34" Sony XBR HD

[Bobbyj]

Hello everyone, I am new to the forums, about to start my mame project. The cabinet build is the easy part. My ? is about the display.  I don't want to get in a war about crt vs lcd.  I have been offered a 34" sony xbr hd television, its a 4x3 ratio, has component, dvi and svideo. Can i make use of the component or dvi in a mame setup ?, or am I better off with a multisync arcade monitor or just a plain tv?, thanks , any suggestions would be great.

[rCadeGaming]

I would say yes, a multisync or "standard def" TV would be a better option.  34" is way too big unless you're making a showcase cab.  Furthermore 90% of the arcade games in MAME are designed to run around 320x240 progressive.  If that TV is "HD capable" it's probably not able to actually display resolutions that low without upscaling them first, which you don't want.

Luckily "standard def" TV's with component inputs are dirt cheap (sometimes free) on Craigslist and things like that right now.  See the second link in my signature.

[Bobbyj]

I would say yes, a multisync or "standard def" TV would be a better option.  34" is way too big unless you're making a showcase cab.  Furthermore 90% of the arcade games in MAME are designed to run around 320x240 progressive.  If that TV is "HD capable" it's probably not able to actually display resolutions that low without upscaling them first, which you don't want.

Luckily "standard def" TV's with component inputs are dirt cheap (sometimes free) on Craigslist and things like that right now.  See the second link in my signature.

After reading your response and the links (very informative, thanks ) I decided on a Makvision 29" Trimode arcade monitor, a little expensive but what the hell.  What do you think of the Makvision ?, picture looks very good on the few youtube videos.

[rCadeGaming]

Actually I haven't used one of those.  I considered getting a new tri-sync and it seemed that the only ones available were that and the Wei-ya, so please post up a review with high-res pics when you get it.

Make sure to get everything running native res on that thing, as the tri-sync capability is really what makes that kind of thing worth the money.  You'll need an appropriate graphics card to do so.  An ATI card that's listed as compatible with Soft15kHz will be your best bet, and will work great with GroovyMAME, which should have a preset for that monitor.

Everything in the link I mentioned will be applicable, you'll just be setting up 24 and 31kHz resolutions in addition to 15kHz.  I'd start with GroovyMAME though, and just step in to adjust things manually as described in that link where needed.

[MonMotha]

FYI, the Makvision *is* a Wei-Ya.

From what I'm told, they're reasonably capable but of overall poor build quality as is typical for any arcade monitor made in the past decade.  When it breaks, good luck fixing it.

I've seen conflicting reports on the specs.  There are two models: an "analog tri-sync" and a "digital high-resolution".  The analog model everybody seems to agree is 15-31k.  The digital model is either 15-38k or 31-38k depending on who you believe.  There may be two digital models, but I don't think that's the case.  Obviously being able to only do 31-38k has implications as to the device's usefulness for "accurate emulator video" and may not be much better than the TV in question here.

[rCadeGaming]

FYI, the Makvision *is* a Wei-Ya.

Ah, sorry.  I think you've mentioned that to me before.

Hopefully the OP got something that's 15-31kHz or 15-38kHz.

[Bobbyj]

I just got a hold of two Sony trintrons 27",  they are virtually brand new, paid 50 for the, now the plan is for two mame cabinets , one for vertical games one for horizontal, I can use the component in with a VGA to ypbr convert or, should be pretty good, I think

[Jack Burton]

Little side note:

If it turns out this XBR is an HDTV you'd probably still do well to pick it up if the price is under $100.  It's still going to be a fantastic display, especially if it is one of the models with the Super Fine Pitch screen. 

There are plenty of methods to utilize such a monitor for modern gaming in 4:3 1080i. 

Do a little reading over on the avsforums or just google around and you'll find that certain models of these are extremely sought after and collectible.  The widescreen ones are the most valuable, but a SFP 4:3 is nothing to sneeze at.

[rCadeGaming]

Yeah, the HD Sony Trinitrons are not much better than a computer monitor for MAME.  They're great for modern games though.  I have a KV-34HS420 that's 16:9 and does 480p, 720p, or 1080i.  The interlace feathering is pretty obnoxious in 1080i because of the clarity of the set, but most PS3 and 360 games are actually natively 720p, which looks great.

[Jack Burton]

Yeah, the HD Sony Trinitrons are not much better than a computer monitor for MAME.  They're great for modern games though.  I have a KV-34HS420 that's 16:9 and does 480p, 720p, or 1080i.  The interlace feathering is pretty obnoxious in 1080i because of the clarity of the set, but most PS3 and 360 games are actually natively 720p, which looks great.

And that one doesn't even have the Super Fine Pitch tube.  I have a 34XS955, which does, and I think it looks as good or better than my friends $1k LED LCD tv from 2010 with all the fancy features turned on.   But his TV has a ton of lag in that mode.  The XS955 just has a touch of it.  If he turns off all the enhancements the image goes to ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, and he's still laggier.

Strange that  the 34HS420 supports 720 natively though.  The XS955 supports only 480p/1080i, internally scaling 720p. 

[Bobbyj]

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions , I guess there is no right display and no wrong display, lcd vs crt, both have pros and cons, true arcader may want to go the crt route, which makes sense, then again the price and availability of the lcds are also something to consider. Lcds are light, available in all sizes, scan lines can be generated with software and hardware. But for true old school arcade experience the crt can't be beat in, For now I will go the crt route since i have the two sonys , for modern game consoles I have my 55led, thanks guys