I am looking to a direct tv receiver that would be able to do a partial zoom.I currently have the Dish network and their 6000 model.I find that zoom modes degrade picture quality and stretch modes just don't look right.I really believe that Dish networks picture quality is getting worse and from what I hear Direct Tv excels in both picture quality and menus.I just want to be able to have the partial zoom option if i make the jump to Direct tv.
best direct tv set top box for aspect control?
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The Samsung 160 doesn't have any good stretch modes. It has a 4:3 normal, a FULL which stretches 4:3 material to fit the screen, and a ZOOM which zooms in and cuts off the top and bottom of the screen.
| Originally posted by stephen what about the samsung T160 or hughes E86? |
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I'll second the Zenith HD-SAT520 (and the Sony HD200 which is almost identical) as providing good stretch/zoom.
HOWEVER (isn't there always a HOWEVER?)... it can't (or won't) let you use the stretch/zoom on HD material. A somewhat serious shortcoming while there's such a prevalent use of 4:3 HD material broadcast with black/gray bars.
HOWEVER (isn't there always a HOWEVER?)... it can't (or won't) let you use the stretch/zoom on HD material. A somewhat serious shortcoming while there's such a prevalent use of 4:3 HD material broadcast with black/gray bars.
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The Hughes E86 has pretty good stretch and crop abilities, but frankly I don't like do use them. I don't like horizontal or vertical stretch and I want to see the whole picture the way it was intended to be viewed whether its 4:3 SD material, 16:9 HD material or movies in OAR on DVDs.
I have a Sony KP-43HT20 4:3 HD-ready TV hooked to my E86 via component and s-video cables. The E86 is set to "full" screen mode.. I watch HD in Sony's 16:9 enhanced mode which squeezes all the lines of resolution in the 4:3 screen into the 16:9 portion of the screen and watch SD via s-video in regular full screen 4:3.
I have a Sony KP-43HT20 4:3 HD-ready TV hooked to my E86 via component and s-video cables. The E86 is set to "full" screen mode.. I watch HD in Sony's 16:9 enhanced mode which squeezes all the lines of resolution in the 4:3 screen into the 16:9 portion of the screen and watch SD via s-video in regular full screen 4:3.
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Well and yeah, thats probably a big "however" in this case since the ability to simply and easily stretch/zoom 4x3 1080i material is probably just what the original poster was referring to here even though he wasnt specific about it.
Since he currently uses a Dish 6000 which I believe has been basically about the only receiver to allow that sort of functionality, it very well could be what he's looking for in another unit as well. As opposed to worrying solely about the stretching/zooming of run of the mill 4x3 480i material.
| Originally posted by dswallow HOWEVER (isn't there always a HOWEVER?)... it can't (or won't) let you use the stretch/zoom on HD material |
Since he currently uses a Dish 6000 which I believe has been basically about the only receiver to allow that sort of functionality, it very well could be what he's looking for in another unit as well. As opposed to worrying solely about the stretching/zooming of run of the mill 4x3 480i material.
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Too true. Unfortunately even the Dish 6000 doesn't have a stretch mode that is non-linear/"panoramic" or whatever it's supposed to be called when the middle of the picture is roughly the correct aspwect ratio and the sides are where the stretching occurs.
The Key Digital HD Leeza is the only device specced to do that sort of thing that I've seen, and it's not shipping yet. And it's MSRP $3,999.
| Originally posted by DP1 Well and yeah, thats probably a big "however" in this case since the ability to simply and easily stretch/zoom 4x3 1080i material is probably just what the original poster was referring to here even though he wasnt specific about it. Since he currently uses a Dish 6000 which I believe has been basically about the only receiver to allow that sort of functionality, it very well could be what he's looking for in another unit as well. As opposed to worrying solely about the stretching/zooming of run of the mill 4x3 480i material. |
The Key Digital HD Leeza is the only device specced to do that sort of thing that I've seen, and it's not shipping yet. And it's MSRP $3,999.
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My TS160 allows me to Zoom 1080i 4:3 programs (with sidebars) to full a full 4:3 frame on my 4:3 TV, using the Zoom format. The TV's format button must also be changed to 4:3 mode instead of 16:9 anamorphic mode.
This allows me to watch local news and other 4:3 upconverts full screen, with no side or letterbox bars on my 4:3 TV.
| Originally posted by DP1 ... the ability to simply and easily stretch/zoom 4x3 1080i material is probably just what the original poster was referring to... |
This allows me to watch local news and other 4:3 upconverts full screen, with no side or letterbox bars on my 4:3 TV.
Thats cool arx. I'm not really familiar with any of the "newest" boxes. I know with some boxes and certain types of tv's theres some workarounds to make it fly. Tell the STB you have a 4x3 tv even if it's a widescreen, or vice versa.., change this setting or that setting etc.
I was just referring to a simple "press one button on the STB's remote to make 4x3 1080i programming fill the screen on a widescreen tv" type procedure for example.
I was just referring to a simple "press one button on the STB's remote to make 4x3 1080i programming fill the screen on a widescreen tv" type procedure for example.
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I see, however the OP never mentioned if he had a 16:9 or 4:3 TV. The zoom crop stretch options are quite different for each AR screen. Many 4:3 TVs have more sizing options than 16:9 sets do, to view the entire picture when viewing 4:3 1080iupconverts (with side panels).
| Originally posted by DP1 ... I was just referring to a simple "press one button on the STB's remote to make 4x3 1080i programming fill the screen on a widescreen tv"... |
I forgot to mention I have a 55" Mitsubishi wide screen .Thanks for the information you all have provided.There doesn't seem to be that many direct tv boxes that offer a partial zoom.I dont want to risk burn in watching in 4:3 aspect and zoom or full stretch in my opinion is awful.
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In another thread someone pointed out to me that if digital stations would stop upconverting and transmit oldstyle 4:3 programming in 480p like they should, using 1080i or 720p for real HD material, all of these issues would go away and almost every set-top box or display device would successfully be able to stretch or zoom every signal properly.
After a moments thought on the subject, I have to agree. The broadcasters upconverting this material are at fault, and perhaps the signal distribution path in the studio, too, if it can't switch between formats on the fly.
Maybe they need a little feedback from viewers about the issue in order to get someone addressing it where it should be addressed.
After a moments thought on the subject, I have to agree. The broadcasters upconverting this material are at fault, and perhaps the signal distribution path in the studio, too, if it can't switch between formats on the fly.
Maybe they need a little feedback from viewers about the issue in order to get someone addressing it where it should be addressed.
Its frustrating that 16:9 sets is the way of the HDTV future,and that there is less then a handful of available HDTV satellite stations.Leaving us with sets that we have to compromise the picture to accommodate a format(4:3) that is on the way of being phased out to prevent burn in.
I just spoke with the chief engineer (aptly named Crash) for our local ABC station, WWSB 40-1, about a question regarding the black sidebars. He stated that they broadcast locally in 14:9 format, which accounts for the bars on each side of the screen in my 160 full mode. In letterbox, I get grey bars top and bottom and black on the side. Zoom eliminates the bars but compromises picutre quality.
If the network broadcasts HD it's 16:9 for programming and their choice for commercials.
Anybody heard of 14:9?
Ken
If the network broadcasts HD it's 16:9 for programming and their choice for commercials.
Anybody heard of 14:9?
Ken
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That could be, Doug. But by the same token this is a very "simple" issue that should have been addressed by the HDTV/STB manufacturers themselves. Even if nobody thought of the notion that all "1080i" programming wasnt actually going to be in 16x9 when the first few models of sets/STB's were introduced, certainly by now they know it.
I mean alot of these tv's/STB's can do everything else but toast bread. Coaxial inputs/outputs, RCA s-video, Component, etc etc. Full stretching and zooming options with *non* 1080i signals and so on. Yet when someone hits the "Format" button on their tv when watching a 1080i signal that they'd like to merely stretch/zoom, they get a message something to the effect that "this feature is not available"? Whats up with that?
It's about like the old "lock in full mode" when getting a signal in 480p that was prevalent with the early HDTV's. Thankfully that problem has been corrected for the most part I believe on the newer sets. It's about time stretching/zooming of 1080i signals is simply incorporated too. If they design a set to do it on a 480i signal why not a 1080i signal also?
| Originally posted by dswallow In another thread someone pointed out to me that if digital stations would stop upconverting and transmit oldstyle 4:3 programming in 480p like they should, using 1080i or 720p for real HD material, all of these issues would go away and almost every set-top box or display device would successfully be able to stretch or zoom every signal properly. After a moments thought on the subject, I have to agree. The broadcasters upconverting this material are at fault, and perhaps the signal distribution path in the studio, too, if it can't switch between formats on the fly. Maybe they need a little feedback from viewers about the issue in order to get someone addressing it where it should be addressed. |
I mean alot of these tv's/STB's can do everything else but toast bread. Coaxial inputs/outputs, RCA s-video, Component, etc etc. Full stretching and zooming options with *non* 1080i signals and so on. Yet when someone hits the "Format" button on their tv when watching a 1080i signal that they'd like to merely stretch/zoom, they get a message something to the effect that "this feature is not available"? Whats up with that?
It's about like the old "lock in full mode" when getting a signal in 480p that was prevalent with the early HDTV's. Thankfully that problem has been corrected for the most part I believe on the newer sets. It's about time stretching/zooming of 1080i signals is simply incorporated too. If they design a set to do it on a 480i signal why not a 1080i signal also?
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Yes, along with other 4:3 mutilations, like zoom/crop/stretch.
Our locals have tried all of these formats and they all looked blurry stretched, cropped and just plain bad. As of this week they have thankfully all started using OAR 4:3 in a 16:9 frame, with sidebars, which is perfect for me.
With the TS160 and my 4:3 TV's selectable aspect ratio, I can watch the 4:3 image in a 16:9 frame with horizontal and vertical bars, or zoom it to fill the 4:3 screen, with no distorted stretching or cropping.
| Originally posted by kgalbreth ... Anybody heard of 14:9? |
Our locals have tried all of these formats and they all looked blurry stretched, cropped and just plain bad. As of this week they have thankfully all started using OAR 4:3 in a 16:9 frame, with sidebars, which is perfect for me.
With the TS160 and my 4:3 TV's selectable aspect ratio, I can watch the 4:3 image in a 16:9 frame with horizontal and vertical bars, or zoom it to fill the 4:3 screen, with no distorted stretching or cropping.
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