uses BOTTOM); give the player's Vertex input an LLDV EDID.
HDR trigger is optional: a User mode with Gamma HDR(PQ) works without it; auto switching and Frame Adapt HDR need the Vertex 'Enable Custom HDR' InfoFrame.
For the JVC custom-gamma route HDfury uses the Vertex 'Disable HDR' option instead, which cancels all HDR metadata.
'Enable Custom HDR' stays on after power cycles; switch it off for SDR sources.

VERTEX DOLBY VISION SETUP — ALL STEPS →

Switch these off

Picture Adjust → Theater Optimizer (for the LLDV User mode)Works only with Frame Adapt HDR. The player already tone-maps LLDV (our recommendation, not JVC text).
Frame Adapt HDR for LLDV (start without it)Avoids tone mapping twice; JVC documents it for HDR10 only (our recommendation).
Low LatencyLeave Off for films. JVC: Clear Motion Drive cannot be set when Low Latency is On.

How you know it works

LLDV in the User mode with Gamma HDR(PQ) and BT.2020 shows full colour and bright highlights, not a grey, pale picture.
Option B: the picture mode changes by itself when LLDV starts; HDR Level is only shown when Frame Adapt HDR is active.
Information menu: shows the software version, so you know which menu layout (before or after v3.50) you have.

Problems and fixes

LLDV looks washed out, grey and pale

The JVC is still in an SDR mode. Select the User mode with Gamma HDR(PQ) and Color Profile BT.2020, or turn on the Vertex HDR InfoFrame.

HDR10 switches mode, LLDV does not

Expected. Auto switching needs an HDR10 InfoFrame. Select the mode by hand or use the Vertex HDR InfoFrame.

Menus in this guide do not match my projector

Firmware v3.50 re-arranged the menus (Content Type, Auto Pic. Mode Select). Check the software version in the Information menu.

SDR looks wrong after watching LLDV

Switch back to your SDR picture mode, and turn off the Vertex 'Enable Custom HDR' if you used it.

NOT CONFIRMED BY THE MANUFACTURER

Whether Frame Adapt HDR and Theater Optimizer work correctly on LLDV: JVC documents them for HDR10 only (owners' reports only).
Whether Content Type (firmware v3.50 and later) on these models can be set by hand to HDR10 like on the NZ series: JVC's v3.50 notes only mention Auto.
How to create or load a custom gamma curve for LLDV: not covered by JVC's NX manual pages we checked.
Which luminance values to enter in the Vertex HDR InfoFrame for LLDV: HDfury publishes no official value set for the original Vertex.

CHECKED AGAINST

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