The Wire Region 2 DVDs

[tomscrace]

Hi there (first post!),

I have just picked up the first season of The Wire on Region 2 DVD. It's started slow, but I think it has promise (only watched the first episode so far).

There is some very annoying interference at the top of the picture frame. It is extremely evident and quite distracting while viewing. It is a band of black and white bars and is constantly flickering. Has anybody else with this set noticed this? I am wondering whether this is an issue with just my unit or some problem inherent to the set. I am fairly sure it is not my player as I have tested it on two different machines.

Have looked on Amazon and Googled around but nobody else seems to have mentioned it, which makes me think it might just be me. If so, I will return it for a replacement copy.

Any advice greatly appreciated,

Tom

UPDATE: Just tried it on my proper TV/Blu-Ray set up (previously had been trying on computers) and the banding is not present. Any ideas why this might be happening? Thanks!

On another note, my main computer (an iMac) shows it in 4:3 ratio with bands down each side, whereas the windows machine and the blu-ray show it in 16:9. What is the best ratio for this set? It seems to be stretched when in widescreen so I am guessing it is natively 4:3. Slightly annoying that the blu ray player would automatically show it in a non-native format. Unless I am wrong?

[lancerumbolt]

Originally Posted by tomscrace

Hi there (first post!),

I have just picked up the first season of The Wire on Region 2 DVD. It's started slow, but I think it has promise (only watched the first episode so far).

There is some very annoying interference at the top of the picture frame. It is extremely evident and quite distracting while viewing. It is a band of black and white bars and is constantly flickering. Has anybody else with this set noticed this? I am wondering whether this is an issue with just my unit or some problem inherent to the set. I am fairly sure it is not my player as I have tested it on two different machines.

Have looked on Amazon and Googled around but nobody else seems to have mentioned it, which makes me think it might just be me. If so, I will return it for a replacement copy.

Any advice greatly appreciated,

Tom

UPDATE: Just tried it on my proper TV/Blu-Ray set up (previously had been trying on computers) and the banding is not present. Any ideas why this might be happening? Thanks!

On another note, my main computer (an iMac) shows it in 4:3 ratio with bands down each side, whereas the windows machine and the blu-ray show it in 16:9. What is the best ratio for this set? It seems to be stretched when in widescreen so I am guessing it is natively 4:3. Slightly annoying that the blu ray player would automatically show it in a non-native format. Unless I am wrong?

Those are scan lines are you running your display in just scan mode or is it running in 16:9?

If it's in just scan mode it will reveal those lines as you described, try the other mode.

The wire does start slow but it will have you hooked trust me, it is one of the best shows ever brutally realistic, funny and downright addictive.

Cheers I hope this helps.

Updated

It was broad cast in 4:3 sorry about the above info it may be a bit confusing, I use a PS3 as my main DVD player hence why I said use 16:9 on the TV.

Don't use stretched mode view in 4:3.

[tomscrace]

Thanks for replying. I cannot find any mention of a 'scan' mode in my DVD player software (Apple DVD Player). I have tried altering most of the options in the player, but none of them have helped.

Here is a screenshot showing the problem:

Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

Again, thanks for the help!

Tom

[lancerumbolt]

Originally Posted by tomscrace

Thanks for replying. I cannot find any mention of a 'scan' mode in my DVD player software (Apple DVD Player). I have tried altering most of the options in the player, but none of them have helped.

Here is a screenshot showing the problem:

Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

Again, thanks for the help!

Tom

That was what I had exactly, it was the way the PS3 displayed 4:3 material if it makes you feel any better it's only the first season that does that.

[tomscrace]

Thanks; that does make me feel better!

Cheers,

Tom