Output of PS2 sucks or TV sucks?

I have a emerson 27" pure-flat tube based TV with component inputs, BEAUTIFUL picture with pioneer dvd player and tv signals, just unbelivable for being your normal ole tv (no hdtv or anything), but i notice with the ps2 (ran component, tried composite & svideo also) that the image doesn't fill the ENTIRE screen and is a little pregnant near the middle on either side, which seems to intensify with the amount of bright white in the image, kind of like how old school crt monitors looked if you stared closely at a blank IE window then you had to adjust the pincushion and stuff to get it aligned

also i notice i have to make some drastic changes to sharpness/brightness/contrast in order to make text clear and not over-exposed, something i've never noticed on any other input device... i have a V9 PS2... this just nature of the beast or any ways to help?

overall i'm being a bit knit picky, it's not unplayable or anything... most people wouldn't notice, it does fill like 98% of the viewable area but i notice stuff like this, i can calibrate the screen position with each game but i can't "zoom it out" to fill it all to not see the sides if you know what i mean

Uhm, the screen not fitting all the way... Is your tv a widescreen tv? Maybe you have your PS2 in 4:3 mode instead of wide screen mode. Go inside the PS2 configuration.

no it's a square TV and the ps2 is in 4:3 mode

i have exactly the same problem ....

matrix infinity modchip and V5/6 ps2

Config your PS2 for FULL mode (not 4:3 or 16:9).

And also, PS2 is just 320x200 resolution on 98% or more in games (including the browser).

Gradius

I hate regular TV.