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HDTV widescreen - Grey bars on side, not black?

I have a small (23") Sony Bravia HDTV and the bars on the side for regular 4:3 television are bright gray, not black. It's driving me crazy. I've been on the phone with Sony and they don't know if it's possible to change the bars to black, but the salesman and J&R World says there is but he doesn't know how. My cable company says it's a TV issue and Sony says it's a cable issue.

This particular TV has been discontinued so I can't find it in a store to ask a salesman.

Anybody have an idea?
kublakhan
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
I get mostly black but some grey. I THINK that the gray is better because there actually is a signal and therefore less chance of burn-in. If I am wrong on that, someone will let me know. If you post on avsforum.com, I am sure someone will be able to help you out immediately.
kublakhan OP
718 posts
 
Thanks for all the responses - i've checked all the settings many times on my own and with Sony tech support on the phone but there's no setting for the bars to be found.

Thanks Swamp, I posted the question on the av forum you suggested.
rwwear
2,871 posts
 
The gray bars are better for preventing burn-in but is really only important for plasma TVs.
jdlepera's avatar
jdlepera
234 posts
 
Rwwear"The gray bars are better for preventing burn-in but is really only important for plasma TVs."
Where did this information come from?Link?
rwwear
2,871 posts
 
Well it is also true for CRTs but since we were discussing an LCD I didn't include CRTs. LCD TVs are not succeptable to burn in. They are but very slightly. I don't have a source. It is pretty common knowledge though. Okay here are some sources. http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtv-plasmavslcd.shtml www.flattvpeople.com/tutorials/lcd-vs-plasma.asp www.audioholics.com/techtips/specsformats/displays_LCD_vs_Plasma3.html

You'll have to read for yourselves to find the info.
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