Samsung HLR61682 in 16 X 9 Mode

[jlfaudiobuff]

I recently purchased a SZamsung HLR 6168W DLP TV that has turned out to be very disappointing. When I watch a DVD with an aspect ratio of 16 X 9 it doesn't fill out the screen. Worse, it distorts the picture. I called Samsung support and they tell be that this is normal? I can't believe it. Any one have experience with this television?

[LV426]

I'm not 100% sure what you are seeing when it "doesn't fill the screen".

It's quite possible that you are watching a movie which is wider than 16:9. If this is the case, then there will be black bars above and below. The disc packaging may refer to the movie's aspect ratio (such as, 2.35:1) as well as the disc's aspect ratio (which may be 16:9). Note that these are two different things.

In these cases, the bars are ON THE DISC as part of the signal it contains and should not be removed. However, you should find that menus and the like will fill the screen.

As for distortion - without a better description, I can't be specific, except to say - there shouldn't be any.

[jlfaudiobuff]

To clarify I am trying to watch a DVD with an aspect ratio of 16 X 9 and I believe in the 16 X 9 mode on nthe TV which has a screen with a 16 X 9 aspect ratio the image should display edge-to-edge. I didn't pay for 61 diagonal inches of screen real estate that cannot be used. So far I have found no mode on this TV that will display an edge-to-edge image without distortion. I the 16 X 9 mode at most the image fills about 1/3 of the scren.

[LV426]

Have you set your DVD player (in its menu) to output a 16x9 signal ?

[jlfaudiobuff]

After speaking with Samsung again and going back to my dealer, the problem was solved by upgrading my DVD player to a HD DVD player and using the component input on the TV. They ought to tell a perspective buyer that the TV is incompatible with older DVD players. FYI the old DVD player had no option for selecting screen size output.

Thanks

[LV426]

The old player must have been a very unusual DVD player, then. It's part of the DVD standard (I believe) to have selectable output modes to match differing TV shapes.

Every player I have seen/used (from branded and very early through to cheapo recent) have had this choice. And failure by the user to change settings here is probably the most common cause of your symptoms, if I understand your description correctly.

Anyhow, it's good you have a solution, although I really doubt a "high definition" player was actually essential.