TV Aspect ratios?

koantemplation · 21-12-2009, 17:12

Is the size of a tv in inches linked to their aspect ratio?

For example my 22inch tv has a 16:10 aspect ratio,
but I noticed 32inch tvs have a 16:9 aspect ratio.

What sizes are 16:9?

LCDMAN · 21-12-2009, 17:17

16:9 is the correct VIDEO image ratio - widescreen from 4:3. 16:10 is a throw back to using computer panels of daft resolutions for TV's (like 1440 x 800 etc.) In reality, many UK broadcasts are in an "anamorphic" 14:9 ratio, to suit those using screens of either native format, not 16:9.

koantemplation · 21-12-2009, 17:41

I've found this site

http://tvcalculator.com/

I think it helps show the relationship between aspect ratio and screen size.

LCDMAN · 21-12-2009, 17:59

It's not directly linked to size - you can have 16:10 80" panels and you can have 16:9 11" panels. TV's between 15" and 22" generally use panels designed for computer monitors, rather than TV/video resolutions, so tend to be 16:10 but not always.

koantemplation · 21-12-2009, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCDMAN

It's not directly linked to size - you can have 16:10 80" panels and you can have 16:9 11" panels. TV's between 15" and 22" generally use panels designed for computer monitors, rather than TV/video resolutions, so tend to be 16:10 but not always.

Basically I want to avoid 16:10 ratios.

I'm not too worried about the 22inch one being 16:10 but I'd hate to get something bigger than 32inch and have the same problem.

It's so annoying when a tv won't go into 16:9 ratio and you have to put up with a squashed or stretched picture.

Nigel Goodwin · 21-12-2009, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by koantemplation

Basically I want to avoid 16:10 ratios.

I'm not too worried about the 22inch one being 16:10 but I'd hate to get something bigger than 32inch and have the same problem.

It's so annoying when a tv won't go into 16:9 ratio and you have to put up with a squashed or stretched picture.

Generally only cheap makes use the cheap computer monitor panels - so any decent make should be 16:9 only. But any set of 32 inch and above will be, as there's no source of cheap computer panels.

GeoffNI · 21-12-2009, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

Generally only cheap makes use the cheap computer monitor panels - so any decent make should be 16:9 only. But any set of 32 inch and above will be, as there's no source of cheap computer panels.

I am confused about ratios. I believe Wide is 16:9 on my 32" however Native gives me even more of a picture. So when watching the likes of the NFL I get more picture filling my screen but when they go to the Sky Studios there is not enough picture to fill the screen

I use Native all the time for my Xbox and Wide for HD Television.

EDIT: just reading through other posts on this thread so Native is likely 16:10 which clears up my confusing and explains why the Game setting prefers this ratio.

koantemplation · 21-12-2009, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffNI

I am confused about ratios. I believe Wide is 16:9 on my 32" however Native gives me even more of a picture. So when watching the likes of the NFL I get more picture filling my screen but when they go to the Sky Studios there is not enough picture to fill the screen

I use Native all the time for my Xbox and Wide for HD Television.

EDIT: just reading through other posts on this thread so Native is likely 16:10 which clears up my confusing and explains why the Game setting prefers this ratio.

There are 3 main variables with LCD TVs.

Screen Size: eg 32in

Aspect ratio: 16:10 16:9 etc and

Screen Resolution. eg 1680 x 1050

I'm not sure if getting them right is a science or an art.

scottie55 · 21-12-2009, 22:16

Hopefully, someone who knows what they're talking about will be along shortly.

Chris Frost · 21-12-2009, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by koantemplation

Is the size of a tv in inches linked to their aspect ratio?

No

Quote:

Originally Posted by koantemplation

For example my 22inch tv has a 16:10 aspect ratio,
but I noticed 32inch tvs have a 16:9 aspect ratio.

LCDman is on the right track. It all depends on the panel the manufacturer chose for those screen sizes.

Very few companies making TVs actually make their own LCD panels, so that means they have to buy them from someone who does. 16:10 might help a manufacturer shave a few cents off the product cost or it might be a good choice for a TV monitor that doubles up for PC duty. Whatever the reason anything 16:9 is going to fit inside a 16:10 frame without chopping off the edges. If the picture is 16:9 then there'll be a small black bar top and bottom, but that should be there if the picture is to be shown in the correct aspect ratio.

Larger screen sizes are more likely to be in 16:9 format. This is more about economies of scale and price rather than manufacturer choice. There's a lot more production of 16:9 panel substrate than 16:10 once screen sizes go over 30". TV is the predominant end-market rather than computer monitor.

If you want to know why we have 16:9 as the HDTV format then have a look at the Wiki article here.

frasera · 22-12-2009, 05:02

there is no relationship.

16:10 is a computer monitor aspect ratio. if they have extra 16:10 panels and can sell them off as tv's instead they do it regardless of the correctness of it all. its simply a way to save cash. and at 22" it doesn't matter because those are margain basement tv's, theres no good reason for them to make that much effort producing them, they are after thoughts, they use excess panels from monitors.

good quality hdtv's are always 16:9, only the cut rate ones will have the odd aspect ratio that screams they just bought some excess panels someone had lying around.

cloudfactory · 26-12-2009, 13:08

no matter what ratio i put my tv on or who ever else's tv i watch loads of films and programs have the credits cut off at the side. nothing i do seems to fix this. i assume they are being broadcast in some sort of ratio i cant access?

russellelly · 26-12-2009, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloudfactory

no matter what ratio i put my tv on or who ever else's tv i watch loads of films and programs have the credits cut off at the side. nothing i do seems to fix this. i assume they are being broadcast in some sort of ratio i cant access?

That's likely to do with the source set-up. It's vital that the source (eg digital box/DVD player) is set for 16:9 and that the TV is in 'Wide' or '16:9' mode. It might very occasionally be a broadcaster fault, but you definitely shouldn't see it often.

davidweller · 26-12-2009, 17:38

Some films will have been shot in a wider ratio such as 2.40:1 (21.6:9) and then cropped to 16:9 for their tv broadcast. This would lead to some loss of information on each side.

koantemplation · 26-12-2009, 17:51

Well I risked it and got a Humax Freesat HD pvr. Sadly as I suspected it is difficult to get the right Aspect ratio on my 16:10 lcd tv via HDMI.

BBC HD seems to be ok but only if I set the Humax stb to 14:9 letter box mode, as 16:9 is too squashed up.

Nigel Goodwin · 26-12-2009, 18:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by koantemplation

Well I risked it and got a Humax Freesat HD pvr. Sadly as I suspected it is difficult to get the right Aspect ratio on my 16:10 lcd tv via HDMI.

As you already knew your TV is the wrong shape, why did you think a different set-top box was going to make any difference?.

Either live with it, or buy a proper TV.

koantemplation · 26-12-2009, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

As you already knew your TV is the wrong shape, why did you think a different set-top box was going to make any difference?.

Either live with it, or buy a proper TV.

Yes and I can turn it off if I don't like it too.

I got the box knowing that I will probably be buying a new tv anyway. Mines only a 22inch so I want to upgrade to a 32inch or larger, which is why I asked about aspect ratios and screen sizes in the first place.

I can use the box via scart and get the same ratio I had with the old sky box anyway.

I'll just have to make sure the next tv is 16:9 and 1080p.

RobAnt · 26-12-2009, 19:20

Happy to see you're taking Nigel's advice.

koantemplation · 26-12-2009, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobAnt

Happy to see you're taking Nigel's advice.

I don't understand why either the tv or the stb doesn't have a setting where you can alter the ratio manually.

Surely they must know that 16:10 ratio tvs may be used.

RobAnt · 26-12-2009, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by koantemplation

I don't understand why either the tv or the stb doesn't have a setting where you can alter the ratio manually.

Surely they must know that 16:10 ratio tvs may be used.

It does, read the manual. You might as well, it's better than reading the same thing here.

bobcar · 26-12-2009, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by russellelly

That's likely to do with the source set-up. It's vital that the source (eg digital box/DVD player) is set for 16:9 and that the TV is in 'Wide' or '16:9' mode. It might very occasionally be a broadcaster fault, but you definitely shouldn't see it often.

It is not vital that the TV is set to 16:9, both my previous Sony and my present Panny need to be set to 4:3 - other TVs may need to be set to Auto or similar.

The TV should usually only be set to 16:9 permanently if you like fattyvision otherwise this is the wrong setting.

koantemplation · 26-12-2009, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobAnt

It does, read the manual. You might as well, it's better than reading the same thing here.

What manual? The one for the TV or for the STB?

I've never seen an option to change the aspect ratio manually.

bobcar · 26-12-2009, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by koantemplation

What manual? The one for the TV or for the STB?

I've never seen an option to change the aspect ratio manually.

Every TV I've ever seen has an option to change the aspect ratio manually on most inputs, The STB usually has options for 4:3, 4:3 letterbox or 16:9 and maybe others.

Samsung TVs have a design fault in some (all?) models where you can't alter the aspect ratio on HDMI.

koantemplation · 26-12-2009, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcar

Every TV I've ever seen has an option to change the aspect ratio manually on most inputs, The STB usually has options for 4:3, 4:3 letterbox or 16:9 and maybe others.

Samsung TVs have a design fault in some (all?) models where you can't alter the aspect ratio on HDMI.

In HDMI mode the tv only has 3 settings, Auto, Full and Normal.

Normal gives a pillar box screen. Full and Auto both give the same aspect ratio, which depends on how the STB is set up.

There doesn't seem to be any other option when using HDMI inputl

21-12-2009, 17:12	#1
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,797	TV Aspect ratios? Is the size of a tv in inches linked to their aspect ratio? For example my 22inch tv has a 16:10 aspect ratio, but I noticed 32inch tvs have a 16:9 aspect ratio. What sizes are 16:9?

21-12-2009, 17:17	#2
LCDMAN Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Yorkshire, God's County Posts: 5,182	16:9 is the correct VIDEO image ratio - widescreen from 4:3. 16:10 is a throw back to using computer panels of daft resolutions for TV's (like 1440 x 800 etc.) In reality, many UK broadcasts are in an "anamorphic" 14:9 ratio, to suit those using screens of either native format, not 16:9.

21-12-2009, 17:41	#3
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,797	I've found this site http://tvcalculator.com/ I think it helps show the relationship between aspect ratio and screen size.

21-12-2009, 17:59	#4
LCDMAN Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Yorkshire, God's County Posts: 5,182	It's not directly linked to size - you can have 16:10 80" panels and you can have 16:9 11" panels. TV's between 15" and 22" generally use panels designed for computer monitors, rather than TV/video resolutions, so tend to be 16:10 but not always.

21-12-2009, 19:17	#5
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,797	Quote: Originally Posted by LCDMAN It's not directly linked to size - you can have 16:10 80" panels and you can have 16:9 11" panels. TV's between 15" and 22" generally use panels designed for computer monitors, rather than TV/video resolutions, so tend to be 16:10 but not always. Basically I want to avoid 16:10 ratios. I'm not too worried about the 22inch one being 16:10 but I'd hate to get something bigger than 32inch and have the same problem. It's so annoying when a tv won't go into 16:9 ratio and you have to put up with a squashed or stretched picture.

21-12-2009, 19:21	#6
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by koantemplation Basically I want to avoid 16:10 ratios. I'm not too worried about the 22inch one being 16:10 but I'd hate to get something bigger than 32inch and have the same problem. It's so annoying when a tv won't go into 16:9 ratio and you have to put up with a squashed or stretched picture. Generally only cheap makes use the cheap computer monitor panels - so any decent make should be 16:9 only. But any set of 32 inch and above will be, as there's no source of cheap computer panels.

21-12-2009, 20:27	#7
GeoffNI Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 2,609	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin Generally only cheap makes use the cheap computer monitor panels - so any decent make should be 16:9 only. But any set of 32 inch and above will be, as there's no source of cheap computer panels. I am confused about ratios. I believe Wide is 16:9 on my 32" however Native gives me even more of a picture. So when watching the likes of the NFL I get more picture filling my screen but when they go to the Sky Studios there is not enough picture to fill the screen I use Native all the time for my Xbox and Wide for HD Television. EDIT: just reading through other posts on this thread so Native is likely 16:10 which clears up my confusing and explains why the Game setting prefers this ratio.

21-12-2009, 21:33	#8
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,797	Quote: Originally Posted by GeoffNI I am confused about ratios. I believe Wide is 16:9 on my 32" however Native gives me even more of a picture. So when watching the likes of the NFL I get more picture filling my screen but when they go to the Sky Studios there is not enough picture to fill the screen I use Native all the time for my Xbox and Wide for HD Television. EDIT: just reading through other posts on this thread so Native is likely 16:10 which clears up my confusing and explains why the Game setting prefers this ratio. There are 3 main variables with LCD TVs. Screen Size: eg 32in Aspect ratio: 16:10 16:9 etc and Screen Resolution. eg 1680 x 1050 I'm not sure if getting them right is a science or an art.

21-12-2009, 22:16	#9
scottie55 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 127	Hopefully, someone who knows what they're talking about will be along shortly.

21-12-2009, 23:50	#10
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	Quote: Originally Posted by koantemplation Is the size of a tv in inches linked to their aspect ratio? No Quote: Originally Posted by koantemplation For example my 22inch tv has a 16:10 aspect ratio, but I noticed 32inch tvs have a 16:9 aspect ratio. LCDman is on the right track. It all depends on the panel the manufacturer chose for those screen sizes. Very few companies making TVs actually make their own LCD panels, so that means they have to buy them from someone who does. 16:10 might help a manufacturer shave a few cents off the product cost or it might be a good choice for a TV monitor that doubles up for PC duty. Whatever the reason anything 16:9 is going to fit inside a 16:10 frame without chopping off the edges. If the picture is 16:9 then there'll be a small black bar top and bottom, but that should be there if the picture is to be shown in the correct aspect ratio. Larger screen sizes are more likely to be in 16:9 format. This is more about economies of scale and price rather than manufacturer choice. There's a lot more production of 16:9 panel substrate than 16:10 once screen sizes go over 30". TV is the predominant end-market rather than computer monitor. If you want to know why we have 16:9 as the HDTV format then have a look at the Wiki article here.

22-12-2009, 05:02	#11
frasera Inactive Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8,063	there is no relationship. 16:10 is a computer monitor aspect ratio. if they have extra 16:10 panels and can sell them off as tv's instead they do it regardless of the correctness of it all. its simply a way to save cash. and at 22" it doesn't matter because those are margain basement tv's, theres no good reason for them to make that much effort producing them, they are after thoughts, they use excess panels from monitors. good quality hdtv's are always 16:9, only the cut rate ones will have the odd aspect ratio that screams they just bought some excess panels someone had lying around.

26-12-2009, 13:08	#12
cloudfactory Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: highlands Posts: 770	no matter what ratio i put my tv on or who ever else's tv i watch loads of films and programs have the credits cut off at the side. nothing i do seems to fix this. i assume they are being broadcast in some sort of ratio i cant access?

26-12-2009, 13:13	#13
russellelly Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 10,720	Quote: Originally Posted by cloudfactory no matter what ratio i put my tv on or who ever else's tv i watch loads of films and programs have the credits cut off at the side. nothing i do seems to fix this. i assume they are being broadcast in some sort of ratio i cant access? That's likely to do with the source set-up. It's vital that the source (eg digital box/DVD player) is set for 16:9 and that the TV is in 'Wide' or '16:9' mode. It might very occasionally be a broadcaster fault, but you definitely shouldn't see it often.

26-12-2009, 17:38	#14
davidweller Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wallington, Surrey Posts: 6,960	Some films will have been shot in a wider ratio such as 2.40:1 (21.6:9) and then cropped to 16:9 for their tv broadcast. This would lead to some loss of information on each side.

26-12-2009, 17:51	#15
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,797	Well I risked it and got a Humax Freesat HD pvr. Sadly as I suspected it is difficult to get the right Aspect ratio on my 16:10 lcd tv via HDMI. BBC HD seems to be ok but only if I set the Humax stb to 14:9 letter box mode, as 16:9 is too squashed up.

26-12-2009, 18:14	#16
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by koantemplation Well I risked it and got a Humax Freesat HD pvr. Sadly as I suspected it is difficult to get the right Aspect ratio on my 16:10 lcd tv via HDMI. As you already knew your TV is the wrong shape, why did you think a different set-top box was going to make any difference?. Either live with it, or buy a proper TV.

26-12-2009, 19:15	#17
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,797	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin As you already knew your TV is the wrong shape, why did you think a different set-top box was going to make any difference?. Either live with it, or buy a proper TV. Yes and I can turn it off if I don't like it too. I got the box knowing that I will probably be buying a new tv anyway. Mines only a 22inch so I want to upgrade to a 32inch or larger, which is why I asked about aspect ratios and screen sizes in the first place. I can use the box via scart and get the same ratio I had with the old sky box anyway. I'll just have to make sure the next tv is 16:9 and 1080p.

26-12-2009, 19:20	#18
RobAnt Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South West Posts: 10,218	Happy to see you're taking Nigel's advice.

26-12-2009, 19:30	#19
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,797	Quote: Originally Posted by RobAnt Happy to see you're taking Nigel's advice. I don't understand why either the tv or the stb doesn't have a setting where you can alter the ratio manually. Surely they must know that 16:10 ratio tvs may be used.

26-12-2009, 19:42	#20
RobAnt Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South West Posts: 10,218	Quote: Originally Posted by koantemplation I don't understand why either the tv or the stb doesn't have a setting where you can alter the ratio manually. Surely they must know that 16:10 ratio tvs may be used. It does, read the manual. You might as well, it's better than reading the same thing here.

26-12-2009, 19:53	#21
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by russellelly That's likely to do with the source set-up. It's vital that the source (eg digital box/DVD player) is set for 16:9 and that the TV is in 'Wide' or '16:9' mode. It might very occasionally be a broadcaster fault, but you definitely shouldn't see it often. It is not vital that the TV is set to 16:9, both my previous Sony and my present Panny need to be set to 4:3 - other TVs may need to be set to Auto or similar. The TV should usually only be set to 16:9 permanently if you like fattyvision otherwise this is the wrong setting.

DS Forums

TV Aspect ratios?

26-12-2009, 19:56	#22
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,797	Quote: Originally Posted by RobAnt It does, read the manual. You might as well, it's better than reading the same thing here. What manual? The one for the TV or for the STB? I've never seen an option to change the aspect ratio manually.

26-12-2009, 20:04	#23
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by koantemplation What manual? The one for the TV or for the STB? I've never seen an option to change the aspect ratio manually. Every TV I've ever seen has an option to change the aspect ratio manually on most inputs, The STB usually has options for 4:3, 4:3 letterbox or 16:9 and maybe others. Samsung TVs have a design fault in some (all?) models where you can't alter the aspect ratio on HDMI.

26-12-2009, 20:07	#24
koantemplation Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wolf359 Posts: 96,797	Quote: Originally Posted by bobcar Every TV I've ever seen has an option to change the aspect ratio manually on most inputs, The STB usually has options for 4:3, 4:3 letterbox or 16:9 and maybe others. Samsung TVs have a design fault in some (all?) models where you can't alter the aspect ratio on HDMI. In HDMI mode the tv only has 3 settings, Auto, Full and Normal. Normal gives a pillar box screen. Full and Auto both give the same aspect ratio, which depends on how the STB is set up. There doesn't seem to be any other option when using HDMI inputl