Best tips and tricks for TV hookups for all consoles

[DJ_Convoy]

So, as I get more serious about my retro gaming (over fifteen consoles and at least a thousand games isn't serious?)... I find my technical knowledge to be inadequate or at least, a bit lacking.

What's the best way (picture, audio) to hook up your favorite retro systems? How do you get the most out of what you have? Are you using strange converter boxes to attach consoles to your TV? If so, which ones? Heck, what kind of TV do you have? Does it easily accomodate your retro systems? Is it worth getting an S-Video mod for your Sega Master System? How about an S-Video board for your Atari 5200? How do you keep your cables organized? How do you keep the power cables away from the video cables? Is the quality of the video cables you buy important? What's the best power strip to use? How's that 3rd party power supply treating your console?

My hope is that this thread can become a sort of clearing house for new and even experienced gamers to show off/brag about their setups and any tricks they've learned, as well as answering questions of that ilk.

For instance... I have the pretty decent Phillips CRT TV in my "game room"* pretty much maxed out- the S-video port is hooked up to a splitter that's currently housing a Retron 3 (sometimes my SNES, instead... but I use the Retron to play Super Famicom and NES games more easily), a 3DO, a Gamecube and an N64... so I at least get the benefit of S-Video output on those systems... but it's composite doldrums for my SMS, Saturn, Dreamcast, Genesis/32X/Sega CD, etc. ... so I'm clearly not getting the best out of those systems. I have component input for my PS2. I think my TV has a VGA input... but is it worth finding a VGA adapter for my Dreamcast? If so, which one?

Stuff like that.

Hopefully, this will kick off some good discussion and tips from the resident tech heads around here.



*also known as "the other bedroom with all of the stuff in it

[OverDrone]

So the Philips has component in? Grab a synced scart cable for the system of your choice and a scart to component transcoder.

With the Genesis you may want to look into lifting a pin on the VDP to lessen the jailbars to near nothing.

This combination of moves gives you the best picture quality obtainable, overuse of dithering in certain games nonwithstanding

[retrospiel]

Dreamcast via VGA is the very best option available and what I'd call "fully HDTV compatible" as it'll produce a nice picture in 480p60 (instead of 480i30) which a modern HDTV can handle (unlike 480i). It looks just stunning. The hardware and most software support it right out of the box. Only about 12 games total cannot be forced into VGA mode (i.e. via Switch trick, or boot disc).

The best way to hook up your other consoles (aside of N64 and NES which don't support RGB) would be to buy an RGB-SCART to Y'PbPr component adapter and European RGB-SCART cables for each console.

So I'd stick with S-Video for N64 (and maybe SNES for now seeing as they can share the same cable), use composite for NES and component for Master System, Genesis, Saturn, and PS2.

[DJ_Convoy]

See, this is the stuff folks need to hear!

[FuturePrimitive]

I'm slowly, but surely upgrading all of my consoles. Right now, I have my SEGA Saturn and Dreamcast S-Video cables plugged into a SONY AV Selector SB-V40S, which goes to my Sylvania 15 inch LCD TV SSL15D6. I might add more to that AV Selector, since there are two more spaces available. I love it, because I can switch on the fly, it's passive, 4 switches, features Composite and S-Video, and it's great quality. The Sylvania also has Component, which my PS3, PS2, and Wii connect to, but I have to keep switching cables. High quality Component switchers/selectors are expensive!! I have it all on the corner of my computer desk, which is a complicated mess even when it's perfectly clean.

Otherwise, I have a little A/V style 3-tier shelf with a Toshiba 13" CRT 13A25 on top, Model 1 HDG Genesis/Model 2 CD with mixing cable/early 32X on the middle shelf connected to Toshiba's Composite, and a Sharp Micro Component System XL-MP130 on the bottom with auxiliary stereo cables leading to the SEGA CD stereo ports for ultimate sound. I could also upgrade the Micro Component System to a Denon or Onkyo, but that's expensive.

I try to keep all of my cables nicely routed around the shelf and computer desk to keep it efficient. If there is excess cable length, I just coil it, tie it, and place it in the best spot I can find next to the system. Surge protectors are extremely important! I'm currently using CyberPower with the big transformer spaces. I also have short power extension cables on reserve from Console5. I might try MediaBridge surge protectors soon. I'm lucky that this carpet doesn't hold heat very well, because I have my surge protectors on the floor (big no no). I plan on getting Velcro to attach surge protectors to the sides of desks and shelves to make it safer. It's nice to have good, clean, reliable power cables for everything. I even have a RetroGameCave Genesis/CD/32X AC Adapter to reduce my power bricks to only one.

Until I start upgrading TV's, this is the best I can do. I might take photos to show you what I'm waffling about.

[EclecticGroove]

I have a nice Denon receiver that I run everything through... the only problem is it doesn't do 240p, not even pass through.... which is a common issue these days. My TV will accept it, so I have to do a bit of juggling around with inputs to get the audio through the receiver and the video through the TV... one of these days I might get a scaler and run all my sub 480i (minimum my receiver will recognize) through that... but those frame meisters are not cheap!

But I have my CDX and Saturn (eventually my model 1 genny + Model 1 Sega CD... but no space at moment) hooked up via SCART to a keene scart commander that then runs to my scart to component switch. That then splits the audio to my receiver, and the video to my Panasonic Plasma.

The newer systems (Dreamcast on up) just go directly to the receiver.

N64 doesn't support RGB SCART sadly, so it gets plugged in like the SCART systems, audio to receiver, video direct to TV.

Cables I try and keep neat... but that's no easy task, so many video cables and power plugs. I actually just went through and put a surge protector in the back of each shelf recently, which helps immensely. The clutter is unavoidable if you don't tie them off or use some other way to fasten them out of the way.

I need to invest in some velcro straps at some point, makes it easier. Zip ties are great up until you need to move or adjust something.

[DJ_Convoy]

10 bucks- http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Hook...ds=velcro+ties

I bought a pack of these half a year ago and have everything tied up neatly, including my copious spare controllers, with plenty to spare.

Keep it coming, guys (particularly with names of stuff that works). This is perfect; this thread may be an invaluable resource, down the road.

[tz101]

I gave up long ago trying to have all consoles connected at all times. I just shelve them and pull out all hookups when I want to play a particular system. 40 systems is just about impossible to have all connected simultaneously.

[EclecticGroove]

I gave up long ago trying to have all consoles connected at all times. I just shelve them and pull out all hookups when I want to play a particular system. 40 systems is just about impossible to have all connected simultaneously.

Same here... but I much prefer a more centralized way to hook things up than pulling my equipment out and hooking it all up that way.

That's why I have the SCART commander for the systems that support it. One hook up to the tv/receiver, and the rest is a unit that sits away from it. One plug that is easy to get to.

I Need to do the same with the S video and composite systems as well. So I'd eventually have an easy way to swap things in and out without having to pull my receiver or TV out to do it.

Gone are the says where the front inputs are acceptable (or even there) for a quick swap in.

If I ever get a place with a nice game room I'll have a dedicated setup just for the old systems + the nice setup for new consoles and movies. That's my ideal future setup.