LCOS 1400 Features, Setup and Connections

Having been a fan of LCOS technology for some time, we were excited to receive a sample LCOS 1400 projector from MAXX Products. Running it through its paces allowed us to compare this technology up close to LCD and DLP projectors we had utilized to date. The sample we received was a heavily-used model lacking in some of the features MAXX says is present in its newest revision of this machine (such as DVI with HDCP). As the LCOS 1400 is pretty much a re-badged JVC D-ILA projector (the DLA-SX21U/E) we believe MAXX Products when they tell us that currently-shipping models include DVI w/HDCP.

Editorial Note: The Structure of LCOS
The LCOS technology that JVC has developed is based on an innovation in microchip design that permits the viewer to enjoy the full range of benefits from any high quality source whether from a video deck or a computer device. For true HDTV performance, the LCOS technology packs up to 2048 x 1536 pixels - for a total of 3.2 million pixels - on each of three 1.3" chips.

The projector's innovative CMOS design is the key to reproducing all the details in a high-definition picture. By placing the matrix addressing switches and electronics right behind (not between) the light-modulating liquid crystal layer, the LCOS chip has a "3-dimensional" layout. The result is a 93% fill factor and virtual elimination of the annoying "grid" or "screen door effect" so evident in other fixed matrix display technologies.

What is the end result? Images as smooth and natural as film with impeccable reproduction of all the details and information contained in the original source. What supports this high picture quality is high brightness, high resolution, high contrast and analog gradation. High brightness and high resolution are achieved using a reflective device with a high aperture ratio and high-density pixels, providing real resolution with invisible pixels. High contrast is achieved using vertical alignment liquid crystals of normally black operation and a high-precision optical system. Analog gradation makes it possible to reproduce dark areas with high S/N (signal-to-noise ratio) because the LCOS device has an S-shape response. In combination with the high-speed response of the vertical alignment liquid crystal, LCOS technology makes it possible to reproduce smooth, noiseless motion pictures with clear, sharp high definition and film-like picture quality.

Features and Favorites

The MAXX LCOS 1400 comes with some excellent features. Here are some of our favorites:

• Ultra High Resolution 3-Panel LCOS Display
  It's easy to get used to 1280 x 720 being the highest definition display you'll ever see. Once you experience something that can handle, for instance, 1125p, you'll be absolutely blown away. The LCOS panels have all the electronics on the backside (see inset) so you're not going to see the "screen-door effect" typical in LCD display panels. Add to that the sheer resolution of LCOS and you're in for a treat.
  
• 1500 ANSI Brightness
  1500 ANSI lumens means that you can show films or television content with some ambient light in the room, especially if you are projecting onto a 100" screen or less. That means that you can get a bit more use out of the projector for daytime sporting events and other times you'd like to invite friends over to watch a good show.
  
• Ample Color Controls
  With a selectable color temperature control and manual adjustment of Red, Green, and Blue controls, you'll be able to dial in this projector to a pretty decent performance in terms of color. Out of the box you'll see it performed fairly well, so not much will have to be adjusted here unless you're a perfectionist.

Basic Setup and Installation

There are a couple of things you need to concern yourself with when purchasing a front projection system. First and foremost you'll need to determine the mounting position for the projector and, concurrently, what type and size of screen will be required for a good fit. For this review we utilized a Stewart StudioTek 130 screen, This is an ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) certified screen and is optimized for excellent white levels while allowing for deep, rich blacks in a light-controlled room. Focusing the MAXX LCOS 1400 was a challenge as it could only be done manually. From about 15 feet away I found myself rocking the focus back and forth until I settled in the middle where the image on the screen appeared to be in focus. A digital focus would have been much more welcome - especially with a fixed focal image that could be projected onto the screen.

The LCOS 1400 also has a manual zoom that goes from Wide to Tele. You can use this to get the sizing you need, so you'll have some play to get the exact distance to match your screen size. Other than that, you'll need to set the Aspect Ratio for the projector content and some other small details like screen type (16:9 or 4:3) and whether you want the menu to stay on for 10 seconds or until you tell it to go away (we preferred the latter.)

Throw Distance and Projection Screen Sizing

We used two screens during our viewing test, a Stewart Studiotek 130 100" and a Carada Criterion 92" screen. Both units yielded excellent results, though we were surprised at how far back we had to place the projector to get an image that fit our particular screens. Here's how the LCOS 1400's default lens sizes up against various screen sizes:

As you can see, with our viewing size of 100" diagonal we were putting the projector back about 12-15' to fill our screens. This is likely not an issue for installing this projector on a ceiling - however it is something that should be noted.

One other thing you'll need to be aware of is that the MAXX LCOS 1400 lacks any lens shift capability. This means you'll need to mount the projector exactly in the correct position for your room and screen size. It does come with a fairly sophisticated digital keystone function, but that should be avoided whenever possible as it softens the image - even if used just a little bit.

Connections

The available inputs on the MAXX LCOS 1400 projector include RGBHV (also Y, Pr/Cr, Pb/Cb), HD15, DVI-D, S-video, and Composite. The labels on the unit are somewhat odd, and the manual doesn't clear it up. Apparently the newer versions of this projector include DVI-D with HDCP, allowing that input to be used with high-definition encrypted content as produced by DVD players and cable boxes. The manual, however doesn't say anything about this and only provides information about using DVI with computer sources. Since we couldn't test our unit with DVI-D input signals we have nothing really to add. We also felt that the use of PC1, PC2, PC3 and Video were somewhat odd terminology for a projector in this day and age. In future iterations of this unit, we'd love to see each input be directly selectable rather than cycled - a function that could be very helpful in custom installations.

As previously mentioned, we utilized the component video inputs for our tests. As we didn't have a ton of time with this unit, we simply sent 480p, 720p and 1080i signal from the Denon DVD-3910 to the MAXX Products projector and performed all deinterlacing functions as well as 2:3 pulldown on the DVD player. All the projector was responsible for was internally scaling the image to fit the display panel.