real-world arcade monitor quality

[Boz]

While I'm intending on using an arcade monitor for my "vaporware" cab, I have a couple of questions.

I've read many sites that review a number of monitors. Many of them dealing with the WG 9200 series. In each of the reviews the author claimed any one of several possible faults with each monitor. Some monitors had multiple faults, some only one. The faults they'd identify are these:

• regulation was somewhat weak
• convergence having alignment faults in one (or more) corners of the screen
• color purity being off in small areas of the screen effecting saturation

I've heard some people say that WG is the defacto standard monitor setup for Mame cabinet builders.

My questions are these: Do I simply have to put up with these imperfections, essentially rolling the dice by placing my order? Are these imperfections just the nature of the beast given it's NOT a computer monitor? Are there any manufacturers out there that have a superior product, but not recommended thanks to their high cost?

I'd love to hear about your own personal experiences if you are running an arcade monitor.

Thanks

[Jess--]

I have yet to see a "Perfect" arcade monitor, I think that this is because they are designed with long usage / reliability rather than picture quality in mind, mind you I also have yet to see a perfect computer monitor or tv, (and yes I do include tft screens in that).

at the end of the day there will always be some small imperfections on screens, most of these imperfections will not be noticed under normal use unless you go looking for them.

colour purity errors can quite often be corrected by degaussing the screen, and can also be caused by moving the screen, I know that the local arcade here uses a degaussing wand every time they move a machine (even if the screen looks ok)

convergance errors can happen because of magnetic fields around the monitor when in use and in most cases can be compensated for by adjusting the convergance rings on the neck of the tube (assuming it has them, some are pure electronic control) or by placing small / weak magnets around the neck of the tube near the scan coils.

[Boz]

WOW! That's really interesting. I found myself asking "who knows this stuff!?!?!" as I read your response. Thanks Jess! I guess I won't worry too much about it then. I was probably just being "nit-picky" about way too much little stuff.

Good info. Thanks again.

[Jomac]

Jess , With Wells Gardner you get what you pay for .

Nanao and Sanwa make"A"class monitors that are as perfect as you can get ,I have never seen a WG that even comes close to the same quality .
The Toshiba / Mitsubishi CRT's used by Nanao / Sanwa are the same types used in professional studio monitors and many of the more expensive home TV's .

Unfortunately they are not as available or affordable as WG.
I cant complain though , after repairing monitors for near on 22 years now WG continue to fail and supply a steady work load .

[Boz]

Unfortunately they are not as available or affordable as WG.

It's pretty clear they are not as available, google and eBay searches turned up very limited results with neither of them linking anything that had to do with an arcade monitor. Jomac, where would I find information on either of these manufacturers' arcade monitors? Do they make an arcade specific monitor?

EDIT:
Actually, that turns out to be another interesting question. What is it exactly, from a technology perspective, that distinguishes an arcade monitor from a standard television CRT? Refresh rate?

[Ken Layton]

Here in the USA, Sanwa and Nanao monitors are rare. Obtaining brand new complete monitors, parts and service manuals/schematics is impossible here. In fact in all the 29 years I have been repairing commercial arcade monitors I don't think I've ever even seen a Sanwa monitor. I've only come across a handful of Nanao monitors.

Where are these company's USA offices? Where do you obtain parts and manuals?

[Boz]

I've only come across a handful of Nanao monitors.

What kind of quality do you see with the Nanao monitors as opposed to the WG monitors.

[Jomac]

As far as I am aware there is no US offices for Nanao or Sanwa , Unless you contact a US bases SEGA distributor , Nanao is their sister company .

All "Jap" Daytona's , Sega Rally's , Indy 500 , and many more exclusively used only Nanao or Sanwa Monitors , many people refer to both of these monitors as SEGA monitors .WG were only used in the US versions of the same games ,.
The US version with WG monitors and Crappy Seats were known in Australia as" the poverty pack version" , because of the rubbish monitors .


Later versions of Sanwa use 29" LG-Philips CRT's, the exact version used in hundreds of thousands of SEGA games is this one http://www.sanwael.co.jp/hp/english/crt/img/pdf/29ZCRT_en.pdf

You can also view other monitors in their range but keep in mind they don't answer questions from the general public , they are manufacturers not retailers.


Sharp Image monitors also known as Kortek have a huge range available in the US
http://www.sharpimage.net/

Weiya , while based in TW also ship around the world
http://www.weiya.com.tw/monitor/monitor.htm


Makvision also based in the US have a huge range .
http://www.makvision.com/index.php

Rodotron , ( same as Pentranic based in the US ) also carry everything you could ever need
http://www.rodotron.com.tw/list.htm

Korion , Not US based but will ship around the world
http://www.korion.net/main.html
 
Just a few options 

[Jomac]

[quote

What kind of quality do you see with the Nanao monitors as opposed to the WG monitors.

That is a bit like comparing a rolls royce to a volks wagon , WG are not in the same class but nanao are about 2 1/2 times more expensive.

[Ken Layton]

All of the Sega distributors I have talked with here in the USA all tell me that trying to get the Nanao monitor manuals & parts from Sega Japan is futile. The Sega distribs here are pulling out the Nanao monitors and replacing them with anything else they can get parts easily for including Kortek/Sharp Image/Betson/Imperial, Neo Tec, Wei-Ya, and Wells-Gardner.

[Jomac]

Nice to see you put WG at the end of the list Ken

Nanao only made monitors for specific orders , They never distributed or retailed them themselves .
When they were available here in Australia they were imported by LAI in minimum lots of 1000pcs .
They "Only" manufactured OEM for game manufacturers which LAI Australia were at the time .

Sega US would be able to purchase them if they were for a new game but Nanao would not supply them as stock item or spare part .
I am yet to come across a dead Toshiba 29" CRT  or 29" nanao chassis that couldn't be fixed , If this happened , I would purchase a Sanwa replacement chassis direct or plug in a tri res Weiya chassis that is also a direct conversion .
Unless you are talking about 25" versions as used in Sega USA
If the only option left was to use a WG , it would only be a temporary solution .

I have replaced many 25" WG's like U3000 and 5000 with dual res Sharp image 25's ,A preferred option is the nanao ms8-26 which are as common as flies in Australia , even a 10 year old one of these looks better than an out of the box WG.