Up-scaling 4:3 DVD to 1080i and keep the correct AR

[Megahurts]

Looking for a DVD player that up-converts to 720p and 1080i over HDMI and doesn't stretch the 4:3 aspect ratio.

I've tried a LG DN191H and a Philips DVP5960 from BestBuy but no luck. Wide screen movies display properly.

They have a Sony DVP-NS75H and a Samsung DVD-HD860 which I haven't tried. They also have a Toshiba SD4990 that says it won't play DVD+R. Reading the 1 comment in the players list said it would. ???

Does anyone have these DVD players that can verify if it will keep the same AR, or any other player?

TIA,

Chas

[gshelley61]

I think the Sony will add pillarbox bars on 4:3 material so it plays back in the correct AR on a widescreen TV. You should visit avsforum.com and have a look at the postings regarding various upscaling DVD players... you will definitely find answers there.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=18

[wwaag]

I've got a Panasonic DVD-S47 which does exactly what you want. It also has an incremental zoom, e.g. 101%, 102%, etc. which enables you add a small amount of zoom to 4:3 material filling out some of the side. It's really a neat feature that I haven't seen on other players. Mine is NOT the up-converting model, although Panasonic does make one for about $250. I would presume that the up-converting model would also display 4:3 material correctly as mine. Good luck.

wwaag