Sony TV - Screen format issue
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I have a new Sony 46HX803 television connected to my Sky HD box with HDMI. I want to watch 4:3 broadcasts in 4:3 not unnaturally stretched to fill the screen. But when I press the "format" button, the only options I get are "Smart" (which seems to shoot the picture off the edges top and to the side), "wide" and "zoom". The options "4:3" and "14:9" simply aren't there. I have tried the one on display in John Lewis and it does the same.
After forty five minutes of speaking to the Sony technical support helpline (in Cairo!), I am no nearer.
Surely it must be possible to watch 4:3 broadcasts in the proper format on this television?
After forty five minutes of speaking to the Sony technical support helpline (in Cairo!), I am no nearer.
Surely it must be possible to watch 4:3 broadcasts in the proper format on this television?
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On the one I'm looking at now (HX903) it's
Home>Settings>Display>[Enter]>Screen>[Enter]
Which gives a target inputs menu under which is Auto Format, under which is 4:3 default, pressing enter at that point gives me the option, Off,4:3 or Smart.
Will go and check a different set.
Assuming you're talking about SD channels?, then you need to add a SCART lead to get all your SD options, HDMI is treated as essentially 'HD Only' so you don't get all the SD format options. 4:3 programming on the HD channels is transmitted as widescreen, with borders added at transmission to the programme.
That's incorrect. If you are able to select 4:3 format as I have described then SD channels will be formatted correctly - I am looking at one now and my HD box is connected ONLY with HDMI and it is displayed in 4:3.
The only exception to this is if you, for example select a 4:3 broadcast on an HD channel, then the picture is stretched.
For example, I'm looking at Aerobics Oz Style on Sky ch 418 and it is formatted as 4:3, if I switch to the same broadcast on channel 403 (Sky Sports 3 HD) then the picture is stretched.
I don't know about the Sonys but on my Panny even then you can manually change the picture to 4:3 (I know some TVs can't). It would be nice if all TVs had proper control over aspect ratio, it would make choosing a TV much easier.
You can do that with a Sony using the remote to a certain extent, but if I was watching a 4:3 broadcast on a Sky HD channel, pressing the aspect button on the remote doesn't have 4:3 as an option. If I switch to the same broadcast on an SD channel, the option is there. As I said before though, if you set the TV up to display 4:3 broadcasts in 4:3 then the TV will automatically display it correctly.
Yes, I'm talking about SD channels. Even changing the "4:3 default" to "4:3" does not give me 4:3 through the HDMI.
I can probably live with it, but it seems odd not to have this as a basic setting.
What is your Sky HD box set to?.
Added a Scart cable as you suggested. Problem solved. Thanks Nigel.
Do you have your Sky HD box to output HD at 1080i by any chance - mine is set to automatic and outputs a 4:3 picture correctly.
If I set it to 1080i it stretches the picture.
Try it and see.
Yes that has worked too. Thanks JulesandSand. I changed the output HD to "automatic" and it allowed me to change the "4:3 Default".
I should come to this forum first before speaking to Cairo!
Thanks again.
As far as I can see, yes. I think that all Sky HD broadcasts are 1080i, as far as I know anyway.
Yes they are - all HD broadcasts are 1080i, so with the box set to automatic it outputs 1080i for HD and 576P for SD - if 720P programmes ever appear they would be output as 720P.
Changed Sky HD box to Automatic and am now watching TOTP from 1976 in glorious 4:3.
Thank you.
Just wondered if there's a setting anywhere to mute DLT permanently
Ha ha I watched that tonight, the 1970s is my era and wasn't the show cringeworthy, Mud in their long forgotten disco phase, Brotherhood of Man showing that manufactured talent-free combos were around long before X-factor, the Wurzels singing live by jove.
And what about Marc Bolan - such a boyish haircut.
Peter Frampton was good though. Gallagher and Lyle might have been hadn't they been miming.