question on displays TV vs dvd player?

[xmandu2000]

Hi I have a Samsung LCD 40in TV and a cheap albeit functional Insignia upconverting DVD player. What I can't figure out is is the display in using the full screen of the tv. I am always cut off with 16:9 with a 4 inch bar at the top and bottom of the screen . I have adjusted my settings to (I believe display at full screen). I do get full screen when watching my directv on most if not all shows. I believe I see the 1080p light on the DTV box. But I don't ever get it with dvds. I am playing regular screen and widescreen dvds to figure out how to get the full screen display...ugh.

What am I missing here??? Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Very frustrating...
thx
Tom

 

[MDS]

If everything is set up correctly with the DVD player set to 16:9 or 'widescreen' you will get widescreen movies as is. But if the aspect ratio of the film is greater than 16:9 (1.78:1) you will still get small black bars across the top and bottom.

Even if the DVD player is set to 16:9, playing a 4:3 or 'fullscreen' movie will show black bars on the left and right. The only way to get it to fill the screen is to use a stretch or zoom mode in the TV.

 

[xmandu2000]

Interesting.

It just seems like a waste of space to have a nice widescreen tv with those darn bars across the top and bottom.

I assume everybody with an LCD capable of 16:9 goes through this. I've tried the Stretch option (I think its WideFit on Samsung) but I lose part of the movie. Guess I am stuck with it.

Thanks!!