Problem playing standard DVDs in my blu-ray player.

[ftwhite03]

I recently purchased a Panasonic SC-BT300 and when I tried to test out a standard DVD in it, the image on the screen was very small. It was strange. I didn't have this problem with my previous blu-ray player. Is it because I have it set to 16:9 instead of 4:3? Any help with this is much appreciated.

[Beta Man]

What aspect ratio are the DVDs you are trying to play?

And I'm not familiar with the menus of that player...... so I can't help on that end

[buggeron]

This is prob. A no brainer in that i got a wbdvd3 insignia blu ray player off of a 'returns refurbisher' on ebay called "cowboom" or "dealtree". Anyways, it's hooked up via component cables to my 2003 hd ready (one of the first at the time) matchline crt phillips set. I have had other blu ray players which looked fine with both blue ray or std., but for some reason, movies with live action, such as a a character waving a flag or people in an open car produces a black faint or intensifying group of horizontal lines, which go away when the action scene stops.
I tried the same scene with another player, and it was not as bad, so i assume this has a defective upscale circuit. I have no control over sharpness, the whole set goes to default for fancy features. Color, contrast, and tints basically don't hide the problem completely (obviously a full contrast white screen minimizes it). I'm just wondering if there's anything else to do short of returning it. Thanks
john-boston

[Scooby Blu]

Originally Posted by ftwhite03

I recently purchased a Panasonic SC-BT300 and when I tried to test out a standard DVD in it, the image on the screen was very small. It was strange. I didn't have this problem with my previous blu-ray player. Is it because I have it set to 16:9 instead of 4:3? Any help with this is much appreciated.

I have always found it wise to play a DVD in a DVD player! My Rotel DVD player cost me 450 that was the cheap one!!! My main room Integra DVD player cost me 300 when the store was on it's last leg. Meaning.....50% off.


Point: We have a great hobby.....it can cost a few cents! Spend it!

[alpha00]

Hi All

Recently purchased a Panasonic blu-ray home theatre system (Model number Model No. SCBT207W here in Australia).

I have the Blu-Ray set to 16:9 connected via HDMI cable to 50" samsung plasma.

When I play Seinfeld DVD it displays it on the TV with grey bars down the side even though the TV is in 16:9 mode. When I set the TV to 4:3 mode it shrinks the picture horizontally even further, resulting in even wider grey bars down the side.

If I set the Blu-Ray to 4:3 it then shows the picture in full screen on the TV, and when I set TV to 4:3 it then has the grey bars.

If I connect my cheap and cheerful LG DVD (set to 16:9) player to the TV, then it plays Seinfeld in full screen on the TV immediately (same behaviour as if I set the Blu-Ray to 4:3).

I think there is a bug with the Panasonic Blu-Ray ... or am I missing something?

Cheers
alpha00

[BluRoo98]

Originally Posted by alpha00

Hi All

Recently purchased a Panasonic blu-ray home theatre system (Model number Model No. SCBT207W here in Australia).

I have the Blu-Ray set to 16:9 connected via HDMI cable to 50" samsung plasma.

When I play Seinfeld DVD it displays it on the TV with grey bars down the side even though the TV is in 16:9 mode. When I set the TV to 4:3 mode it shrinks the picture horizontally even further, resulting in even wider grey bars down the side.

If I set the Blu-Ray to 4:3 it then shows the picture in full screen on the TV, and when I set TV to 4:3 it then has the grey bars.

If I connect my cheap and cheerful LG DVD (set to 16:9) player to the TV, then it plays Seinfeld in full screen on the TV immediately (same behaviour as if I set the Blu-Ray to 4:3).

I think there is a bug with the Panasonic Blu-Ray ... or am I missing something?

Cheers
alpha00

Some players "stretch the standard 4:3 image" but you will notice it looks "off" other players default setting is to play original aspect ratios so the 4:3 dvds like some tv shows will have black bars on the sides. You should be able to change the settings to your desired veiwing.

[alpha00]

Problem is:

When I play Seinfeld DVD it displays it on the TV with grey bars down the side **even though the TV is in 16:9 mode**. When I set the TV to 4:3 mode it shrinks the picture horizontally **even further,** resulting in **even wider** grey bars down the side.

Is this normal behaviour?

Is some other setting possibly impacting this? Eg hardcoding it to 1080p instead of automatic etc

Regards
alpha

[Steve]

Originally Posted by alpha00

Problem is:

When I play Seinfeld DVD it displays it on the TV with grey bars down the side **even though the TV is in 16:9 mode**. When I set the TV to 4:3 mode it shrinks the picture horizontally **even further,** resulting in **even wider** grey bars down the side.

Is this normal behaviour?

Is some other setting possibly impacting this? Eg hardcoding it to 1080p instead of automatic etc

Regards
alpha

I believe all Seinfeld episodes were filmed in 4:3 aspect ratio so when the picture is displayed properly it will have gray or black bars on the sides. Most TVs will allow you to stretch the picture to fill your entire screen but it will have to distort the picture to do it.

[alpha00]

The only way I can get it to stretch to full screen is

a) set blu-ray to 4:3 ratio
b) set blu-ray HDMI to 576p/480p

However I dont want to do that because then I have to set it back to 16:9 for watching regular widescreen DVDs.

With my cheap LG DVD player it stretches to full screen (LG DVD set to 16:9) and also my mate's playstation 3 bluescreen stretches to full screen as well when set to 16:9 ...

So what's up with my particular blu-ray that I have to set either a) or b) described above for mine to stretch.. that's annoying...

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by Steve

I believe all Seinfeld episodes were filmed in 4:3 aspect ratio so when the picture is displayed properly it will have gray or black bars on the sides. Most TVs will allow you to stretch the picture to fill your entire screen but it will have to distort the picture to do it.

Yeah pretty much. The only best way to watch 4:3 tv shows is just by living with the black bars on the side and that way the picture doesn't look weird or even worse cutting off a portion of the picture. Older tv shows never had a need to be in widescreen back then. If that show was created now it would of been widescreen 16:9 instead of fullscreen 4:3 if that's how the director and creator wanted it.

[alpha00]

I understand that 4:3 is the original aspect ratio of Seinfeld, however I want to watch it stretched.


The only way I can get it to stretch to full screen is

a) set blu-ray to 4:3 ratio
b) set blu-ray HDMI to 576p/480p

However I dont want to do that because then I have to set it back to 16:9 (or automatic resolution) for watching regular widescreen DVDs. I don't want to have to do this annoying manual step, given I don't have to do that with my LG DVD player or my mate's PSP3. So what's up... is this a bug with my blu-ray player?