I am at a loss. When watching SD programming this TV displays sidebars that are drak gray, not black. I can't for the life of me find a setting in the TV to change the bars to black.

Note: This is not an issue with my source (8300HD, passport), the source is set to output a 4:3 image and leave the TV to fill in the sides. Unfortunately, the TV is filling in with dark gray.

Note: I think it is an issue with your source

Hit settings twice on cable remote, change tv borders to dark

I think I was perfectly clear that this is not an issue with my source.

I thought I was perfectly clear it is your source.

I can duplicate and resolve your problem with the settings I posted.

You have never seen the setup and are completely wrong. The reason I made an explicit note in my original post was precisely this -- to avoid a response from someone jumping to the conclusion that the problem lies with my source.

Are you really so arrogant to twice post snide dismissals of my question? Well, pardon me but you have no idea what you are talking about and you have not nearly enough information to assume that is instead the case for me. In fact, I know quite well what the problem is and I stated it clearly in my initial post. Since you won't take my word for it, please educate yourself here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12524909#post12524909

and here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12557805#post12557805

Also, there is no setting within Passport which is designed to allow the user to adjust the color of the sidebars. Perhaps you are thinking of 8300HD boxes running SARA or Navigator.

I guess no one else cares about your issue? I no longer do! One last thought, try watching HD channels instead of SD.:D

Other than this "issue" - how do you like this Sony so far???

If I "only" go 37", I'm leaning towards this one...
How is the SD PQ???? ( I ask, because viewing 'round here is about 50/50)
Thanks....

I guess no one else cares about your issue? I no longer do! One last thought, try watching HD channels instead of SD.:D

No longer do??? When did you care? It's not caring to ignore my explanation and offer a misguided answer to the question you want me to be asking.

Other than this "issue" - how do you like this Sony so far???

If I "only" go 37", I'm leaning towards this one...
How is the SD PQ???? ( I ask, because viewing 'round here is about 50/50)
Thanks....

I am not impressed with it. In general I'm not excited about micro projection technologies. I do like LCOS better than DLP, but I don't think either is particularly good. In comparison to my Panasonic plasma, this particular TV has poor black levels and the image has a pixelated-flickering quality that is hard to describe but unfortunate. Oh, and it only displays gray sidebars ;)

You've probably heard this elsewhere, but one of the most important rules of thumb for buying an HDTV is to go as big as your budget and room can comfortably accommodate. The Panny 42PX75U was available at some places for ridiculously low prices on Black Friday (i.e. well under $1000). That's no more than you should be paying for this Sony RP, although it may be hard to find such a great deal on any given day. But even if you pay a premium of a few hundred dollars for a 42" Panny or Samsung plasma, my opinion is it is well worth the extra money for a far superior picture and unquestionable better aesthetics.

I am at a loss. When watching SD programming this TV displays sidebars that are drak gray, not black. I can't for the life of me find a setting in the TV to change the bars to black.

Note: This is not an issue with my source (8300HD, passport), the source is set to output a 4:3 image and leave the TV to fill in the sides. Unfortunately, the TV is filling in with dark gray.

You can change from grey bars to black very easily in the TV menu. I recently did it.

If the Op is setting them for black and they are still grey? We have to ask what the source is? Just stating SD these days means nothing.

Many HD cable / sat boxes have to have the bars set within them as they scale the sd content to an HD resolution and add the bars.

FWIW, I have this same model TV and a DirecTV H20 HD receiver. The sidebars were gray on mine with SD material as well, but I found the setting on the receiver and changed it to black and now the sidebars are black.

The TV wasn't what was causing it, it was a setting on the DirecTV receiver (source) that had to be changed in my case. The same was true for my Mitsubishi DLP downstairs as well. I had to change the setting on the receiver to output the bars in black instead of the default gray.