Correct Aspect Ratio for 4:3 and 16:9 SD output

Hi guys,
I've built a slideshow in FC with HD settings (1440 x 1080px), exported via compressor and imported into DVDSP. That's all fine however . . .
The output requested is a DVD playable at 16:9 SD and this is where I have a small problem with the first tests I've done.
To cover all bases, my DVDSP settings are SD 4:3 and HD 1440 x 1080i, 16:9 PanScan and Letterbox. The end result played back on the Mac looks great and the aspect is spot on. The ultimate test was to play it on 2 different DVD players on 2 different PAL TVs and the result is world's apart even after playing with the respective aspect ratio adjustments on the TVs.
My problem is that I don't know what these DVDs will be played on and concerned they'll be cropped off or distorted and unwatchable.
Is there something I'm missing or a way to avoid this uncertainty? My deadline is imminent and any help would be priceless.
thanks guys
Chuck

What you should do for SD is export the FC timeline out to an SD preset (either PAL or NTSC as applicable) and you need to set the tracks to 16:9 Letterbox, not Pan & Scan or Pan & Scan Letterbox. The track will be 16:9 on 16:9 screens and letterboxed on 4:3 Screens. (You can also set up your own SD Compresser settings, make the aspect raito 16:9.)
People can always mess with settigs so there is no 100% way to ensure it will always look correct, but the above takes care of matters for the most part.
As an aside when you say world's apart, what was happening?

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