best place to get the betson imperial

[muell67]

Im wanting to find out where to get the 27" betson imperial monitor. Do I need to go thru the manufacturer? Also there is also a flat screen model same number just with a f at the end. anyone using this. Did any cabinets come new with a flat screens?

[Ken Layton]

www.betson.com

[Flinkly]

the 27" monitor i think your talking about is distributed through betson, if this clears anything up.  it's actually made by kortek, a korean company, if i'm not mistaken.  go to retroblast and look through the review for the exact model and i think even a link to the kortek site. i'm telling you all this becasue you might be able to find a kortek monitor through another distributer in your area for cheaper, but beton is pretty good and reliable.

[jimj]

 I just ordered mine last week.  Here are some notes that may help others order this monitor:
-Good review: http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/betson2.html
-The online PDF catalog has it listed on the bottom of page 84 (page 110 in Adobe Reader).  This PDF catalog is available here: http://betson.com/parts/
-The correct model number is 44-4070-RT, but the pdf still shows the old #, 44-4070-40.
-I left a voice mail at their central US number, but I never got a reply. I called their main # at 800-828-2048 op1 and got a live person right away to take my order,
-I had to ask about the sale price, the rep didn't see it initially, but did get mine for $399 plus $43 shipping (to Nebraska).
-I'm going to use the ArcadeVGA video card (http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/avga.html) so I can easily use the monitor's low resolutions

[The Spade]

I too just ordered the monitor earlier today direct from Betson Pittburgh, though my shipping was $80 for residential delivery.  Also, the 399 sale is still ongoing (rep stated to me it could end at anytime; no date known), so if you are seriously wanting to get this monitor, act fast, sell off your used and worthy goods..just remember selling family is illegal.  Will be happy when it arrives and even happier when the cab is finish.  Yes, I bought the monitor way before I am going to build the cab.  C'mon!  It's 70 off!  

[yourfatmama]

well noone has responded to my inquiry about their opinion of best display for home arcading, but i keep seeing talk of the betson displays so thats credit enough in itself.
looked at Betson's website, didnt see anywhere to order  the monitor, do you simply contact them directly and inquire about purchasing a monitor?

[Ken Layton]

You have to telephone Betson and talk to a salesman to make an order.

[Dave_K.]

I just found out Betson has a location in South San Francisco.  I drove up there this morning (50 min from San Jose).  They have a warehouse full of new and used arcade machines, and a demo room with latest arcade games.  Their parts department is also quite large (they stock happ stuff as well).  I was able to purchase the 27" imperial on the spot (for the sale price mentioned above), and they even unpacked it from the box and helped me load it into my car!  Can't ask for better service than that. 

The model I bought had an IT (not RT) at the end.  Apparently the only difference is the frame mounting.  It looks slightly different than the pics on retroblast.  I measured the holes at roughly 20 3/4".  I don't know if this is standard spacing or not as the cab this is going in is a Japanese rotateable (with 21" hole spacing). My 25" NBA jam has 19 1/2" spacing.   I'm not to worried as I have to swap the frames anyway to enable rotation.   I wonder if someone with the RT model can post the their spacing?

[Dave_K.]

Just updating this thread with a picture of the betson 27" monitor that uses the IT frame (model 44-4070-IT ).  You can see the RT model frame in Kevins pictures on retroblast.com.

[Dave_K.]

Here is another pic of the IT frame.  The tube and pcb on the left is actually from an older different 29" monitor.  I swapped the fame with the betson tube to make it fit in my japanese cab (which uses 21" monitor spacing).