Upconversion question (probably a dumb one)

[Donnie_Darko]

Okay, I've got me a 32" Bravia 2 months ago, and I haven't watched a single movie on my TV yet! I keep watching flicks on my laptop cause unless I hook my standard DVD player up via composite and use the "stretch" function on my TV (which looks like shit), everything is "windowed/boxed".

So, my question is simple, and stupid. When/If I get an upconverter, it will run "HD", as in not windowed... right? It won't be stretched, but will "fit" the screen. Git me? A 16x9 flick will fill the screen, but a 2:35:1 ratio movie will still be letterboxed top and bottom... right? And of course a full screen disk... well, okay TV shows and BWP, cause those are the only full screen disks I own... will run boxed... right?

Anyone? :cool:

[MisterChristian]

Hmmm what's the model number of the Bravia?

So, you're hooking up your DVD player to the TV using composite:

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5665/300pxcompositekd0.jpg

Doesn't your player have a component output and the TV have component inputs:

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/9858/180pxcomponentvideojackkj0.jpg

Confused as to why you're stretching the image? What are you stretching - all the DVDs you watch??

A 16x9 flick will fill the screen, but a 2:35:1 ratio movie will still be letterboxed top and bottom... right? And of course a full screen disk... well, okay TV shows and BWP, cause those are the only full screen disks I own... will run boxed... right?

The aspect ratio of a widescreen television is yes 16:9 or 1.78:1

High-Definition programming will indeed fill the screen as it's native aspect ratio is 1.78:1

Correct, any aspect ratio wider than 1.78:1 will result is black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. So for example, you're watching Black Hawk Down, the bars at the top and bottom are normal.

OAR (original aspect ratio) for some TV shows and classic films is 1.33:1 and are usually shown with bars on the left and right sides of the screen (as opposed to top and bottom). However, some films are shown windowboxed (Criterion's The Third Man comes to mind).

Please ensure that your DVD player is properly setup. Check the settings to ensure the TV shape is 16:9 widescreen - otherwise your DVDs will look strange.

Dump the yellow composite cord and purchase some component ones - blue, green and red.

Hope that helps!

P.S. Upconverting DVD players are "FAUX" high-definition anyway. Consider investing in a Blu-ray player or a PS3 so one, you can enjoy 1080p HD movies and two, players will upconvert DVD as well.

P.P.S. Any films that aren't in their OAR, dump them.

[Donnie_Darko]

Yea, my bad. Was using the component cables.

I had my DVD player (an LG LDA-730), hooked via component into my Bravia KDL-32M3000. Though the setup, I had it (the player) set up for 16:9 TV (like said in the book), and it was still squished/boxed (like 4:3 inside 16:9).

I'm planning on getting a PS3 in Sept/Oct, but since upconversion players are pretty cheap (under $100), I want something that will at least make flicks watchable, cause using my LG player, or 360, just doesn't cut it. Stretching makes things look goofy and grainy. I've got the HD drive for my 360, but haven't hooked it up yet (yea, silly I know), mostly cause I've only got one HD disk, and for the drive to upconvert, you need to use the VGA cable, which I don't have, and don't feel like dropping $50+ on ANOTHER cable for my system... and I don't really want to be using my system even more than I do... and yea, I only got the HD drive cause it was cheap, and I'm a dink. :D

Yea, I know that upconversion is "FAUX", but it's much better than the alternative. It just bugs me that I can't/don't watch movies on my new(ish) TV... damnit.

Thanks for the reply. :cool:

-edit-

Oh, just another quick add-on. I'm assuming I should pay the extra couple bucks for an upconverter that uses HDMI vs Component?

[MisterChristian]

What is "still squished/boxed (like 4:3 inside 16:9)"????? (sounds like the image defaults to 4:3)

I have a Toshiba 56" widescreen TV and there's three modes for viewing:

Standard
Theater Wide
Full

Your Bravia may have these too. I watch movies in the Full mode. Do you still have the manual for the TV??

Most upconverting DVDs have both HDMI and component output (at least from what I've seen). But yeah stick with HDMI as the video and audio is passed through using ONE cable :)

UPDATE: I just downloaded the instruction manual for your TV and on page 23 and 29 there's instructions on which mode to use. Sounds to me you should be using FULL as well.

[Donnie_Darko]

Yup, I've got mine set to FULL mode.

This is what I mean by, "still squished/boxed (like 4:3 inside 16:9)"

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/Windowboxed.jpg

I guess I should have said "windowed". This is the problem I want to circumvent by getting an upconverter.

Thanks for all the info and help. I'll most likely be grabbing me one of these (http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10099832&catid=25175#) on the weekend.

[MisterChristian]

Yeah I realize what "windowboxed is"...

Did you play around with the different "Wide" modes?

What movie are you watching in that screenshot?

Yep, can't beat a $100 player :)

[Donnie_Darko]

Yea, I farted around with everything, but I'll just grab that player, and get what I'm looking for. Better picture quality without dinking around.

I just linked to a pic I found online. Have no idea what that is. Was gonna take a pic of my TV but that requires effort. :cool:

Thanks again for the info.

[MisterChristian]

You're welcome.

[BanksIsDaFuture]

Random but using a HDMI cable on a regular DVD player will upconvert it right?

[MisterChristian]

Upconverting can be done through HDMI or component cables but some players, yes, will only upconvert using HDMI only, while others, both.

[Badbird]

To be honest, I tried an upconverter DVD player and didn't notice a lick of difference on my 50 inch DLP.

If I had 1080P ability, it would probably show, but at 1080i, it looked the same as my regular DVD player.

As for the screen sizes... yeah, it can get tricky, because every brand uses their own terminology. Some might say "fill" while others say "full."

Don't forget to change your DVD player to 16 x 9 as well.

And for movies that are 2.35:1, you will still have a little bit of letterboxing, where as 1.85:1 movies will fill the whole screen.

The "cinema" mode is for non anamorphic DVDs that are letterboxed, but in reality are a full screen image (it's complicated...). It zooms in so that the movie fills the screen properly.

[Donnie_Darko]

Actually picked up a Toshiba 1-Disc Up-Converting DVD Player for $60. HDMI connection and it plays and looks just fine. Much better than my LG was running. Watched Cloverfield, and I'm happy. :D