TV Signals and Display Formats

324. TV Operation and Features

This is a widescreen TV, also known as a 16:9 TV. This shape reflects the new types of images available from HDTV and many DVDs. There are still many older style narrow-screen images (called 4:3 aspect ratio) you will encounter. While there is no perfect solution for dis- playing a squarish, narrower image on a wide screen, Mitsubishi offers several display formats from which you can choose.

Press FORMAT on the TV remote control to cycle through the available display formats. The last-used format for each device is used when you return to that device.

DVD Definitions

Anamorphic (or Enhanced for WideScreen TV) These DVDs are recorded in a special way to prop- erly show widescreen images on 16:9 TV sets using the Standard format mode. This is the recommended viewing choice.

Non-Anamorphic (or 4:3, 1:33:1, Letter Box, or Full Screen)

These DVDs are recorded for use with traditionally shaped, squarish TVs. They may be full screen (4:3 or 1:33:1) which crops movies to fit the narrow TV, or letter box, which adds black top and bottom bars.

This information may be listed on the DVD case. Some DVDs support both types of recordings.

Signal Definitions

480i Signals: Traditional interlaced signals from or through ANT-1and 2, INPUT 1–3, COMPONENT and HDMI jacks.

480p Signals: Progressive-scan DVD signals on COM- PONENT and HDMI jacks.

720p and 1080i Signals: High-definition signals received through COMPONENT and HDMI jacks. These signals are always 16:9 (widescreen).

SD 4:3: Standard-definition squarish-screen format signals from digital channels on ANT 1 and ANT 2.

SD 16:9: Standard-definition widescreen format signals from digital channels on ANT 1 and ANT 2.

HD: High-definition wide-screen format signals from digital channels on ANT 1 and ANT 2. These signals are always 16:9 (widescreen).

TV Display Format Definitions

Standard: This is the full-screen format. HDTV signals use this format. This format is useful for displaying Anamorphic DVDs that have 1.78:1 or 1.85:1 aspect ratios. Anamorphic DVDs that have a 2.35:1 aspect ratio are displayed with black bars at the top and bottom, but show the entire image correctly. Narrow (4:3) images are stretched evenly from side to side. Available for all signals.

Game Note: For inputs named Game with 1080p signals, all pixels are displayed.

Expand: This enlarges the picture to fill the screen, cropping off some of the image at the top and bottom. This is useful for reducing the letter box top and bottom bars of non-anamorphic DVD images. Available for 480i, 480p, and digital SD 4:3 signals only.

Zoom: This enlarges the picture, cropping off some of the image at each side and top and bottom. This is useful for removing or reducing the black top and bottom bars on anamorphic DVDs with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Available for 480i, 480p, and SD 4:3 signals only.

Stretch: This format stretches a narrow (4:3) image across the screen; there is less stretch in the center than at the sides, however. This allows the entire narrow image to be displayed across the screen with less distortion than is seen in the Standard format. Available for 480i, 480p, and SD 4:3 signals only.

Stretch Plus: Similar to stretch mode, but to minimize distortions on the side, the picture is expanded to crop off portions of the top and bottom. Except when dis-

playing menus, press to adjust the position of the picture vertically. Available for 480i, 480p, and SD 4:3 signals only.

Narrow: This format displays narrow (4:3) images in their original shape, and adds stationary black side bars to fill the screen. Available for 480i, 480p, and SD 4:3 signals only.

Wide Expand: Enlarges the picture, cropping some of the image on both sides. This Expand format is useful to remove or reduce black side bars added to narrow images that are converted to 16:9 signals for digital broadcast. Available for 1080i, 720p, digital SD 16:9 and digital HD signals; not available for 1080p signals.

Note: All high-definition channels send widescreen (16:9) signals, but not all programming sent on these channels was created for this format. The broadcaster may stretch the image or add side bars to fill the widescreen area.