View Full Version : PC Engine Duo vs. PC Engine Duo RX
Family Computer
08-02-2007, 12:26 PM
If all goes well with my modded Famicom purchase, I am thinking about buying an RGB modded PC Engine Duo from the same company.
They have both Duos and Duo RXs. From what I can tell the RX just changed the color/shape and took out the headphone jack, as well as being able to cut costs on the hardware.
So is one more reliable or better spec'd in terms of anything? Video? Audio?
Personally, I like the look of the original Duo myself, the shape change and no secondary color on the RX seem a bit drab.
bust3dstr8
08-02-2007, 01:11 PM
The RX is a much better built piece of hardware. The capacitors in the RX are higher quality and are less likely to fail. The older Duos will often have sound problems because of the lower grade parts.
PsychedelicShaman
08-02-2007, 01:25 PM
If all goes well with my modded Famicom purchase, I am thinking about buying an RGB modded PC Engine Duo from the same company.
Which company? Just curious...
Family Computer
08-02-2007, 01:40 PM
Which company? Just curious...
http://www.tea4two.jp
Ok so the RX is the way to go then. Thanks for the information, it is hard to tell with revisions of consoles sometimes. For example the original SNES/SFAMICOM being better built than the newer version. Or the Genesis 3 being a POS.
The RX look is pretty boring, but I guess sacrifices have to be made for quality.
Good looking out.
Aussie2B
08-02-2007, 02:11 PM
Yeah, you'll want to avoid the original Duo. If you had a choice between a Duo-R and a Duo-RX, then it wouldn't really matter so much.
Family Computer
08-02-2007, 02:16 PM
Sorry I meant to say that they have Duo's and Duo-R's....no RXs!
Anyway thanks again
The RX is a much better built piece of hardware. The capacitors in the RX are higher quality and are less likely to fail. The older Duos will often have sound problems because of the lower grade parts.
How did you find out about this? I've been browsing Duo's for a while and am having a hard time picking the best one. I assume the DUO-RX is the best then?
Aussie2B
08-02-2007, 03:37 PM
It's a pretty common problem for the PC Engine Duo. Do a search in the Technical forum and I'm sure you'll find several topics. I have a friend that's got a really quirky one. Sometimes the system has to "warm up" before the sound fully works, sometimes it'll get problematic after playing too long. He likes to tease my Duo-RX because of how it looks, though, despite that it's infinitely more functional. He much prefers the black.
Anyway, there's no pressing reason to get an RX over an R, so I would just go with what's cheapest (which tends to be the R). For all intensive purposes, they're more or less identical. As silly as it sounds, the main difference between the two is that the RX came bundled with a 6-button controller, but that should definitely NOT be a reason to buy one because that controller is horrible. The D-pad is extremely uncomfortable and stiff. If you want to play games that need a 6-button controller, it's pretty much a must to get the Avenue Pad 6 (and it works just dandy for games that don't need all those buttons too). I don't even use my RX controller unless some two player gaming is going on, but I still feel sorry for whoever ends up having to use it. :P
Family Computer
08-02-2007, 04:54 PM
Thanks for the details. I am with you friend in that the Black Duo looks infinitely better. Both the shape and the stark white color take the good looks out of the Duo-R. I'm thinking about risking it with a serviced/RGB Modified Duo, but I'm gonna think about it over quite a bit first.
For all intensive purposes, they're more or less identical.
Ah, it's not just Americans that make this mistake! :p
bust3dstr8
08-02-2007, 05:53 PM
If you really like the look of the first Duo...go for it.
It's a $2 fix for the bad sound caps, just gotta be handy soldering on PCB.
GaijinPunch
08-02-2007, 07:53 PM
tea4two seem to be out of their RGB modded systems, unfortunately. RGB Hospice used to do one from time to time, but he's shut the site down. Very, very unfortunate. Really wouldn't mind having one of those.
bust3dstr8
08-03-2007, 12:07 AM
How did you find out about this? I've been browsing Duo's for a while and am having a hard time picking the best one. I assume the DUO-RX is the best then?
Search for post by D-Lite on the Pcenginefx forums. He has done a lot of repairs and mods for the NEC hardware. More often its a Duo and not a DuoR or DuoRX that has sound problems.
Tron 2.0
08-03-2007, 04:38 AM
Been discuss many times over at pcenginefx.com.
Realy same hardware just the RX comes with the, 6 button pad compare to the R.
Still with either you can't go wrong as it's been mention avoid the pce duo or turbo duo.Since both, suffer from sound problems unless you don't mind trying to fix one wich is a hassle in itself.
Btw D-lite also sells modded duos as well here http://www.multimods.com
I own a duo-r so far it's been working great for me.
As wich is the best av for the duo dunno i've herd "rbg looks good for it.. long ya as have the montior to suport it.
Still if you just have a tv then having it modded for s-video sure is better then useing composite.