Need Some Help With Sega Genesis Picture Quality

[Quazimoto]

Howdy Ya'll...

So, I recently got myself a new Samsung 26" LCD TV, which is awesome, save for one thing...  My Sega Genesis doesn't look so good on it.  I bought the new TV because my old one finally died, so unfortunately I can't just hook it up to that.  Also unfortuantely, money is a real object when trying to improve the picture quality, so I can't just go buying a bunch of new cables or whatnot without being reasonably certain that they'll work wonders, so I turn here in hope that someone might have had a similar problem and could offer some suggestions on how to get a better picture quality.

I had the Genesis connected with the standard composite cables (red/white/yellow) and that's what was giving me a pretty blocky picture (tis especially sad to see with a normally gorgeous game like Toy Story or Vectorman).  I did try fiddling with the picture settings on the TV itself and while it did help a little, it's still a pretty low quality of picture.  Every other unti I have hooked up works fine, so the problem is definitely within the Genesis (I have both the second and third model systems and they both have the same issue).  I don't need a super crisp or cystal clear picture, just someone close to the original quality of the games would be totally awesome.

I have the following input options available and not being used...

Composite (Red/White/Yellow)
Component (Red/Green/Blue)
VGA (PC)

I'm looking for some economically feasible options on what I can get to improve the quality of the picture so that I can play my Genesis without weeping.  I don't have a lot of money to spend and space is very limited so trying to find an older TV or computer monitor (not sure if that would even work) to use instead might not be a feasible option for me.

Any suggestions would be very welcome...

Thank You Kindly

[scarmullet]

Well, newer HDTVs lack the ability to deal with analog signals, and since classic game consoles output in resolutions around 240p, the TVs don't like that either.

There are options, you can run the picture through an external digitizer/upscaler which converts the composite signal to HDMI, but that can only do so much. The best option really is to get a hold of an older CRT TV.

[Azarkhel]

Genesis can output RGB. Grab a RGB scart cable, a Scart to YUV transcoder and a component cable. Looking at about $80.

Also allows for future expansion if you need it. Just throw a scart switch before the transcoder and you can have all your RGB consoles running at their highest quality.

[mariocaseman]

I just solved this problem myself.  It will cost you $350 but it is worth every penny.  It is called the DVDO EDGE.  All your old consoles will look like shit on newer TVs, either buy this product or suffer my friend.  I recently wrote about it in the thread titled "Video Game Perfection" right here on this website. 

[Quazimoto]

Has anyone ever tried something like a composite in to VGA out cable (not sure if that's even a thing) and hooking a sytem up to a computer monitor?  I see older style monitors just being given away for free on craigslist all the time after people buy new PC packages that come with new monitors.  I figured the easiest solution would to to get an older CRT TV, but finding one with a decent picture in decent shape is proving difficult in my area.  Plus, I'd probably have to find a new storage idea. Rright now my Genesis and games are housed in one of those plastic drawer things that folks get at Walmart.  It worked great until the TV died.  I just wheeled the cart out of the closet (the only place I have room for it when not in use).  I don't really have room for a new TV/Monitor elsewhere.  Even a small one would be too heavy to sit on top of the plastic cart thing, so I'd have to find a new something that can be ported in and out of the closet when needed.  That's why I was hoping for a cheapish cable or convertor that might work well.

Genesis can output RGB. Grab a RGB scart cable, a Scart to YUV transcoder and a component cable. Looking at about $80.

Also allows for future expansion if you need it. Just throw a scart switch before the transcoder and you can have all your RGB consoles running at their highest quality.

Thanks... I will defintely look into that option.  Might have to save for it for a bit (got a wedding gift for my Brother to buy first), but it seems like a fairly affordable option.

I just solved this problem myself.  It will cost you $350 but it is worth every penny.  It is called the DVDO EDGE.  All your old consoles will look like shit on newer TVs, either buy this product or suffer my friend.  I recently wrote about it in the thread titled "Video Game Perfection" right here on this website. 

I appreciate the suggestion, but sadly, there's just no way I could afford that in the foreseeable future.  If I had other vintage systems, I might be able to justify such a purchase, but I really only have the Genesis that's giving me problems, so I'm looking for a decent enough solution on the cheap side until I can afford something like that.

[irvgotti452]

Grab an s-video cable from ebay.

[Quazimoto]

Grab an s-video cable from ebay.

That was actually my first thought, but oddly enough, there are no s-video inputs on the TV.  I did find that kinda weird.

[Quazimoto]

Azarkhel (or whomever, just figured since you suggested the scart solution, you might know)...

Is the Scart to YUV convertor 100% required (cheapest I can find one is $57), or could I get a Genesis Scart output and just a Scart out to RGB in cable such as this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160654535188?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp4712.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D160654535188%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

connected to this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310197118949?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm570.l2736%26_nkw%3D310197118949%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

[zakurowrath]

If you want a good picture on a modern LCD then you will have to spend some money, otherwise you're stuck with a composite connection or buying a CRT which is the best anyway.

The SCART RGB to YUV convertors linked above DO NOT WORK well with most LCD's since most can't accept low resolution component video signals.

What you need is an upscaler, and they can range from $30 to $300+ not including the price of the cables.

The cheapest upscaler that does a decent job is this thing right here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ARCADE-GAME-CONVERTER-CGA-RGB-YUV-EGA-VGA-GBS-8220-Promotion-/250899701935?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item3a6ac9a0af

You will then need to find a 5v 2amp (2000mA) power supply for the convertor or build your own. Also if you want put the circuit board inside a project box.

You will then need this cable to plug into the convertor board:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCART-RGB-RGBS-cable-RGB-CGA-EGA-YUV-VGA-converter-Genesis-SNES-Sega-/200694228811?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item2eba4ee74b

And depending on what Genesis combo you have model 1, model 2, with or without 32x or CD. Here's all the options.

If you have a Genesis 1 model with a 32x and/or Sega CD OR a Genesis Model 2 or Genesis Model 2 with 32x and/or Sega CD:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-seller-Sega-Genesis-2-RGB-SCART-cable-OUTPUTS-RAW-SYNC-Megadrive-lead-cord-/160654535188?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item2567c1aa14

And if you want Stereo Sound if you have a Genesis model 1 with a 32X:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Genesis-1-Megadrive-stereo-32X-PATCH-CABLE-link-adaptor-US-seller-/200653059001?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item2eb7dab3b9

If you have just a Model 1 with nothing at all and want dual mono sound:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-seller-Sega-Genesis-1-Master-System-1-Megadrive-RGB-SCART-cable-lead-cord-/200718578605?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item2ebbc273ad

If you have just a Model 1 with nothing at all and want stereo sound:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Genesis-1-Megadrive-1-stereo-RGB-SCART-TV-lead-/200648945602?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item2eb79befc2

And of course, depending on your TV you will need either a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable or a 3.5mm to RCA cable:

http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimited-AUD-1100-06-6-Feet-Stereo/dp/B000SE6IV8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330317850&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Audio-Cable-Splitter-1-Mini/dp/B00004Z5CP/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330317860&sr=8-1

Lastly, you will need just a plain old VGA cable to connect from the upscaler to the VGA (PC) Input on your TV.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-6-Feet-Resolution-Monitor-Cable/dp/B000067SMH/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1330317978&sr=1-3

This option should be around $100 give or take a few dollars, but it will give you a much better picture than composite. Of course if you want the best you will be spending around $500 for a high end upscaler.

The second cheapest option and the easiest by far that gives pretty good results as well is the SCART RGB To HDMI.

All you need for this option is this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCART-HDMI-Converter-up-scale-720p-Audio-Video-AV-/260945533018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc190d85a

One of the SCART cables above depending on which model Genesis and/or combination you have.

And a simple HDMI cable.

That's it the convertor isn't too bad and it makes it easy since all the audio and video signals are in one cable.

Complicated, a small bit, but to play your old game systems on your new modern TV in the best picture possible, it's worth it.

[Quazimoto]

Wanted to say Thank You to all those who offered suggestions on how to remedee this issue.  For now, I think I'm just going to try and hunt down a smaller sized CRT TV to play the Genesis on.  Seems like that's going to be the best option right now as far as being financially sound for my budget and assured to work.  That should suffice until I can afford a high level upscaler to hook the system up to the LCD.

Thanks Again for your help.  I greatly appreciate it.

[mariocaseman]

Just save your money for the DVDO EDGE guys.  You have to understand, especially with the Genesis, it is not just the anolog signal that is the problem.  It is the screen sizes and pixels.  For example, my TV's native resolution is 1366X768. What that means is that every video signal going into the TV is going to be converted to a resolution of 1366X768. The native resolution of your Genesis is only 320X240. So, when you connect your Genesis to your HDTV, you are taking a signal that is only 75,000 pixels and stretching it to fit a screen size of over 1,000,000 pixels.  That is why it looks far worse than any other console.  Cheap upscalers are a waste of money because they don't allow you to change the screen ration to 4:3 which is what you need to do.

[Quazimoto]

Just save your money for the DVDO EDGE guys.  You have to understand, especially with the Genesis, it is not just the anolog signal that is the problem.  It is the screen sizes and pixels.  For example, my TV's native resolution is 1366X768. What that means is that every video signal going into the TV is going to be converted to a resolution of 1366X768. The native resolution of your Genesis is only 320X240. So, when you connect your Genesis to your HDTV, you are taking a signal that is only 75,000 pixels and stretching it to fit a screen size of over 1,000,000 pixels.  That is why it looks far worse than any other console.  Cheap upscalers are a waste of money because they don't allow you to change the screen ration to 4:3 which is what you need to do.

Yeah, that's kind of what I figured.  If I had more vintage consoles, I'd probably be more inclined to get something like that sooner.  But, for now, it's just the Genesis so I can't see spending that much when I don't have it to sapre right now.  Managed to oick up an awesome cabinet for free on craigslist.  Gonna need some modifications as far as game drawers, but it should fit a 13" or 19" CRT TV nicely.

[Azarkhel]

Almost positive the HD Box Pro offers aspect ratio selection and a whole lot of other settings, for $50 it's not bad at all. Of course you'll need a SCART to YUV transcoder as well and there's another $50 plus whatever cabling you need.

I just use a SCART to YUV transcoder at the moment while i'm saving up for a XRGB Mini, fortunately my TV has no issue with the low res signal (aside from treating it as 480i, resulting in a very minor "shimmer" to the picture). Just buy a cheap CRT and save up some cash for a decent scaler like the Edge or the XRGB Mini, the Edge is the less complicated option for sure.

[mariocaseman]

Almost positive the HD Box Pro offers aspect ratio selection and a whole lot of other settings, for $50 it's not bad at all. Of course you'll need a SCART to YUV transcoder as well and there's another $50 plus whatever cabling you need.

I just use a SCART to YUV transcoder at the moment while i'm saving up for a XRGB Mini, fortunately my TV has no issue with the low res signal (aside from treating it as 480i, resulting in a very minor "shimmer" to the picture). Just buy a cheap CRT and save up some cash for a decent scaler like the Edge or the XRGB Mini, the Edge is the less complicated option for sure.

So right there he is already up to at least $100, then a bunch of crazy cables...  His choice, but I'd wait for the EDGE.  It helps ALL consoles by the way, even Wii, and PS3.  Also component consoles like PS2 and GameCube.

[scarmullet]

Almost positive the HD Box Pro offers aspect ratio selection and a whole lot of other settings, for $50 it's not bad at all. Of course you'll need a SCART to YUV transcoder as well and there's another $50 plus whatever cabling you need.

I just use a SCART to YUV transcoder at the moment while i'm saving up for a XRGB Mini, fortunately my TV has no issue with the low res signal (aside from treating it as 480i, resulting in a very minor "shimmer" to the picture). Just buy a cheap CRT and save up some cash for a decent scaler like the Edge or the XRGB Mini, the Edge is the less complicated option for sure.

So right there he is already up to at least $100, then a bunch of crazy cables...  His choice, but I'd wait for the EDGE.  It helps ALL consoles by the way, even Wii, and PS3.  Also component consoles like PS2 and GameCube.

why would you run a PS3 through an upscaler? its native HD.

I'll wait for the edge to drop in price, till then.....cheaper alternatives shall be needed.