16:9 ENHANCED MODE: a.k.a. Vertical Compression, Squeeze Mode, V-Compression, and/or Anamorphic Mode.

16:9 enhanced mode is an incredible feature.  If you're interested in buying a regular 4:3 TV set but don't want to lose precious resolution for anamorphic widescreen DVD movies, Sony and as of late, some other makers offer a
16:9 enhanced mode.  Accessible via the menu, 16:9 enhanced mode re-focuses the CRTs to display nearly all 480 lines of horizontal DVD resolution for anamorphically enhanced discs.  In other words, 16:9 enhanced mode "squeezes" the electron guns, and the result is a pure, saturated, colorful picture. Moreover, scan lines nearly disappear.  Without a 16:9 feature, the black bars on widescreen movies will take up 100-150 of the screen's 480 horizontal lines.  With 16:9 enhanced mode, there are still black bars, but the feasible image is in a field of 480 lines (instead of about 350).  Since 16:9 enhanced only increases resolution, the screen size won't change.  Truly exciting stuff!

***
Make sure your DVD player is set to 16:9 and you're ready to rock and roll! ***

Of course, if you already have a 16:9 TV, you won't need 16:9 enhanced mode.  For all intents and purposes, 16:9 enhanced mode "turns" a 4:3 set into a 16:9 set.  In my opinion, this is an option that no 4:3 TV should be without.

When to use 16:9 enhanced mode: If your TV has the squeeze capability and if your DVD case says "enhanced for widescreen TVs", "enhanced for 16x9 TV's", "anamorphic widescreen", or anything of that nature, then use 16:9 enhanced mode. 

For Wega owners: Wegas under 27" do not have 16:9 enhanced mode.  That means that this article does not relate to those with a 13, 20, and 24 Sony Wega.  If your Wega is 27"+, then there's an issue that needs to be resolved: Out of the box, 16:9 enhanced mode oversqueezes the picture...click here to fix this problem.

Click to learn about 16:9 Enhanced with 2.35:1 DVDs and the like.

9.1.01
updated 1.10.02, 1.24.02, 4.15.02
16:9 Enhanced: What Does It Do?
e-mail me
Copyright 2001, 2002
Back
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1