Widescreen Explained | What are 16:9 & 2.4:1 Aspect Ratios? | How Panamorph & Lens Memory Work

[@hometheaterfever5]

Wow Beautiful explanation. That was an amazing video and enjoyed every second of it. Thank You

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful!

[@CaseTheCorvetteMan]

Is this a paid comment??? Did you actually watch it?

[@hometheaterfever5]

@@CaseTheCorvetteMan Yes you idiot, did you???

[@GenevaCircle]

Finally an explanation of anamorphic lenses in plain language with useful visuals. Thank you!

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Playskool999]

Extremely helpful video - thank you

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for watching!

[@scottwallace1]

Great explanation. One nuance that maybe is a little graduate level for a video is to help people understand that with a Panamorph in place, the widescreen image area doesn’t suddenly manufacture more source pixels. The pixel count of the 2.4 sliver of the image is fixed, just as the pixel count for the black bars above and below are fixed. When you use the electronic stretch and optical compress method of widescreen display, the projector has to perform image interpolation to create information to fill the full pixel array of the imaging chip. The number of original source pixels remains the same. The biggest benefit, as you mention is that you’re using the entire light engine on image and not projecting black bars above and below the image. Thanks again for all of your helpful videos.

[@AudioAdvice]

Scott, thanks for the comments, we contacted Shawn at Panamorph to get his take and this is what he said "FWIW beyond the increased light level there can be a higher clarity not just from the significantly higher pixel density but also from the upconversion process itself. It is true that in its basic form this upconversion can be simple interpolation but more advanced algorithms can also increase visual detail. Some years back we worked with the studios to create algorithms to include the actual additional source pixel content into the delivery medium to be decoded by the projector or processor. After continued development we found we could estimate that extra data so well that the difference between high end upconversion and having actual anamorphic resolution data was visually indistinguishable in real content. So these algorithms are getting better all the time." Thanks for watching!

[@prestonfernandes2071]

I'm glad you made this video. I was interested to know why alot of people choose 2.4:1 over 16:9. I think it's really down to personal preference. I can agree that 2.4:1 just has that wider, more impressive feel and it's also much more cinematic than 16:9. But even though I love 2.4:1 movies I would probably go for 16:9 if my room were to handle it. My reasoning behind this is because some movies are most shot in 2.4:1 but they have some scenes in the movie that were shot on imax cameras and the aspect ratio changes to 16.9. I say it would be a shame if that extra bit of immersion would be cropped out and plus 16.9 content on a 2.4:1 screen is smaller compared to 2.4:1 content on a 16.9 screen the width remains the same but extends in height.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks, it really comes down to the width of the space you have and the money you are willing to invest. For spaces with limited width, 16:9 is the best choice. Thanks for watching

[@viveksamrat3209]

Explained way better than any article out there.. kudos

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks very much!

[@dj.excess]

Amazing video and explanation. Thanks. You guys are awesome!!!

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks so much! And thank you for watching and commenting!

[@marcbronze1]

What’s crazy is that I figured this out without seeing this video. Hey these guys are great , shout-out to Seth who reaches out via email about a next gen receiver (I’m still waiting for my response on your reply ) but I got a Epson 4010 and went with a elite screens 125inch 2.35:1 screen. I LOVE IT. Everything he explained I was able to figure out and calibrate without watching videos . I just did my own research. But yea this works !! Don’t let them fool into buying a 10 k projector or anamorphic lens .

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks Marc- which video did you reply one, can't seem to find it

[@gregwillis4001]

Best explanation yet! Wish I had bumped into this 45 minutes ago

[@AudioAdvice]

We are happy we could be helpful. Thanks for watching

[@narayan8965]

I watched your many videos about home theater atmos, it was a lesson for me

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad they were helpful!

[@kthx1138]

Thanks for the informative video! What does one do for 2.76 content?

[@AudioAdvice]

You would put the unit in widescreen mode and the image would just have a small amount of black at the top and bottom. Hope this helps

[@koryk5350]

Great video, definitely thought this would be a pushy sales video but it wasn’t!

[@AudioAdvice]

Thank you very much. We have produced a lot of educational content. Please check out the other videos on our channel.

[@zeemithwani5582]

Any recommendations on 2.40 lens memory 4k projectors. I know of Epson 6050u but thats not true 4k.

[@AudioAdvice]

Both Sony and JVC have some good choices. The Sony 715ES and JVC NX5 both are true 4K and have lens memory. Thank you for watching.

[@manishagrawal900]

One of the Best explanations. It's so much cleaner now. Crystal! 👍🙏

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful!

[@azriazris]

Perfect bro nice explanation

[@AudioAdvice]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@Global_MAXIE]

1.78:1 (16:9) is the best AR for Home. IMAX Enhanced Films are 1.90:1 IMAX BluRays switch btw 1.78 & 2.39 1.78 can contain all 1.85:1, 1.90:1, 2.20:1 & 2.39:1. Plus, most TV Shows are 16:9.

[@AudioAdvice]

The best choice depends on the width you have available. 85% of movies are 2.39, there is very little IMAX content at the moment and planned, yes 1.78 can contain all of those but your 2.39 image will be very small. 2.39 can also contain the other ratios as well. We always suggest 2.39 if you have the width, but if it is limited 1.78 is the way to go. Thanks for watching and sharing your comments

[@Global_MAXIE]

@@AudioAdvice 1.78 is taller than 2.39 (Constant Width). Most Films have an IMAX Version in 1.90:1.

[@Global_MAXIE]

@@AudioAdvice I saw one of your client in a video watching Top Gun: Maverick on a 2.40:1 Screen when Top Gun: Maverick literally switches between 2.39 & 1.78 on the IMAX BluRay.

[@williamvangundy3358]

How about framing curtains for the screen? With the black level of modern projectors are these needed?

[@AudioAdvice]

We do not think curtains are needed, but they do look pretty neat. Thanks for watching

[@RakeshRoshan1]

Great explanation

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful!

[@azriazris]

Boss..I wanna ask one thing,any receiver onginal fuse,can change too other fuse for sound improve?TQ🙂

[@AudioAdvice]

There are some high performance fuses on the market. We do not sell them, some people really believe in them and others think they do not make much difference. They are cheap enough you might want to try, just be sure and get the exact same value as what you have.

[@azriazris]

@@AudioAdvice TQ so much boss🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@richellebrittain2127]

The range of aspect ratios is even wilder than this video explains. Just among the 90+ films since 1927 to have won the Oscar for Best Picture, the "original aspect ratio" (OAR) has ranged from 1.2:1 for All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) & Cimarron (1931) to 2.76:1 for Ben-Hur (1959). 4:3 (1.33:1) started as the silent film ratio; after being temporarily narrowed for sound-on-film soundtracks (the 1.2:1 films), AMPAS developed "Academy ratio" (1.37:1, just slightly wider than 4:3) by tweaking other numbers, which was the standard from 1932-53. Since 1971, with only two exceptions -- The Artist (2011) at the old silent 4:3 / 1.33:1, Green Book (2018) at exactly 2:1 aka "Universium" -- all Best Pictures have been shot in widescreen at either "flat" (1.85:1, slightly wider than 16:9) or "scope" (2.39:1, or as you put it 2.4:1) ratios. (The Criterion Blu-ray of The Last Emperor (1987) is also "Universium", but that was a conceit by the film's cinematographer Vittorio Storaro who later created that ratio; it was shot at 2.39:1. I have an Italian 3D Blu-ray of that film at the correct OAR. Only Green Book was actually shot at 2:1.)

[@AudioAdvice]

Yes, that is totally true. We tried to keep it simple as many people have a hard time understanding just the difference in HDTV and scope. We do carry projectors with 5-10 lens memories and often set up more than 2. Thanks for watching.

[@markgarcia8253]

Most of those extra ratios are irrelevant as using a 16:9 screen will playback all of those listed and handle switching aspect ratios within a movie. Secondly, yes some of these 1.37:1, 4:3, 1.33:1, 1.66:1, etc are basically rounded up to the 4 standard ratios(4:3, 1.85:1, 1.78:1, 2.35:1) so it’s non-important if one is slight wider than the original. Yes there’s some movies like 2001, Ben Hur, and other cineorama movies. But they are narrower than 2.35:1 so they fit in just fine

[@billryan7532]

Great explanation video! Thanks!

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dlcphoto]

Excellent video - you made some very hard to understand concepts easily understandable - nice!

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful!

[@peat381low8]

If anyone is building a home theater you should go for the CinemaScope aspect ratio. You likely have a tv somewhere to watch your shows. That’s my opinion.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for sharing!

[@PepijnHazelhof]

Sometimes a movie switches between different aspectratio's, how do you co-op with that?

[@AudioAdvice]

Ah yes, the Christopher Nolan movie effect! Those are a challenge. If you have a Panamorph lens, you can press a button and things instantly change. If you are doing lens memory, you do have to wait for the lens to move. There is an external video processor from Mad VR called the Envy. It does auto aspect ratio changing, which is the best way to address this, but it is not inexpensive by any means. Thanks for watching!

[@markgarcia8253]

Aka that’ll cost another $6k for a lens to convert a 16:9 to a 2.4:1 that will technically distort image quality But in reality, using a 16:9 screen will be a better choice as you’ll have coverage for TV and 1.85:1 films while also have no problem with movies with switching aspect ratios (especially The grand Budapest hotel). Get a super big screen so you’ll comp when it’s in widescreen. Using the 2.35:1 screen is great for a theatre. But loads of IMAX, TV, Netflix, & classic films will be excluded if they aren’t in the cinemascope ratio.

[@avtechman77]

Bravo AA.. Well done Sir. Keep up the great work

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks, will do!

[@ErnieChartier]

Good content! The aspect ratio thing seems to cause lots of confusion.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks Ernie!

[@kdmaj]

Great video on the subject guys, one of the best for sure.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thank you

[@jsclayton]

Does switching between ratios using the lens memory increase wear & tear and reduce longevity of the projector? Would you switch between 16:9 of the STB interface like an Apple TV and 2.4:1 for movies or leave it in 2.4:1?

[@AudioAdvice]

Most higher end projectors it will not affect wear and tear. And you do not need to change it in the Apple TV.

[@VividTheater]

Awesome video! Too bad you guys don’t do installs in Canada.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thank you, yes we are limited to the US market. Thank you for watching

[@irchbarney7520]

Which is better picture wise (absolutely beautiful, crisp, & stunning) in a room that's 18' × 25' with a 100" screen, a projector or a Samsung 4K modern television? Thanks 🙂

[@AudioAdvice]

Great question. You should check out our free home theater design tool to be sure 100" is the right size for your space. In rooms as large as yours, we usually recommend a much larger screen. If you can get good immersion with a flat panel TV, it will certainly be a brighter picture, but once you get above 85" or so, projectors are a better value. Here is the link to the design tool www.audioadvice.com/home-theater-design Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@AudioAdvice]

That's a great question! The amount of ambient lighting coming into the room is an important thing to keep in mind. We need a little more info about your setup to give you the best recommendation. Please feel free to reach out to us in chat at audioadvice.io/aa-chat and we will talk through all of your goals and your budget for getting the best picture possible for this room size. Thank you so much for watching.

[@terrythompson1873]

Can you do the same thing with ultra short throw projectors?

[@AudioAdvice]

Terry, great question. We do not know of any that can. All of the ones we have seen are 16:9 only. Thanks for watching!

[@groovychocolate]

Great video. Your Home Theater Designer tool would be even more helpful if you could toggle measurements to metric

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for watching!

[@fogstorm5531]

So how do you get rid of the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen when watching movies on Netflix etc.?

[@AudioAdvice]

If you have a projector capable of lens memory and a 2.40 screen you can zoom to eliminate them and show the film it its native aspect ratio. On a flat panel TV, you can only loose them by using the zoom features on the TV which both distort and eliminate parts of the image. Thanks for watching

[@suchagentle]

What is the difference between 2: 35: 1 vs. 2: 4: 1 most of the bluray movies being in 2: 39: 1 So what is the best between the two?

[@AudioAdvice]

2.35 is the old standard. It is slightly taller in ratio. Most current screens come in 2.40 and most new movies are as you say 2.39 or 2.4. We would go that way. Thanks for watching

[@janekailey2173]

Way cheaper to have two screens. The wider screen can be motorized to come down in front of 16x9 painted on the wall.

[@AudioAdvice]

You still have to get the image to be in the scope ratio. The cheapest is not to do 2 screens, but do one screen and just use lens memory. The Panamorph just makes that process better, that's all

[@Novilicious]

Thank you for this explanation. Your graphics really helped explain this perfectly. Please don’t stop making videos with these details, thanks!

[@AudioAdvice]

Thank you! Will do!

[@nobyjohn9742]

would it be possible to use widescreen with Optoma UHD 65 ?

[@AudioAdvice]

It does not appear to have lens memory, so the answer would be no. However, you can do with this projector we have on sale that is great for the money. www.audioadvice.com/epson-pro-cinema-4040-3lcd-projector-with-4k-enhancement-and-hdr-factory-refurbished-full-3-year-warranty

[@User_9yt0aw6]

wondering if someone got enough budget, can they use micro-led screen wall in the home theatre

[@AudioAdvice]

That is an option if you want a bright picture, but it does not allow you to put the speakers behind an acoustically transparent screen like a commercial theater, which we think is a better overall effect. Thanks for watching

[@chrisgargiulo304]

Very informative!

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad you think so!

[@neilmarktaylor4386]

Since projectors are getting more common to project in the 2.78 aspect ratio they should produce disks than can project in that ratio not in letterbox

[@markgarcia8253]

The physical market is dying. Limiting it to a niche market would be suicide

[@jimhamlin6551]

When a Tv station channel airs a movie on their channel and you watch it on your TV at home and it fills the screen...but that same movie when you buy it on blu ray or 4k and watch it at home on your TV it has black bars at the top and bottom ,,,,how do the TV station show it in full screen ...but at your home with copy of movie on blu ray it has black bars ...why is this ???

[@AudioAdvice]

Jim, great question. The TV station cropped the sides of the film, then zoomed it in, its a common practice. Thanks for watching

[@shanejohnson495]

Very easy to understand now! Thanks for sharing. Great video!

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BORICUACHANNEL]

Thanks for sharing

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for watching!

[@Fumze]

How do movies shot in imax (like Nolan batmans) come out on a wide screen ?

[@AudioAdvice]

The IMAX aspect ratio is 1.90:1- which is wider than standard HDTV but not as wide as 2.40 widescreen. Using lens memory you could still fill the screen top to bottom. Thanks for watching

[@Fumze]

@@AudioAdvice thank u

[@moltenbullet]

Ah, these videos make me wish your company was in Singapore.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks very much!

[@sethfm9773]

This video is a great explanation of widescreen. The visual aids were extremely well done.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks! We appreciate you watching.

[@vitalieBu]

I have 2 question... 1. Why they are not shooting all movies in IMAX format.... who needs those black bars if there is room on the tv screen? 2. Why they still make dvd versions of the modern movies? 4k uhd player can be as low as $50 and 43 inch 4k tvs are like $249.

[@AudioAdvice]

IMAX is 1.43:1 which would leave black bars on the sides of a normal HDTV. IMAX is designed for a very immersive experience that you can not achieve on a television. On the DVD, we have no idea. Thanks for watching

[@illogical1421]

I wonder if theaters will once again move to an even wider aspect ratio or not if TVs ever become 21:9.

[@AudioAdvice]

Only if the movie industry moves to a wider ratio. A few years ago there were a handful of TV's that came out with the 21:9 ratio, but they did not get much traction. Thanks for watching

[@loukhryst.7366]

I have a 250 inch diagonal outdoor screen using (5) 4x8 pvc white panels supported by (5) 6x6 posts (metallic paint mix) in 21:9 ratio(cinema scope) that displays the best of both worlds between 16:9 and 2:35 ration. Phenomenon picture. Optoma uhd38 4K / HDR 4000 Lumens projector. (NO BLACK BARS).

[@jayroland9481]

Thanks for the explanation, it really helped, though I was waiting for the plug and sure enough at 6:35 it arrived as "...when you buy your projector from Audio Advice..." which was the time I switched off.

[@AudioAdvice]

We've been trusted sellers since 1978 and always try to give free educational content and reviews on our channel to help people make the right choices should they want to purchase from us. We are proud to be able to provide additional content for our customers and give the best possible service we can! I hope that helps make it a bit more transparent. If you have any further questions about widescreen, we'd be happy to help 😊

[@jayanth777]

Thanks Tom Cruise 🙏

[@AudioAdvice]

😅

[@DarthHater100]

Recreating the experience of the commercial cinema with a scope screen?? Not the cinemas in my city. They just use 16x9 screens, and you watch the movie with letterbox bars showing. They actually have an automatic masking system, to frame in a 2.40 movie, but now they're too lazy to use them. Now I wish the commercial cinema would recreate my home experience, where I use proper masking and don't see black bars.

[@AudioAdvice]

Wow, that is sad. Glad you can recreate the great experience at home! Thanks for watching

[@ramsaybolton9151]

When you zoom a 16:9 image to 2.4:1 isn't this just fake 2.4:1? Don't you end up missing a bunch of the visuals?

[@AudioAdvice]

Not exactly, you do not loose any of the content but make it fill the screen. What you do loose are the pixels in the black bars, which is what we explain with the Panamorph lens which allows the projector to use those pixels. Thanks for watching

[@drkarthikaganesh2022]

Supper

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks

[@杨雨露-d9s]

see

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for watching!

[@CaseTheCorvetteMan]

Talks about aspect "ratios", then incorrectly gives a ratio as a sum... 4:3 isn't 4 by 3, a RATIO is 4 IS TO 3. The only time 4 by 3 (or whatever ratio you're incorrectly stating as a sum) would be correct is if the sides of the screen are that actual size, 4 foot X 3 foot... it still is not a ratio, it is a sum... Why can't you "experts" get this right?

[@63supercobrajet]

In other words, the Aspect Ratios are all fscked up. You'd need several different aspect ratio TV,'s Projector's, ..., just to be able to watch full screen without cropping, black stripes, missing content, ... The Video industry, just like the Audio industry, is a big non-standard, skrewed up mess. Thx.

[@AudioAdvice]

Aspect ratios have evolved over the years. They started out with 1.33 which was old style TV and film or 4:3 as some call it. Then the movie industry came up with several wide screen formats, but finally settled on 2.40. Then HDTV came out at 1.78 or 16:9. Then some European directors moved to 2.0 and 2.1. But, a well set up projector on a 2.40 wide screen can handle all of them. Not so much on a regular TV. Thanks for watching

[@dominic6477]

Very easy to understand now! Thanks for sharing. Great video!

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful!