New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Just got an HDTV, horizontal stretching issue?

post #1 of 7
4/30/09 at 5:25pm
Thread Starter 
It's a Samsung 550 52" TV. I like it, but I think it's stretching the picture. On digital cable HD channels it stretches to fit the 16:9.

OK, the TV is set to output 16:9, and the digital cable box is set to output at 16:9 1080i.

If I do the "zoom 1" option on the TV the stretching goes away, but I don't want to be losing some of the sides of the picture.

On DVDs I think it stretches horizontally as well. I don't have a BD player yet.

Anybody have any suggestions? I'm using a component cable right now on both the DVD player and the cable box.

Sorry for noob questions on HD.
Reply
post #2 of 7
5/1/09 at 8:23am

Re: Just got an HDTV, horizontal stretching issue?

What are the make and model of the DVD player and the HD cable box? Also the exact model of the Samsung. Without the model numbers we really don't have enough information to make any useful suggestions. (Every TV and cable box seems to have different settings and different names for the same settings, so without being able to look at the manuals, I couldn't tell you how to correct the problem you're seeing.)

Regards,

Joe
Reply
post #3 of 7
5/1/09 at 1:26pm

Re: Just got an HDTV, horizontal stretching issue?

If things are set properly on the DVD & HD cable box, there should be no stretching on the "16:9" and "screen fit" picture size modes on the TV, for 16:9 enhanced DVDs (most DVDs, but not all), and true HD channels. Are things in properly proportioned (e.g. circles round, people look normal instead of too thin) on the "4:3" mode? If so then you need to set 16:9 output on your DVD setup menu.

-to confirm, you are using component video, the green/blue/red set, marked "YPbPr"? 3 cables for video, another 2 for audio? (some noobs get this confused with the old yellow/red/white composite AV cable)
- are you sure you have HD channels selected on the cable box, not standard digital or the old analog channel #? Give an example of a channel # you use, and your cable provider. On ESPNHD do you see the side vertical pillars with the ESPN logo when they show HD content?
- what do the non-HD channels look like, are they stretched, or are they normal with side pillars? Are they also being output at 1080i, what does the INFO on the TV say?
Reply
post #4 of 7
5/4/09 at 9:28am

Re: Just got an HDTV, horizontal stretching issue?

Several buttons on your remote control might help sizing issues.... start touching buttons
Reply
post #5 of 7
5/4/09 at 12:10pm

Re: Just got an HDTV, horizontal stretching issue?

I have a Scientific Atlanta 8000 series HD DVR. On this box the video output must be set to "pass-through" for the all source material to display in the proper aspect ratio. SD channels are 4:3 - both letterboxed and pillarboxed when airing shows that the channels themselves are letterboxing. HD channels are 16:9 when showing wide aspect material, but they switch to 4:3 when airing standard aspect ratio commercials or when there is a problem with the HD feed and the local channel reverts to SD. Any other setting distorts some or all of the outputs. That's why I asked for the make and model of all the gear from the OP. He may have the same box or there may be an equivalent setting (under a different name more than likely) on his box, but without knowing the make and model I can't determine that.

Regards,

Joe
Reply
post #6 of 7
5/8/09 at 9:27pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Just got an HDTV, horizontal stretching issue?

I think it's a cable box issue. I got the DVDs looking normal on component again. Need an HDMI cable for the cable box. I'll find a cheap one online. Thanks for the advice!
Reply
post #7 of 7
5/9/09 at 6:32am

Re: Just got an HDTV, horizontal stretching issue?

Changing the cable won't help if the problem is with the cable box settings. If you post the make and model we might be able to help you fix them.

Regards,

Joe
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home