have a 16:9 TV and yet still holding DVDs with non-anamorphic transfers? you're not screwed yet... (1 Viewer)

[YANG]

...considering that some movie releases in BDs are either limited or not yet available in new format at all.

a good way to enjoy that is by sacrificing in small percentage of what the original aspect ratio of the movie maybe.

most TVs today would come commonly with 3 HDMI inputs. where 1 would be with eARC/ARC and the other 2 purely AudioVisual input only. make use of those 2 if you have more than just one optical disc player. one would be set to output in 16:9, while another set to output in 4:3 letter box strictly for non-anamorphic disc playback.
there're still some new TVs out that comes just 2 HDMI inputs, where one is for eARC/ARC connection, and another for strictly AudioVisual input. so that leaves just a chance just for a device. and that disc player will have to do all the jobs playing multiple formats of discs.

the next 2 posts will be touched on the different scenarios where the old disc playback will be limited by your TV connections.

 

[YANG]

scenario 1: a TV with multiple HDMI connections. minimum 3, and above.
let alone one of the input with eARC/ARC for soundbar/AVR connection, leaving one input for disc player for preset 16:9 output, either get a new BluRay/DVD player with HDMI output and set to output @ 4:3 with upscaling to 720p*/1080p**.
(*55inch and below, **58inch and above)

WideScreen Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 will have a black bar height/thickness that's roughly/close to that of 16:9 transfer of WSAR2.35:1 movies, in 4:3 mode.
WSAR2.35:1 transfers that's not 16:9 enhanced, requires 2 additional steps to obtain that same black bar height/thickness that roughly/close to that of 16:9 transfer. with video output at 4:3 settings maintained, toggle your TV's Aspect Ratio settings to 14:9 aka MovieZoom in some makes, to achieve "Window Boxed Mode".
i would suggest to make use/getting new spare BDPlayer as 4:3 output only device for non-anamorphic player such that you can toggle the "zoom while play" function such that black bar height/thickness of WSAR2.35:1 movies with 16:9 enhancement can be achieved.
with 14:9 AR setting on your TV if available, and zooming, an approximate WS2.0:1 image can be achieved.
if your TV doesn't come with such 14:9/MovieZoom function, but just 4:3 available. by toggle the "zoom while play" function when non-anamorphic WSAR2.35:1 DVD is popped in, you'll be able to achieve WS1.85:1 by cropping off the original side infos, and the black bar objective above.

 

[YANG]

scenario 2: a display device with just 2 HDMI inputs, one with eARC/ARC connectivity, another purely AudioVisual input.

the key objective is to achieve 16:9 WS2.35:1 blackbar height/thickness.
in this case, you'll be limited to just a disc player device. and it had to be set @ 16:9 output.
with such setting, non-anamorphic transfers on WSAR1.85:1 or 2.35:1 will look very distorted on 16:9 displays.
non-16:9 transfer WSAR1.85:1 discs is easy to tackle,
if you're just to turn your display AspectRatio function to 4:3. objective achieved.

for WS2.35:1 discs with non-16:9 transfer, "zoom while play" function will have to be activated on your player.
cropping to WS2.0:1 to reach the blackbar objective, 14:9/MovieZoom AR on display have to be activated/switched.
if your TV doesn't come with such 14:9/MovieZoom AR function, with just 4:3 available, you'll have to crop the picture to WS1.85:1 by toggling the "zoom while play" thru the player.

 

[John Sparks]

I got rid of every non-anamorphic DVD I owned years ago, including all my Criterions.