DVD picture too small using component cable


my dad has a cheap Sony DVD player and a Vizio 42" plazma TV and I hooked it up using component cables. I was surprised to see the picture did not fill the screen. It is stuck in the 4/3 spot (though widescreen mode) to explain: there are black bars to the sides and above and below the picture.

I have a Muse DVD player and 50" Vizio and I use component cables and it fills the picture completely or it may have black bars above and below but never on the sides.

Is this because the Sony DVD player is too cheap or too old? (it is both) What can I do? I went thru both carefully and could not find a resolution adjustment - I presumed the component cables determined that anyway...

thanks for any info!

Phil

128x128philjolet
Does it do it with all DVDs? Most older widescreen DVDs are not anamorphic and if the player is set for anamorphic or compressed mode it will not let you change the screen size. The TVs's remote should have a resize button that will fix it.
yes it does it on all DVDs that I tried including one that works fine in my player (Moulin Rouge)

good point about fathers day...
Seems like your father is easy to please. He will be thrilled with an entry level br player. I suggest panasonic 60 or 65 for the money. This will give him the best use of his tv and bring out the best of his dvd by upconverting. Shop azon or better yet...here for a clean prev owned unit. For about the same price as a new unit you could get a much nicer unit here. Let us know what happens...and happy soon to be Fathers Day to all.
Rwwear: as noted above, the TV's size button stretches the picture out of proportion

thanks for the tip Mnnc