RetroDuo NES/SNES Clone Official Thread. Castlevania III, StarFox WORK, SMRPG WARNING

[Ace]

That's identical to mine(it's the newest model). I think those have some kind of design flaw on the Super NES board causing some kind of interference in the Super NES side's video output. Do any owners of Black/Red, Silver/Black and Red/Gold models experience the same kind of staticky interference on their RetroDuo's Super NES side?

[Troglodyte]

Do any owners of Black/Red, Silver/Black and Red/Gold models experience the same kind of staticky interference on their RetroDuo's Super NES side?

Like I wrote in an earlier post; I own the Silver/Black model, and I don't seem to have this problem.
Perhaps, it is very faint, and I am just not seeing it.
However, I did experience this problem with my
FC Dual and my Super NicoFami.

The NES Audio problem, on the other hand, seems to be a universal issue among NOACs.
I haven't bothered to attempt the described fix however. If it helps, I can try and take
pictures of the motherboard tomorrow.

[Ace]

If you have a Super GameBoy, pay close attention to the screen while running that. The static is IMPOSSIBLE to miss when using the Super GameBoy on the RetroDuo.

[darth]

The video problems are what bothers me the most. The SNES "static line" is kind of transparent but still quite noticable. It's the reason I don't use my RetroDuo. And the NES washed out colors are also kind of annoying but not so bad. The sound issues are hit or miss depending on the game. I don't even have a soldering iron to do the fix yet though. Another thing I just noticed that isn't really a problem, but just kind of strange is that if I unplug the right audio from the tv (the red one), the sound still comes out of both speakers. I then put the white one into the red input and it still plays out of both speakers with just the white audio cable, why?

[Ace]

I just discovered something about the RetroDuo. While rearranging all of my game consoles yesterday, I happened to move the switchbox in which I had the RetroDuo plugged into, as well as the RetroDuo itself. Before, the switchbox was next to a heater, my RF connections and my Atari 5200 4-Port RF box, and the strips of static were clearly visible on bright colors, espeically white and gray. Now, I moved the switchbox away from all that, and the static is gone. Keep in mind that my RetroDuo was already modified with a new Composite and S-Video amp for the Super NES side using 470uF capacitors soldered in series with a 75ohm resistor from the KA2198BD encoder to the Composite and S-Video jacks.

After finding this out, I'm under the impression that the RetroDuo is HIGHLY succeptible to interference from other electrical devices.

Now, as for the NES washed out colors, I sort of took care of that by cutting the part of the ribbon cable that carries the NOAC signals(audio, video, controller signals, etc) that has the NOAC's Composite video and put 2 75ohm resistors in series from there to the Composite jack. It saturates the video a bit more, but anything yellow or orange comes out INCREDIBLY dull, almost with a gray tint. Is there a better way to saturate a video signal?

I will take a picture of my RetroDuo's internals soon for those who are thinking of performing the video fixes and the NES audio fix.

[darth]

That's pretty weird, just shows how little effort they put into making these things. I'm fed up with mine. I'm just gonna put it back in the box and hope to trade/sell it. Might as well just buy a real top loading NES and mini SNES.

[Troglodyte]

I happened to move the switch box in which I had the Retro Duo plugged into, as well as the Retro Duo itself. Before, the switch box was next to a heater, my RF connections and my Atari 5200 4-Port RF box, and the strips of static were clearly visible on bright colors, especially white and gray. Now, I moved the switch box away from all that, and the static is gone.

After finding this out, I'm under the impression that the Retro Duo is HIGHLY susceptible to interference from other electrical devices.

I wouldn't be so quick to judge the Retro Duo; based on the fact that you had a heater plugged into the same power strip / surge protector / outlet, or generally just within close physical proximity to the Retro Duo. Having sensitive electronics, like computers, TVs, Radios and not to mention game consoles, near Heaters, is never a good idea. They draw too much power, and often can cause large levels of interference.
I am not calling you out on this, or even trying to put you down, but they even teach this fact in the most basic level of electrical and
computer classes.

Might as well just buy a real top loading NES and mini SNES.

I wouldn't recommend either of these models. I have owned both the top loading NES and the Mini SNES. The NES top loader only has RF, and the mini SNES; only AV via standard RCA. The top loader also suffers from scan lines that are still visible when the AV mod is implemented (I confirmed this myself when I did the mod before selling mine). The original NES and SNES (which features S-Video, and can be modded to output RGB), are much better products. However, I personally like my Retro Duo better than these two original consoles. While I can't recommend it over the originals in all cases / for everyone, it is a very good product. I have had no scan line problems, but I will verify that by putting in my Super Game Boy, soon enough; to see if the lines are their and just faint.

Anyway, I do feel that the Retro Duo isa much better product than both the top loading NES, and the mini SNES. The products are much too expensive and very over hyped; especially do to the loss in video quality among both of them. I have had no apparent problems with the video quality / interference with my Retro Duo, so I can't really comment on these issues.

[darth]

The NES top loader only has RF, and the mini SNES; only AV via standard RCA. The top loader also suffers from scan lines that are still visible when the AV mod is implemented (I confirmed this myself when I did the mod before selling mine).

Well, it is POSSIBLE to mod the top loader and remove those scan lines (They are caused by poor shielding). and as for the mini SNES, having only AV is just perfect, as RF is obsolete now. Anyway, I have two original model SNES systems that work perfectly, so I won't be getting a mini SNES any time soon (plus my brother has one). And the only way I'm getting a top loading NES is if it has AV and no scan lines. I'll have to confirm that before I make any purchase.

[randomencountergames]

I wouldn't be so quick to judge the Retro Duo; based on the fact that you had a heater plugged into the same power strip / surge protector / outlet, or generally just within close physical proximity to the Retro Duo. Having sensitive electronics, like computers, TVs, Radios and not to mention game consoles, near Heaters, is never a good idea. They draw too much power, and often can cause large levels of interference.
I am not calling you out on this, or even trying to put you down, but they even teach this fact in the most basic level of electrical and
computer classes.


I wouldn't recommend either of these models. I have owned both the top loading NES and the Mini SNES. The NES top loader only has RF, and the mini SNES; only AV via standard RCA. The top loader also suffers from scan lines that are still visible when the AV mod is implemented (I confirmed this myself when I did the mod before selling mine). The original NES and SNES (which features S-Video, and can be modded to output RGB), are much better products. However, I personally like my Retro Duo better than these two original consoles. While I can't recommend it over the originals in all cases / for everyone, it is a very good product. I have had no scan line problems, but I will verify that by putting in my Super Game Boy, soon enough; to see if the lines are their and just faint.

Anyway, I do feel that the Retro Duo isa much better product than both the top loading NES, and the mini SNES. The products are much too expensive and very over hyped; especially do to the loss in video quality among both of them. I have had no apparent problems with the video quality / interference with my Retro Duo, so I can't really comment on these issues.

Just so you know, since I keep seeing you tell people a lot of things about the NES top loader. There is a version with the SNES/GC style AV out. You can also pass the RF through a VCR, and go out composite, along with clearing the picture up. The top loader is a great product and superior to any NES machine made for the US.

I love the Retro Duo, but honestly it has nothing on real hardware. Don't kid.