How to fix HDMI DVD player aspect ratio with widescreen TV?

Question

I have a Vizio 47" 1080p LCD (16:9) and the Sony DVP-NS72HP. I'm using the HDMI 1 input on the 1080p 16:9 TV.

When I play a DVD, there are black bars for widescreen formats and way too huge black bars in anamorphic widescreen formats. You can tell the image needs to be stretched (vertically only). It's real easy to tell, as the first film I watched showed an old television that was supposed to be square and it was rectangular (too wide). The TV has a zoom mode which corrects the ratio, but then you lose the sides of the image. Don't want that. The TV doesn't have a mode that stretches vertically only so.....

I set the settings back to "4:3 Output" -- "Normal", which displays it in 4:3 and then I use the TV's zoom mode to adjust the image to the proper format. That's the only setting I've changed. Unfortunately, now, the image just doesn't look as good.

Is there any other way to adjust this ?

I'm stunned that the DVD player doesn't display the films in the correct aspect ratio.

Why does this occur ? I'm confused as to why the widescreen films aren't taking up the full 16:9 display when used over the HDMI input. This didn't happen on my old DVD player over the component inputs.

Thoughts ?

Answer 1

Well all dvd players are different but depending on the dvd player there sometimes is a setting, to use to get a full 16:9 widescreen version. Otherwise if your dvd player doesn't have that just buy the widescreen format dvd's. There should be a setting though.

Answer 2

Only DVDs marked with the correct 1.78:1 ratio will fill the entire display of a widescreen TV. If your movie is 2.35:1 for example it will have bars on the top and bottom. Check the box. Some will say enhanced fro 16:9 this means nothing as far as aspect goes.

You will want to make sure your TVs input you are using is configured for 16:9 as well as the DVD to output in 16:9 most often this is not standard in either.

EDIT:

Include model numbers for every thing you have hooked up! Then it can be determined exactly what settings to set in the TV. You are missing something here. Provide more detail

Answer 3

The dvd player is most likely not the problem.

I would say you have your t.v. set 4:3 and your just zooming in on that format. The zoom is a separate feature.

Check in your tv menu somewhere for "aspect ratio" and there you will be able to switch it to 16:9.

Best of luck.

Answer 4

Sounds like your problem is that you haven't gone into your DVD player settings and changed the display to "16:9" instead of "4:3", "Pan and scan" or "Letterbox".

Typically this is done without a DVD in the player. Push the (typically) "Setup" button on the remote and navigate to display settings. There, select the type of TV you have.

Answer 5

it will depend on the aspect ratio of the movie. most that are in widescreen format are in the theater ratio or close to it. so a lot thinner then 16.9. i have seen some tvs that offer the more dastic ratio but they would only be good for watching movies.

Answer 6

You've got to check BOTH the DVD player AND tv settings. I've had this issue. Make sure that your DVD player is set to output to the correct type of screen. Once you're sure the DVD player is set correctly you should be able to play around with the various TV settings (Wide, Zoom, etc.) to get what you want.