Seeking "decent" setup for SNES + Genesis on LCD HDTV

[cdawg]

Noob here----I am in the US and am looking for a recommended setup for Genesis and SNES on my Sharp Aquos LCD HDTV. Note it does not have VGA input---only HDMI and S-video. I know the XRGB framemeister is widely considered the best but I'm looking to get a decent setup for much less $. I am considering the SLG-in-box route, however, am unsure on converting its VGA output to HDMI for my tv. I've read that Manhattan converters are good--Is something like this ok?

https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-177351 ... +manhattan

These two components put me in the $205 USD range (w/o shipping) which comes in much less than the XRGB mini. Any other suggestions?

Finally, I know that RGB Scart cables will be needed for both consoles. Any recommendations on quality cable sources?

Thanks!

[tacoguy64]

If you can find it in the $300 price range, then the frameister is the way to go. I hate recommending it since prices are up there, but the extra $100 you would spend on the other set up is more than worth it.

https://solarisjapan.com/products/xrgb- ... caler-unit

Other options include waiting for an OSSC. That only cost about $200 all set up. You can get it cheaper if you assemble it yourself. The only problem with the OSSC is that there is a long waiting list. If you can wait, that device will be really good for you.

https://www.videogameperfection.com/pro ... converter/

If you are only going to play those 2 systems it could be cheaper to just get this specific HDRetrovision cable for both systems. Of course they are sold out atm so i would check them out and see when they will be available.
https://shop.hdretrovision.com/products ... 9764369347

For quality SCART cables, check with ebay sellers. This one is the most popular ones, but others are good too.
http://www.ebay.com/usr/retro_console_a ... 7675.l2559

[Harrumph]

If you are only going to play those 2 systems it could be cheaper to just get this specific HDRetrovision cable for both systems. Of course they are sold out atm so i would check them out and see when they will be available.
https://shop.hdretrovision.com/products ... 9764369347

SNES compatibility doesn't loook too hot on the Sharp sets tested.
http://www.hdretrovision.com/240p/#list

Make sure you check compatibility on your TV set before ordering! (Instructions are further down on the same page).

If it does work I think it would certainly be the cheapest option.

[tacoguy64]

Good looking out. Any other solutions that im missing? If i remember correctly most the other scalers had one or more annoying things about them. Most of them deal breakers like high input lag.

[neorichieb1971]

Good looking out. Any other solutions that im missing? If i remember correctly most the other scalers had one or more annoying things about them. Most of them deal breakers like high input lag.

It depends on what expectations you have. You can't have your 100% needs met and a cost of $50.

I'd get an OSSC right now if I could justify it.

[orange808]

The last XRGB-1 sold on ebay for $60 usd. A bargain given it's performance and potential PCB compatibility.

[MetalMilitia]

You could also get S-Video cables and hook right up to your TV. It won't be perfect, but its a cheap alternative. S-Video still looks 100 times better than composite IMO. And it will only cost you $10 to get a decent cable. Of course, this will only work for the SNES. Genesis will still need another solution.

You could go the SLG in a box route. I have a similar setup that works pretty well. You would just need a cheap VGA to HDMI trans-coder to get it hooked up to your TV.

[cdawg]

Thanks for all the comments.

It appears that my options are:
1. ~$200 for OSSC---get on the wait list
2. ~$200 for SLG-in-box + VGA to HDMI transcoder (I linked a Manhattan model above---comments on this are welcome or recommendations of other units)
3. Previous XRGB models (used?) if I can find one. I haven't researched these so don't know the differences btw previous versions and the mini.
4. ~$320 Framemeister (I realize shipping not included for any of these and may not be equivalent but should be close)

I will read up a bit more on the OSSC as I am not too familiar with it. Is it basically equivalent to the Framemeister for what I will need but at < 2/3 the price?

Regarding S-video---I ordered a N64 S-video cable and it looked no different that composite into the same tv. So I sent it back. Not sure if I got a bad cable or had expectations that were too high---either way, the cable I ordered was not worth the $15 I spent on it so I returned it.

[FinalBaton]

I have this VGA to HDMI adapter and it works well and costs half the price of the Manhattan one, so I thought I would mention it :

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1080P-Audio-VGA- ... SwB09YJYH-

[MetalMilitia]

S-Video on the N64 and SNES are two different beasts. It will greatly clean up the image for a 16 bit system like the SNES. It's really hard to make the N64 look good at all unless you are using the Ultra HDMI mod.

[Hoagtech]

I have this VGA to HDMI adapter and it works well and costs half the price of the Manhattan one, so I thought I would mention it :

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1080P-Audio-VGA- ... SwB09YJYH-

I just got that model and im not happy with it. My dream cast coming from the Toro is really hard to see in dark scenes and all my bright whites are grayish blue on my sony.

I'm waiting for an extra scart cable before I try the RGBs output on the toro connected to the framemeister but I'm not too stoked because my GameCube didn't look all that great on the mini.

I would not recommend those vga adapters (both my white box and that cheap looking black one) until you find out if it crushes your blacks or not.

Another weird problem I had with the white vga to hdmi scaler was my straight lines were wiggling like the whole picture was in a desert with fumes everywhere.

i still do not know what the best setup is. I'm stumped. I would try a scart to component for the money saving and decent color. And then maybe dabble in a cheap 480p to 1080p component to hdmi scaler chained.

[bigbadboaz]

S-Video on the N64 and SNES are two different beasts. It will greatly clean up the image for a 16 bit system like the SNES. It's really hard to make the N64 look good at all unless you are using the Ultra HDMI mod.

This. If you are at all interested in trying this as a budget option, give S-Video on the SNES a try.

[FinalBaton]

I just got that model and im not happy with it. My dream cast coming from the Toro is really hard to see in dark scenes and all my bright whites are grayish blue on my sony.

I'm waiting for an extra scart cable before I try the RGBs output on the toro connected to the framemeister but I'm not too stoked because my GameCube didn't look all that great on the mini.

I would not recommend those vga adapters (both my white box and that cheap looking black one) until you find out if it crushes your blacks or not.

Another weird problem I had with the white vga to hdmi scaler was my straight lines were wiggling like the whole picture was in a desert with fumes everywhere.

i still do not know what the best setup is. I'm stumped. I would try a scart to component for the money saving and decent color. And then maybe dabble in a cheap 480p to 1080p component to hdmi scaler chained.

Ah, sorry that it doesn't work for you I feel bad for recommending it now.
From memory it worked well in my setup, but if it didn't in yours than it's important that you mention it on here. Thanks for sharing your experience with it.

(I also have the same brand but the other way around (hdmi to vga) and that one works really well on my CRT. But maybe the VGA to HDMI one isn't so hot after all. Or just not very compatible.)

[CaveManGamer]

Prior to finding an LED tv with a VGA input, I used a cheapo laptop vga to hdmi converter to use with my Dreamcast. It cost me $20 CAD and, IMO, improved colours and textures of the DC. In addition to the converter, I also purchased a VGA female to female adapter, and a female to female 3.5 mm adapter for the audio. With everything, the setup cost me $25 CAD, worked with my setup and slightly improved the DCs video output. Once I pick up a good quality HDMI switch, I'll probably hook it up again.
Anyways, thought it was a cheap alternative to some of the other options.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00K4W ... UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.ca/niceeshop-Female- ... +to+female

[cdawg]

Ive looked into the OSSC a bit---it appears that there are known issues with the SNES, which is one of the systems I plan to use. Does anyone know if these issues have been or will be resolved with firmware upgrades? Otherwise I may be limited to the SLG in box + hdmi transcoder or the Framemeister...

[neorichieb1971]

Apparently all the issues are with line triple mode with the SNES. And most folks are happy with line double mode.

[CaveManGamer]

Matt from videogameperfection has a growing list of compatible/incompatible displays, as well as wether line triple mode works or not with snes. It's becoming a fairly comprehensive list and I was able to locate my 47" LG as a display that works line triple and snes.

[Hoagtech]

It seems to me that the state of the ossc is contingent on a 720p to 1080p scaler.

I do not think anyone has a 720p display in the modern era but 1080p is a terrible norm for us as it does not scale proportionally to 240p.

I don't know why we couldn't just make it 960p or 1200p as the norm.

[Unseen]

I don't know why we couldn't just make it 960p or 1200p as the norm.

1920 horizontal pixels derives from the intent of doubling the horizontal resolution of SD content (in Rec. 601, so 720 pixels) and extending that to accomodate 16:9 material - 720 * 2 * 4/3. Another requirement was to use square pixels (finally!), so you get 1920 / 16 * 9 = 1080.

720p was similarly derived using a 4/3 horizontal resolution enhancement over SD.

Source (Page 10)

[Xyga]

And btw thanks to industry logic actual 720p displays practically were never a thing right when we needed them.

1366x768

One thousand three hundred sixty six per seven hundred sixty motherfucking eight pixels.

[Hoagtech]

I am interested in the OP's solution. I am getting my little brothers n64 scart modded.

And I had no idea what to reccomend him as I know the limitations of the smeary black hdmi box.

Has anyone used this piece of shit yet?

[Guspaz]

And btw thanks to industry logic actual 720p displays practically were never a thing right when we needed them.

1366x768

One thousand three hundred sixty six per seven hundred sixty motherfucking eight pixels.

Yeah, I can't remember ever having seen an actual 720p television. They were all 1366x768 and involved a slight upscale that really didn't help softness. My first HDTV was a beast of an LG 37" (probably weighed more than a modern 77") that did not support 1:1 pixels and had mandatory overscan. No way to feed it any signal but 720p or 1080i, and no way to disable overscan.

[Xyga]

Go figure but I remember many of those HD-Ready sets had 'hidden' PC modes turning off most if not off all of the processing and scaling.
You had to send a 1360x768@60 signal to trigger it. Always puzzled me.

[Unseen]

Go figure but I remember many of those HD-Ready sets had 'hidden' PC modes turning off most if not off all of the processing and scaling.
You had to send a 1360x768@60 signal to trigger it. Always puzzled me.

IIRC Windows XP only supported video modes whose width is a multiple of 8, so it had to be 1360 instead of 1366

[mvsfan]

I have a Gbs8200 and it looks very decent for a flat screen. my snes looks good on it. Going through rgb input of course.

I had trouble at first because i was using the ypbpr inputs and my mini slg was causing the picture to cut out when i turned on scanlines.
But only through component.

also you want to set it to 640x480 resolution.

The setup works fiine since i switched it to rgb.

and way less $ than a framemeister.

[cdawg]

mvsfan: what input is going to your tv? Are you using vga or do you have an hdmi transcoder?