SarahB1863

Hi all,
I'm looking for a portable DVD player that will play my 4:3 DVDs correctly. I've tried a few different brands and every single one stretches the image out to fill the screen, even if you choose the "pan and scan" or "letterbox" option.
This is a pain, as I'd like to be able to watch old movies and TV shows on my portable DVD player, but not if everybody is stretched out of proportion.
Are there portable DVD players that will properly display aspect ratio? Or do those not exist?
Thanks for your help!
Sarah B.

Eddie W

It's probably not the DVD player but your TV settings. Check it your TV has an aspect ratio for 4x3.

The Cow

I think she's talking about the portable players that have a screen. The ones that were somewhat popular with travelers for a while.

SarahB1863

Thanks for the reply, Eddie! But I'm not running the player out to a TV. The ones I've tried are portable, they have built-in screens.

The latest one I tried is a Wonnie 9.5" portable from Amazon. I can't post a link, though.

jjcool

There's usually a setting in there somewhere for "stretch" or "aspect ratio" or maybe even "zoom". Once you find it, you may have to set it each time you turn off the player, or at least each time you switch between 4:3 and 16:9 content.

SarahB1863

Thanks! Each player I've tried has a zoom option that just makes the entire screen bigger or smaller and doesn't change the aspect ratio.

Each one also has a feature titled "aspect ratio" that offers 3 options: 4:3 pan and scan, 4:3 letterbox, and "wide."
You'd think that would be the option to pick, but I've tried 4 different players and no matter what option I pick, the picture doesn't change. It stays stretched out. One player did change when you chose "4:3 letterbox" - but all it did was take the stretched-out picture and put bars at the top and bottom.

I just tried a Sylvania 9" portable DVD player, thinking it was because I was trying 'no-name' brands, but nope - the Sylvania doesn't properly play 4:3 either. No matter what you choose, the picture stays stretched out. So back it goes.

I don't get it. The ability to play a DVD in the aspect ratio it's encoded for is basic, yet not a single portable DVD player I tried can do it. It's very frustrating!

Alan Smithee

I remember when someone I worked with brought one into the break room- they had the "Money Talks" DVD playing the pan and scan version stretched to 16x9. Flipped it over and played it properly. It had a manual switch to change screen formats, but you shouldn't have to do that. I didn't even buy a widescreen TV until players had that figured out.