Portable DVD Screen Question - Everything's Squashed!
 

OK, so I just got a cheapie portable DVD player with a 16:9 display. I have a question : Why does everything look squashed in the "full" mode? I hook it up to the TV and everything looks alright on a 4:3 TV, with black bars on the top and bottom. Simultaniously, on the 16:9 screen, things that are in 1.85:1 ratio appear with black bars still on the top and bottom and the image squashed instead of filling up the whole screen and normal proportions. I tried the "normal" and "zoom" modes and they didn't work right either. What am I doing wrong here?

ps: It's that cheapie Mintek model that's on sale at Best Buy now.


Thanks!

Are you viewing an anamorphic 1:85 to 1 DVD? If so, I don't have an answer for you.

Could it be that the player is still set for 4x3 tv instead of 16x9?

In the setup menu, I tried all three settings and it's the same both on the TFT screen and on the 4:3 TV via output :confused:

In your setup menu, there should be a setting for display...You need it set to wide (might say anamorphic or 16:9). It might say Full (or 4:3 or standard or even Letterbox) now. That would explain why it looks ok on your TV, but distorted on your player's screen.

Also, make sure you're using a DVD with an anamorphic transfer as bmello alluded to.

I had the same problem with my Initial DVD-5820. You cant get to the menu from the player you need to use the remote and then select setup. Then go in and set to widescreen :up:

Sure enough. I reset the display on the setup to widescreen and now it fills up the whole screen. Thanks so much.

Decker, would you mind terribly keeping us appraised as to how this performs, especially after a few months? I'm curious about this brand, and hardly anybody has any info on them.

thanks

How exactly did you do this? Did you have to use the remote? I ask because I bought this same unit, but Santa will be bringing it tomorrow so i haven't played with it yet.