Do you consider yourself a Videophile??

[erik]

Just wondering if most gamers on this site are finicky with respect to their A/V connections with various systems. I personally play about 90% of my systems in component(YUV) video!! I bought an RGB-YUV transcoder so I can play my Genesis and SNES in component splendor. I also modded my N64 and Duo-R for RGB so I can convert them to YUV as well. Finally, I have a VGA-YUV converter for my Dreamcast to play its games in 480p on an HDTV. My Saturn is still in S-Video, but S-Video is still very nice. The only system that I have left to upgarde is my NES. I'm just not sure whether I should tackle the monumental task of an NES RGB-mod or just wait for all my games to hit the Wii-VC. Anybody else as fanatic am I am about my connections?...

[Soviet Conscript]

yes, definatly for me.

although i don't think any of us can hold a candle to the a/v fanatacism that was Anthony1

[scooterb23]

Not at all, I've been playing games for almost 30 years now...I still hook up most of my classic systems through an RF cable. I think Sonic the Hedgehog is just as fun with an RF cable as it is through whatever kinds of cables you can hook a Genesis up with. Graphics just aren't that big of a deal to me.

[skaar]

No, I do not have sex with electronics.

[Cryomancer]

I'd like to be. But I have always owned pretty basic TVs, so even S-video is a distant dream to me.

[Timstuff]

I can't afford to be a videophile. I convicned my parents to buy an HDTV and I love watching Blu-Ray movies on my PS3 whenever I visit, but I am far to broke at this point to be picky about my image quality. I do use at lease A/V cables for all of my game systems though, because the picture quality for RF is unacceptably bad.

However, I do want to find a VA 3 or 4 Sega Genesis at some point, because the one I have is plagued by those horrid "Sega Lines" that affect all Genesises that have that crappy Samsung video chip.

[CosmicMonkey]

When I had a CRT telly I had everything running running via RGB Scart. This was simply a case of making or buying the correct cable for everything except the Duo R and AES; they had to be modified internally.

So yeah, I was pretty anal/OCD/fanatical about it, but I probably didn't go on about it as much as a certain person did. After all, you guys in the US only had S-Vid and more recently Component, it was only the UK that had RGB Scart on 99% of modern TVs. At the end of the day, you might as well get the best picture you possibly can if it's simply a case of buying the correct Scart cable.

Now we're onto the wonders of LCD panels, I've reached new heights of anality. I want the best upscaled picture with the least lag possible. So a DVDO Edge from Anchor Bay Tech is the answer. Garou: MotW and Last Blade in glorious 1080p, looking crisp as fuck with an unnoticeable 6ms lag. Yeah, $800 is a pretty good chuck of change for an Edge but when you've spent the cash on a whacking great LCD panel and a Neo Geo Home Cart system and games, it's really nothing.

[MarioMania]

I hate playing in RF..

Well except the Atari 7800, 2600 & Intv II...I mosty have Component,S-Video or AV

[Blanka789]

yes, definatly for me.

although i don't think any of us can hold a candle to the a/v fanatacism that was Anthony1


Seconded. I've become quite picky about how I hook systems up, but nothing compared to Anthony1.

[otaku]

Kind of I guess. Its not an imperative (I'm more concerned with playing on a nice tv with a nice size screen) currently:

60inch 1080p sony bravia with sony ps3 and digital cable in theatre room
57inch 1080i tv with 360-genesis, sega cd, neo geo aes hooked up.

PS3-HDMI
360-component (may upgrade to a new system soon with HDMI)
Genesis-composite wish I had svid
Neo Geo Svideo

I prefer to play older games on smaller tvs like 27inch crts but my crt is in a non gaming room right now.

[Garry Silljo]

No way. I've seen systems hooked up with every kind of cable I'm aware of and can barely admit to even seeing a difference.

[zektor]

I currently only have a Dreamcast, Gamecube and Turbografx 16...all hooked up standard A/V (Turbobooster Plus on the TG16) on a 40" CRT. I think it's fine. No, I think it looks freakin' great.

Maybe I'm not as picky as most (or maybe it's just the TV), but I have always though that the standard RCA jacks look just fine. I went ahead and moved to S-Video on the Dreamcast and Gamecube in the past (no longer have these cables however) and it didn't really seem any different honestly. Just me (or again, my TV) I suppose.

[skaar]

Seriously though, I am a quality fiend - if there's a "better" way to hook it up, I'll do it.

I haven't done any console mods or anything yet though.

[otoko]

If I can see it and play it
I don't particularly care.

[eskobar]

I was a video and audiophile ... but as many of us, i could not afford to be one.

The audio department was a very big deal for me and i think is way more expensive and has a more developed market than the video market.

I went as far as purchasing a $ 4,000 usd audio CABLE and a $ 20,000 usd pair of speakers ... ironically, i spent only 300 usd on my Macintosh integrated amplifier and 1,000 usd on my PrimaLuna tube amp ....

Now i try to enjoy the source material with decent quality and leave the high end to those who can afford it; high resolution, perfect color accuracy and contrast ... neutral sound image, full range speakers ... those things are second to the overall experience of a video game :D

[darkslime]

Not really. I use component cables for my 360 on an HDTV, but all of the other systems are just hooked up with standard A/V or RF cables on an SDTV.

[Hwj_Chim]

I like to use the best available connection for my systems, but i won't go so far as to mod them.

[LucidDefender]

Yes. It's the reason why I use an ISF calibrated tube CRT instead of a more modern LCD or plasma.

The contrast ratio is poor on LCDs, along with color accuracy, input lag with upscaling, and ghosting is still an issue. On the plasma end, there are issues with phosphor lag.

Like to OP, I have a VGA to YUV converter which allows me to view the dreamcast in 480p beauty on my TV. I do not have my N64 RGB modded, as I've read it doesn't help very much as the output of the n64 is blurred regardless.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I'm pretty picky about video quality, but not so much with video game systems from the 80's (and 90's). I try to hook up my systems with the best connection available short of doing expensive mods.

I'm more concerned about video quality from movies than 8-bit video game systems. I have a great surround sound system and widescreen TV on which to enjoy my library of movies.

[erik]

I am the OP and I am glad at least some people feel the way I do. When I first tried S-Video and Component back in 2004, I first did not notice the difference. But, after extensive viewing, there is quite a bit of difference, so much so, that it is unberable to play anything in composite anymore. Even though the composite picture on the NES is considered good, it is still very hard for me to see all of the dot-crawl that other players take for granted by assuming it is inherent to the game. It is not; there is dot crawl all over the place with many lines 'peppered' when thay are supposed to be solid. Once you play in S-Video or higher you simply cannot go back. Being a videophile and consistency freak, I will someday being playing all my games in YUV. My 2 cents.

[SpaceHarrier]

Naww. Whatever comes with the system is fine w/ me. Still use RF on some of em. Um, my TV pre-dates S-Video though, if that is any indicator... haha

[mario2butts]

Ever since as a kid I swapped out the broken/ fuzzy RF switch that came with my NES with a working/ clearer one, I've been a hardcore A/Vphile. Getting the best sound/ image out of my games has become a hobby in and of itself.

I connect all my consoles through an XRGB-3 upscan converter, which outputs VGA to a Sony FW900 24" CRT monitor and an Infocus SP4805 DLP projector. The projector, while enjoyable/ inexpensive, has a native resolution of only 854x480, so I'd like to upgrade it to a 1080p model when I have the means.

Genesis/ Sega CD, SNES, Saturn, and Neo Geo CD are connected to the XRGB via homemade RGB cables. 3DO and N64 are connected via S-Video, DC via VGA, and PS2, Xbox, Gamecube via component. The complexity/ color inaccuracies of an NES rgb mod have kept me from tackling it, though I've gotten decent results from running the composite signal through my receiver and using its comb filter to output an S-Video signal to the XRGB. I'm hunting for a top of the line stand alone comb filter to squeeze every last drop of performance possible from the NES' limited video out. I'm planning on modding my TurboDuo for RGB and my Atari 7800 for S-Video when I get around to it.

[megasdkirby]

It doesn't matter much to me.

I will admit I prefer using video connections that offer better quality, but I am perfectly happy using RF connections to play my games. As long as I can play them, I am happy.

[scooterb23]

Yes. It's the reason why I use an ISF calibrated tube CRT instead of a more modern LCD or plasma.

The contrast ratio is poor on LCDs, along with color accuracy, input lag with upscaling, and ghosting is still an issue. On the plasma end, there are issues with phosphor lag.

Like to OP, I have a VGA to YUV converter which allows me to view the dreamcast in 480p beauty on my TV. I do not have my N64 RGB modded, as I've read it doesn't help very much as the output of the n64 is blurred regardless.


You lost me after "Yes."

[neuropolitique]

High end video = high end audio. Is compete bullshit for people with disposable income.

[megasdkirby]

Question on Dreamcast and similar systems.

If I get the VGA box for Dreamcast, or use the VGA connector on the back of my PC's video card, and I buy a VGA to Component cable and connect it to an LCD monitor, what is the type of image I will see? Will it be good? What about regarding a PC?

[Letiumtide]

Kind of, I get the best I can for the systems without going an extra mile.

Like I managed to find Monster s-video Cables (used, cheap) for my Xbox and PS2, I have wii with Component and 360 with HDMI. But everything else is just the best that was offered for that system.

[kedawa]

I'm enough of a videophile to have happily payed hundreds of dollars for an XRGB2+ for my consoles, but I don't give a rats ass about HD movies or television.

[Tron 2.0]

I'm not that picky on picture qaulity though component has spoiled me. Still it's mostly for the wii,gc,ps2 and even my neogeo is modded for it.Though,it can be hard to go back to composite once you get used to component.I all most wish my other console had it such as my pce still long as the system works picture isn't every thing to me.Right now i just have a tv that's crt and a c64 montior as well...wich is good for the older ones.

[cyberfluxor]

I'm satisfied with what came "as is" with the systems for video/audio. I don't have a high-end television to utilize RGB or Component and don't see myself doing it in the future to modify consoles for those formats. I was thinking about an S-Video mod for my VCS and PAM consoles, but then they sync well enough and appear fine even with a little static at times.

[RJ]

As long as I can see enough of what's going on to play, Im fine. Though I did upgrade my PS2 to S-video, & my Jaguar & SNES to A/V cables, & was looking into doing the same for my Genesis until I read the quality isnt notable.

[erik]

Question on Dreamcast and similar systems.

If I get the VGA box for Dreamcast, or use the VGA connector on the back of my PC's video card, and I buy a VGA to Component cable and connect it to an LCD monitor, what is the type of image I will see? Will it be good? What about regarding a PC?

To Megasdkirby,
There are 2 options if you are using the DC VGA Box:

1. You can use the VGA Box to connect to a PC monitor or an HDTV with a VGA input.

OR

2. If your HDTV does not have a VGA input, you will have to purchase a VGA-YUV transcoder to convert the VGA signal to a 480p Component signal.
Important!!! A VGA to component cable WILL NOT WORK! The transcoder(about $75-100) is required because the Dreamcast does not natively output component video.

As for the image quality, it is indeed very good. 3-D games such as Tony Hawk 2 and Rayman 2 are noticeably better even than S-Video. However, some 2-D Capcom and SNK fighters may look a little more pixelated though.
I have never tried the PC route, because I like a bigger screen and good speakers. I am sure the picture quality is great anyhow. I hope I answered your questions.

[shopkins]

I just try to buy the best type of cables I can get for a system without having to mod anything.

[c0ldb33r]

If I had an HD TV, maybe I would be, for right now I've got everything connected through either RCA or RF, so my answer is a big fat "no".

[TurboGenesis]

I couldn't care less…

I enjoy a decent picture but I am not in the anus about it.

I go to the extent to connnections my console with the highest offering (SNES = super VHS, Genesis= a/v, current console = component, et cetera…) but I live in USA region so RGB is not a choice.

There are fellows who go to great extends to modify, filter, add fake scan lines and force low res but I couldn't care less. I play games for hobby and enjoyment, not for obsession. I played Mushi PCB and played Mushi PS2 and I don't complain about picture like some high brow do :roll:

[Superman]

I'm more of a video traditionalist. I just use whatever came with the system.

Like coldb33r mentioned, I also don't have the latest and greatest TV, so that is my weakest link. But I don't mind, because if it was any different, it wouldn't have the nostalgia, which is the reason I play many of my games.

[LiquidPolicenaut]

I would say "somewhat". I pretty much keep in line with what the best output a system can offer with no mod (i.e. SNES = Svideo, Turbo Duo = Composite, etc.) except I did mod my Genesis/Sega CD to output S-Video and that made a HUGE difference. Eveyrhting else looks pretty damn fine they way they are....

[slip81]

yes, definatly for me.

although i don't think any of us can hold a candle to the a/v fanatacism that was Anthony1

actually, Anthony hooked everything up through RF, including his PS3. And that home theater he supposedly built in his garage, mirrors.

[Joe West]

I only collect neo-geo <aes home> & <mvs consolized console> which both have all the bell's and whistles.......guess im spoiled, the arcade graphics is the only way too go

[Tron 2.0]

I only collect neo-geo <aes home> & <mvs consolized console> which both have all the bell's and whistles.......guess im spoiled, the arcade graphics is the only way too go
What !? This thread is about picture qaulity as in are you satisfy with composite or do you prefer component,s-video and rgb more ?