DVD to MP4 conversion - display ratio

[jnyfive]

First timer. Glad to be here.

First time trying to convert DVD to MP4. I have been using handbrake and have read numerous posts here and online for tips/suggestions/guides into the various settings. I have two questions to ask.

First question is a little difficult with so many opinions but is there a good setting to use for convertion while also keeping as much of the quality as possible? I'm not as much concerned with size as I am having it look as close as possible to the DVD on a big HD screen. I was using RF 17 for a while but some videos look stretched as I thought the lower the RF between 18 and 20 was good. Did some reading on all the settings and its overwhelming.

Second question is a continuation of the first. I have some DVDs that have the black bars, I'm sure due to the recording aspect ratio, and the conversion seems to lose this aspect in some movies and helps cause some of the stretching that I'm seeing. Is there a way to keep the bars or do I need to take the bars into account and go with a custom adjustment to make up for it? What is a good way to check the aspect ratio of the master so I can get the MP4 to the same setting?

Like I said, size and compression isn't an issue but having and MP4 that I can stream from my NAS is.

Thank you much.

[jagabo]

Handbrake is pretty good about keeping the correct display aspect ratio. It's probably your player that's screwing up. What is the player?

[jnyfive]

Using the Roku 3 with Plex. I'm still playing with some of the different settings so I'm not giving up that it could be a setting I am using.