Based on http://usa.denon.com/DVD-1930CILit.pdf the unit that I have has a feature called "Aspect Ratio Function" which would allow me to view 4:3 dvds on my widescreen display in their native resolution so that they are not stretched.

However,

According to the owners manual

http://www.usa.denon.com/DVD-1930CI-OM-EFS.pdf

The feature is not mentioned once. The only mention is the settings which tells the dvd player which format to display in. I don't really want to hit stop each time I want to watch a 4:3 picture and switch the entire dvd player to 4:3. I'd prefer (and assume I can) somehow set it to show any dvd in its native resolution with no stretching ever.

My $100 sony dvd player can do this.

Any thoughts?

I looked at the manual you linked. On page 25, does the 4:3 squeeze mode add black side bars to all discs or just non-anamorphic ones ?

I can try that, but won't that convert 16x9 to some weird 4x3 massacre of the aspect on my 16x9 screen?

Don't know. On some of the other Denon's the manuals talk of automatically controlling the squeeze mode. Yours does not mention it, but it could just be poor manual writing. Let us know how it works out.

I can try that, but won't that convert 16x9 to some weird 4x3 massacre of the aspect on my 16x9 screen?

Yes, you're right. Squeeze mode will add black side bars to all DVD's, whatever their aspect ratio.

Unless you have a Denon player with Auto-Squeeze Mode selection (I have a 3910 and it does not have that feature), you have to turn squeeze mode on to watch 4:3 material, and you have to turn it off to watch 16:9 material. It's annoying, especially because the remote doesn't have a button for this feature (it's in the menus), and because some DVD's are 16:9 for the movie and 4:3 for all of the features.