Best tv for NES/SNES

[lotec25]

I'm still confused as to why some people believe that a curved CRT is better. Yes, you want to avoid HDTV sets, but SD flat screen should be better than curved. It's not like the NES or its games were designed with a curved tube in mind.

Actually they were designed with a curved tube in mind. Not saying that NES games dont look fine on the Wega style tv's. But just like game developers now are programming for HDTV with 480 up to 1080P output. I do see a difference using a Wega style and a regular curved tv, but not that much to make a difference.

Alright, I did a little research and found the absolute top of the line non flat screen Sony CRT. It's the KV-32XBR100. The thing sold for damn near $3,000 in 1997! I'm currently looking for one, but they are VERY hard to find, compared to the high end HD CRT sets.

Have you found any tv's like this yet? after you said this I did a little searching and this tv was awesome back in the day. But finding one of these does not look easy.

[Eduardo]

I need a bigger CRT to play PS2 light gun games in two player mode. I tried some Time Crisis and it was unbearable. I can get a 42" Trinitron for $250, Ill go see it tomorrow and see whats up.

[imanerd0011]

Yep, I agree. I've done quite a bit of research and the two top of the line SD Trinitrons are the KV-32XBR100 and the KV-32XBR200. The KV-32XBR200 is a flat screen, and the 100 is a curved tube. They were both the top of the line sets in their day.

I haven't found a single KV-32XBR100 for sale anywhere near me. They are extremely hard to come by. I did find a KV-32XBR200 near NYC for $150 (great price!) that looks damn near brand new and comes with the original stand. I'm just not willing to drive that far right now.
My dream setup would be having my NES/SNES/N64 hooked up to a KV-32XBR100, the NES via A/V and the SNES/N64 via S-Video. It would also include having my Gamecube and Wii hooked up to a KD-34XBR960N, both systems via component video.
Having these systems hooked up in this fashion would give the best picture possible (I would think).
Tracking down either of these televisions is quite a task, but I'm hoping to get at least one of them (or hopefully both) by the end of the year!

Actually they were designed with a curved tube in mind. Not saying that NES games dont look fine on the Wega style tv's. But just like game developers now are programming for HDTV with 480 up to 1080P output. I do see a difference using a Wega style and a regular curved tv, but not that much to make a difference.



Have you found any tv's like this yet? after you said this I did a little searching and this tv was awesome back in the day. But finding one of these does not look easy.

[Pikkon]

Here is what I use for retro gaming.


Its a old Konka tv I found in a abandoned house.

Its super heavy but the quality I get when playing snes and nes games are very nice.

[Zing]

One thing I looked for when buying my CRT was a headphone output. A couple of the very last CRT models Sony released here in Canada had them, but since they were relatively "new" and still being sold in store for $500-700, people wanted far too much money for them. I ended up getting a slightly older WEGA without a headphone output.

Do any of the higher end older Sony sets have headphone out?

[lotec25]

One thing I looked for when buying my CRT was a headphone output. A couple of the very last CRT models Sony released here in Canada had them, but since they were relatively "new" and still being sold in store for $500-700, people wanted far too much money for them. I ended up getting a slightly older WEGA without a headphone output.

Do any of the higher end older Sony sets have headphone out?

Now this is a good idea, I forgot they used to have headphone out. I have most of my systems running threw my Logitech speakers that has a headphone jack on them, so I use that if need to, I remember having an old maybe 10" back in the day that had a Headphone out, And it sounded awesome.

On the Note of the Wega I did pick up one of them this weekend from a friend. Ill get a picture of it up later. Its a 27" and the picture quality is fine. As far as the Gun games I have not tried.

[Zing]

One thing I did when I bought my used TV was to hook up my PlayStation 2 and run through a calibration DVD on the composite input. I optimized the brightness (to control blooming), fixed up the geometry, and got the overscan down to 4% on all sides. The set has some minor convergence problems in the bottom left, but it looks far better than it did when I acquired it.

I actually got the seller to knock $50 off the cost because it had a huge geometry problem in the top right. I knew it would be a simple matter of adjusting the system menu settings, which I would do anyway, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

[Leo_A]

Actually they were designed with a curved tube in mind.

I've never seen any evidence of a design decision made in a game due to the curvature of the set.

[Zing]

I've never seen any evidence of a design decision made in a game due to the curvature of the set.

I agree. It is an extremely dubious claim.

If this was true, then at the very least, the games would be distorted on flat panels, emulators, etc.

[lotec25]

I've never seen any evidence of a design decision made in a game due to the curvature of the set.

I should of worded this different, But let me explain. When they were testing the code display they used a curved screen to see how it looked, just like they use flat panels now to test and check the code displayed. Sorry if i worded that wrong.

I actually got the seller to knock $50 off the cost because it had a huge geometry problem in the top right. I knew it would be a simple matter of adjusting the system menu settings, which I would do anyway, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

The Wega I picked up is doing this also. like the left side is higher then the right side. I looked threw the menu but did not look very hard to see if there was a way to correct this problem. Cant really tell until I bring up my cable channel list witch has lines running left to right, and it is apparent it is leaning.

[Retromangia]

God what a great Fuckin post!! imanerd0011... you are the man!! I've been looking around the net for probably close to two years... trying to figure out which Sony CRT is best! This post deserves to be a sticky thread... I think all retro gamers should know about this.

I mean, if your going to really enjoy your hobby... why not play these games the best way possible.


Imanerd0011,

The TV you mentioned..the xbr100/200.. do those use the "hi-Scan" screen resolution?

I would imagine sony's next step up.. the "super fine pitch" screens would be to high in resolution for retro games correct?


And lastly.. the TV you mentioned for Wii/Gamecube/Ps2 (progressive scan), the KD-34XBR960N... That TV has a default resolution of 480p I would assume? I think it's what you would call an "EDTV".... boy those things weren't around for long.


Great stuff! thanks again

- retromangia

[imanerd0011]

Thanks! I was interested in getting a high end CRT a few months ago when someone said they were the best for video games.
I thought the same thing. If you're going to spend tons of money on video games, you might as well have a great T.V. to play them on.
I don't think the XBR100 or XBR200 are high scan models. I'll do a little more checking online, but the XBR100 is pretty hard to research, as their isn't much info online about it.
Pretty much most HDCRT's don't look too good when playing retro games. This includes the Super Fine Pitch models. They look great on anything that is 480P, but not so hot for older games.
The KD-34XBR960N is 480P/720P/1080I set, as are most high end Sony Trinitron's that were made near the end of the crt life cycle. There are a few models that are very similar, but this one is the one I'm looking for as it doesn't have the anti glare film on the screen, which is prone to have problems. That is what the N stands for in the end of the model number. The KD-34XBR960 is the exact same T.V., but it has the anti glare film on the screen. You can remove it, but I'd rather not have to.

God what a great Fuckin post!! imanerd0011... you are the man!! I've been looking around the net for probably close to two years... trying to figure out which Sony CRT is best! This post deserves to be a sticky thread... I think all retro gamers should know about this.

I mean, if your going to really enjoy your hobby... why not play these games the best way possible.


Imanerd0011,

The TV you mentioned..the xbr100/200.. do those use the "hi-Scan" screen resolution?

I would imagine sony's next step up.. the "super fine pitch" screens would be to high in resolution for retro games correct?


And lastly.. the TV you mentioned for Wii/Gamecube/Ps2 (progressive scan), the KD-34XBR960N... That TV has a default resolution of 480p I would assume? I think it's what you would call an "EDTV".... boy those things weren't around for long.


Great stuff! thanks again

- retromangia

[Zing]

I checked out the XBR100 and it's interesting. It uses a break-out box for all of the inputs. It does use a form of digital processing, so hopefully that doesn't introduce any input lag. It also does not have component input.

[imanerd0011]

I checked out the XBR100 and it's interesting. It uses a break-out box for all of the inputs. It does use a form of digital processing, so hopefully that doesn't introduce any input lag. It also does not have component input.

Are there any SD Curved Screen CRT's that have component inputs? I've never seen one myself. I do know the KV-32XBR200 has a component input, but it's a flat screen SD CRT.

[Leo_A]

I should of worded this different, But let me explain. When they were testing the code display they used a curved screen to see how it looked, just like they use flat panels now to test and check the code displayed. Sorry if i worded that wrong.

I understand what you mean now. Thanks for clarifying.

But in the same vein as the point you just made, NES/SuperNes games were never developed on or with the expectation that they'd be displayed on the large screen high end CRT's that were produced after the 8/16 bit era. It's not really any different of an argument so I really don't see the validity of it or why this aspect should even matter.

Flat screens tend to have geometry issues, but as long as someone is willing to dig into the service menu to make adjustments, there's absoluely no reason they won't be able to enjoy their classic games on a high end CRT flat screen model. Programmers never made adjustments to compensate for screen curvature, so things like platforms in a Super Mario Bros. game are going to look correct on a flatscreen (And in some ways, more correct then on a curved screen).

Are there any SD Curved Screen CRT's that have component inputs? I've never seen one myself. I do know the KV-32XBR200 has a component input, but it's a flat screen SD CRT.

Many

The vast majority of standard definition CRT's over the past decade besides the absoluely bottom rung of 12-13" bargain basement sets had component inputs. That includes many non flatscreen models. There's a 14" or so non flatscreen SD CRT bought in the past year in my kitchen right now with a DVD player hooked up via component and another model for a future replacement bought even more recent in storage.

[Canadian Psycho]

I don't think so. Most Flat Screens (especially the HDCRT's) don't display a good picture when viewing an SD picture. NES looks pretty bad on them to be honest.

That's why I'm looking for the best SD Sony Trinitron, which I believe is the Kv-32xbr100. The only problem is that they are VERY hard to find!

FXmercanery,

What is the model number of your Sony Trinitron?

How about this model : KV-36XBR250. Is it up there too?

[FxMercenary]

my model# is KV27XBR55 its a 1992 27" with the top-mounted subwoofer and 2 side/satellite speakers.

[Retromangia]

Moderator... can you sticky this thread please?? This is a very important topic.. wouldn't you all agree?

ok, so if your saying the XBR100 doesn't have Component inputs??... then it should be out of the question completely no?...I mean..there is a very EASY way(read: no mods required) to get component output from our favorite retro systems. All you need is to import some SCART cables, and SCART > Component transcoder box. I know for sure this can be done for the SNES, Sega Genesis, and Saturn.. and I'm probably missing one or two others. The NES can only do Composite, and the N64 can only do S-video.e.

The XBR200 should be the official king of SD gaming

Have you guys checked out any threads over at avsforum.com ??? They have a ton of great info on this I remember correctly from a few years ago. Perhaps I'll start a new thread over their and see If I get any bites.

lets keep the info coming!

- RetroMangia

[imanerd0011]

Moderator... can you sticky this thread please?? This is a very important topic.. wouldn't you all agree?

ok, so if your saying the XBR100 doesn't have Component inputs??... then it should be out of the question completely no?...I mean..there is a very EASY way(read: no mods required) to get component output from our favorite retro systems. All you need is to import some SCART cables, and SCART > Component transcoder box. I know for sure this can be done for the SNES, Sega Genesis, and Saturn.. and I'm probably missing one or two others. The NES can only do Composite, and the N64 can only do S-video.e.

The XBR200 should be the official king of SD gaming

Have you guys checked out any threads over at avsforum.com ??? They have a ton of great info on this I remember correctly from a few years ago. Perhaps I'll start a new thread over their and see If I get any bites.

lets keep the info coming!

- RetroMangia

Hmm,I never knew about the component mods that are available for the SNES/Genesis.

I'm not sure if the XBR200 is the SD king or not, mainly because of the flat screen aspect. I really retro games (NES/SNES/N64) look best on a curved television, although I have never seen one in action on the XBR200 before, so it's hard to say.
I would actually think having component wouldn't matter too much for retro games anyway, as they don't have component available (unless you mod them). For all the systems that have component available as a stock option, you would be better off using an HD CRT (such has KD-34XBR960).
I really wish there were more people interested in this topic. I actually started a thread over on AVSforums, but didn't come up with too much info, other than people recommending the XBR100 and a few other sets.

[charles__99]

anyone have any information about using a n64 on a Xbr400?

[Zing]

What do you mean by "any information"?

Get a Nintendo s-video cable. Plug into N64 and TV. Done.

[ebo0763]

I have this one and it's AWESOME! It also works well with the zapper. it has composite (RCA), S-Video and component. It's the best I've ever seen.

http://www.jvc.ca/en/consumer/archiv...odel=AV-32WF36

[dukenukem]

i saw a xbr100 in person and it is an awesome tv.My cousin has it and another sony from 89.here's my quick shot of a curved tube screen with mario brothers played on top loading nes through coaxal.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Parodius Duh!]

picked this baby up from the goodwill for 5 bucks today






and heres my daily driver....40" RCA home Theater....better than my buddies Wega....picture is perfect on this thing, especially for being so large.

[dukenukem]

What model is that tv you just bought?Nice rca tv you have.Can you also take some pics of that tv with some games hooked up to it?