Please help me be a better videophile.

[ensleepent]

I have a large collection of retro consoles (from Atari to Dreamcast), and I would like to hear some opinions from experienced videophiles on what kinds of televisions would be ideal for providing the highest picture quality for them.

I would like to go with CRT for the sake of light guns and assorted other reasons, of course.

I recently received a used Toshiba 32A33 as a hand-me-down from a friend, which was definitely a step up from the older and smaller Magnavox I was using. From what I gather, it's a better-than-average tube TV, and Toshiba is one of the more respected names among videophiles.

So how good is it, by CRT standards? And what would you recommend if I were to buy an improvement?

Also, I could use a switch box for all my composite and S-video cables that are sharing the same TV, and I don't want a crappy one that deteriorates the signal on its way through. Any suggestions on the good ones?

I'm also hoping to get some nice speakers eventually. I'd like to hear some input about good speakers, too.

This is my personal invitation to all the retrogaming tech-geeks out there with picky tastes to rant freely about ideal TV setups. Please rant away, I'd love to hear it!

[ChuChu Flamingo]

Sony Trinitrons are always good. Even more so when you hook up stuff through RGB. I must ask, do you plan to use RGB on your consoles? Hooking them up through RGB produces fantastic results.

Commodor monitor is always nice to have around. Can accept Composite and S-video.

Right now I have two set-ups.

I still need to tinker around with some stuff, get a few more cables, but here it is



Plasma

Neo Geo -Component
Sega Saturn - S-video (will be getting RGB)
SNES- S-video (Will be getting RGB)
Genesis -RGB
GC- S-video (will be component cables soon)
Xbox- Component (not hooked up at the moment, might move to CRT)
Dreamcast -VGA
PS3-HDMI

Everything is routed through DVDO Edge Upscaler except dreamcast/PS3

Here are some pictures of the consoles in action

Streets of Rage 2



Super Metroid



Super Mario World



Animal Crossing on Wii 480p



F-zero GX on Wii 480p



The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 480p




Sony WEGA CRT

NES - composite
Nintendo 64 - S-video (might do RGB, but then I would need to buy a CSY 2100, maybe when I get a PC Engine I will)
PS2 - Component
Wii- Component
GC- S-video (I need a component cable For GBA player 480p!)

[CRTGAMER]

Welcome new member!

There are all kinds of video displays, everyone has their favorite.

I wrote a CRT vs LCD Guide at my signature link.

[Betamax001]

I agree with CRT's comment about everyone having their favorite. Mine is a 1984 Zenith Space Command with faux wood paneling. It's great for me from Atari to SNES and Genesis! I have another older Zenith from around 1990, but the display is a tad wonky. There is this black bar at the bottom of the screen that won't go away. : /

[Hatta]

This is a huge topic, one which could easily fill a book. Getting the best output from all your consoles is going to be tricky. Not all of them support the same video standards, many have to be modded for the best output. Even if you mod for RGB (best quality) you may only have a monitor that does YUV.

Then if you want to talk about switchboxes, you can hardly get switch boxes with more than 4 inputs. You're going to have to daisy chain them unless you want to spend $400 on a professional model. And of course, they never come with a mix of inputs, so you're going to need a separate box for each output (RGB, YC, CVBS)

Whatever, it's a pain. I'd recommend playing your games, and whatever system is pissing you off with bad quality, focus on getting that one set up right. You'll patch together a video rig that works right for you. Trying to get the best out of everything from the get go, you'll just be stuck in the planning phases forever.

[ensleepent]

I've heard good things about RGB, and I'd love to check it out sometime, but I've never seen it in action with my own two eyes; I don't live in Europe. Someday, perhaps...

I have a Commodore 1702 monitor. Wonderful piece of hardware. I can see why it's always been so popular. A bit small, though. Not suitable for a Bomberman party.

How's that switch box working for you, ChuChu Flamingo? No signal deterioration?

Nice pictures, btw. I never get tired of looking at people's game rooms. My own game room is a mess right now -- I'm in the process of incorporating my new TV, I have no switch box (I *am* the switch box), and I'm a bit short on shelf space atm. But I'm getting there!

That picture of Zelda: OoT looks especially nice. I'm looking forward to getting some S-Video and component cables now that I have a TV that can support them.

CRTGAMER: Yeah, I read your guide! And I plan to read it again, it's great! I've read published books that were less informative. Fun, too.

And I'm not worried about being overwhelmed. I just add a little at a time, as I can afford it. And I don't plan to mod anything (at least not yet). Most of my machines do either composite or S-Video as their best. I've seen switch boxes that have those *and* component all in one. I'm only worried about finding good quality ones that won't eat my signals, and a good TV to make the most of them. And with my currently eleven consoles, I'm way beyond being afraid of Cord Hell. My Genesis add-ons alone are scarier.

I figured this topic would get a large variety of feedback. That's what I was hoping for. This is just the sort of discussion I'd love to listen in on.

So what are the popular opinions on which CRT televisions are the best quality?

[CRTGAMER]

I have a Commodore 1702 monitor. Wonderful piece of hardware. I can see why it's always been so popular. A bit small, though. Not suitable for a Bomberman party.

A nice second screen for Link cable games though!

[ChuChu Flamingo]

I've heard good things about RGB, and I'd love to check it out sometime, but I've never seen it in action with my own two eyes; I don't live in Europe. Someday, perhaps...

I have a Commodore 1702 monitor. Wonderful piece of hardware. I can see why it's always been so popular. A bit small, though. Not suitable for a Bomberman party.

How's that switch box working for you, ChuChu Flamingo? No signal deterioration?

Nice pictures, btw. I never get tired of looking at people's game rooms. My own game room is a mess right now -- I'm in the process of incorporating my new TV, I have no switch box (I *am* the switch box), and I'm a bit short on shelf space atm. But I'm getting there!


That picture of Zelda: OoT looks especially nice. I'm looking forward to getting some S-Video and component cables now that I have a TV that can support them.

CRTGAMER: Yeah, I read your guide! And I plan to read it again, it's great! I've read published books that were less informative. Fun, too.

And I'm not worried about being overwhelmed. I just add a little at a time, as I can afford it. And I don't plan to mod anything (at least not yet). Most of my machines do either composite or S-Video as their best. I've seen switch boxes that have those *and* component all in one. I'm only worried about finding good quality ones that won't eat my signals, and a good TV to make the most of them. And with my currently eleven consoles, I'm way beyond being afraid of Cord Hell. My Genesis add-ons alone are scarier.

I figured this topic would get a large variety of feedback. That's what I was hoping for. This is just the sort of discussion I'd love to listen in on.

So what are the popular opinions on which CRT televisions are the best quality?

Even if you don't have SCART, you can get a RGB to YUV converter (CSY2100 being the most recommended)

As far as my Splitter, I bought it at walmart for $20. It can only split one type of video connection at a time (All S-video or All Composite). As with all splitters, there is always a loss of quality, but none that can be seen with the naked eye if it isn't complete garbage.

If splitting component, I would recommend something a bit higher end.

As far as TVs go I recommend Sony Trintrons. The one I have has 3 svideo/composite inputs (one at the front), two component, 1 HDMI, and of course RF.


Someone say cable hell?

[Hatta]

Someone say cable hell?

Yeah, no matter what you do it gets a little gnarly back there. It's part of the fun, really.

[CRTGAMER]

Even if you don't have SCART, you can get a RGB to YUV converter (CSY2100 being the most recommended)

As far as my Splitter, I bought it at walmart for $20. It can only split one type of video connection at a time (All S-video or All Composite). As with all splitters, there is always a loss of quality, but none that can be seen with the naked eye if it isn't complete garbage.

If splitting component, I would recommend something a bit higher end.

As far as TVs go I recommend Sony Trintrons. The one I have has 3 svideo/composite inputs (one at the front), two component, 1 HDMI, and of course RF.

Someone say cable hell?

I have a tangled octopus family myself, four switch boxes, all consoles hooked up

Why can't you have both S-Video and Composite working on your switchbox? I have NES at Composite and PSX, N64 and Dreamcast at S-Video all routed to a four select box. Both type cables going to the HD which senses which signal. The Dreamcast is going to get that VGA upgrade once I set up the VGA to HDMI adaptor I bought recently. It means another cable going from the couch table over to the screen.