2. home-theater
  3. 1016323379

Black Bars. What's the deal?

I have a 55 inch Mitsubishi wide screen rear projection t.v. I own over 100 DVD movies and most of them are in 2.35 aspect ratio. When I play them I have top and bottom black bars on the screen. When I play the DVD's with 1.85 aspect ratio it fills the entire screen. In my t.v. owners manual it has a page warning you not to leave stationary or letterbox images on screen for an extended period of time and that uneven picture tube aging is not covered by my warranty. Example of these are letterbox top and bottom black bars, sidebar images, stock-market report bars, shopping channel logos & pricing displays, video game patterns and scoreboards, bright station logos and on-line internet web sites. I have been using my zoom function on my DVD player to fill the entire screen when using a 2.35 aspect ratio DVD. A fellow at my local audio video store told me that the black bars at the top and bottom can not burn a lasting image on my screen and when I use my zoom functiion to fill the screen it degrades the picture quality of the DVD. My question is: Will the black bars ruin my t.v or not? Any comments will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
jondon

Showing 3 responses by amwarwick

amwarwick
40 posts
 
I have a Pioneer Elite 16:9 TV and only watch DVD's on it and after 2 years I have had no problem with 'burn in' on my screen.I too shared much concern about this potential problem. My advice, pick up a Video Essentials DVD to properly calibrate your picture. Be sure to turn down the CONTRAST as much as possible to lessen the chance of burning in an image.Then quit being so paranoid and enjoy your TV ! As far as high def in a couple years being common place...I have some swamp land in Florida for sale.
amwarwick
40 posts
 
Morbius,
Hey fella, take it easy. I'm sorry we have touched a nerve here. Chill out...we aren't making rocketships here. It's just some TV's!! I admire your enthusiasm and wishful expectations for nationwide employment of HDTV by 2005, but do you ever read the various home theater magazines? The FCC can say whatever they please. Bottom line is any mandate given for implementation of Hi Def broadcast by the FCC to transmitter's by whatever date, can and will be changed and for you to believe the manufacturer's claim's that by next spring 50% of all broadcasting will be done in HI-DEF is wishful thinking. You need to read more and educate yourself as to what is really happening and not necessarily rely on what the 'manufacturer's' tell you. By any chance is it possible that the manufacturer's have these glorious expectations to sell more TV's? Believe me, I hope you are right. I would love to start receiving HI-DEF.By the way, you aren't the sales guy who talked me into buying my Sony SCD-1 SACD player are you? Nice player, but total lack of software...the manufacturer said there would be lot's of software...still waiting how many years later!
amwarwick
40 posts
 
Sad, but true avguy.
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