DVD/TV 'component' aspect ratio problem

[pool]

I just bought a Panasonic CT-34WX53. ( 34" CRT widescreen )

Specs FYI

It's a nice TV and will keep me content until the other technologies ( DLP, LCD, LCOS etc ) sort themselves out.

I have a dilemma though

I have 2 DVD players. A four year old Pioneer DV- 525 and another one made by 'Cyberhome' that I bought over the 'net this year, which is region free.

When I first hooked up the region free one, some widecreen DVD's looked too elongated and narrow, while others looked fine when the TV is in 4:3 mode.

Then I switched to component outputs and changed the settings in the DVD player to be consistent with progressive scan. No change in the way the widecreens looked, but improvement in picture.

Then I changed the DVD player setting to 16:9. Now almost all the widscreens show with a black border surrounding them in the 4:3 setting and the picture is squished with bars on the sides in 16:9 setting. Still using 4:3 mode on the TV

So, I switched back to 4:3 on the DVD player, but now the DVD's that looked ok before no longer do. I then went back to regular connection and it made no difference. So, in other words I took a step backward.

So, I tried my other Pioneer DVD player, which looked perfect with all DVD's I tried , but as soon as I hooked it up using component outputs, I get the same problem. With widescreen I get black all around using 4:3 setting on the DVD player and black on the sides with the 16:9 setting. This is using the TV's 4:3 mode as I don't really like the others ( zoom & full ), but shouldn't the 4:3 TV mode in actual fact be 16:9 when the DVD player is set to 16:9, even though it still says 4:3 on the TV. At least with this player the 16:9 DVD settings return to normal, when I change back to regular vid outputs or super vid.

I know this may seem confusing, but all I want is to set up , preferably my region free player ,with a 16:9 setting , using component progressive scan outputs and use the 4:3 TV mode while having all the DVD widescreen formats fill the screen as they should, depending on the aspect ratio, with no side bars or horizontally elongated images. Phew.

Am I asking too much or missing something ?

I'm just using fairly low grade regular RCA cables.

BTW my computer is still screwed up, but it takes up to a week for the problem to show, so it's really hard to narrow it down. Thanks to all those who gave me tips.

 

[WhOiSyOdAdDy?]

Maybe you forgot to put the tv on channel 3?!!

 

[tboy]

It also sounds like what many don't know:

Movies are NOT filmed in 16:9 format, its actually wider. So even if you bought a wide screen TV, if you play it in its natural format, you will still get the black bars on top and bottom.

Also, many DVDs are recorded in 4:3 format and that's it. Better ones give you the option of either format. Check your DVD package to make sure it says "widescreen format". If it doesn't, you can play all you want and it won't ever look right.

And yet another also: Most widescreen TV's now have: full, zoom, wide zoom, and normal views. If the DVD or signal isn't widescreen, the image will be stretched. If you zoom it to fill your screen, you will cut off the top and bottom of the image, if you use wide zoom, what the computer inside the tv does is stretch the right and left sides to fill the screen. Normal, well, normal is 4:3 and you will have bars on the right and left. My sony gives grey ones.

Hope this helps!

 

[joebear]

http://www.panasonic.ca/English/audiovideo/television/tau/ct-34wx53.asp


the dvd player should be set to output 16:9 and the TV should be set automatically at 16:9. You should have no problems with it, it sounds simple but the TV settings take some time in getting use to.

lie tboy said movies are generally filmed in 2.35:1 or 1.85:1. The 16:9 format is 1.78. 4:3 is 1.33:1.

some highend tv's, not all, when you hook in the component cables from the DVD for progressive scan and you have to manually set the tv to 16:9.

Some models automatically switch when NOT using component cables to 16:9 mode.

your region free dvd player probably has some zoom feature that allows scaling of the picture.


watching Apocalypse Now Redux on a properly calibrated TV in progressive scan mode 480p is breath taking.

get a dvd essentials or some other dvd to calibrate the tv, it will look dark but that is because the brightnesss is turned way up on floor models.

 

[pool]

Daddyio, thanks, that helps a lot... if it were about 20 years ago ...hehe

tboy, thanks for replying.

I'm actually aware that most movies are not filmed in 16:9 and I'm aiming to get the normal black bars at the top and bottom. I do get that when using only the super or regular vid outputs, but not with 'component' when using my pioneer.

I generally try to stay clear of DVD's recorded in 4:3 format ( pan and scan ) , because they drive me nuts !!! ...hehe ... I'm desperately trying to get away from that and I wish they'd only make DVD's in widescreen, 'cause to me that is one of their foremost advantages.

I'm also not keen on the zoom features. I was hoping not to have to use them. They seem to degrade picture quality a lot and I don't want to lose any of the image due to overlap. The stretched images don't appeal to me either.

I know my previous post is very scrambled, but this paragraph may help people to sort through my muddled mess :
Essentially, what I'm aiming for and what I expected was to be able to watch widescreen DVD's just as I did on my GAOO 32" 4:3 TV, but bigger. Whether it fills the screen entirely isn't important as long as it's true to the original ratio; only having black bars at the top and bottom, as opposed to all around which is what I am getting when hooking up 'component' progressive scan and using the 16:9 setting on the DVD players.

joebear,

I have no way of knowing if the TV is set to 16:9 automatically, but like you say, I assume that it would when receiving a 16: 9 source signal.

I've read the TV manual from cover to cover looking for some possible 16:9 setting. Unless I'm missing something, there doesn't seem to be such an option, but it's not exactly a high end TV, as such.

I don't doubt Apocalypse Now 'redux' looks awesome. I just hope I can reach the point where I can see it in progressive scan through component.

I'll check into DVD essentials. I'm not sure exactly what it is...

Thanks for all for the replies so far.

 

[joebear]

does your DVD player have the option of outputing a 1080i signal ?

if there is a black box around the screen, according to pg 62 of the manual change CC (Closed captioning from Text mode)

from page 46 of the manual you have the option from the remote to change the aspect except when receiving in 1080i mode, then the mode is in Full mode.

 

[joebear]

from page 46 of the manual. using a 480p signal you have the option of three modes full -> 4:3 -> Zoom

Full mode: when viewing a WS Dvd, say 1.85, it will fill the entire screen and you will have some elongation, the elongation will be more pronounced the narrower the picture.

4:3 mode: displays a 4:3 picture in its native size.

Zoom mode: magnifies the center section of the picture.


when viewing DVD's do you not want either 4:3 or Zoom modes ?

4:3 mode should display the picture unaltered ?

or can you not just set the Zoom to 1:1 instead of 2:1 ?

 

[tboy]

the 2.35:1 ratio kills me. Who the heck came up with the 16:9 format if that isn't what the film was produced as? Why the hell didn't they just make the tv's 2.35:1?? Then we all could have full screen with a proper aspect ratio. there's probably some technical answer but logically, it eludes me.

Joe: Sorry I can't help you futher, you've totally lost me. What may be your problem (I've found this myself on occasion) is that you have an older DVD player and from the sounds of it, a lower end model (I've never heard of cyberhome equipment hehe).

I tell you, I plugged in my $129.00 samsung and I haven't had any of the problems you've had. Since futureshop has a no questions asked return policy why don't you pick up one of their units, try it, and if your problems are solved, then you know what it is. If you still have the same problems, just take it back?

It might be worth it.....

 

[bar+leby88]

you guys can correct me if i'm wrong, but i believe the current widescreen aspect ratio for TVs was meant for HDTV.

i bought a widescreen and HDTV fills the whole screen, and quite beautifully too.

another thing to consider, maybe the movie widescreen doesn't fit the TV widescreen because the black bars allow for subtitles to be seen clearly (when in use of course)?? just throwing out ideas.......then if you don't use the subtitles, you can use the "widescreen zoom" mode.....

 

[tboy]

Well, after I purchased my HDTV I found out LOOK doesn't offer, and is not PLANNING to offer HD in the near future (peed me off BIGTIME).

Maybe you're right Bar.....and using the widescreen zoom mode, you still miss out on the full effect of the movie though (cause you don't see what's happening on the far left and right).

But we really have nothing to complain about, I mean sheesh, the quality of the images on the tvs still blows me away.

 

[Berlin]

off topic here...

Pool , have you considered Sony before buying your new Panasonic ?

 

[Powershot]

Some DVD's include a THX 'optimizer' that lets you check your colour contrast and aspect ratio settings are correct.
Terminator 2 extreme edition and Finding Nemo are two discs that come to mind.

 

[tboy]

VHS??? hell, I'm about this close > < to giving my 30 movies away, after 1 play the signal degrades.....