I have had a Thomson 32WB643 for two years now, and its excellent picture quality still stands up well. However, I do have an issue with it and I wonder if anyone out there has or once had a 32WB643 and has come across the same thing?
Essentially, when I use my DVD player through the component inputs the TV goes into 16:9 mode, even if the source material is 4:3. The normal method of changing aspect ratio "on the fly" - using the direction buttons on the remote - does not work. I have tried forcing 4:3 mode in the DVD player settings but to no avail. I have also tried two DVD players and both have produced the same result.
Using the SCART inputs from DVD player or Sky box works fine - the TV switches between 16:9 and 4:3 depending on the source material and the direction buttons control the aspect ratio as expected.
I guess that the lack of automatic switching may be a result of using component inputs, but I don't understand why I can no longer change the aspect ratio manually. Maybe a firmware issue?
Any suggestions greatefully appreciated!

[Spudbox]

Hi Baskii -
I have the Thomson 843 model which is exactly same internals. I also experienced this ,and found that instead of setting my DVD player to prog scan, have set the Thomson to prog scan using component inputs. To my eyes the quality is the same but am now able to use the TV remote arrow keys to change aspect ratios on component input.
Hope this helps
Cheers

[Pug72]

Yep, same here.

If I have a 4:3 item to watch, I change my dvd player to interlaced so I can adjust the ratio to fill the screen without having to put up with the 16:9 stretch.

I always put it back to progressive though with 16:9 sources as I find it is slightly better than interlaced.

Thanks, Spudbox and Pug72 - you're absolutely right. Wish I'd figured that out!
I think I'd agree with Pug72 that enabling prog scan in the DVD player gives slightly better results than on the TV. I'd like to know what the technical difference is though.
Incidentally, what do you favour for SCART sources such as Sky? HiPix would appear to be better than 100Hz (less noisy at any rate) but enabling prog scan seems to smooth out the edges a bit...

[Pug72]

For scart sources I use HiPix. The prog scan mode looks a bit better, especially for things like footy, but the slight flickering gets on my nerves so I stick to HiPix.