Advice on an EDTV

[RMaddog]

I just got the Panasonic TH-42PD25U/P EDTV Plasma. So far it is one of the best TV's I have ever seen. It has 4000 to 1 contrast, so the colors and grayscale are awesome, to say the least.

This is a wide-screen so I thought I would be rid of the black bars on the top and bottom of wide screen formated DVD's. However I have come to find out this is not true. On many DVD's it does excactly as I thought. However on a few DVD's I still get the black bars on top and bottom, like the DVD is formatted smaller than most other wide screen format.

Does anyone know how to overcome this issue? Is there a setting I am missing somewhere? I have 2 different DVD players hooked up, one is S-Video, the other is a Component connection. Both DVD players give the same output of the DVD as far as the black bars on top and bottom. Both DVD players are set to wide screen output and are set to go out on the proper cable connection. Do I have to live with this or is there a fix?

Thanks very much for your input and advice.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

there are several screen aspects for 'wide-screen format'
not all are 16:9
as long as everything looks ok (people aren't super tall&skinny or extra short&fat) then you're just gonna have to put up with the bars

[RMaddog]

That's what I thought but wanted to make sure. Thanks

[edDV]

I just got the Panasonic TH-42PD25U/P EDTV Plasma. So far it is one of the best TV's I have ever seen. It has 4000 to 1 contrast, so the colors and grayscale are awesome, to say the least.

This is a wide-screen so I thought I would be rid of the black bars on the top and bottom of wide screen formated DVD's. However I have come to find out this is not true. On many DVD's it does excactly as I thought. However on a few DVD's I still get the black bars on top and bottom, like the DVD is formatted smaller than most other wide screen format.

Does anyone know how to overcome this issue? Is there a setting I am missing somewhere? I have 2 different DVD players hooked up, one is S-Video, the other is a Component connection. Both DVD players give the same output of the DVD as far as the black bars on top and bottom. Both DVD players are set to wide screen output and are set to go out on the proper cable connection. Do I have to live with this or is there a fix?

Thanks very much for your input and advice.

I hope you have that second dvd player set to progressive mode or you are missing alot (assuming it is a quality progressive player).

Most good dvd players will allow you to zoom the image if you don't mind loosing the left and right sides. Some people feel the full width movie aspect is the best way to enjoy the film. If so, just move closer to the screen.

ref EDTV: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=244182&highlight=