How to Fix Video Issues on a Sony BDP-S3700 BluRay

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

It can become frustrating when you can't sit down and enjoy the movie you just brought home and nothing shows up on the screen.

This guide will walk you through troubleshooting and correcting video issues with your Sony BDP-S3700 Blu-Ray player.

2. Check Connection to Television/Power

1. Make sure the HDMI cable from your Blu-Ray player to your television is connected properly.
   

1. Make sure the power cable from your Blu-Ray player is connected to the wall or your power protection device.
   

3. TV input channel or source

Use your TV's remote to make sure that your TV input channel or source is set to the correct HDMI port.

4. What's next?

5. Test Other Media

Try using a different streaming service, a different show on the same streaming service, or a different disk.

6. Aspect Ratio

1. Push the Home button on your remote.
   

1. Select Setup > Screen Settings.
   

1. TV Type is 16:9 for most widescreen televisions, and Screen Format should be Full.
   

7. Aspect Ratio

Your Smart TV has a 16:9 aspect ratio; some older programming was created in a 4:3 aspect ratio, and many movies have a 21:9 aspect ratio. This will cause black bars to appear on the top and bottom, or left and right. You can zoom, stretch, or restore these with the Format button, as well.

1. Push the Format button on your TV remote. You can push this a couple times to cycle through the options quickly.
   

1. Some televisions may require you to tap the HOME or Menu buttons.
2. Navigate to Settings.
   

1. Select Picture.
   

1. Select Picture Size Settings.
   

1. You can adjust the size to your liking.
   

8. What's next?

9. Black Bars

In most cases, black bars to the left and right, or top and bottom, are normal.

Most high-definition televisions have a 16:9 aspect ratio, how high and wide the screen is. Most standard-definition televisions have a 4:3 aspect ratio.

Most Blu-Ray disks will have an information line on the back cover of the box detailing what resolution and aspect ratio the movie is in.

1080p High Definition1,080 pixels high, the same as most modern televisions.16x9The aspect ratio that is encoded on the disk. Since we know the height (above), a little math shows the width is 1,920 pixels wide.2.4:1The actual frame the movie shows at.

Common aspect ratiosStandard TV (4:3) will show black bars on the left and right

A slightly older widescreen format, created by Paramount (5x3), used in Europe more frequently, will show slight black bars on the left and right

Full HD Widescreen (16x9) is the aspect ratio most TV is produced for today and will take up your whole screen

Cinema (2.4:1) movies may have a wider format, showing black bars on the top and bottom

Ultra Panavision (2.76:1) is a very wide formatted movie, and tends to be more common in westerns

10. Test Other Media

Try using a different streaming service, a different show on the same streaming service, or a different disk.

11. Color/Contrast Adjustment

1. Push the Menu button on your TV Remote.
   

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2. Select Picture using the up and down keys, then push the center OK button.
   

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2. From here, you can adjust the Color, Tint, Brightness, and Contrast of your TV's picture. There are also presets, usually at the top, to make these selections easy.

12. Restart

1. Push the Power button on your remote.
   

1. Wait 10 seconds.
2. Push the power button again to turn your Blu-Ray player back on.

13. Restart

1. Turn it off by pressing the Power button on the unit itself or on the remote.
   

1. Then unplug it from the power outlet.
   

1. Wait for 10 seconds.
2. Plug it back in then turn the TV back on from the Power button.
   

14. What's next?

15. Test Other Media

Try using a different streaming service, a different show on the same streaming service, or a different disk.

16. Restart

1. Push the Power button on your remote.
   

1. Wait 10 seconds.
2. Push the power button again to turn your Blu-Ray player back on.

17. What's next?