Panasonic PT AE 900 Projector Letterbox DVD Black Lines

[chooka1]

I recently purchased this projector and overall I have been pleased. I had to return the first one I bought because you could not focus clearly the top and bottom portion of the image at the same time.

After watching DVD's for about a week, I noticed that there appears to be a faint black line both at the top and bottom of the dvd image. The lines are not obvious but are noticeable in particularly light scenes. I first noticed them when watching the Dukes of Hazard (poor choice) during one of the outdoor scenes. The black lines are about 1/4 inch from the top and bottom of the image. I also noticed these lines in the movie crash.

Are the lines a result of the way the DVD letterbox images are presented? From the projector? Image enhancement?

I did hook up a dvd player to a composite tv and, although much smaller, they seemed to appear there.

When watching HDTV or playing x-box or watching a dvd that fills the entire screen (anamorphic?) these lines are not noticeable.

Thank you for any input.

Chad

 

[BMXTRIX]

This is normal.

Your screen is 1.78:1 (16:9)
DVDs are often 1.85:1 or 2.35:1 which is wider than your current screen and in order to fill the screen requires a bit of black line (1.85:1) or a lot of black lin (2.35:1) to show in the films original aspect.

Common question, and a normal issue. If you read the back of the DVD case it will say exactly what the aspect ratio is... in small print... somewhere.

 

[chooka1]

Thank you for the response--I really appreciate it! Is the black bar encoded on the DVD or does the projector insert the lines?

Thanks!

Chad

 

[BMXTRIX]

It is encoded on the DVD. Some DVDs say they are 1.85:1 on the back, but actually crop a tiny bit of the image and make it 1.78:1 so it totally fills your 16:9 screen (1.78:1).

Other 16:9 displays have a bit of what is called overscan which crops a bit of the image off. Basically zooming in a tiny bit. This creates the same effect to get rid of the minimal black bars.

Really though - it is normal and not something to concern yourself with at all. The fact that you see the bars is a good sign that your projector is behaving normally.

There are advanced user options (check AVS Forum) that allow you to go into the menu system and zoom in a tiny bit if it bugs you.

 

[chooka1]

To clarify

I am not referring to the normal black bars that surround letter box images from DVD's. These lines are about 1/4 inch inside the image of the letterbox image and are very small (you can only really notice them when there is a bright scene). They look like fine pencil lines running through the image. The black bars from the letterbox cropping are, of course, still there.

Thanks!