HD TV and HD DVD

[n10sive]

OK. So I go out an buy a nice new Sony XBR HDTV. Next on list was a way to watch HD shows. So I go out and buy a Sony HD DVD layer.

The TV has normal, full, zoom and magnify zoom. I watch normal 4:3 broadcast channels on 'full'. My problem is is that when I watch HD DVD's that I still have the 'letterbox'. I thought these things were suppose to show theatrical DVD's and not show the black bands? I leave the TV on 'full' all the time now. Normal mode it does not fill the screen either horizontally or vertically with HD DVD's. Zoom looks like crud and forget magnify zoom...way too much cropping.

I have the DVD set to 1080p/24p mode 16:9 format.

So what gives? I would expect 'normal' to fill the screen but it doesn't. Am I missing something? I am also hooked up with a HDMI cable.

TIA

[rrwantr]

Depends on the aspect ratio of the dvd.
This is normal. Many movies are filmed in an aspect ratio even wider than 16x9.

[HeavenzJai]

HDDVD is going to die. Microsoft just announced they are no longer making their HDDVD drive for the xbx360 and most places aren't supporting it.

So go with Bluray. About the aspect raitio, make sure the DVD,etc has WIDESCREEN mode, some do, some dont.

[Sane_Man]

OK. So I go out an buy a nice new Sony XBR HDTV. Next on list was a way to watch HD shows. So I go out and buy a Sony HD DVD layer.

The TV has normal, full, zoom and magnify zoom. I watch normal 4:3 broadcast channels on 'full'. My problem is is that when I watch HD DVD's that I still have the 'letterbox'. I thought these things were suppose to show theatrical DVD's and not show the black bands? I leave the TV on 'full' all the time now. Normal mode it does not fill the screen either horizontally or vertically with HD DVD's. Zoom looks like crud and forget magnify zoom...way too much cropping.

I have the DVD set to 1080p/24p mode 16:9 format.

So what gives? I would expect 'normal' to fill the screen but it doesn't. Am I missing something? I am also hooked up with a HDMI cable.

TIA

I saw this review on Amazon.

The dealt that you get a 32" picture on a 40" screen is the reason I would never buy a Sony TV. They do weird things with their stuff.


The Sony KDL-40XBR2 40" Bravia 1080p LCD HDTV is beautiful. There is no assembly; it comes straight out of the box and Amazon did an excellent job delivering the tv with care. Amazon's delivery notification was really great and accurate as the tv arrived in accordance with their schedule. Amazon provided free shipping, which is a huge saving because the TV is quite heavy for its thin shape. You definitely need two people to help get it out of the box and onto the tv stand.

Do not confuse this tv with the more recent HDTV that Sony released, which are dark in color and plain. This KDL-40XBR2 model is platinum bright with a glass fixture that frames it as if the TV is a painting itself. This TV goes with any furniture you have in the home and will make you feel like you have plenty of class. It brightens the room, especially with the platinum and glass tv stand (by Bell'O) that I also bought from Amazon for 50" TVs. You do need to get a 50" stand for this HDTV because it's much bigger than the 40" you think it is supposed to be--the screen is 40" diagnally, but the actual size of the whole TV is 44" wide, 28.25" high, 10.5" deep for the base stand (if you plan on putting it on a table or TV stand).

Now comes the technology... the resolution is amazing when you're watching HD channels or DVD movies; and the sound is nice and loud--you can even set it to surround sound with just the speakers from the TV. Be aware though that the TV's default color hues are a bit off, but you can fix it by doing a "customize" color, which you'll need to take some time to adjust. For example, you should find a DVD movie with a night sky (such as New York's skyline), pause it, then "customize" the color until the night sky is actually night/dark and not purplish dark. Having buildings in the picture can also help you make adjustments to make sure that red is actually red and not dark pink. If the complaints about "cloudiness" with its black color is the issue of the default color hues, then those people making the complaints are just too lazy to adjust/customize the colors. It takes about 15 minutes to correct, and a DVD of a movie that has a night sky (ex. The Contract).

Another issue that you should be aware of is that analog channels don't look so good because the TV's natural perfection picks up the imperfection of the analog TV shows. Analog shows tend to be a bit pixelated, but that's understandable because analog shows look better on analog TV and not HDTV. However, keep in mind that the government plans to do away with analog channels in February 2009. By then, all channels will be delivered via HD or high definition frequencies, which this 1080p HDTV will be perfect for your viewing pleasure.

By the way, DVD movies that are not HD-DVD look a bit on this TV like the slightly pixelated movies you see in the movie theatres. This is fine if you want to feel the full theatre effect, but if you want HD clarity in the movie, you'll need to attach an HD-DVD or Blue-Ray DVD player with the purchase of the respective DVDs.

The back of this TV does provide enough jacks and connection nodes for a normal person. However, if you're into connecting every possible thing to a TV, then you'll be a little disappointed by its limited output jacks--only one set for Audio. As per input jacks there are two for each type of connection: Component, HDMI, Blue Ray and RCA (one additional set on the side of the TV--useful for XBox). It also has one S video jack, an RGB jack and audio jack for your computer. It has one cable antenna and one VHF/UHF antenna connections.

The great thing about this HDTV is that you have four size formats to choose from when watching a show or movie. The TV screen is letter-box, so if you want to watch analog TV shows in its natural size, you select "Normal" and you'll see a 32" TV screen embedded in your 40" TV. If you are watching an HD TV show and you want the full experience, select "Full" size. If you want to watch a letter-box movie that was made for your analog TV, then select "Zoom" and your 32" letter-box will fill up the full 40" screen. If you want to watch a regular movie that was made naturally for the wide-screen, select "Wide-Zoom" and the movie will fill up the entire screen and you'll feel like you're watching a movie in a small theatre (your living room).

Anyway, I pretty much explained everything that I wanted to know when I bought the TV, but had no one who could provide the information. For example, I needed to know the exact measurements, so that I knew how big of a space I needed for the TV. I wanted to know if it requires an additional home theatre sound system to boost the sound as some TVs have really low sound at its maximum level. This HDTV has a pretty good sound system of its own. I needed to know if I can connect all my periferals to the TV, and for the most part I could--just that almost every connection has to be an input to the TV. I also wanted to know if the screens adjusted to the different size formats of movies and shows, and of course this HDTV can adjust to all of them.

I hope you'll have the privilege of owning this model as it seems that less and less retailers are carrying it. I don't know why Sony would discontinue its production when it is such a beautiful TV. Maybe Sony is afraid that people won't buy the other Sony models if they keep manufacturing this one. Enjoy.

[spddrcr]

first of all you didnt buy a sony hd dvd player, they dont make them. second of all 16:9 is not a theatrical aspect ratio.

The picture on the disc is allways 1920x1080. This is 16 by 9 aspect racio. If the movie does not match the 16:9 AR somwhere black bars have to be added. So if the AR is wider, the black bars are top and bottom. If it is higher (4:3) black bars have to be added on the left and right.

1920x1080 is the resolution of the picture.
1080 is the number of vertical lines.
With wide movies (the ones that are wider than your TV screen), the 1080 lines include black bars.

For a typical 2:35 movie (Lord of the Rings, for example), you're getting a resolution of 1920x817 for the movie + 263 lines for the black bars.

And before you ask:
No, there is nothing you can do to get rid of the black bars without ruining the picture.
You can zoom in, but you'll lose detail on the sides.

Black bars are good. learn to accept them.:thumbup

[n10sive]

Thanks spddrcr. That is what I expected about the theater aspect ratio not being 16:9 (did not know what it was). I was hoping that the CD manufacturers would 'pan and scan' or something else to make the picture fit better on HD TV's. Guess not.

When I wrote this I forgot to say HD (generically) but a Sony BLURAY player.

Thanks Sane for the format info. I never use the 'Normal' mode cause I don't like seeing a 32" screen on the 40"...looks odd. 'Full' does a good job stretching the 32" picture to 40" without it 'squating' the picture. It has some non-linear expansion algorithm that makes the center of the picture look normal with a little more distortion towards the far edge of the picture where there is less detail or interest. Looks pretty good.

[wackyiraqi]

I was hoping that the CD manufacturers would 'pan and scan' or something else to make the picture fit better on HD TV's. Guess not.

Oh god, why would you hope that? Nothing destroys a movie quite like pan & scan.

[n10sive]

Oh god, why would you hope that? Nothing destroys a movie quite like pan & scan.

Dunno...so used to it watching movies on the TV anymore that I really don't even think about what's lost.

Might be my old feeble brain...but I thought I remember the whole reason the industry went to 'wide screen' was to allow a better viewing experience when watching movies on your TV. Aside from clarity, it's annoying to still have black bands :( Guess I'm just being anal about it...:teeth

[Sane_Man]

Dunno...so used to it watching movies on the TV anymore that I really don't even think about what's lost.

Might be my old feeble brain...but I thought I remember the whole reason the industry went to 'wide screen' was to allow a better viewing experience when watching movies on your TV. Aside from clarity, it's annoying to still have black bands :( Guess I'm just being anal about it...:teeth


If you ever look at a Widescreen version of a Pan & Scan, you will see twice as much scenery, plus the other actors who the actor is speaking too, but not seen on screen. You are literately losing 50% of the picture.

[Robert R1]

Pan and scan is one of the worst features ever created to please consumers who feel like they're being cheated with "black bars."

Next up is the new LCD fad "smooth vision/smooth motion" where they try to make film look like video. It can be found on the new Samsung and Sony LCD's.