Making Large Screen High Definition Home Theater Affordable

NTSC 4x3 (1.33:1) is the picture aspect ratio most commonly associated with standard TV broadcasts.  We do not recommend this aspect ratio unless you will be primarily viewing old TV shows remastered to DVDs.  HDTV broadcasts and most DVDs viewed on this screen will contain large white bars above and below the picture. 

HDTV 16x9 (1.78:1) is the picture aspect ratio associated with high definition TV broadcasts.  We highly recommend this aspect ratio if your primary viewing will be HDTV and DVD movies. HDTV broadcasts and anamorphic widescreen DVDs will fill the entire viewing screen.  DVDs rendered in letterbox format (1.85:1), if viewed in their native format, will contain small white bars at the top and bottom of the screen. Most video projectors, however, contain a setting that will automatically resize the picture to fill the entire screen.  Standard NTSC 4x3 video viewed on this screen will contain large white bars to the left and right of the picture, which can be eliminated with the installation of theater curtains. 

LETTERBOX 11x6 (1.85:1) is the picture aspect ratio associated with DVDs rendered in letterbox format. We do not recommend this aspect ratio since most of the video projectors on the market today contain a setting that will resize the picture to fill a 16x9 screen. 

ASPECT RATIO EXPLAINED

Note: The table below contains examples of standard screen sizes for various video aspect ratios.  Custom HTS Screens are manufactured to client specifications.  All sizes represent the viewing area, adding 7" to both the listed height and width will allow for a 3 1/2" screen frame.