80" LCD TV / XRGB Framemeister / NES / SNES ...and clueless

[Dav101]

Hi. New guy here. The more I read the more I realize I may not know enough to ask intelligent questions. I started this thread because I didn't want to hijack the one "broken harbour" just started about the Framemeister and Snes playing nice together. Basically I'd like help putting together a shopping list so I can buy the right items to play my NES and SNES games on a TV we want to get. Here is where I am: I bought a refurbished NTSC NES and SNES over the Holidays and have been reliving the games I played in my youth. We want to buy an 80" TV from BestBuy: Model LC80LE632U BestBuy SKU: 3552918. Pictures of the inputs and specifications are on the Best Buy site for this TV.

So I discovered this shmups site to search for more of those types of games. Then I discovered the site again while trying to figure out how to use my gaming consoles to work with a nice picture on a HD LCD TV. ...And I'm seeing everyone is carrying on with conversations way over my head.

Would anyone terribly mind spending a moment telling me if purchasing an XRGB Framemeister Mini for my situation is the right thing to do? Would the size of this screen provide for poor picture quality with these old console systems? Is this a bad idea?

Would anyone mind providing the links (ebay or wherevever) to the specific items I need to make my 2 consoles and this TV work nicely together? I use a composite (RCA?) cable for the NES and S-video cable for the SNES with a 20" JVC tube TV right now.

I apologize but I'm almost too embarrassed to show my ignorance on these subjects but can someone provide a link for a transformer I think I will need for the Framemeister so I can plug it in to my house 120 volt electric?

Sad, I know, but this is where I'm at. And from what I can tell from the discussions you guys have here... this might be the most intelligent active group out there on the subject of making the Japan made Framemeister unit work in the U.S.

Thanks for any consideration from any of you smart people on the subject.

[Fudoh]

Welcome!

easy things first: don't worry about the 120V ratings. Framemeister & Co will work fine on that.

With good source signals (like RGB or component video) you can basically go as big as you like. As long as there're no artefacts in the source, there won't be any when upscaled to a big screen. This said, with a Framemeister and THIS size of a TV, RGB is essential. Your SNES does already output RGB and you can get the proper cables on ebay.com. Just check the the recent thread here: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=44367

Your NES on the other hand is way more problematic. Composite bears a lot of artefacts (dot crawl, rainbow shimmer etc) and those will be upscaled as they're - and it will look ugly - especially on 80". Getting a NES RGB modded is a way, but it's not cheap (about $300). After that it will look perfect (in terms of picture quality).

[blizzz]

Doesn't the NES mod have jailbars?

In the case of NES I think it might be an option to use a Tristar adapter for the SNES, but I don't know if there are compatibility issues and it also needs a mod for RGB. Another option would be to just use a Wii with Virtual Console / emulator. There are official wireless SNES pads for Wii, or adapters to use old NES / SNES controllers.

[Fudoh]

Doesn't the NES mod have jailbars?

no, not if done right.

Another option would be to just use a Wii with Virtual Console / emulator.

of course emulation is always another approach. Just safe yourself a Framemeister all along and get an Intel NUC box instead.

[Dav101]

Thanks Fudoh. So I will not worry about needing any electric conversion. Concentrating on the SNES. Currently my source signal from the Multi A/V port on the SNES terminates on the other cable end in an s-video dongle which I have plugged into my current TV, and all is well. So do I already have the cable I need? You said with a framemeister and an 80" TV, RGB is essential and my SNES already outputs in RGB - meaning it outputs in S-Video? Will I just need to plug the S-video cable from the SNES into the Framemeister S-Video input and then come off the other side of the Framemeister (output) with a HDMI cable to the TV?

And as far as the audio - use the L/R RCA inputs/outputs on both sides of the Framemeister?

Or am I way off track here and should be getting this SCART cable off ebay? I don't see anywhere where this wide multi-pin SCART connection will plug into this TV. (Again the BestBuy.com site has good pictures for all the TV connections when you look it up by SKU 3552918) So I'm still way confused here.


And just to be clear: I am using the Framemeister Mini to correct for aspect ratio. Right? This will keep the picture sized correctly and sharp. Right? I will have black bars on the sides of the centered picture but a nice crisp image with no stretching or distortion... Yes?

Sorry guys, when I started this thread I just knew enough to believe I needed the XRGB Framemeister Mini - but I would appreciate someone reminding me (ahem: telling) me why I do need it and what it will accomplish for me in this scenario. And if your kind of enough to help me with that - Don't forget to dumb it down...

[Fudoh]

You can connect the SNES to the XRGB using s-video, but RGB has better quality. You need a RGB Scart cable for that. Something like this: http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/supe ... -sale.html

If you used s-video you would connect stereo RCA to the front of the XRGB. RGB cables already carry audio.

I don't see anywhere where this wide multi-pin SCART connection will plug into this TV.

american TVs don't have Scart connections, only european ones do.

nd just to be clear: I am using the Framemeister Mini to correct for aspect ratio. Right? This will keep the picture sized correctly and sharp. Right?

right.

[Dav101]

Again, thank you for your patience. I have not portrayed myself as anything other than a dumb schlub who wants to use original Nintendo equipment with his small library of shmup game cartridges. So a Scart cable is out for me. ...and I don't have RGB capability, right?

The TV has a male RS-232C IOIOI and a female Analog RGB (PC IN) socket on the back along with a couple composite (RCA Plug) inputs each with L/R audio (RCA Plug) connections and a Component input - Pr(Cr) Pb(Cb) Y with L/R audio (RCA) sockets.

Will any of those connections make for a better connection then the S-Video route or is the S-Video my best option here?

[Fudoh]

So a Scart cable is out for me. ...and I don't have RGB capability, right?

directly on your TV, yes. But the Framemeister accepts RGB - and that's what we were talking about, right ?

Will any of those connections make for a better connection then the S-Video route or is the S-Video my best option here?

without any further equipment s-video is your best choice. RGB Scart to component transcoders are available and next to the Framemeister there are lots of other solutions out there which convert the SNES's output to VGA or HDMI - the Framemeister being the best, but also one of the most expensive ones.

[Dav101]

Ok. So if I understand correctly, the best route for the best picture (superior to S-Video) would be to get a RGB cable to plug into the SNES Multi Out Port and go directly into the Framemeister? What would that cable look like for my situation? Link?

Then from the Framemeister output to the TV with a simple HDMI cable.

That sounds too easy. Does such a cable exist? Let me at it!

[Fudoh]

What would that cable look like for my situation? Link?

I linked to it above already. And check the other thread I linked about SNES + Framemeister connection specifically.

The Mini does not have a physical Scart port, but in includes a JP21 Scart to MiniDin adapter cable.

Pay attention to EU Scart vs. JP21 Scart cables. They've got a different layout.

[Dav101]

Thanks again for your patience and generosity Fudoh. Taking your advice from the link you provided I did some searching and found Ebay item # 200887152868 (Super Nintendo stereo RGB SCART lead OUTPUTS RAW SYNC cable cord US model SNES). It looks like what I might need. It has a long description but does not come right out and give any detail about if it is an EU SCART or JP21 SCART adapter.

It also states that it is the raw sync version of the cable. "Please note that not all upscalers and TVs are compatible with raw sync cables, if you are in doubt please purchase our regular versions as they work just as well on the huge majority of setups."

Can you weigh in on whether this could be the magic cable I need?

[blizzz]

SCART should always mean European SCART outside of Japan. So you will need to use a SCART > JP21 adapter for use with the Framemeister. There are original Japanese SNES JP21 cables, but those are harder to find (#300710777228 on eBay).

Raw sync works fine, unless you have a 1CHIP-03 console. To check that you would have to open your console or guess based on the serial number.

[Dav101]

Wow. Ok. Thanks for the help.

[theclaw]

Yeah, SCART is not its Japanese name. Few sellers in Japan would advertise an RGB cable with that word.