POLL: 27" monitor choice

[wrast]

I'm shopping for a quality 27" arcade monitor for the cabinet I'm currently building. I've scoured the forums and it appears the monitor choices boil down to Betson, Wells Gardner, and Happ. But which one to pick? I hear great things about each one individually, but nothing that really compares them against each other. Is there any reason to choose one over another? Which one(s) work best with the ArcadeVGA card?

Thanks in advance.

[whammoed]

don't forget billabs
I'm also anxious to see if the wells gardner d9400 is more reliable than the d9200 was.  I still have a d9200 with no problems for over two years though...but i did mount a fan blowing across its boards...

[wrast]

Right! Nearly forgot about Billabs. At this point I think I've eliminated the Wells Gardner. Seems there are some quality issues with them that I don't want to risk. I'm kind of leaning toward Billabs and Bentson as I hear about shipping cost issues with Happ. Granted it'll be expensive no matter what.

Anyone care to comment on Billabs, Bentson, or Happ?

[the_77x42]

My billabs BL27CB0P is doing fine. Slight blurring of text around the extreme edges of the monitor and slight curving (pincusion) at the edges, but really only noticeable in 1024x768 mode. Picture quality and color is otherwise amazing, especially on the AVGA. I would purchase again.

[wrast]

I added a poll to the topic as it seemed appropriate. If you love your monitor, please vote for it. If you don't and would get something else in hindsight, vote for the one you'd get instead.

Any other choices I should add?

[MonMotha]

The Betson Multisync (aka Kortek KT2914) is a very nice monitor.  There are only two problems I've experienced: it doesn't like some standard res composite sync signals (Konami S573 and MK2 give it problems, TMNT and NFL Blitz in standard res mode don't), and the degauss kinda sucks.  The sync issue applies only to composite sync: separate always seems to work.

The visual quality is good, lots of adjustments (though god help you if you need to rotate it - Betson OEMs them without that option), syncs from starndard res up to 800x600, and it'll do HD1080i if you really want.  The dot pitch is large, like the monitors of old, so older games will look correct (aka grainy), and the phosphor decay time is slow enough that standard res isn't flickery.  It appears to have some sort of auto-gain on the input signal as it accepts input levels from PC (0.7Vpp) up through "omg freaking huge" (3.3+) with minimal adjustment.

Make sure you get all the cables with it from Betson - a couple of the connectors aren't easy to find (I still haven't found the correct power connector for it).  I bought mine 2nd hand and didn't get any of the connectors.  For reference, the video input is a 2mm Molex SPOX series (there is also the classic 0.156" KK header, but it appears to only work with large signal levels).  I've been told Betson includes these normally.  I had trouble getting through to anybody at Betson who knew enough about it to even begin looking for those cables, but then I don't normally go through Betson for my arcade stuff.

I collect real arcade hardware - I often don't care too much about the game itself - so the standard res performance is important to me.  A lot of people doing PC oriented stuff (MAME based, etc.) like the Billabs better since it has a smaller dot pitch and can go up to 1024x768@60p.  There have been a couple reports of the auto-sync on the Billabs failing and causing damage requiring a chassis replacement, but I'm not sure if that's user error or a design problem.  Billabs seemed responsive in those instances nonetheless.

I know Ken Layton has mentioned build quality issues multiple times with WG, but you'd have to get his input on that.  I will say that I like the OSD on the Kortek better than the WG, but give me hard pots on an analog chassis any day!

[wrast]

Called up the local Mountain Coin distributor for Billabs (Denver area) and they wanted $575 + tax for a BL27CB0PU (note the U at the end). The guy wasn't sure what the U meant so I emailed Billabs about it and have yet to hear back. Billabs has already told me they'll sell the 0P to me for $525 + ship (about $100). I may be able to save the shipping if I can convince my folks pick it up from them directly and take a trip out to see me. 

So I think I'm leaning toward the Billabs at this point with the Betson as my 2nd choice. I read some old posts saying that they sometimes have sales and the Imp multisync can be had for $399!? If that's the case it would be tough to pass up on. As it stands right now it runs $469. Throw in shipping cost and it's basically equivalent to the Billabs.

I notice that the Billabs monitor has a universal mounting frame. It's unclear to me if the Betson does as well or is that something else I'd need to buy?

Thanks for your continued input. It's my first cab and I want to get it as right as I can (not sure I'll ever be allowed to do this again  ).

[wrast]

Betson just quoted me $140 to ship their monitor to me. Yikes! I'm really leaning toward the Billabs at this point. I'd still like to see a lot more votes. A lot of views but not many votes!

[AlanS17]

Called up the local Mountain Coin distributor for Billabs (Denver area) and they wanted $575 + tax for a BL27CB0PU (note the U at the end). The guy wasn't sure what the U meant so I emailed Billabs about it and have yet to hear back.

More likely than not, the U refers to a universally mounted monitor (one that can be mounted horizontally or vertically). It's got less to do with monitor specs and more to do with what the cage looks like.

Of course, that's just an educated guess.

[wrast]

More likely than not, the U refers to a universally mounted monitor (one that can be mounted horizontally or vertically). It's got less to do with monitor specs and more to do with what the cage looks like.

Of course, that's just an educated guess.

Sounds like a good guess to me. I ended up going ahead and buying the Billabs monitor for a total of 556.50 (525+6%tax). Convinced a family member to pick it up for me from their distribution center so I won't see it until their holiday visit. Saved about 100 in shipping.

FYI, the 525 price is a sale they are having that expires today. Tomorrow's price, I'm told, will be 549. I talked to Ben at Billabs (770-912-5853).

[twitami]

I am interested in the billabs as well, but have a possbile issue. My cabinet is 23.5" wide. Anyone know the EXACT width of the billabs monitor?

[DaFoo]

I was really think about the Billabs , but when I discovered Betsen has a local distribution location here in Phoenix, well that sold me.