From 4:3 letterbox/S-Video to 4:3 Wide-Mode/component (1 Viewer)

[Mikal Haydn]

I've been viewing WS dvds in letterbox on a 4:3 Panasonic 29" TV with s-video for some time and am considering the 4:3 Sony WEGAs. How much an improvement is it going from that to displaying WS material in Wide-mode via component cables? Would adding a progressive player help?

 

[TimG]

The change from a tv that doesn't do "the squeeze" to one that does is a slight difference. Most people can tell the difference even on smaller tv's. A progressive scan player will only help if you get a tv that is Hi-Def capable.

TimG

 

[Jack Briggs]

The change is far more than slight; it's a major difference. A progressive-scan player will only make a difference if your TV can do progressive scan. Not all 4:3 sets with 16:9 modes are capable of 480p.

 

[Bob Kavanaugh]

I have to go with Jack on this one. I recently replaced my Zenith C32V23(no 16:9 enhancement, or 480p) with a SONY WEGA 32HS500 (has both).

The initial difference between the two sets was shocking (and I was running in 480i at the time). The graininess was gone and the colors were beautiful.

Soon after I upgraded my player from a Sony dvp-ns315 to a dvd-ns715p so I could explore Progressive scan. The difference wasn't as shocking, but you might say things looked smoother.

That being said, I will never buy another 4:3 tv that doesn't have 16:9 enhancement.