SEGA saturn and LCD HD TVs

[dreamcast4ever83]

Hey guys, I need some help. I consider myself to be quite a techie, but instead of trial and error here, having to spend money and do returns, I have questions. Please answer them for me, and try not to go too of topic.

First off, I'm connecting my Saturn to my 55'' LCD TV, using YWR (yellow, white, red.) which honestly, the picture, of course, suffers. It looks better on a CRT. I have tried using a converter box so I can try S-Video, which I've heard was good, but the image looked a tad worse. So onto my questions;

1. Does the image maybe suck because I used S-Video through a converter, so during transfer it lost quality?
2. If I buy an official Saturn S-Video chord, that connects directly from the console to the TV will it make it look better? (I'm not expecting it to look like dreamcast VGA or anything. I just want it to look like it does on my CRT but on my big screen.)
3. OR should I scrap the S-Video idea and start looking into other converters and higher quality chords? I have heard scart cables are fantastic but my TV does not have a scart connection.
4. What are your opinions? What is best for me to do to get a semi-decent image that isn't going to break me out of house and home with the cost. I welcome all ideas, and please don't explain to me how the saturn isn't going to look good on and LCD TV, i already understand how it outputs and how it works.

[jay_red]

You tried to convert the component (yellow plug) to s-video with a converter box? Of course you wouldn't get any better picture quality, since the source is still the crappy composite.

If you get an actual s-video cable you will be very pleased with the results. Every console I have hooked up in my living room via S-Video looks great (42" LCD). I wouldnt waste time and money on getting a bunch of converters when s-video will be just fine and cables can be had for pretty cheap.

I have gone exclusively to s-video or better on all of my consoles that support it and have not looked back, even on your CRT you should be using s-video (as long as it has the input) You will be surprised how good those old consoles look.

[TEKTORO]

Ive had the Svideo from Rackets store for sometime now and can not complain.
Im hooked into my 20 inch Lcd w/4:3 ratio aspect (bars on side).I play PSone,Xbox,Snes and Saturn on this TV and everything looks decent thanks to size but once you start going bigger everything look really ugly no matter what.

I remember when I first joined RB,I just got into Saturn and had no clue on optimized settings/visuals.I played (for 5min) Virtual Hydlide on a 37 inch LCD,stretched and with the composite cables.And I wondered why I couldnt see a damn thing,everything blended together on top of bad framerate.yikes!

[BoringSupreez]

It doesn't matter if s-video is part of the equation anywhere, if there is conversion to compisite going on. Composite out of the Saturn converted to s-video for the TV, or s-video out of the Saturn converted to composite, it's going to look the same. You need s-video all the way from the system to the TV, or s-video out the Saturn converted to component.

[Ziggy]

Please answer them for me, and try not to go too of topic.

Might as well ask the sun not to shine!

YWR (yellow, white, red.

Just call that composite, every one will know what you're talking about.

1. Does the image maybe suck because I used S-Video through a converter, so during transfer it lost quality?

It didn't lose quality, it just never had it. Like others have said, if you converted S-Video from composite, it's not gonna be S-Video quality. You're pretty much just using composite in an S-Video input. Pick up a quality Saturn S-Video cable, it WILL look a lot better.

3. OR should I scrap the S-Video idea and start looking into other converters and higher quality chords? I have heard scart cables are fantastic but my TV does not have a scart connection.

Well RGB is gonna be the best quality that the Saturn will output. You could convert it to component, but the converters can be a little pricey.

and please don't explain to me how the saturn isn't going to look good on and LCD TV, i already understand how it outputs and how it works

Well just understand this: The image quality is only gonna be as good as its weakest link. Even though you converted composite to S-Video, the quality was still only as good as composite. If the upscaler in your TV makes the image blurry, fuzzy, muddy, whatever, then it's just never gonna look good on your TV. You can buy external upscalers, but from what I've read, they're super expensive (for a quality one).

I would try out the S-Video cables first and see how that goes. S-Video is usually a very nice increase in quality over composite. If that doesn't satisfy you, the only other video the Saturn will output is RGB. If you wanted to try that, you would have to convert it to component. But again, it'll only be as good as the weakest link. Even if you use the Saturn's best video output, RGB, if the upscaler in your TV has a negative effect on the image then that's that.

[ksloth]

If you connect the console straight into your TV with an s-video cable, and set the tv aspect ration to 4:3, that is about as good as you are gonna get it I believe. It should look pretty decent, without pixels bleeding all over into each other like you get with composite. I ordered an S-Video cable tonight along with a 6 foot extension for my controller. I am looking forward to playing Radiant Silvergun and Stalker from the comfort of my bed

[dreamcast4ever83]

Ok guys thanks for all your help! im gonna order a s-video cord but so you guys know i connected a direct link a yellow saturn cord to a little piece and s video on the other side and it looked great colors were brighter and the images were not blurry and the pixles were much better! I tested it with deep fear,mr bones and panzer dragoon saga so im not sure if i should buy an official s cord if it will make even a bigger impact but so far im far happier so thanks guys!

Ps. Off subject i just finished panzer dragoon saga for the first time and wow! that game is really honestly fantastic my top 3 rpg's of all time. Im already playing agine to get every secret

[outlaw_moon]

S-video def looks good much better than RCA on my Vizio LCD 47". I am testing out and RGB SCART with an SCART to component converter and will let you know how that works out. I have heard many good things so not sure but did get a good deal on the set up. I am expecting the cable and converter today so can't wait to get home and test it out.

P.S. congrats on PDS, it is an amazing game indeed.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Panzer Dragoon Saga was actually the first RPG I ever completed. I'm not sure it was worth the vast sum of money, but, I really loved the combat system. It was also nice in that it didn't take 50 hours to beat. It was the perfect length IMO.

It's one game I've never regretted selling after I played it though. The experience was great, I got my money back, and it's something to check off on the gaming history resume.

[outlaw_moon]

So i got my cables and converter yesterday and the first game I popped in was Radiant Silvergun to test the 2D sprites and Virtua Fighter 2 to test the 3D. I wish I could find my crappy digi cam but putting it short and sweet, there is a very noticeable difference going from S-Video>Component via the SCART converter. I tested it out on my 32" SONY CRT and it looked amazing.

I also tested it out on my 47" Vizio LCD and although it is by far a better picture than just a plain -video but naturally not better than the CRT picture.

All in all it was def worth the $47 investment. SCART >converter>component <3