"Best" PS1 model?

[Lawfer]

List of PS1 Retail Models:

SCPH-1000 Rev.A (Japan Only)

SCPH-100X Rev.B (US and Europe)

SCPH-3000 (Japan Only)

SCPH-3500 (Japan Only)

SCPH-5000 (Japan Only, AV Out Connectors Removed Starting From This Point On)

SCPH-500X

SCPH-550X

SCPH-5552 (Europe Only)

SCPH-5903 (Asia Only, Has AV Out Connectors)

SCPH-700X

SCPH-750X

SCPH-900X (Serial Port Removed Starting From This Point On)

SCPH-10X (PSone)


Net Yaroze Models:

DTL-H1000 (Japan Only)

DTL-H100XH (Japan and US)

DTL-H100X (US and Europe)

DTL-H110X

DTL-H120X

DTL-H300X


From what I read, earlier models had FMV and music skipping issues, banding issues, not to mention the whole laser issue due to a design flaw, though apparently they have a better analog audio output.

The last two PS1 models supposedly have a brighter output than other models.

[Xyga]

All models age anyway, some issues less mentioned include the PSU port desoldered points, controller+memcard blocks refusing to see pads and cards (major problem!), and the laser acting will happen on late models too.

This is all mostly due to wear from connectivity/moving parts, IMHO it's more essential to check those rather than worry about the model number.

Laser blocks are available new for cheap though, just check the model compatibility before buying.

[bigbadboaz]

What are you most concerned about? Drive durability, audio quality, stock outputs..?

Personally I would try to pinpoint the sweetspot in the early run where they still had the supposed audiophile CD quality but the disc drive had been upgraded for better durability. I don't know this, or if it even exists - the audio components may have been downgraded by the time everyone's PS1s were already upside-down . The very early models with a full suite of outputs are pretty cool, but not really necessary since there are all types of cables for the Sony multi-out.

Yes, everything wears over time, but the CD drives went from all plastic moving parts ( ) to metal when they upgraded. I would certainly consider this important.

[SCARTicus]

I strongly prefer the miniature model. I never have to turn it upside-down. I like that it has an external PSU. It doesn't skip on FMV like the old ones, and it is a third the size. My PSOne is by far the smallest console that I own, and it is usually the one that I play the most.

The older models had cooler bios graphics. Some people get weird about the ones with RCA ports. There is a model that supposedly has a nicer DAC, but all models have pretty nice output. They often need to be turned upside-down to avoid overheating due to a bizarre design flaw. This was true even when they were new out of the box, it is not something that is due to them being old machines today. They did it back then. In 1998 my PSX was always upside-down or games wouldn't always load successfully.

[bigbadboaz]

There is indeed something to be said for the PSOne. I never felt it lacked anything compared to the original, and the controllers were noticeably improved. Yes, all the controllers are cross-compatible, but as a collector I need everything to visually match.

[FinalBaton]

my favourite is the 5001 and 5501. They have the same great audio DAC as the 1000/1001/1002, but with better laser placement (no rca audio out, but whatever)

but I'm pretty sure everyone on here already know this

the wikipedia page has lots of info, don't know if all true or not : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStati ... _of_models

Otherwise : as Xyga said. Test any Playstation you intend to buy to make sure it works properly. Buying one online is a huge gamble, whatever the model number is.

[kitrinx]

The parallel port on 7500 and before is nice to have for things like PSIO in case you decide you don't want to rely on lasers.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, the PSOne with the official LCD monitor is ace in my book. You can even hook up the PSOne LCD monitor to a PS2 and play games/watch DVDs on it as well (provided that you use a device to remove the green screen when in RGB mode).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[citrus3000psi]

My vote is the 700x. Good laser and can be Toslink modded

[FinalBaton]

These threads might be of some help:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=58578

I knew there was already a thread on here regarding this exact topic

[neorichieb1971]

I have a Japanese launch model. SCPH1000.

I replaced the laser once during the PS3 era. It works and looks like new.

Lets remember that during the hey day of the PS1 a lot of people used chipped machines, gold discs, were swapping disc mid flight etc. That won't happen anymore and the amount of usage it will get will be 100x less.

[korpse413]

I'm keeping my eye out for a PS1 with the parallel port to pair with an eventual PS-IO.

Am I better off looking for one with both the parallel port and RCA outs? That way I can just easily hookup a lightgun to it and not have to worry about getting the dongle?

[neorichieb1971]

RCA's are only on older machines. The dongle is pretty cheap.

[Einzelherz]

If I had a chance to buy an NIB one it'd be a 5000 series for the reasons FinalBaton mentioned. In fact I was searching for one last year when I happened on a Sony CD-P that had a TDA1541 in it at goodwill so I put off getting a "top end" CD player PS1.

[mvsfan]

I think the 500x series is the best one. It has the upgraded cd drive that doesnt break and parallel.

also, you can get a scart cable with lightgun support rather cheap from Retro_access, so It not having RCA outs like the early Ps1 isnt a big deal.

[nmalinoski]

also, you can get a scart cable with lightgun support rather cheap from Retro_access, so It not having RCA outs like the early Ps1 isnt a big deal.

I was going to buy one of these from Retro Access, but I wanted it built to PS1 spec (With the 200uF capacitors, rather than the 1000uF caps), so I asked about it using the contact form on retro-access.com towards the end of November (I think; I didn't get a confirmation email or anything), but I still have yet to receive a response. :/

[bobrocks95]

also, you can get a scart cable with lightgun support rather cheap from Retro_access, so It not having RCA outs like the early Ps1 isnt a big deal.

I was going to buy one of these from Retro Access, but I wanted it built to PS1 spec (With the 200uF capacitors, rather than the 1000uF caps), so I asked about it using the contact form on retro-access.com towards the end of November (I think; I didn't get a confirmation email or anything), but I still have yet to receive a response. :/

When ordering custom cables through their ebay in the past I always got a response in around 3 business days. I'd send your message again.

[CobraKing]

Would you consider using a PS2 'Fat' model as an alternative to using a PS1?

[Lawfer]

Would you consider using a PS2 'Fat' model as an alternative to using a PS1?

That's what I am doing already personally, however it still would be nice to know what's the best PS1 model also some games have compatibility issues with PS2, they can range from downright annoying (Grandia random freezing issue), to mild (Xenogears has sound glitch and weird game freeze/glitch out with gradual picture corruption at 2 specific spots in the game), to no big deal (Tomba won't start a new game or a load game unless you watch the whole intro each time you reboot the game, Parasite Eve has an sfx glitch when the Pterodactylus energy bullets strike Aya).

[CobraKing]

^^
Fair enough. I've read that the overall number of 'glitchy' games is minuscule when you consider how huge the PS1 & PS2 library is. But if you want to actually play those games then PS1 should be the way to go. Good luck in your search!

[Einzelherz]

If you want a light gun just get the guncon breakout cable. No need for a special scart cable.

[Xyga]

If you want a light gun just get the guncon breakout cable. No need for a special scart cable.

Bad idea for PQ.
Playstation RGB scart cables with in-line RCA outs for GunCon are not special and in fact have always been the most common, and they're what everyone owning a PS1/2/3 should have.
IIRC even the official one(s) by Sony were exactly the same design for the three consoles. 3rd party are just as good but there were fake ones only carrying composhit.

[Einzelherz]

I've never noticed a signal degradation from using the guncon breakout, but sure.

[neorichieb1971]

The breakout cable does nothing to the PQ. It just syncs the gun up with the picture and for that it just needs composite.

I used my SCPH1000 back in the day. So I could use any combination of scart/svideo and composite with my guncon.

[Xyga]

^ I was mistaking it for something else I've seen that uses all composite.

What you guys call a 'breakout cable' I've seen referenced only as a guncon av adapter.

[Taiyaki]

Early models had some disc reading issues, I remember one friend had to put the console sideways for it to work. In general I favor PSOne models (the smaller ones), they just seem much more reliable to me. Same with PSTwo's although to a lesser extent.