[ChrisW6ATV]

Mike-

Part of the problem is, you are mixing up several related but different problems and challenges. Let me see if I can separate them and see where we get:

Originally Posted by kramden66

Store bought dvds that are 4.3 , tv is a widescreen set

OK, so you want to watch 4:3 discs on a 16:9 display. Got it. (4:3 discs are typically TV-show sets, or older pre-1960 movies.)

if you set it to 480 its still 4.3 but quality is not as good as using svhs input

Stop here a moment. If you want to go from HDMI to the s-video ("SVHS") output on the recorder, be sure you switch the recorder to "480i" (and not "480p", and not "progressive" mode if it has it) first. Then, set the recorder's menu "TV type" or "display" to 16:9, and not "4:3", not "standard", not "4:3 letterbox". Now, look at the picture from your 4:3 DVD on the TV with the TV using its s-video input, and try each "aspect ratio" setting available on the TV's remote control, usually one button that can cycle among several settings. It might be called "picture size" or something similar. Likely, the one you want --when in s-video mode on the TV-- is "wide", or it may be called "full".

if you switch to 720 or 1080 the quality is better but it stretches the image filling out the screen

There is a BIG catch here. That aspect ratio button generally only keeps its setting for one mode (s-video, but not HDMI, for example), and for one resolution (so that, if you are on HDMI already but you change the player's setting from 480 to 720, for example, the TV may also change its aspect-ratio setting, without even telling you). Remember, any time you are NOT using HDMI, do NOT set the player to anything but "480i", even if it lets you.

tv sets make no difference , settings in recorder make no difference , does the same thing on a 4:3 sony 36" hdtv

Please stop here again. Do NOT try any of this on that 4:3 HD set yet at all, until you get everything clear on the widescreen set. I owned one of those Sony 4:3 HD sets, and they can be a nightmare to figure out the aspect ratio stuff-and I do this for a living!

if you play a current tv show that is widescreen it fills the widescreen but its not stretched

Now, though, you have switched to another disc and/or source (live TV?) and/or input (a cable or satellite box?). If that widescreen show is not on a DVD, then ignore it now to keep this simpler.

if you go through svhs then you get normal aspects of 4.3 to 4.3 but its not upconverting so you can't select 480 , 720 or 1080 , thats only through the hdmi

Again, lets get the player and TV set up as described above and see what happens, before changing settings or inputs (or discs). In most cases, each time you want to change outputs from a player (such as from HDMI to s-video), you have to change ALL of these settings again-in the player's menus in two different places, AND on the TV.

i have no other machine with hdmi and upconvert , i'm starting to think its the recorder since my brother has a blue ray player and can 1080 and still retain 4.3 with spaces on the side , i'm hoping this is the case , just figured you guys would have more of a clue

mike

Ideally, the player would look best when set in 1080i (or 1080p, it does not matter much with DVDs usually) mode, with HDMI hooked up, the player set to display type 16:9, and the TV aspect ratio set to "normal". Most players and widescreen TV sets I have used will play all discs properly when everything is set as I just described.

Let us know what you get with the settings I mentioned first, in s-video mode.