AV Cable Hook-up help please.

[soundwave925]

Hello, this is my first thread on this site. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on hooking up multiple game consoles on one TV, Iv just been switching out the AV cables each time I want to play a different system but if theres a better way to have them all plugged in at the same time, that would be more ideal for me. I have about 10-15 systems i want to hook up and iv seen more in pictures at various websites. If anyone has any answers it would be most appreciated.

Pictures would be very helpful too. Thank you.

[FellipeBr]

You can use AV Selectors!

[KaiserWAVE]

Depends on what systems you have and what cables you use.

For all systems SNES and up to the last console generation (PS2, GC and XBOX) I would strongly suggest RGB SCART cables (like the one pictured below (Ps2 version of that cable)


They will get you the best picture you can get out of these consoles.
Once you have that you can look for a SCART selector that works exactly like the AV selector in the picture before my post. Just make sure it's capable of receiving and sending the RGB signal. SCART selectors come in all sizes and with different features. There are ones that switch automatically between channels or manually. I'd recommend the ones that you switch manually.

I suppose you have console from different eras. So not all of them will have the possibility to hook them up via SCART. So you can use a mixture of selectors like an AV selector for the older consoles, an SCART RGB selector for the newer ones and a YUV / HDMI switch for the current generation. However, if you need a lot of SCART inputs you will tear a pretty big hole in your wallet. The most common SCART selectors are with 4-6 inputs. I found one for 10 inputs (pictured below) which sells for 400Euros. I rather not tell you what that is in $$$

[sheep2001]

there are also 'spider cables' which have one scart on one end, and connectors for vairious systems on the other - my experience of these is that they do not offer a fantastic picture quality.  The manual scart switch boxes offer the best solution, and you can 'daisy chain' them together, but will need to remember the switch configs to change to the system you want to use.

for example - you could have a 4 way scart selector by the tv, and say switch 1 for sega, 2 for nintendo, 3 for sony, 4 for MS.

then in port number 1 you have another 3 way scart - with your Megadrive, Saturn, and dreamcast in it.

and continue like that.

[soundwave925]

wow those are some great informative solutions to my problem, thanks guys.

I own a:
-Atari 2600
-NES
-Sega Master System
-SNES
-Sega Genesis
-N64
-Sega Saturn
-Playstation
-Gamecube
-Dreamcast
-PS2
-Wii

and In the future Id like to hopefully get me a PS3, Xbox 360 and maybe a Sega CD

[Reclaimer314]

 ?

[KaiserWAVE]

wow those are some great informative solutions to my problem, thanks guys.

I own a:
-Atari 2600
-NES
-Sega Master System
-SNES
-Sega Genesis
-N64
-Sega Saturn
-Playstation
-Gamecube
-Dreamcast
-PS2
-Wii

and In the future Id like to hopefully get me a PS3, Xbox 360 and maybe a Sega CD

What inputs does your Tv have? Or do you possibly even own an AV Receiver where you could loop multiple inputs through one output?
I ask because some of these consoles have different ways to hook them up. You could connect your Dreamcast via SCART or VGA (using the VGA box), The PS2 and Wii via SCART or YUV. I'd recommend YUV for the Wii as it provides you the best picture you can get out of that system.

The Atari 2600, NES and Master System can all be hooked up via the coaxial cable supplied with the console. There are SCART cables for at least the NES but they're pricy and, lets be honest, it's not worth it for the graphics.

The SNES, Genesis, Saturn, Gamecube, PS1, PS2 and Dreamcast are best connected via RGB SCART cables. You can connect the PS2 via YUV if you want, but in my personal oppinion there's not much difference and the YUV cable is more expensive. Basically a matter of taste. Same with the Dreamcast, you could get the VGA box and hook up the Dreamcast via VGA. It does provide you with a pretty good picture but the VGA box is pricy and your Tv must have a VGA input.

Since the N64 doesn't provide a true RGB signal without modding the hardware you can use the composite cable that came with the smoke projector, err, I mean console

The PS3 and Xbox360 are best connected via HDMI. If you have a newer AV Receiver you can connect them via HDMI to the receiver and loop the PS3's and Xbox360's signal through the HDMI OUT of your receiver. That way you get the best picture and digital sound. In case of the PS3 Slim you even get 7.1 DTS HD, DOLBY TRUE HD and DOLBY DIGITAL PLUS sound instead of "just" DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 sound. Additionally you could hook up the Xbox360 via YUV (a YUV cable comes with the console) or VGA.

The Sega CD is connected to your Genesis as far as I know, so it will use the output of your Genesis for picture and sound.

You see, there are plenty of ways to connect these consoles to your tv/receiver/beamer/whatever you have

[Mick Dundee]

any older system that doesn't have great graphics can use a Coax hookup. (id say your safe up to N64ish)
 You don't even need a system selector of you don't wish to buy one. If  you have enough Y rca splitters that will work... just don't try powering on 2 systems at once.

 But for better quality the guys are right, av selectors, and the multi system cables work a bit better.

for all the systems you own now though. I would actually recommend using a system selector for the Wii, Ps2, and possibly your Dreamcast or Saturn. The rest, get the Cable hookup and chain it along to the TV.

 Before I moved I did this with my Nes, Snes, Genesis, Saturn, N64, Gamecube, DVD, PS3, and 360

[antony30bc]

There is a company based in Canada that will mod old systems to add S-Video and other outputs to some of the older systems that only had coax.

http://www.oldschoolgamer.ca/

I have also heard good things about running the systems through an XRGB-3 , especially if you are running old systems on an LCD. (Light Gun Games will not work of course).

Here is a good article someone wrote.

http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/

I have not tried either myself but plan on it once my theater room has completed and I can return to retro gaming.

Antony30bc

[Arseen]

There are SCART cables for at least the NES but they're pricy and, lets be honest, it's not worth it for the graphics.

Not true being expensive.

you can buy 2rca -> scart cables with 'bout 10 euros

http://www.clasohlson.fi/Product/Product.aspx?id=134855223

with this you can connect both audio inputs to nes: http://www.clasohlson.fi/Product/Product.aspx?id=53268227

 or if you have extra 3rca -> scart adapters you only need 2rca ->2rca cable wich is less than 5 euros.

http://www.clasohlson.fi/Product/Product.aspx?id=134856137

[Vt102]

I use a hybrid setup. A combination of TV inputs and a switch box.

Direct to TV

PS3 = HDMI 1
PS2 = RGB 1
Xbox = RGB 2
3do = AV/S-Video 2
Wii = AV 3

Thur Switch box to AV 1
Sega CD
Saturn
Dreamcast
Turbo Duo

[Grumbleduke]

I have spent a lot of dough on av switching so as i dont have to plug stuff in and out of the tv (plugging a scart into a wall mounted LCD is bad for your sanity). I have two scart auto switches that have sensing inputs for stuff that doesnt have an auto switching line. I have a component auto switcher and a VGA switch and a UHF selector, all hooked up to every input the TV has.

[V3rtigo]

i do wii and ps3 direct to tv, and nes/snes/n64/genesis/saturn/dreamcast through a 6 AV switch box. the box was $20 on ebay. just push the button on the box and insert your game.

[Drakul]

I have a Pelican switcher for my TV on which I have the Xbox, 360, PS3, Wii, and Gamecube hooked up....it's convenient but I'm not sure I like it.
Over time some console just sit there because I use them much less than others and get covered with dust....

Ultimately what I'll do is hook up the 360, PS3 and Wii to my HDTV which allows you to also play Xbox, GC and PS2, PSX games.

Then buy an old CRT TV that had front AV connectors and just hook up the NES, SMS, Genesis, SNES, PC-E, N64.....maybe even DC as I go. And keep the ones I don't use put away neatly.

[KaiserWAVE]

Buying an old CRT is not a bad idea. That's what I plan to do. I have my Xbox360 and PS3 hooked via HDMI, the Wii via YUV and the PC via VGA to my LCD so that I can watch movies on the big screen. I once hooked up my SNES via SCART and it really doesn't look as good as a SNES connected to a LCD or Plasma. So if you have a gaming room or just enough space for another TV I really recommend using a CRT for everything from PS2 backwards.