4:3 TV shows on my 16x9 TV (1 Viewer)

[Andy_Bu]

Not sure where to best post this question but its something that has always bugged me.

When I display a 4x3 DVD (say an older TV show) on my 16x9 TV, the framing looks funny.

The two black vertical bars on either side are not straight. They have a slight curve in them.

When I watch a 4x3 TV program from Direct TV on this same set, the vertical black bars are perfectly straight.

Any idea what could be causing the spooning or concave affect on the black bars when watching a DVD vs Direct TV? The picture itself is not distorted in any way that I can tell, just the bars, which is distracting.

The TV is set in "normal" mode which is what it should be set for to watch 4:3 material unstretched.

Andy

 

[Scott_F_S]

Apparently, it's something amiss in your DVD player and/or its settings.

 

[Andy_Bu]

Yah I agree, I just don't know what.

All other non 4x3 DVD's (both anamorphic and non anamorphic) look correct.

Andy

 

[Joseph DeMartino]

You don't say what kind of TV you have - CRT direct-view? CRT-based RPTV? LCD or Plasma Panel? LCD, LCoS, or DLP micro-display rear projection?

Depending on what you have, it could also be the TV. (I'd recommend posting the make and model for the TV, DVD player and DirecTV receiver. Also what kind of connection each is connected with - composite, S-video, composite, DVI, HDMI?)

If your TV is a non-CRT RPTV of some sort that stores different settings for each input, it is possible that the geometry is off on the input your DVD is connected to, but good for your DirecTV input.

Lots of variables here.

Regards,

Joe

 

[Andy_Bu]

TV is a TW56X81. It is a rear projection TV from the late 90's.
http://www.pricescan.com/electronics...item503830.asp

Progressive Scan DVD player is a Toshiba 5109, also from the late 90's.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=172282

DVD player is connected to HD1 input 1 and Direct TV is set connected to HD2 both via component cables.


TV has been twice ISF calibrated over the years.

Andy

 

[Andy_Bu]

This seems to make sense accept for the fact that the main part of the images look fine, its just the edge of the images (where the image meets the black bar) do things look out of whack.

Andy

 

[MarkHastings]

Andy, try swapping the component inputs. Put the DVD into HD2 and the DirectTV into HD1 and see if the DVD is still giving you problems.

If, all of a sudden, the Direct TV starts giving you problems, it could be something with the inputs or the color setting on HD1.

Too much color can cause 'blooming' - I'm not totally positive, but I think blooming (especially on older tv's) can cause image distortion.

 

[Andy_Bu]

Hi Mark,

That suggestion concerns me because the HD2 input is specifically chosen for "HD"(1080i) material and the HD1 input is specifically chosen for "DVD"(480p).

Hmm, I may try it anyway though! Thanks.

I have emailed Gregg Lowen who calibrated my set to look at this thread to see if he has any ideas...

Andy

 

[MarkHastings]

Oh, well that might even explain why they both differ. With an older TV (especially RPTV), since both inputs probably switch into different modes, perhpas one of the modes is getting old and worn?

My old Mits RPTV had massive convergence issues when in 480 mode, but it held better when in 1080 mode. Yeah, considering the differences in HD inputs, please don't try my idea without proper technical advice.

 

[Gregg Loewen]

hi guys!!

Andy, your TV's settings are shared between full and 4x3 while in 480i / p mode. If you fix for Full it will mess up 4x3 and visa versa.

Try doing 1 of 2 things:

Switch your player to interlaced mode
Switch your DVD player to output 4x3 in full mode (where the player will add the side bars.

It is most likely the latter suggestion that will fix your issue.

Regards

Gregg

 

[Sean Aaron]

My tv does the same thing: it's like looking at the image in an hourglass. My tv is a 4-5 y.o. Sanyo 80cm 16:9 CRT and the image does this whether I have DVD or broadcast input, so I figure it's just the set.

Someday soon I will hopefully get a 105cm plasma set, but until then I have to use "Natural Wide" mode to watch 4:3 content.

 

[JohnDG]

(Trying to remember from a thread about rear projection sets...) I believe this is an artifact of rear projection 16x9 TVs due to the lense projection.

Some sets are worse than others, probably related to the distance from the lense to the screen. Try doing a search on this subject at AVS if you do not find anything here.

jdg

 

[Andy_Bu]

Hi Gregg!

Thanks so much for the advice. I am going to try these two ideas tonight when I get home.

Obviously I would only do this for 4x3 discs, since all other types of discs look correct.

Question about method 1: Will the DVD player send interlaced via the progressive component outputs or do I have to hook up a different set of cables outputs to attempt this?

Andy

 

[Doug_B]

I would be surprised if the vertical side bars of non-anamorphic widescreen (letterbox) material was not also distorted, assuming you kept the TV in the same aspect ratio mode as with 4:3 material (i.e., not using a zoom or stretch mode). Both material is essentially the same 4:3 ratio, with the non-anamorphic widescreen material filled with black bars on the top and bottom, basically wasted resolution.

Doug

 

[Andy_Bu]

Good point. I do use the zoom mode when watching a widescreen non anamorphic dvd so I would not be able to see this distortion on the edges.

Andy

 

[Scott_F_S]

Might this get you more ideas/suggestions if it were in the proper forum, over in hardware?

 

[Andy_Bu]

Nope plenty of good and quick suggestions right here.

Just to fill in all the people who gave suggestions, no matter what I tried last night, I could not get rid of the hour glass issue when using the progressive outputs.

I changed, one by one, every DVD setting I could find that had to do with the picture but nothing worked.

So I finally put all the settings back to how they were originally and simply hooked up an s-video cable. The problem went away when using the svideo input on my tv.

I am happy with this solution. I created a new activity on my Harmony remote specifically for 4:3 DVD's that will use the s-video path and all others will use the normal 480p component path.

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions!

Andy