Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

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BitFaced
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Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by BitFaced »

I recently started up a topic to assist me on getting the best video output for PS1, PS2, NGC & Wii. And while I got really good video output from PS2, NGC (has some SCART rubbish in the quality like moving diagonal lines but the core image is still pretty good) and Wii the Playstation quality is still "not quite there yet".
I know some of this could be because of the TV's settings (Contrast, Brightness, Colour, Sharpness, Colour Temp & Noise Reduction) and that PS1 textures are grainy but I still think games (2D & 3D alike) could look better.
Images look grainy far away and grainy overall, and the image could be far sharper/higher resolution. The colours are too bright as well as the fact they sort of bleed into another. And resolution could be higher. The image quality definitely isn't the worst and is better than composite. I just want to have the best quality without using a backwards compatible machine unless it's image is absolutely better than anything possible here like through GS Mode Selector*.
As for 2D games, it doesn't look too bad, but the pixels need to be sharper, the colours more separated and, if possible, less grainy.
Possible things to consider include using S-Video cables, modding the PS1 for something like Component or perhaps that the SCART cable I'm using could be terrible. For reference the TV I'm using is Technika 21.6" LCD TV (Model X21.6/54G-GW-TCDU-UK). Has VGA, HDMI, Component, Composite, RGB and SCART.
Thanks in advance if you're going to help me with this and I'm sorry for asking this again but the PS1-exclusive image just isn't there yet.
*I have a PS2 to use that can probably run GS Mode Selector but I'm trying to stick exclusively to the PS1 for PS1 games for personal reasons. Not to mention GS Mode Selector has PS1 compatibility issues.
N64/NES/FC/SNES/SFC/GB (SGB)/GBC (Black)(SGB)/FDS/Satellaview/Genesis/Mega Drive/Master System & maybe N64DD/GBC/GBA.
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ApolloBoy
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Re: Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by ApolloBoy »

RGB's the way to go for the PSX/PS1.
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BitFaced
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Re: Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by BitFaced »

ApolloBoy wrote:RGB's the way to go for the PSX/PS1.
I think the SCART cable I've been using is wired for RGB, but could I be wrong?
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Re: Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by ApolloBoy »

BitFaced wrote:
ApolloBoy wrote:RGB's the way to go for the PSX/PS1.
I think the SCART cable I've been using is wired for RGB, but could I be wrong?
If you're describing color bleeding and stuff like that, then it looks like you have a SCART cable wired for composite.
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BitFaced
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Re: Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by BitFaced »

ApolloBoy wrote:
BitFaced wrote:
ApolloBoy wrote:RGB's the way to go for the PSX/PS1.
I think the SCART cable I've been using is wired for RGB, but could I be wrong?
If you're describing color bleeding and stuff like that, then it looks like you have a SCART cable wired for composite.
The ebay listing said it was RGB, but again had similar image problems to composite so maybe that's the issue.
Another cable I could use is S-Video, though I don't quite know what the cheapest adapter to Component/VGA/HDMI/Etc. on a HDTV is.
EDIT: Actually after comparing Composite and SCART briefly on my TV the two video connections the sharpness of the 3D images look similar, the video quality is kind of lower quality through composite but the sprites are less grainy & I think the SCART cable may be wired for composite but don't take my word for it.
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Re: Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by skate323k137 »

SCART should be the best if the cable is wired for RGB. Do you have any other consoles to test SCART output from?

It's quite likely the LCD's built in upscaler is garbage. That's usually the problem using old consoles on new displays. I'm not assuming you have this kind of money to spend, but in that case, an xrgb-mini upscan converter will convert the scart RGB to amazing looking HDMI. You'd have to have an adapter made to adapt the euro scart to the japanese pinout for the xrgb to accept it (or just run s-video into the xrgb). Unfortunately, these units are like $400 (but for good reason. the output is unbelievable). http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/framemeister.html

Quite frankly, if physical space isn't an issue, just find an old CRT with a scart socket. That will be the cheapest and look the best.

Also, depending on what kind of non-scart RGB input your display has, you could just make your own RGB cable out of a PS2 component cable. The PS1 outputs RGB natively anyway, on the same pins the ps2 uses for component video. In the USA you just have to add a 220uf cap to the R G and B lines of the PS1. Keep in mind PAL consoles may vary, but I don't recall reading about any pinout differences.
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Re: Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by BitFaced »

skate323k137 wrote:SCART should be the best if the cable is wired for RGB. Do you have any other consoles to test SCART output from?

It's quite likely the LCD's built in upscaler is garbage. That's usually the problem using old consoles on new displays. I'm not assuming you have this kind of money to spend, but in that case, an xrgb-mini upscan converter will convert the scart RGB to amazing looking HDMI. You'd have to have an adapter made to adapt the euro scart to the japanese pinout for the xrgb to accept it (or just run s-video into the xrgb). Unfortunately, these units are like $400 (but for good reason. the output is unbelievable). http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/framemeister.html

Quite frankly, if physical space isn't an issue, just find an old CRT with a scart socket. That will be the cheapest and look the best.

Also, depending on what kind of non-scart RGB input your display has, you could just make your own RGB cable out of a PS2 component cable. The PS1 outputs RGB natively anyway, on the same pins the ps2 uses for component video. In the USA you just have to add a 220uf cap to the R G and B lines of the PS1. Keep in mind PAL consoles may vary, but I don't recall reading about any pinout differences.
The only other console I have with RGB SCART output at the moment is GameCube (Or at least I damn well hope it's RGB) and that output, besides SCART video quality rubbish (any help on that?) is really, really good, even on the GameBoy Player.

I definitely don't have enough money for that upscaler, but I again ask if S-Video + S-Video to HDMI/Component/VGA/Etc. would be better (Better than SCART or Composite I mean).

I'm not sure about CRTs; two older British TVs I tried in my house didn't seem to have scanlines so maybe we could pick out a specific cheap, relatively high quality, scan lined British CRT TV, but it does seem kind of pointless if I'd only have one console to use it for at the moment, as I use SCART & RGB for NGC, PS2 & Wii.

Modding a PS2 RGB Component cable does sound interesting though. Could I get more information on that and how I'd use it for PAL PS1s?
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Re: Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by skate323k137 »

so you're saying the gamecube looks OK on SCART but not the PS1? sounds like a bad PS1 SCART cable that isn't wired for RGB then. Usually you can open the SCART end of the connector to check how it's wired.

As far as making an RGB cable yourself, what I did was bought an off-brand (gamestop) component cable for PS2. The offbrand cable has all three wires for R/G/B and it also has a composite video wire. I have a PVM that accepts composite video as the sync signal (this is standard for SCART displays to use composite video for sync).

The PS1's RGB output is a bit dark, so I had to add a 220uf capacitor, negative side facing the display, on R G and B. I cut open the cable, found the R G and B wires, and spliced in a capcitor on each of those.

My RGB input on my display is BNC jacks, so I just used RCA -> BNC adaptors (less than $1 a piece on monoprice) to hook up my "custom" cable. see http://www.gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:playstationav for pinout information. I'm not sure if the PAL PS1's output a different level of RGB signal than the US ones, but I doubt it, as that would normally be documented on gamesx.
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bmoc
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Re: Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by bmoc »

I have used these two RGB SCART cables with success on my PS1.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/290902953528
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260945925357

I am using them with a Sync Strike and a Sony PVM 2950Q.

Since you are trying to use an LCD TV, you may want to consider a SLG-in-a-Box. It combines the functionality of a Sync Strike, Scaler, and Scanline Generator into one device and for a lot less than an XRGB-mini. I don't have a SLG-in-a-Box but the Sync Strike is a great little device. I can't say enough good things about it.
BitFaced
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Re: Best Video Output for PAL Playstation Model SCPH-7502

Post by BitFaced »

Okay so I'll check to see if that PS1 SCART cable is wired for RGB or Composite (though how do I know what wired wires mean what video type?).
And I'll ask again, is S-Video plus an S-Video adapter to VGA/Component/SCART/HDMI any good? If so please list what adapter I should use.
And how would a SCART cable + Sync Strike improve the image quality & would it work with my TV?
So, the options I currently have:
-S-Video + Adapter
-An actually RGB-based SCART cable (if that's the issue)
-Modifying a PS1 & PS2 Component cable for Component output
-New PS1 SCART cable out of the two listed by bmoc (does it matter which one?) + Sync Strike
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