HDMI and aspect Ratio

[nitram123]

Hi All and Merry Christmas
I have just installed my Panasonic DMR-EX75EB HDD to my Sony 46" LCD but I cannot stretch the aspect ratio when playing upscaled DVD's. Is this a problem with HDMI or the player?
Thanks in advance for any enlightenment.Cheers

[manono]

Hi-

but I cannot stretch the aspect ratio when playing upscaled DVD's.

What's that mean? Fullscreen DVDs play with bars on the sides, and you want to have them fill the screen so everyone looks fat? Widescreen DVDs look squashed (everyone looks tall and thin), and you want to stretch horizontally to fill the screen so they're in proper aspect ratio again?

Anyway, did you set up the player to output 16:9? The default for players is 4:3 output, which will definitely give you bad aspect ratio.

[nitram123]

Hi manono
thanks for replying...whatever ratio the film looks best in I would still like to have the choice of filling the screen.
Yes I have set the player to 16:9.
I have also connected my sky box via scart lead to record the TV programs and when playing back recordings (and DVDs) via this link I can get any aspect ratio via the tv controls....Cheers

[manono]

Hi-

Yeah, when connected over the digital connection (mine's DVI, where yours is HDMI), I lose most of the Aspect Ratio controls of my remote control also. But then I don't want to stretch my picture, so I don't care. This is common for HDTVs. I can still use the Zoom Modes of the player's remote control, but I don't use them either. About all I can suggest is to also hook up some component cables (or your scart), so when you want to stretch the picture, you switch over to component and then you get all the remote control's Aspect Ratios back again. Evidently you (and I) need them hooked up via analog for all the ARs to work.

[nitram123]

OK manono
Thanks for that.
Cheers.