What Are TV Aspect Ratios?

What are those black bars??

You might notice that certain content looks "different" than others - no, we don't mean HD vs. SD, or HDR vs. Non-HDR. You have certainly noticed that some movies/shows have black bars along the top and bottom of the image (or the sides). This is where the aspect ratio comes into play. Movie theaters created the widescreen format years ago to attract consumers back to theaters - as more and more people owned televisions, there was a fear that theaters would remain empty. In an attempt to lure them back, the cinemas created a new viewing format, which would provide an even better image! 

Now that the history lesson is over, let's take a look at the most common aspect ratios: 

1. 4:3 - this is often referred to as fullscreen. This is commonly used for SD broadcasts and is the standard ratio for older televisions. 

2. 16:9 - this is the new standard for HD televisions and modern content. It will provide a wider view and is more suitable for cinematic movies and widescreen broadcasts. 

3. 21:9 (2.33:1) - this is known as "ultrawide" and is often used for cinematic films and provides an ever wider field of view. This is very popular for home theater setups!

As you can see, different aspect ratios can affect how content is displayed and greatly change our viewing experience. If you use your system primarily for movies, make sure to watch content in a widescreen format. Trust us, you will love the immersion!