Sega Genesis Model 2 VA3 vs VA4

Ok so currently I have a VA3, you may have seen my thread on it asking "is this a good Sega Genesis Model 2 VA3?" I like the Model 2s since they're smaller, and now want to be on the lookout for a VA4. I read on here and some have already told me that it was the best Model 2 ever made. How can I hunt one of these down? What should I look for on ebay auctions that have pics of the underside of the Model 2? That was how I found my VA3, it came with a Sega CD Model 2 and I could tell on the pic with the underside of the Model 2 Genesis that it was a 3/4 motherboard. But how do the VA3s and VA4s differ on the underside?

If you can get a Mega Amp installed, I'd go for a VA2 or VA2.3 Genesis Model 2 instead. VA4s are the best *STOCK* Genesis Model 2s, but the best Genesis Model 2 is a VA2 or VA2.3 with a Mega Amp. They're the only Genesis Model 2 boards to use a YM2612.

If you're keen on getting a VA4 Genesis Model 2, however, look for two square cutouts on the bottom RF shield.

I agree with ACE, the VA4 is the best stock Genny model 2.

@Roadkill: I have two or three VA4 model 2's I'd be willing to sell if the price is right. I also have VA2's and VA2.3's available.

VA4 > than VA3 model 2s in my opinion. I had 2 one by Majesco. I sold both of them and I'm sticking with my Model 1 VA6.

Thanks guys. Hmm Ace you make some good points, I will look into it more and see if I should get the VA2/2.3 or VA4. Don't the VA2/2.3s sometimes have the Samsung video encoder though?

Yes they do, if memory serves the Chinese built va2.3s should have the cxa1645.

Look for mk1631a made in china. Thailand versions seem to have the samsung encoder (from what I have seen from 4 x va2.3 i have had).

VA2s can also have a CXA1645. All the ones I've personally come across do, anyways (4 of them). Same with the VA2.3 board. All those I've seen were made in China.

Sweet, never seen a va2 in person. The va2.3s I nabbed from the U.S.

I think I'm just going to stick with the VA3 for the moment and probably add a Mega Amp to it in the near future. I don't have any issues with jailbars on it anyway, I can see them at times but they're very faint on the TV settings I use. Thanks for the help and info anyway guys. I forgot I still have a Model 1 VA7 though that needs a Mega Amp also. Thanks for the offer too Segaedge, I tried looking for VA4s on ebay and they're pretty much impossible to find. I managed to find just one but it was advertised as a VA4 and was going for $60.

Coincidentally I found this on there, a Sega Genesis Model 2 VA3 service repair manual http://www.ebay.com/itm/131229233917...84.m1423.l2649

Howsit? That manual is available as pdf if you like (maxwar scanned)

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...l=1#post667857

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by omp

Howsit? That manual is available as pdf if you like (maxwar scanned)

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...l=1#post667857

---

Oh cool thanks!

Ok so I just picked up a VA4 and I must say, I'm pretty disappointed with it. The video quality is no better than the VA3 I already have, and the sound quality is practically the same. It produces a bit less noise when no sound or music is playing on screens like when the blue SEGA logo is showing, but it's just barely better in that regard.

Wanna sell that VA4? I need one, and I don't care about the physical condition as long as it works.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GohanX

Wanna sell that VA4? I need one, and I don't care about the physical condition as long as it works.

---

Sure. I just opened it up and I think I might have fixed the 2nd controller port, the pin was pushed back so I pushed it forward. I'll test it out to see if it works now.

EDIT: Okay I fixed the 2nd controller port, and I'm actually starting to notice that the colors are more vivid and the sound seems to have deeper bass. Interesting.

All that after pushing that pin back into place.

Based on my experience with the VA3 and VA4 Genesis Model 2s, the only real differences are a lack of vertical lines in the VA4's output (and I have two of these, one by Sega, the other by Majesco, both with CXA1645s and the same Composite quality) and less video noise in the audio output due to the GOAC YM3438 having better SNR than the ASIC YM3438. I would still go for a VA2 or VA2.3 board, the next best thing to a Genesis Model 1 (when Mega Amped; a stock VA2 or VA2.3 has crap PSG due to a stupid design error in the PSG section of the audio circuit).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ace

Based on my experience with the VA3 and VA4 Genesis Model 2s, the only real differences are a lack of vertical lines in the VA4's output (and I have two of these, one by Sega, the other by Majesco, both with CXA1645s and the same Composite quality) and less video noise in the audio output due to the GOAC YM3438 having better SNR than the ASIC YM3438. I would still go for a VA2 or VA2.3 board, the next best thing to a Genesis Model 1 (when Mega Amped; a stock VA2 or VA2.3 has crap PSG due to a stupid design error in the PSG section of the audio circuit).

---

Yeah that seems to be the case here in my experience with both the VA3 and VA4, so far I've only tested composite with the VA4 and it is almost exactly the same as the VA3 except for maybe being just a bit more vivid with the colors. Also there's no lines at all like you said, although I never really noticed them on the VA3. I definitely can tell that there's less video noise on the sound (didn't know that's what it was, video noise, thanks for pointing that out) but it's still not completely gone.

I do want to install a Mega Amp but I'm really interested in doing it to my VA7 first. How does the VA7's video quality (particularly S-video and RGB) compare to the Model 2 VA2/VA2.3? Is it better, worse, or relatively the same? I'm not too experienced with soldering and from what I've seen in the installation pics, the Model 1 VA7 looks much easier to add a Mega Amp to compared to any of the Model 2s. I might have to get someone to install a Mega Amp to a Model 2 for me, or buy one with a Mega Amp already installed. I'm also more interested in buying a Mega Amp that's already pre-built with all the resistors and such instead of having to solder all of that myself.

When I order a new batch of Mega Amp PCBs, I will have one VA2.3 Genesis Model 2 with a filtered Mega Amp preinstalled. If you don't mind waiting for that (it's a long way's off since I have no boards left), you could get that.

Now, regarding the VA7 Genesis Model 1's video output, I haven't tried S-Video, but it seems to have slightly darker RGB than all the other Genesis models I've tried. The clarity is there, but the overall brightness is lower.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ace

When I order a new batch of Mega Amp PCBs, I will have one VA2.3 Genesis Model 2 with a filtered Mega Amp preinstalled. If you don't mind waiting for that (it's a long way's off since I have no boards left), you could get that.

---

Oh ok yeah that'll be great and I don't mind waiting at all, for now both the VA3 and the VA4 is enough to hold me over, along with my Model 1 VA6 that I still occasionally use but I'm probably going to end up selling it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ace

Now, regarding the VA7 Genesis Model 1's video output, I haven't tried S-Video, but it seems to have slightly darker RGB than all the other Genesis models I've tried. The clarity is there, but the overall brightness is lower.

---

Oh ok.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by roadkill

Sorry GohanX, I let my emotions get the better of me but now that I've calmed down I'm probably going to give this VA4 more of a chance.

---

Ain't no thang. I'm usually sporting a VA4 these days due to its size, but I don't want to do evil experiments on it which is why I want another one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GohanX

Ain't no thang. I'm usually sporting a VA4 these days due to its size, but I don't want to do evil experiments on it which is why I want another one.

---

Ah gotcha.

So after some debating if I should do any mods to my VA4, I went ahead and did an S-Video mod to it since I'm too curious to see the results. Comparing it to my VA3, it is certainly not without jailbars. In fact, I'd say the jailbar problem on S-Video is even worse on the VA4. I made sure it wasn't a grounding issue since it looked similar to that, but it's not. The vertical jailbars can be described as looking like lines on a ruler, that's how close they are to each other all across the entire screen. It's noticeable on any solid color but if the TV settings aren't too bright it won't be noticeable on mostly sky blue, black screens, or bright white colors, but certainly noticeable on grey or red. If the TV settings are bright, they can be noticed on all colors. I didn't notice them at all on the Sonic games with my usual TV settings so I thought at first that the VA4 didn't suffer from a jailbar problem on S-Video.

I'll post up some pics comparing both the VA3's and VA4's S-Video output later and possibly even some youtube video footage captured from my DVD recorder.

Ok I found a thread on this site with pics that show the exact same problem that I'm having with my VA4 on S-Video

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...B-on-Genesis-3

How rare are VA4s? When I was looking to buy my first Genesis, I asked to look at all the model 2s in the store so I wouldn't end up with a bad one. The first one I flipped over was a VA4, so I bought it. When were they manufactured? I'm guessing 96-97?

I don't know the exact production numbers, but there couldn't have been many of them. Almost all model 2's I've run across in the wild have been VA0 and VA1s, with a little of the VA2's thrown in. The only reason I have a VA3 is because my buddy has a game store and I asked him specifically to keep an eye out for one for me.

I actually thought it was a VA4, but when I took it apart last night I discovered it was a VA3. Now I want a VA4 for comparison!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zetastrike

How rare are VA4s?

---

I'm wondering this too. I can't find much info anywhere on the VA4s other then them being praised to be the best stock Model 2s.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zetastrike

When were they manufactured? I'm guessing 96-97?

---

Mine actually has an exact timestamp on the motherboard, 09 October 1996.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zetastrike

How rare are VA4s?

---

A North American VA4 model 2 has the same level of rarity as a North American VA3 model 1.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zetastrike

When were they manufactured? I'm guessing 96-97?

---

From 1996 until 1998. Every model 2 made in 1997 & 1998 is a VA4.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chessage

A North American VA4 model 2 has the same level of rarity as a North American VA3 model 1.

---

So, I take that as it's very rare? Now I know to hold onto mine.

Well, from memory I can tell you that nobody was buying Genesis systems from 96 to 98. At that point, pretty much everybody that wanted one had one, with many moving on to the newer systems.

I'm having a total of 11 ( or 12 lol ) VA3, and they're quite different in sound / video.
No, a don't mean that some units have dried electrolytics. ( yes, 2 ones do, but that's a different story ).

For example, my very early Chinese VA3 has a very clear ( comparable to Gen 1 VA5 ) sounding.
Really, first time i plugged it in with a Shinobi 3, i was amazed. Then i tried it with SK, Sonic 1,2,3,3D ( this one is especially good to show that ), RKA, TF4 - all very clear and deep.
And serial number is 7430016994. CXA1145M of course. Also awesome.

Next, i'm have a later VA3 from the same factory. Serial number 743074863.
Audio is more muffled ( not as muffled as the latest VA3's do, but still a big difference toward #1 ), less bass.
Still very nice. CXA1145M. A little darker video than #1, all the rest is same.
I also have another 743081110, sounds the same (died caps on this one were replaced with brand new Panasonic M ), and shows same picture quality.

The third one is a Made in Japan R43094612.
Audio is less muffled than a #2, more muffled than a #1. Also, this console tends to have a very balanced, "mild" sounding ( my other, now died, Japanese VA3 had the same kind of softened sound. Somewhat unique and awesome in it's own way. I like that! )
CXA1645M. Video having some pixellation and slight jailbars ( 2x time less than any KA2195 console, even VA3's ). Colors are very nice.

Four one is 753083465. Same sounding to #1, but slightly ( 7-10 %) less bass.
CXA1645M. Very nice picture, almost like Nomad, but darker. Slight pixellation ( nowhere near as awful as on the KA2195 VA3's ). Less jailbars than on #3.
https://yadi.sk/d/1hvpTh_ga6iTM here is Dune 2 sample recorded from this console.

And five is latest VA3 variation, Made in China, serial number is 163175262.
Clear, but very muffled, somewhat "flat" sounding, and roughly forced bass that is overpowering other frequencies.


I'll will record some samples from these in 1-2 days.
Games will be Revenge of Shinobi, Sonic 1, Sonic 3D, Dune 2, TF4.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DemVil12

The third one is a Made in Japan R43094612.
Audio is less muffled than a #2, more muffled than a #1. Also, this console tends to have a very balanced, "mild" sounding ( my other, now died, Japanese VA3 had the same kind of softened sound. Somewhat unique and awesome in it's own way. I like that! )
CXA1645M. Video having some pixellation and slight jailbars ( 2x time less than any KA2195 console, even VA3's ). Colors are very nice.

---

That's just like the VA3 that I have. Made in Japan R43076095. In one of my other topics I argued that the sound quality was just about as good as my Model 1 VA6 except for having more noticeable video noise during silence (I only really noticed this more when I got a VA4 which sounds even better) and also being a bit more muffled.

It also has a CXA1645 which I modded to output S-Video and the picture is fairly clean. It does have jailbars but with the right TV settings they can be hidden for the most part. I didn't really notice them at first until I started playing around with my TV video settings. The colors are less vibrant than my VA4 with the same chip though. I noticed in some games (NHL '94 in particular) the video can be more choppy compared to my S-Video Model 1 VA6, the VA4 is choppy too on S-Video. I'm guessing it could possibly be the CXA1645? I don't really know, since I never S-Video modded a Model 2 with a CXA1145.