Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: rhoelsch on February 05, 2003, 04:01:21 pm
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Ok, we all know that large TV's (27") are more likely to have S-vid inputs, and a large display looks great in a cab, but they're more expensive and some people indicate that the 27's cause eye strain and aren't quite as sharp in picture quality versus smaller, 20-25" models. Of course, I'm concerned that smaller ones look puny in a cab, and there's not as many to choose from that have s-vid. If mounting horizontally, anyone think a 20" would look to small in a "regularly" sized cab? And what about the eye strain and sharpness vs. size issues? Experienced advice needed!
***insert size jokes here***
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Yeah I was browsing Best Buy last week actually for 19-20 inch regular TV's(not flat CRT, I mean), and there is definitely a lack of s-vid options for smaller sets. They are cheap though.
Keep in mind that most classic games used 19" arcade monitors, so a 20" TV isn't too far off the mark size-wise(19 in viewable prob?). So it all depends on what you call a 'regularly' size cab. Of course, vertical games on a 20" tv will look like a postage stamp...
I've hooked up a 20" tv via composite connection and honestly it wasn't too bad considering it was just a tv. It was definitely bright, and perhaps using smoked plexi like in the thread that Oscar just started would help in that regard. I didn't play it long enough to get eye strain - plus my face wasn't right up to the glass. Best advice is just to try it out with your living room tv or something first.
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Also remember that a lot of those old games with small monitors were 1 player. The more players you have the more comfortable it will be to have a bigger monitor, at least that's true in my experience.
I would suggest you look around at examples to see how the tv would look inside your cab design. My experience with cab building has been about 20% asking question, 80% research research research. Almost everything on your cab is going to come down to personal preference, there is no right answer. A vector junky likes pc monitors, die-hard hobbyists have to have an arcade monitor, etc. Computer monitors don't follow quite the same measurement rules as a tv but there's quite a few 19-21" computer monitor cabs sitting in the archives that you could use for reference.
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Another consideration is whether you live mainly for horizontal or vertical games.. if vertical and you choose to use a horizontal orientation for wider compatibility, I've heard a 25-27" maintains a closer aspect ratio to the original.
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Do what I did. Get a used TV. I just picked up a 27" Toshiba last night for $200 Canadian (~$125 US). (hooked it up last night for "testing" it works great, power & video in come on when unplugged an plugged in again, even picture in picture(wonder if it works with MAME...?)) I was looking at a 25" in a pawn shop, but this one was nicer. Check out your local on-line forsale newsgroup, pawnshops, and newspapers, you'll probably find a decent deal before too long.