PS1/PS2 - Which tv/monitor type and model to use?

[alice_squared]

Hello all,

Sorry to be a nuisance, but I am a complete beginner when it comes to hardware.

I have a Playstation 2, which I use to play both PS1 and PS2 titles. However, I currently use a ridiculous 52" HD 4K Smart TV as a display. What I really want, is a moderately sized (below 30", no smaller than 20") display, that has been BUILT AND DESIGNED with the Playstation 1 and Playstation 2 in mind, allowing for beautifully crisp colours and movements. I imagine a modern HD television is not the best for this...

I imagine the fact that I play both PS1 and PS2 titles on the same console may throw up some difficulties as perhaps the PS1 and PS2 require different types of displays, or are at least designed with different displays in mind? Honestly, I am so awful with hardware that I don't even know where to begin. Do I pick a "CRT" (whatever that is) or a more modern "LCD/LED/whatever"? Do I use SCART as a connector? How do I know that the display I pick has RGB functionality?

I apologise in advance, as I imagine this post will cause nausea and pity in many of you. I am sincerely sorry for my lack of knowledge on such things; I wish I had dedicated more of my life to understanding them.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

[FinalBaton]

Hello Alice

There are 2 "hot"(read : very active at the moment) threads right now which discuss display solutions for the 6th gen consoles. I suggest you check these as you'll find ton of info and opinions on what's best for the ps2 :

Here : http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=58174

And here : http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=58239


To resume things :
The one important thing to take away here is that : ps1 and ps2 are both 480i systems (ps2 has a couple of 480p games, but really not much. For all instance and purposes, it's a 480i system).

So playing them on a standard def CRT tv/pro monitor is best.

For playing them on your HDTV, you'll most probably need a Framemeister to get great results. Unless your HDTV handles 480i super well, but that is a rare occurence.

[Guspaz]

Yes, basically a good consumer CRT with (since you're in europe) RGB SCART inputs will probably be the easiest/cheapest option for you. CRT stands for "Cathode Ray Tube", and they're the big boxy glass televisions that were standard from around the 1930s until maybe a decade and a half ago. Without getting into the details of how they work, they are the type of display that older consoles (basically the console generation of the PS2 and earlier) were designed for.

In fact, consoles from the PS1 generation and earlier tended to use a special trick in their video signal (called "240p", a reference to the number of horizontal lines that form the image on the screen) that was specifically designed to take advantage of how CRT televisions worked, with their analog mechanisms. Because later digital televisions and displays worked, they generally don't handle the 240p trick well.

So, if you can get a decent tube television with RGB SCART input, that's going to be the easiest and best solution: you just plug the console into the TV with the appropriate cable (an RGB SCART cable for the PS2) and it'll just work, it'll look good (if the TV is good), and it won't have any delay in displaying the image like newer TVs would.

I'm not an expert on european televisions, but my understanding is that most TVs with a built-in SCART connector are going to accept an RGB signal. If you were in North America and looking for the simplest option, I'd tell you to get a CRT with component video inputs, and to use a component cable from your PS2.

EDIT: For best results, avoid any high definition CRT television. If you see a CRT television that says "HD" or "HDTV" or "100Hz" or "widescreen", you should avoid them. Most of them will suffer from the same problems as modern HDTVs.

Also, keep in mind that CRT televisions are very heavy. For example, a 27" Sony WEGA television weighs around 100lbs (45 kg).

[alice_squared]

Many thanks to both of you for your help with this!

So it seems after reading through your responses that I need a few things:

- 1x SD CRT (with RGB SCART inputs?) I presume RGB is a way the image is displayed? Or perhaps refers to a function of SCART?

- 1x SCART CABLE (I presume any regular SCART cable will do? Or must it be a SCART with RGB functionality?)

If so, my next question would be:

"Where on Earth do I start when looking for a suitable SD CRT?"

You mentioned that they have been around since the 1930s, but I imagine I want to be looking for something made in the 90s or 2000s? Do either of you know of any models in particular that would be a good, not overly expensive SD CRT? And is there an optimal sceen size?

Apologies again for knowing nothing,

[austin532]

Yes, basically a good consumer CRT with (since you're in europe) RGB SCART inputs will probably be the easiest/cheapest option for you. CRT stands for "Cathode Ray Tube", and they're the big boxy glass televisions that were standard from around the 1930s until maybe a decade and a half ago. Without getting into the details of how they work, they are the type of display that older consoles (basically the console generation of the PS2 and earlier) were designed for.

In other words, the old TV's before HDTV's.

In fact, consoles from the PS1 generation and earlier tended to use a special trick in their video signal (called "240p", a reference to the number of horizontal lines that form the image on the screen) that was specifically designed to take advantage of how CRT televisions worked, with their analog mechanisms. Because later digital televisions and displays worked, they generally don't handle the 240p trick well.

So, if you can get a decent tube television with RGB SCART input, that's going to be the easiest and best solution: you just plug the console into the TV with the appropriate cable (an RGB SCART cable for the PS2) and it'll just work, it'll look good (if the TV is good), and it won't have any delay in displaying the image like newer TVs would.

I'm not an expert on european televisions, but my understanding is that most TVs with a built-in SCART connector are going to accept an RGB signal. If you were in North America and looking for the simplest option, I'd tell you to get a CRT with component video inputs, and to use a component cable from your PS2.

EDIT: For best results, avoid any high definition CRT television. If you see a CRT television that says "HD" or "HDTV" or "100Hz" or "widescreen", you should avoid them. Most of them will suffer from the same problems as modern HDTVs.

Also, keep in mind that CRT televisions are very heavy. For example, a 27" Sony WEGA television weighs around 100lbs (45 kg).

Yeah, it helps to have two people. Sadly they only go up in weight from there with some of the bigger models reaching well into the 150-200lb range.

BTW FinalBaton, I consider the Playstation a 240p system. Although it does boot up in 480i. Now I kind of wonder if it really is a 480i system that supports 240p.....(rubs chin).....interesting

[FinalBaton]

BTW FinalBaton, I consider the Playstation a 240p system. Although it does boot up in 480i. Now I kind of wonder if it really is a 480i system that supports 240p.....(rubs chin).....interesting

yes it's a 240p system. But I wrote 480i(which it is, in a way, since 240p is a hack of sort on the 480i standard) so that the correlation with "displays well on a 480i SD CRT" was clear

[Taiyaki]

If you go pro for PS1 and PS2 I wouldn't recommend a high line count pro monitor. It tends to give polygons a different look than you'd expect, not necessarily bad but it takes some adjusting. I'd go with a good consumer crt if you're looking for an authentic look. Hook up the PS1 via S-video (try and find the sony official cables, they were even gold plated iirc) and for the PS2 use component (again if possible please go with the official Sony cables).

[azmun]

So it seems after reading through your responses that I need a few things:

- 1x SD CRT (with RGB SCART inputs?) I presume RGB is a way the image is displayed? Or perhaps refers to a function of SCART?
- 1x SCART CABLE (I presume any regular SCART cable will do? Or must it be a SCART with RGB functionality?)

If so, my next question would be:

"Where on Earth do I start when looking for a suitable SD CRT?"

You mentioned that they have been around since the 1930s, but I imagine I want to be looking for something made in the 90s or 2000s? Do either of you know of any models in particular that would be a good, not overly expensive SD CRT? And is there an optimal sceen size?

Basically, RGB is a type of video signal. Your PS2 can be connected to a display (tv, monitor, projector, etc.) in a number of ways. I'm going to assume your previous set up involved composite cables (yellow, red and white plugs)? Here, it is highly suggested you change your cables and display for two primary reasons.

1-reduce lag
2-improve picture quality

Lag is the delay between pressing a button and seeing the game react. Any SCART (aka euro connector) cable designed for a PS or PS2 console should be able to carry the best signal via RGB. Images will appear sharper with less color bleeding.

You may opt to use your existing (composite) cables in a SD CRT, provided the tv has proper inputs (similar to the ones connected to your HDTV). It will not look as nice as RGB via SCART but probably still better than your HDTV and it will play just fine without any input lag.

Better yet, find a CRT tv that has euro connector inputs. Shouldn't be too difficult or expensive either, since they came standard in Europe. You're best bet to find one is in cash converters or some other second hand market since as mentioned these type of televisions have been out of production for quite some time. The size of the tv is a matter of preference and have pros and cons. Smaller tvs have screens that tend to be sharper and are easier to carry and place around the house. Larger ones weigh more and have screens that may magnify and/or expose flaws. Optimal screen size depends on your viewing distance. Best of luck!

[tacoguy64]

I would actually be kinda curious how nice up-scaled PS1/PS2 graphics look on a 4k tv. You would obviously need a good upscaler like the OSSC or Frameister for that but the results could be pretty nice.

But those other guys pretty much said everything I can say on the matter.

[mvsfan]

A Sony wega will weigh far more than almost any other comparable brand. It has a bit sharper picture, BUT
I have a 36" JVC tv that weighs Far less than my 32" wega.
i wouldnt want to move the wega again. The Jvc can easily be lifted by 2 people.

other than that, i think most things were covered.