Sony KX-1901 help needed

[it290]

So, I just picked up a Sony KX-1901 from the ARC for twenty bucks. This is a pretty cool TV from the early 80s that has some nice 'pro' stylings. It will accept analog or digital RGB input in the form of a 34-pin 'multi RGB input' connector -- which a floppy disc cable from a PC will fit just fine.

Unfortunately I have had no luck so far getting RGB to work. The pinouts available online are ambiguous as to orientation, and so far I can only discern that the pins on the key side are 18-34, and those on the other side are 1-17, as opposed to a FDC connector which tends to be labeled 1-3-5-7 etc. To make matters worse, not all the pinouts online agree with each other.

Anyway, so far all I've been able to get it to do is display a rolling image with the wrong colors, so obviously I'm not hooking something up correctly. Obviously I have at least one of the RGB pins in the right place, but the sync isn't on the right line, even though it should be.

I'll keep experimenting, but with 34 pins there are a lot of possible combinations. If anyone has hooked up one of these, or another 'profeel' series TV in the past, any help on getting it working would be much appreciated.

[Specineff]

I had a problem getting my PVM to accept raw sync from my genny, until I tried using one of the cables Matt made for me. It worked fine with Composite sync. Could it be that?

EDIT

http://zekfrivolous.com/faq/sam/vidconv.htm

These monitors are regular NTSC monitors, but I'm sure they can be connected to computers the same way I connected the KX-2501... using a simple buffer circuit and special video drivers. Another possibility is to build a component-to-RGB converter for really high quality DVD playback (better than S-Video)... the blanking feature seems interesting but the RGB source would have to be synchronized with the composite source. I think the KX's/XBR's have the blanking input, too.

The Sony RGB Multi Input pinout is also valid for the kV-25XBR; it should also work with the kV-20XBR and KX-1901, and I know it works with a KX-2501. (The KX series monitors are the original Sony Profeel monitors from about 1983, and they are very common.)

A female 34-pin floppy connector will mate with the Sony connector just fine. I was able to use the analog RGB input on a KX-2501 to display VGA PC video using a sync level converter circuit and drivers from:

<SNIP>

[it290]

As far as I can tell, the blanking feature allows composite and RGB video to be displayed at the same time; ie for some kind of genlocked overlay or something like that. I don't think it's related to the sync issue.

As for feeding it 'raw' sync from the Genesis, I'm not sure what you mean by that. Are you saying that you were using composite video (rather than sync) for the sync pin? The Genesis doesn't output separate sync. In any case, I am only sending the monitor composite sync.

Basically I was just wondering if anyone had a confirmed working pinout, if I can get that I can get the rest working. Also I'm not sure if I need to do anything with the 'RGB' and 'mode select' pins... don't think so, but again I'm not sure.

[Specineff]

In my case, the monitor would not take display anything when using the Sync from the genesis RGB output. Rather I had to use a Sync separator LM 1881, or whatever its name is, for the monitor to work.

[AndRP]

Hello everybody,

I recently acquired a KX-1901 with a manual. Here is a scan of the pinout info:



Please refer to the full PDF manual below for more information.

[FinalBaton]

sorry for the necrobump

I wanted to know : how hard would it be for a n00b like myself, to make a female scart(w/ sync stripper) to 34 pin multi-RGB male cable of this type?

I have the opportunity to grab a KV-20XBR in good condition for $25. At that price, I don't mind having to build a cable.
The OP of this thread mentionned that a floppy drive cable 34pin connector fits nicely on in the monitor's end. Has this been confirmed? That would make the project a heck of a lot easier if so.

[AndRP]

Hello,

I just wanted to pass along a complete high resolution manual scan I did for the Sony Trinitron Component TV Profeel series models KX-1901 and KX-2501.

This may also be a useful reference for other late-1970's to mid-1980's Sony television sets as well, as it contains the full specifications and pinout for their 34-pin digital RGB multi input connector.

Enjoy!