TV Help - HD vs SD

[Aton7]

I've hooked up my GameCube and Xbox, and as I expected, it looked great. I haven't had a chance to try out the NES or SMS because the TV is at a different house. Right now I have my NES hooked up to a small off brand CRT I got for a few bucks at a yard sale, and I think the picture looks pretty good on it, but I am really trying to get the most out of all of my consoles video wise without dropping too much cash.

Actually, someone near me is selling what looks to be a Sony RGB monitor on Craigslist. The description doesn't have much info, so could anyone identify this monitor and if it would accept RGB?






Here's the description on the listing:

This item is a Sony 32" Trinitron Color Video Monitor. Has mutiple remote operation options Commercial Grade Sony Monitor Has multiple inputs, remote control and external speakers connectors. External Degauss Control. This was bought new by the US Government and meets thier high quality standards. Can be used as a monitor for multi operations. Dual Remotes. Only $175.00! Call xxx-xxx-xxxx NO TEXT MESSAGES! Spammers and Robot replys will be deleted from Craigslist.

Thanks, Aton7

[theclaw]

So I recently purchased a Sony Wega HD CRT TV (KV-30HS420) for retro gaming. I wasn't really planning on buying it, but I saw it on a swap site for only $10 so why not. I thought I would just use it as my main TV for retro gaming, from NES to PS2 era but after doing some research, I've read that while the later generation systems (GC, PS2, Xbox) look great on it, older consoles that only produce 240p look pretty bad. I don't know much about TV's and upscaling, but from what I've read the HD CRT's upscale 240p to 480i which produces a bad picture.

My problem is, I don't know if I should keep the HD set and look for a way to make the lower resolution systems look better, or sell it and pick up a SD Trinitron. Hopefully someone who knows a little more about this can help me out.

Thanks, Aton7.

SD sets are common to use as something of a band aid.
Their properties hide pre-existing video artifacts received from lossy formats like RF and composite.

With an HD TV you have larger native resolution at often larger size.
Any distortion becomes magnified, making s-video or similar clean source images that much more important.

[CRTGAMER]

I've hooked up my GameCube and Xbox, and as I expected, it looked great. I haven't had a chance to try out the NES or SMS because the TV is at a different house. Right now I have my NES hooked up to a small off brand CRT I got for a few bucks at a yard sale, and I think the picture looks pretty good on it, but I am really trying to get the most out of all of my consoles video wise without dropping too much cash.

Actually, someone near me is selling what looks to be a Sony RGB monitor on Craigslist. The description doesn't have much info, so could anyone identify this monitor and if it would accept RGB?

The NES and Sega Master System consoles will look just fine in your Sony HDCRT.

Considering you can get HD WEGAs at the Thrift store for around fifty bucks, I would pass on that other Sony TV. The RGB is tempting but of little use unless you are into modding RGB into the NTSC consoles. However, contact the seller for the model number; the small pic seems to show a SCART green connector, though it does not seem as wide. Maybe a DVI input? The two sets of what appears to be three BNC connectors looks like they might be RGB.

That top panel in the back is very interesting, please post the model number when you get it. More importantly, I think I also see a VGA input which is uncommon on HDCRTs!

What cables have you tried with the Gamecube and Xbox? Grab a SVideo cable for the Gamecube if you can't afford the expensive Component Cable. Definitely get a Component cables for the Xbox and go into the Dashboard to switch to at least 480p; be sure to test with a 480p or higher resolution game.

@ Claw - Why do you keep posting the same song? Some like SD TVs for the scan lines. Older unmodded composite only consoles look fine too. I think most already know about each stage of a video connection. Ideally every console should be hooked up within its best video output capabilities. However, sometimes not cost affective to do a given upgrade video mod compared to the picture quality improvement.

[theclaw]

@ Claw - Why do you keep posting the same song? Some like SD TVs for the scan lines. Older unmodded composite only consoles look fine too. I think most already know about each stage of a video connection. Ideally every console should be hooked up within its best video output capabilities. However, sometimes not cost affective to do a given upgrade video mod compared to the picture quality improvement.

Yeah honest effort is what counts. Composite when it looks fine, for testing/starting, as the best option a console has, legit ignorance, etc, that's OK enough.

Being cheap/lazy not so great in my book.

[muhanad]

Nevermind

[AppleQueso]

That Sony monitor will be pretty awesome for gaming all around, but the seller is probably asking too much for it. These things are ultra niche, you'll have a lot of trouble getting $175 for it on craigslist. Maybe ebay... I'd say it's worth getting, but I probably wouldn't go for it for that price. But on the other hand I'm also not particularly familiar with that particular model.

the small pic seems to show a SCART green connector, though it does not seem as wide. Maybe a DVI input? The two sets of what appears to be three BNC connectors looks like they might be RGB.

It's not DVI or SCART. I've had a couple of monitors with similar connectors on it. IIRC it's a type of serial port, and its usually used for interfacing with certain video equipment.

FWIW, from here, it looks like there's two s-video and composite in/outs, and an RGB in/out. The speaker outs there suggest that it doesn't have any speakers built in. OP, if you go with that, just keep in mind that you'll need to have some speakers to hook up there.

That thing will knock your socks off, even if you're just using composite and s-video. If you're considering going down the RGB route (which if you're digging for monitors, I'm guessing you will at some point or another if you aren't already) it might be worth haggling with the seller.

[MaxWar]

Actually, someone near me is selling what looks to be a Sony RGB monitor on Craigslist. The description doesn't have much info, so could anyone identify this monitor and if it would accept RGB?






Here's the description on the listing:

This item is a Sony 32" Trinitron Color Video Monitor. Has mutiple remote operation options Commercial Grade Sony Monitor Has multiple inputs, remote control and external speakers connectors. External Degauss Control. This was bought new by the US Government and meets thier high quality standards. Can be used as a monitor for multi operations. Dual Remotes. Only $175.00! Call xxx-xxx-xxxx NO TEXT MESSAGES! Spammers and Robot replys will be deleted from Craigslist.

Thanks, Aton7

WOW, that thing is ultra awesome. I would definitely want to buy it. See if you can haggle the price down a bit. Maybe ask questions like "what exact model". I cant see really well on the pictures but if this has analog RGB input its probably worth what is asked for.

[ApolloBoy]

@ Claw - Why do you keep posting the same song?

That's something I'd like to know as well, it's like he's some sort of robot.

Anyway, that PVM is real nice and it does indeed have RGB. That one even has speaker terminals so you can hook up whatever speakers you want! I'd try haggling on the price though, $175 sounds a bit much even for a nice PVM.

[MaxWar]

I would probably be ready to drive 2 hours + to get that PVM if it was anywhere near me.
A 32" PVM is ultra rare around my parts.
I had to lurk local adds for months before I got a PVM2030 in ok condition.

[theclaw]

@ Claw - Why do you keep posting the same song?

That's something I'd like to know as well, it's like he's some sort of robot.

Relax, buddy. A high horse is even less constructive than trying to help out new users who might not have read what I've said before.