Aspect Ratio from Other Region To NTSC

Squid Lips · 07-15-2008, 11:13 PM

I am in the US with an NTSC TV and an old APEX 600 all region player.

I notice that when I play some DVDs that are wider aspect images, they still play stretched to fit my 4x3 tube. I go into menu and toggle between Normal, wide and Normal letterbox but all settings have the same effect: A slight black bar at top and bottom but pretty much 1.33 frame.

Am I missing something or for some reason do widescreen outer region DVDs just not show in their native aspect on an NTSC TV? I have noticed this with the double disc of Predator as well as Madman's Red Desert but if I play an NTSC DVD that is wide it will play correctly.

Pirate · 07-17-2008, 01:52 PM

I'm not entirely sure, but I think this is a PAL on an NTSC TV issue. Before I had my projector, I remember trying to watch a PAL DVD on my old HDTV and having a similar aspect ratio issue. There wasn't much I could do because the TV or the DVD player (can't remember which) was incorrectly displaying the aspect ratio.

Does your TV have a PAL or "Auto" setting?

Squid Lips · 07-19-2008, 06:10 PM

Thanks for that Pirate. My TV is an old one so doubt that is in the menu. I am upgrading to a flat screen next month so if it is a TV issue, maybe I can keep my eyes peeled for TVs with that switch.

I haven't checked but you may be right it is only the PAL films. Was driving me nuts as I was paying some decent money for these PAL DVDs and not even getting a great image (as it is now squished).

I'll check the menu on the TV though.

**SidcupMartin** · 07-26-2008, 04:45 PM

As far as I remember it's all to do with the PAL-NTSC conversion of the quality. Some players needs to drop a scanline to approximate the PAL image so the image appears squashed by a small %.

This happened on both Cyberhome and Apex players that I used to own. Not on my current Oppo

07-15-2008, 11:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Squid Lips Actor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Los Angeles CA	Aspect Ratio from Other Region To NTSC I am in the US with an NTSC TV and an old APEX 600 all region player. I notice that when I play some DVDs that are wider aspect images, they still play stretched to fit my 4x3 tube. I go into menu and toggle between Normal, wide and Normal letterbox but all settings have the same effect: A slight black bar at top and bottom but pretty much 1.33 frame. Am I missing something or for some reason do widescreen outer region DVDs just not show in their native aspect on an NTSC TV? I have noticed this with the double disc of Predator as well as Madman's Red Desert but if I play an NTSC DVD that is wide it will play correctly.

07-17-2008, 01:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pirate Moderator Emeritus Loves Yellow Subtitles Join Date: Jun 2003	I'm not entirely sure, but I think this is a PAL on an NTSC TV issue. Before I had my projector, I remember trying to watch a PAL DVD on my old HDTV and having a similar aspect ratio issue. There wasn't much I could do because the TV or the DVD player (can't remember which) was incorrectly displaying the aspect ratio. Does your TV have a PAL or "Auto" setting? __________________ Early Adopting So You Don’t Have To.

07-26-2008, 04:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
SidcupMartin Director/Moderator Captain Paranoia Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA	As far as I remember it's all to do with the PAL-NTSC conversion of the quality. Some players needs to drop a scanline to approximate the PAL image so the image appears squashed by a small %. This happened on both Cyberhome and Apex players that I used to own. Not on my current Oppo __________________ eternally putting the kettle on

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-19-2008, 06:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Squid Lips Actor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Los Angeles CA	Thanks for that Pirate. My TV is an old one so doubt that is in the menu. I am upgrading to a flat screen next month so if it is a TV issue, maybe I can keep my eyes peeled for TVs with that switch. I haven't checked but you may be right it is only the PAL films. Was driving me nuts as I was paying some decent money for these PAL DVDs and not even getting a great image (as it is now squished). I'll check the menu on the TV though.