what type of television do you play your classic consoles on

[Zing]

I've been assuming it "fills the screen" without manual input simply based on that being the case for all my consoles such as the Genesis (wider) and SNES (skinnier, but both fill the same approximate amount of space); am I right about these wider resolutions as well?

I don't really know what you mean here. They all just use an NTSC signal. Some consoles just use more or less of it to display content.

The non-HD Wega CRT share settings across input type. In other words, all composite inputs use the same settings (both user and service mode). Unfortunately, even the s-video inputs are tied to the composite settings, at least s-video ports that are shared with composite "inputs". The component input(s) have their own settings. The 16:9 mode also has its own settings, in service mode at least (I haven't tested user settings).

These consumer CRTs are not multiscan like an arcade monitor. You can't send them a native arcade resolution and just have the CRT do the work. These sets (for the most part) only accept standard NTSC timings.

[dogman91]

These consumer CRTs are not multiscan like an arcade monitor. You can't send them a native arcade resolution and just have the CRT do the work. These sets (for the most part) only accept standard NTSC timings.

I was going to use an ArcadeVGA with a VGA to component transcoder... so this means you are implying I would have to adjust the screen position for each resolution manually? Another reason for me to eventually get an arcade monitor then... (someday).

Ports that are "arcade perfect" like the Street Fighter Collection on the Saturn use the same 384x224(?), but would be using an NTSC signal versus MAME on a PC, so therefore would properly fit the screen without changing anything?

Trying to get a grip on all this; thanks.

[Zing]

The TV only accepts one scan rate on the component input (assuming you have a standard definition Wega): 480i. When the transcoder converts the multi-sync VGA signal, it will just turn it into a 480i component signal. Whatever voodoo your ArcadeVGA card is doing shouldn't matter.

Do you know of people who are happy with the results of using an ArcadeVGA with arcade signals and converting to component or otherwise? Depending on the particular game, it might look terrible. I tried a VGA to s-video converter and it was rather poor. Also, my converter only accepted certain signal timings as inputs. You would have to be sure that your transcoder accepts the range of signals you wish to replicate with the ArcadeVGA.

I am not an expert on all of this. It just seems very unlikely to work in the fashion you hope it will. I'd have to see reports from people who successfully did this to believe it. Essentially, you need either an arcade monitor or regular PC monitor. Something that accepts a wide variety of scan rates on its input.

[Zing]

Ports that are "arcade perfect" like the Street Fighter Collection on the Saturn use the same 384x224(?), but would be using an NTSC signal versus MAME on a PC, so therefore would properly fit the screen without changing anything?

There would be scaling done in the game code to make it fit whatever the Saturn's native output is. Just going by wikipedia, I don't see a 384 mode, so I guess that game would just use 640x240@60hz (interlaced mode).

[dogman91]

I'd have to see reports from people who successfully did this to believe it.

Not sure if this helps, but I've been reading these threads on the subject:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=95833.0
and
http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=36670 (starting with the 9th post by "tcancian").

Getting a mix of people here saying it can be done and it can't be done... so I'm a bit confused. The conclusion I have so far is that the signals in their native resolutions will display on the CRT properly, but the screen position must be adjusted.

Thank you for the help! Appreciate it.

[The Last Horseman]

I currently have a 32 inch tube TV. Awesome picture. But due to room constraints, I need to move to a 32 inch or maybe 36 inch flatscreen. What is a good price? And what brand/model has a lot of non HDMI connections? Because I don't have a single console that can connect through HDMI right now. (My 360 isn't slim.)

[Zing]

Getting a mix of people here saying it can be done and it can't be done... so I'm a bit confused.

I suppose it all depends on what signals the TV accepts and what signals the transcoder box supports.

[Zing]

Bumping this because I finally traded my Sony 32FS120 for a 27FV310. The 310 model really is the epitome of the Sony 480i line. There are two features it has that have made a huge difference: the subwoofer and the high voltage power.

The subwoofer adds more than I expected to the sound. I figured it would be one of those weak "woofers" that just add a bit of mid-bass and muddy the sound. It appears to be a proper subwoofer, adding only low bass.

The high voltage regulator is how every TV should have been. I can turn "picture" to maximum and there is no distortion. Test patterns do not warp in the slightest. My FS120 bent lines at the halfway point.

This particular set has the expected slight mis-convergence in one corner. I was hoping the smaller screen size (I went from 32" to 27") would prevent any of this, but I guess it is unavoidable in all but the smallest of sets. I'd actually be willing to pay someone to come tinker with the magnet in the corner to fix this, but I am not going to try it myself, yet.

The other reason I upgraded to this set was to gain another s-video input. Unfortunately, it is on the front panel, and not the rear. You have to jump up to the high scan sets to get multiple s-video on rear panel, and I wanted to stick with plain 480i.

I'll post a photo of the setup tomorrow.

[Tildius Maximus]

i play my old consoles on my 50" panasonic viera. i connect them via scart to a box that switches it to component. it makes all the colors very sharp and the graphics are crystal clear. playing chrono trigger through component is one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen.

[retrosportsgamer]

^ Zing - That's interesting that yours has that also. I have a very slight convergence in the upper left corner - you see that slightly different color on some screens. I'll gladly take that over the alignment being off (and not being fixable in the technician area).