PC Engine Duo questions

[Dirt Ball Gamer]

I hate that

[ROBOTRON]

I had a Duo (U.S. version) once upon a time and sold it many years ago...like an idiot.

I have a regular TG16 now but I wish I had a Duo again, unfortunately they are priced out of this world.

[Black_Tiger]

It seems Forgotten Worlds loves to have controller issues no matter what system it's on.

Have you tried the Capcom Classic Collection version? I only played through it once, but I'd like to have an option to lock aiming positions somehow.

[Joe Redifer]

I have that version I think... on the Xbox. I remember the emulation of some of the games being kind of shoddy. I bet Digital Eclipse is responsible for the emulation (I remember the sound really sucking, sounding very compressed).

[Melf]

Question: My Duo's audio is all distorted and funky. I hear this is a common issue with the system, but how do I fix it?

[Zeus]

Question: My Duo's audio is all distorted and funky. I hear this is a common issue with the system, but how do I fix it?

saw this on wikipedia


Many TurboDuo systems suffer from audio problems, usually taking the form of random cracks and pops, or the sound dropping out entirely. In some cases, only sound spooled from the CD is affected. This is generally attributed to faulty capacitors (see Capacitor Plague), and the placement of two large transistors next to the audio amplifier circuit causing excess heat. This can generally be fixed by replacing the faulty capacitors (especially the ones behind the two large heat sinks)[1]. The dead capacitors may have also leaked electrolyte onto the motherboard, which should be cleaned off. This same problem is also common with the TurboExpress and PC Engine GT handhelds, though other models of the PC-Engine family may also have this problem (Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Duo-R and Duo-RX models are less susceptible to this problem, possibly due to a different motherboard layout).

[Kollision]

Good to know that, since mine is the Duo-R version.

[Nintega Grafx-16]

Don't ever get a black PC Engine Duo. They are built like crap and used systems most likely have sound problems. Instead get a Duo-R or RX or better yet if you already have a stand alone PC Engine or a Super Grafx, you should try to get a Super CDROM2 unit.

[Melf]

The rice crispy audio affects my HuCard games too. I was devastated when I tried to watch the Ys Book I & II intro today and got all that static.

How can I fix this then? I don't know squat about soldering, etc. Anyone here work with that? My laser lens could also use some calibration, I think. It's finicky about reading certain discs.

[Black_Tiger]

The black PCE Duo/TurboDuo systems are fine. I bought my TurboDuo at launch and the only issue I ever had was the laser (from playing the system every day for 10 years straight), which I easily replaced.

The Duo R/RX systems just seem to be exempt from or less likely to suffer the capacitor/over heating issue that is a possibility with regular Duo systems. So you're better of with an R/RX if you can afford it, but black Duo's are still far from crap.

TurboDuo's aren't worth buying to play games on simply because they're an overpriced collector's item. PCE Duo's are a great deal.

I don't recommend the SuperGrafx + CD-ROM setup, a Duo is the best way to play PCE games. The SuperGrafx is so huge that it's not worth creating a monster combo just so that you can play up to 6 particular games without setting up a SuperGrafx on the rare occasion.

With a PCE or SuperGrafx + CD-ROM combo you'd still have to swap the system card every time you wanted to play a HuCard, so it's really a useless trade off, especially since you can buy a Duo for the price of just a CD-ROM.

[tomaitheous]

With a PCE or SuperGrafx + CD-ROM combo you'd still have to swap the system card every time you wanted to play a HuCard, so it's really a useless trade off, especially since you can buy a Duo for the price of just a CD-ROM.

You forget Core Grafx+Super CDROM2. It's sexy and matching. Plus the Super CDROM2 attachment has the SCD 3.0 card build into it. No need for a system card except for when playing Arcade Card games

The SuperGrafx looks horrible with the original CDROM addon. It looks fantastic with a Super CDROM2 though. Such a sexy beast. So much so, that I never put it away

Melf: Sorry to hear your troubles. There might be someone over at the PCFX forums that can do the repair (I don't remember any names offhand). If you're having reading problems as well, you might want to look into getting a replacement laser module for the unit and have that same person put it in.

I have my original Duo launch unit and never had any audio problems.

[Black_Tiger]

I like all PC Engine hardware, but to non-die hard PCE fans looking for a single setup to play games, I recommend a Duo since it's the most convenient and cheapest.

[Nintega Grafx-16]

You forget Core Grafx+Super CDROM2. It's sexy and matching.

I agree.

Too bad it is very hard to find online and bidding battles are inevitable once one shows up. Probably some PCEFX guys who have like 10 of them in their collection and will do what it takes to get every one of them from Japan for themselves.

[TmEE]

The rice crispy audio affects my HuCard games too. I was devastated when I tried to watch the Ys Book I & II intro today and got all that static.

How can I fix this then? I don't know squat about soldering, etc. Anyone here work with that? My laser lens could also use some calibration, I think. It's finicky about reading certain discs.

The fix is same as with Game Gears, you replace all the caps... ones not dead will die...

[Black_Tiger]

I agree.

Too bad it is very hard to find online and bidding battles are inevitable once one shows up. Probably some PCEFX guys who have like 10 of them in their collection and will do what it takes to get every one of them from Japan for themselves.

There are always multiples of each for sale on eBay and they usually have Buy-It-Now prices and are often listed in eBay Stores instead of auctions.