I just moved, and had a guy helping who was mocking the fact I had an old CRT for my non-HD systems. He kept saying everything looked better on a 4k TV. I tried to educate him on upscaling and lag, but he wouldn't budge. He needs our prayers, guys.
For me, the #1 priority is day-to-day convenience. Meaning that it doesn’t matter how much of a hassle it is to set everything up in the first place, but once it’s set up, I don’t want to ever think about the set-up again. From that point on, it should work like in the good old days: pick up the controller and play. That includes things like proper cable management. It’s certainly a bit of an initial effort to wrap your cables and place them nicely, but once it’s done, there won’t be the ugly sight of dozens of loose cables distracting you while you’re playing.
The reason we enjoy retro games is because it harks back to a simpler time where it was just about having fun. Just have a good time and if your setup is not 'optimal' so what!
It's terrible because back then you played on a crt and if you don't know the nostalgia flies out of the window and you are confronted with input lag. Something you never had back in the day
I love that this guy made that comment. As gamers of the 80s-90s, we never thought to lust after a CRT. Did we know that better connections provided a better picture? Eventually we did but not for a long time. I honestly can’t even remember when I transitioned over from RF. I think it all dawned on me when the 5th gen. system HAD to used the yellow, red, white. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The day I got rid of my CRT was one of the best days of my life. I don’t give a flying f*** if it has less lag and looks more “pure”. Pure can go suck an egg. Those monitors are horrible in so many ways. Do you know that CRTs cause 3 times more strain on your eyes? Ugh, no thanks. I do believe in bette connections.
As someone who knows absolutely nothing about technology I could not even tell you what the red white and yellow cables were called until this video. I plug all my consoles new and old into the only TV I have which is a flat screen and I’ve had people tell me how bad it is since all the old consoles get stretched to wide screen, but I feel like if you have fun playing your games then it doesn’t matter what TV or cables you have, that makes your set up good if you have fun with it.
Like you said in the video, you don't hear many people talking about the sound in their set-up! Definitely an overlooked aspect, especially since lots of old games supported 5.1 surround.
Oh no, you can lose people in the UA-cam? Like, through the cracks? I also now hope we don’t. Be careful Bird. Please. You’re too awesome to be lost in the Tube.
Most important to me is having every console plugged in and ready to go. That means both to the CRTV and also to an audio receiver for awesome sound. Then it's just a matter of pressing the appropriate input selectors and turning on the console to play. This isn't as easy as it sounds when you have 16 retro consoles, but when it's set up, it's a beautiful thing!
You touched on my setup philosophy. It's mostly whatever works. To each their own, but I do find it funny how some people talk about how they like certain games for the nostalgia from playing them when they were younger, but have them running through all these special cables and filters when if they were really nostalgic, they'd be playing them on their old hand-me-down 12" CRT tv through coax cables while sipping on some Ecto Cooler flavored Hi-C and entering some cheat codes your buddy gave you on the bus ride home written down on a piece of paper ripped from their composition notebook.
The most important aspect of my gaming set up is comfortness, as in I need to be cozy and comfy while I'm playing my games with a comfy lounge chair, bean bag, or reclining gaming chair, maybe something to help me hang my feet in the air, that kind of thing.
My biggest priority I've found out is how close my setup is to my bedroom! We have a spare room perfect for gaming, and I have a HUGE trinitron in there with all the space I'd need for gaming... yet I find myself moving everything I can into my bedroom. Something about a cozy setup at my desk has made it much more accessible and enjoyable for me.
This is solid advice. Went down the rabbit hole myself and quickly got to the point where I spent more time fidgeting with cable upgrades than actually playing games.
I hate to admit it but, even though we have many consoles hooked up in our house. I still have our NES, SNES and Genesis hooked up on a big ol 28' Zenith via RF cables. I just enjoy having them hooked up the way we all did back when I was a little gamer. Great vid bird!
I feel satisfied and happy with my set up: gamecube kiosk, 2k 1ms TN gaming monitor, PC CRT 85hz for 480p and retro pc games and finally a 25 inch trinitron with composite/component or DVD inputs for ps3/blu ray disk with 3.1 surround sound! It took me 7 years but I need no more!
The most important part for me personally is comfort. I want a nice place to sit or lay down and an easy pick up and play kind of expercience! Thats why most of my consoles are always connected.
I recently dug up my Genesis model 2 and cleaned it up, looking for a CRT for it is almost impossible with the "video game collectors" aka scalpers around here. I use the evil E word a lot because money and other conveniences (PC ports, DAC, etc) but I really think the most "authentic" way to play without physically dealing the media, is a physical controller. To me the controllers make the retro nostalgic feel be most authentic. I'm looking into USB controllers and links for my beautiful and perfectly fitting 3 button Genesis pad. Thanks for these videos man!
My brother was helping me to replace a laser lens on my sega saturn so I could improve it and play reproduction games, such as the english translations of Scenario 2 and 3 for Shining Force 3. But instead we ended up breaking it entirely, but thankfully he's coming back next weekend so hopefully we'll get it figured out. Anyways, it's an extreme hassle, but I'm sure it'll be totally worth it once we get it fully fixed. I just have to keep buying pizza and beer to bribe my brother for his services is all.
Using a CRT television is the single most important factor. However, having a hifi audio system is a great investment and really enhances the experience. Realistically, the buy in for an entry level hifi stereo set up new would be at least $500 but even decent vintage equipment can be great. It also instantly gives your gaming space the ability to also be a music space, throw in a record player and you'll really be rolling. I think most retro gamers with sophisticated setups might not even consider audio but they would be blown away by the upgrade and just how much it adds to the experience.
That’s not instant at all. You can’t just bung some speakers and an amp in any old cluttered room and expect a good audio experience. Unless you’re willing to compromise your game room in the name of acoustics or vice versa this isn’t going to work. Mind you, I’m totally with you that audio is just as if not more important than image quality.
@@ChrisStoneinator "Some speakers and an amp in any old cluttered room" would be a greater leap in quality over inbuilt speakers, than the difference between the improvised stereo and a room with dampening materials, geometry and stupidly expensive speakers.
These days, the most important aspects to my gaming setup are convenience and physical minimalism. I used to have a huge collection of 100s of games across genesis, 32x, sega cd, dreamcast, n64, gamecube, wii, xbox. But that was easier when living alone as a bachelor. Now I'm two years into my marriage and have a 9-month-old baby. We don't own a house (yet), so there isn't a ton of space for that sort of setup in our living room and I wouldn't want to leave all of that out with the baby around. So what's my setup? A Retroid Pocket 2+ with all libraries for all the old consoles I want, along with a long HDMI cable so I can plug it into the TV when it's time to play. It's minimal, convenient, and out of the way. The only inconvenient thing so far is that I'm not sure what's the best way to configure extra controllers for when I want to game with a friend. This setup works well for now. One day however, I'd like to get back into physical collecting... as soon as we're more established and have the space for it again.
Inherited a 32in flat screen CRT recently, plugged my gamecube & N64 into it and the games look sooooo much better than the 48in HD TV they were hooked up to.
I run a 20” PVM with SCART for all consoles and a switcher that allows me to easily change between them. However, this wasn’t how I used to play games so I guess it’s more important to me to have a certain picture quality these days. I love true scanlines, for example. And the artistry of graphics and pixels and sprite designs. I like to give them the space to breathe and admire what they look like. That’s a huge part of the gaming experience for me. But rightfully said in the video; that’s personal to me. There is no right or wrong way to play games. Only a fun way or not.
I have a very similar setup. The image quality, no lag, and original hardware are very important to me. Sure when I was younger too I didn't play these systems through RGB but instead RF or Composite. But kids don't appreciate the fine details anyway. I really don't think a kid would pay much attention to or notice the difference between RF, Composite, S-Video, and RGB. Usually their imagination fills in the gaps in detail. But as an adult when you understand the technology, it's nice to get as sharp and accurate of an image as possible. It does fall behind input lag as a priority for me, but it's up there. I'd take a CRT with Composite over playing on a modern LCD with input lag.
@@mottzilla4858 Really well explained. I too share the lag avoidance. I’m not a speed runner or anything like that, but even the slightest hint and it will spoil my enjoyment.
Honestly, that's not a bad way to go other than the increasingly smaller supply of options to use. And, it's the only way of getting the light gun to work, that is unless you go with a newer option that detects a border for locating the shots like the sinden light gun does.
I have my setup in my garage on my workbench. I’m a mechanic but my video game passion has taken over for the past 2 years now. I have the nes snes n64 tg16 mini Genesis GameCube neo geo mini Dreamcast and the 2600 all under the table and my 15 inch tv next to them under the table. I have a small 9 inch on the actual workbench but I have 4 other crts that I can use. All compostite going through a 3 switch and a bunch of Y cables so some systems share the connection. For me it’s versatility. I can swap cables and tvs with no problem at the drop of a hat. Last night I used a 20 inch flat screen crt. As long as I’m having fun I don’t mind at all.
I originally bough a Framemeister for use with my gaming setup, but apart from one LCD that lacked a 4:3 mode I didn't like using it - never felt like it was worth it. Now swapped it out for a different screen with SCART inputs on it and I'm happier, just one less thing to fiddle around with.
My setup in regards to how they are connected to my TV is complicated since I am using a modern Sony 48" OLED TV with 11 consoles connected at once. The description of the details of my setup is going very long ,because there lot going on with it. The consoles connected to my TV: Analogue Super NT(SNES), Analogue Mega SG(Genesis), N64, Saturn, Gamecube, PS2, PS3, PS5, Wii U, Switch, and Xbox Series X. Retro Consoles HDMI Converters: Gamecube( GCHD HDMI Mod), XRGB Framemeister (N64 via S-Video, Sega Saturn via SCART), OSSC 1.6 (PS2 via Component). Connections to TV: Xbox Series X and PS5 in the first 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, in the third port is a Marantz SR 5013 with 8 HDMI INs and 2 HDMI Outs. Plugged into the Marantz is the Mega SG, Super NT, PS3, Switch, Wii U, Gamecube , OSSC 1.6, and Framemeister. There are upsides to having a setup like this, but I still recommend using a CRT if you have the space to put it. The cost of upscalers, HDMI Switches, and AVR make no sense fiscally speaking if you can spare the room for a CRT.
I have spent hundreds on my set up with the goal of the cleanest pixels possible through HDMI so that I can have all my consoles hooked up and able to be switched between with the single (or sometimes 2 or 3) push(es) of a button. And you know what? It was worth it. Not only is it super super convenient being a content creator, but it's something I enjoyed planning out and working towards little by little and now that the set up is at long last complete, I can say I am extremely proud of the display. My setup includes FPGA NES (AVS), SNES (Super NT), and Genesis (Mega SG) + CD (with a big expensive work around to use the not natively supported 32X, and even more work around to be able to pull out the 32X and use the cartridge adapters for Master System and Game Gear without changing cables out), the EON HDMI converters for N64 and GameCube, some consoles that just natively support HDMI out, some consoles that natively do component run into an HDMI converter, other consoles that have had HDMI cables made with built in upscalers (like those pound cables, but the only ones of those I'm truly happy with are for the Saturn and OG Xbox), and all of this runs into a big HDMI switch box (which has an aux audio out so I can mute the TV to keep my recordings clean from noise pollution.) which in turn is split into two TVs and an extra line that runs through an HDMI splitter (for that pesky PS3 and newer HDCP protection) and I to the capture card on my PC. Consoles included: Atari 5200 (modded for native component out and a seperate power supply), Saturn, Genesis32XCD (Mega SG), NES (AVS), SNES (Super NT), N64, Wii, Wii U, Switch, OG Xbox, 360, XboneX, PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PSTV, PS5, a Steam Machine, and soon to be a consolized Virtual Boy and an Analogue Pocket dock.
I used to have all of my consoles hooked up at once but quickly outgrew that with the advent of things like component and HDMI that didn't mix well with a more retro environment. It got to a point where I had multiple switch boxes and converters with sound routed through a receiver and half the time I couldn't even figure out how to turn a console on. Even though I set it up! Not to mention the cable mess and having multiple surge protectors to plug everything into. That messiness just made the whole thing unsatisfying for me. Nowadays I just have the three current systems hooked up (which already looks messy enough!) and everything else is boxed. That does mean I play the retro systems less but every once in a while I'll hook one up for a few days. Someday I'd love to have them all hooked up and finally organized on a big set of shelves, but I just haven't found good solutions for that yet. And it seems like it would take multiple solutions; the right furniture, dealing with the different output types, the cable management, power management, etc.
My setup is like that. Switch box 1 needs to be on #2 Switch box 2 should be on #4 etc.. etc.. to play : n64. I had to write down all the combinations for each console because after a few weeks of not playing a certain console, I HAD forgotten how to turn it on. lol
Most important to me in order of importance: 1) Low input lag 2) High frame rate 3) Sharp picture quality 4) Easy access Thank you for the great video. Best regards.
Having everything set up is most important to me. I have my retro consoles (SG-1000 through Dreamcast) hooked up to a CRT in my game room. Then I have a second Dreamcast, Wii, Wii U, Switch, PS4, and all Xbox/Mini consoles hooked up to an HD TV in my family room.
So the most important part of my setup is the quick access to play what I want on a whim, Keeping the consoles safe, and the ability to record for UA-cam Videos.
Geometry issues can be an absolute field day for any OCD-er. Once you get it close enough to perfect, pat yourself on the back and try not to fret any further my friend :)
I love my visuals, so I've been investing in nice SVideo and Component cables recently and they've made all the difference! I even got one of the fancy HD Retrovision cables for my Genesis and it was mind blowing.
To me it's all about everything being hooked up at the same time which is a pain all I'm itslef considering the different tvs and all the splitters and end everything. That and official controllers are a must for me.
Thanks for the vid! I have a medium sized CRT I use for my main three consoles…NES, SNES, and Genesis. I also have a PC running Recalbox (with custom CRT filter) for all the other consoles. I’ve invested quite a bit of time and money into getting all the controllers right. I have first party controllers and adapters for most of the consoles I play on Recalbox. Input lag is a priority, too. I love the CRT for zero lag, but I also like sitting back on the couch with a big modern screen. You’ll want to make sure your modern TV has a fast response time.
Right now is a great time to get a Retro TV for free or cheap as everyone seems to be getting those Smart TVs. They are not so smart when it comes to hooking retro games! Anyway, the only thing I use is a cheap fold up table to hold my consoles on. That way I can get to all my cables easy & not struggle like when you couldn't get to your GGB to Component Video Converter. Don't want your cables to show, just buy a video game blanket & throw it on there to hang in the back hiding your cables. As blankets are easy enough to still get to your cables.
After obsessing over getting perfect video quality for over almost 10 years in 2022 I'm now obsessing over sound. I've searching for the perfect magnetically shielded speakers and a vintage Marantz receiver.
I don't have the craziest TV, but I am pretty happy with all the stuff I have. I did go down that major, major technical rabbit hole and that was a trip. Dithering too. I played through Silent Hill 1 recently, with composite and man it is a different experience entirely than if I had a more clearer cable such as component.
the most important part is comfort and familiarity, i do things a certain way and that's just how it is. some preferences are weird, but its just how i like it.
Having a CRT is the #1 factor for me. With it, the graphics aren't "pixel art"- they're just art! Everything from NES to Wii is hooked up with composite, but I'm fine with that. Audio is an underrated aspect, and I admit that I haven't given it the attention it probably deserves. Unfortunately, my setup (a hodgepodge of multiple devices and screens) is too scattered for everything to run through just one set of speakers. Maybe if I ever get a place with a bigger living room, I'll invest in a half-decent sound system.
Friday Night Retrobird Enjoyment! My Gaming setup has evolved over time. I am almost finished with how I want my setup to be. In terms of Controllers, I always use the first party ones but have some other controllers as nice secondary options. My cable setup is well, expensive. I hate to think how much I spent on it over time. I have all my systems hooked up to 5 different screens. 1 TV in the living room and 4 in the game room. I have one console that I use Composite with. The Nes. I have that hooked into my very large Panasonic Crt. I have two consoles that I use S Video with. I have the Philips Cdi and Panasonic 3DO hooked up to the large Panasonic Crt. I have 8 consoles hooked up through Hdmi. I have the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii U, and Switch hooked up to the 1080P 3D 46 inch Samsung in the Gameroom. Downstairs in the living room, I have the 4 other Hdmi consoles hooked up to the 85inch Qled. Those consist of the PS4 Pro, The Super NT, the Mega SG hooked to a Model 2 Sega Cd, and Finally the Analogue NT Mini Noir. All those systems on the living room tv are hooked audio wise to a soundbar/sub combo. I have 1 console hooked up through VGA. I have my Dreamcast hooked up through the first party Sega VGA box on a nice Monitor with audio going to the 5.1 surround setup I have in the game room. Finally, the connection type, I have the most of. I have 12 systems hooked up with Component cables. I have the OG Xbox using the Advanced Video pack with male to male HD Retrovision component cables and a Nice Optical cable for sound in the receiver. I have the PS2 hooked up through with first party Sony Component cables as well as the Optical out for sound with the stereo. My Gamecube setup is pretty ridiculous. I have a Gamecube with the Gameboy Player, the Broadband adapter, 4 Wavebirds, and it is hooked up with the Nintendo Component cable. Finally all the rest of my systems use the HD Retrovision component cables. I am using them with my PS1, Super Nes, RGB Modded N64, Sega Master System, Hi Def Genesis/Model 1 Sega Cd/32X tower, Sega Saturn, Neo Geo Aes U.S model with clean Rgb, my Rgb/region free modded Turbo duo with recap, and using the snes to Jag adapter, I have component out on the Jag/Jag cd combo. I have two G Comp Switchers that all these component cables are plugged into. They each have two outputs. I have any consoles that have games that run in Widescreen, Tate mode, or any HD Resolution’s hooked up to the Flatscreen and my large Crt. That consists of The OG Xbox, PS1, PS2, N64, Gamecube, Genesis/Sega Cd/32X tower, and the Sega Saturn. The other G Comp goes to the Big Crt and the small Crt and consists of the Snes, Sega Master system, Neo Geo Aes, and the Jaguar/Jag Cd unit. The only change I still want to make is I want to RGB mod my 3do so that I can add HD retrovision component cables to that system and make it to where I only have one system that uses S Video. My biggest challenge is cable management. I need to get better about that. I will say, that my Surge Protector setups are a sight to behold as well. Lol.
@@RetroBirdGaming Lol. Right?! They are asking about the Electric bill. My favorite one has to be the Sega Power Strip. That one has the Master System, Genny/Cd/32x tower of wall warts, and the Neo Geo Aes plugged into it. Really helps with eliminating so many of those large wall plugs.
@@SmallSpoonBrigade The $15 one I originally bought did not work but then ponied up about $40 for one that has a button to toggle between various resolutions with some very slight black border (I play in the dark so irrelevant). Vibrance of color, clarity, and brightness is much better than Composite although honestly that still looks decent on a 13/14 in set. I have PS2, GC, Xbox, and Wii connected via component switch box to my 27in.
For me, now that I have the space, having all my consoles hooked up ready to play at a moment's notice was the most important aspect. Next, which I'm still working on, is the best way for me to have my controllers at the ready without being messy or just laying about.
As soon as I got my CRT I stopped caring about cables and console mods for image quality and Framemeisters, Retrotink, whatever, and I stopped lusting after PVM/BVM. I realised it already looked great, and what’s more, it looked RIGHT, I had alighted on the correct and authentic way to play, I need nothing more. Well, more games and consoles and a few more CRT’s and some B&O speakers to plug into my B&O MX8000, maybe a few more … uh never mind.
I have a 28" CRT (RGB SCART) for PS2 and older, 42" Plasma for PS3, PS4 and Switch, and a 21" LCD monitor with s-video and component inputs which can be rotated for games which benefit from that. Very happy with my setup.
I'm happy with Composite so far. Got 2 8-way switch Boxes to hook All my Systems up and it works for me. For the Sound i connected an old Stereo System to my TV for games like Einhänder, the Final Fantasy Games and everything with amazing Soundtracks ^^
From being an ex-game collector to now being more of a toy collector, I build my collections and displays for myself and really don't care to share them with other people, especially online. There are collectors who get a kick out of being overly critical or just insulting. Having given up collecting games, I love retro gaming and I always will so being able to play games through emulation, flash carts, retro consoles, or compilations are the way to go for me. That said, someday I want to have a dedicated room to play my consoles on ideal monitors or TVs, especially those that need a CRT. I like watching videos like yours that give advice on what is a good set up without breaking the bank. By the way, does anyone know if it's possible to hook up a Dreamcast or original XBOX to a flat screen with either component or HDMI and not get 2D games looking extremely pixelated? I have had this issue with both consoles with games like Marvel Vs Capcom 2 or Capcom Vs SNK 2. The 3D polygon backgrounds will look fantastic but the 2D character sprites are horribly pixelated. Or is this just an issue with using a flat screen with consoles that were meant to be used with CRTs?
I mean it is probably possible, IDK, maybe My Life In Gaming has covered it at some point. If you just want it to work and look nice, be easy and not cost an arm and a leg, CRT TV or CRT monitor through VGA (however that is done, IDK) is the way to go. Unless you wanna buy some goofy box that costs hundreds of dollars it’s probably not possible, without just plugging it into a CRT of course. I gave up on all those boxes and Frame-Meisters ages ago. With all the fancy boxes you can get lovely crystal clear image quality on a flatscreen, OLED, LCD, whatever, but you may have delay issues, not sure, and it won’t look like how Dreamcast or arcade is supposed to. I guess play a Dreamcast emulator to see wether modern flatscreen (in this case on your PC/laptop, maybe even mobile phone) or CRT style is what you want, CRT is cheaper and easier and so still is CRT PC monitor with VGA, lots of Dreamcast nuts do that one, look it up, I’m no expert. In U.K. it’s getting expensive to get CRT pc monitors now, TV’s is much cheaper here. At any given time the fancy box you need to make the Dreamcast look good on flatscreen may be out of stock or unavailable, they’re not made in large numbers and are for real anoraks.
Input lag was my main focus for a while. My cablework needs... work, though, but my setup is weird and I can't just put them behind somewhere out of sight.
Picture quality 1000% is most important for me. I've been on a quest for perfect retro video quality and have spent nearly $500 this year on cords and a Retrotink 5X.
My set up was originally just a 13" that had RF and AV crt. Now I have a 28" older flat-screen with RF, AV, S-video, VGA, Component, and HDMI and a 20" CRT with RF, AV out and an audio in so I could hook up a stereo to my set up which would be a really nice addition. I do find it odd that not many people talk about audio as much as they talk about video
In most retro setups, you don't go past stereo sound. But that's another area of expertise many of us don't get involved because most of the times.... a couple of CRT speakers are "good enough" for most people.
Shinmoh is correct in regards not having an external sound system with a retro setup. Being Videophile and Audiophile can often be conflicting interests in regards to how the setup put together. I do consider myself a audiophile, I use a traditional 2 channel system. I use a Marantz SR5013 as my Video Processor and preamp which is connected to my integrated amp a Marantz PM 8006. The integrated amp powers my Klipsch RP 600Ms. I also use a Topping D70s as my external DAC which takes PCM Audio from my TV's Optical port to the CD line input on my SR 5013.
I dunno what’s most important to me overall (I am a bit of a snob about sound quality and using CRT’s and original hardware) but now I have a B&O MX8000 CRT TV the most important thing I’ve got to do for my the retro part of my setup is get it to where I can have all of it displayed and playable at once in an ergonomic way. I’m trying to build (still in planning and prototyping) a TV unit/shelving cubby unit thing with custom sized compartments for each console, which will elevate my TV so the middle of the screen is exactly eye height for me. For me it’s extremely important as I have scoliosis and back/neck issues, I’m very OCD about how I sit to game/watch my CRT. So basically I cannot play anything right now, Xbox hooked up to test some eBay games, that’s it. I want all retro and modern consoles connected in the best/least annoying way to use them.
I’m glad a larger UA-camr finally said it. I’ve got the OSSC, mClassic and Retrotink. I almost always prefer the simplistic options that look pretty good. I do favor the mClassic but it has an added benefit of forcing the aspect ratio into 4:3.
Love to see your view count growing, you deserve it! I literally watch and rewatch your videos all day lol. Your volume is incredible and every time the video is super entertaining. Thanks so much for sharing your passion with all of us. Excited to see your channel continue to grow!
@RetroBirdGaming love your videos. I really enjoy your kid at heart approach. 🎉i built a small arcade in my garage i have a mame cabinet...a virtual pinball machine and i recently built an original xbox based racing arcade gig with vibrating seat and all 😂 i just subd and will go look for any old arcade stuff if you have any. If you ever in ottawa id love to invite you to play some games 😊
My setup atm i use is a series x and a 55" cx. Switch and MiSTer used with a 24" LED low lag monitor 2ms. Very compact and dozens of consoles. All other hw like super NT and og retro hw is stored. I couldnt be happier.
The most important thing to me is to be able to switch to each console quickly. Fussing around with plugging each cable in as I need then was too much so I got a single box that they run through that plugs directly into my TV. With the press of a button, I can switch to whatever console I want nice and fast.
I fell down the RGB rabbit hole and ended up with a massive CRT that I sold after realizing that I wasn't enjoying my games while chasing better video quality. My RetroTINK 2X, collecting dust, now converts RGB and S-Video to a little HP CRT monitor that is paired with a Logitech 2.1 speaker system that sounds amazing. The most important part is having fun; if you want to upgrade, do it! If you have a blast using RF, more power to you!
I use a 20'' Magnavox CRT and I'm running my Wii, PS2, and SNES through an accessory selector from Radioshack so I don't have to plug and unplug stuff whenever I want to switch consoles, and it's working just fine so I'm happy.
Great topic. Man, I feel like some old dinosaur but I have never had any complaints about a good old CRT and composite video from my older systems. Expensive upscalers and cables, personal video monitors, that whole scene just seems like a snob fest to me. I do think that S-Video or component should be used if the consoles, switchers and TVs you happen to have support it. I think the best "stock" output from any console is fine. As long as it isn't RF, which is unnecessarily bad. And yes stretching a 4:3 game to 16:9 on a modern TV makes my eyes bleed. Input lag on new TVs makes things unplayable for me, I don't get how anyone does it. Timing is everything. A CRT with composite is the cheapest, easiest and best experience in my book.
I think easy of use is mine, I don't want to touch a switch box, or unplug/plug in any consoles, I like all my consoles setup on one or two tvs and the most I have to do is hit a power button and go, all consoles in 4k and auto switched. I use a rack mountable 16in, 1 out HDMI autoswitch, a retrotink 5x, a few RF demodulators (for the really old ones), a bunch of scart auto switched with dual output (so I can use light guns on a CRT while capturing a scaled image) a auto switching s-video/component switch. basically RF gets converted to composit, then scaled by the retrotink, which then goes to the HDMI switch. this is also the process for s-video, component and scart. the second output on the scart switch goes to a scart to component converter which then goes to a CRT, this allows me to play light gun games and since the first input is still going to HDMI, I can record it in 4k. that's basically how my setup is done (with 56ish consoles)
I gave up on having consoles, and settled for having a CRT monitor connected to my computer, and just emulate all my retro games. That's honestly been good enough for me, especially since I use RetroArch to reduce input lag, and shaders to clean up the image the way I like it. I like my CRT monitor so much, I play all my games on it, not just retro.
Man, last time i had to buy a new tv all i asked for is that it had av plugs in the back. I play all my retro consoles via AV, and the modern ones through HDMI. I keep it simple, all i care is enjoy my games.
I like to have all my consoles basically hooked up and ready to go so I can play them whenever. I also paired up the consoles that can share the same video connections (snes & n64, Wii & Wii U, ps2 & ps3, Genesis & saturn vía had retrovision cables and appropriate adapters). The cable clutter really adds up and it’s hard to manage so this is how I manage it a little better. I also like to game on a CRT with original hardware because I’m lucky enough that most of the stuff I have had since I was child or teen and was able to keep it. I’m not opposed to alternatives though, the important thing is that we game and enjoy it.
Yeah, I do the most of my retrogaming thru modern day FPGA solutions - controllers and having a permanent setup for the most played consoles is important too
I remember using a converter on the two forks with screws to run RF on my tiny black and white tv. Didn’t matter, still played double dribble for hours with no complaints.
After discovering that my TV's video chip supports S-Video, I plan on adding that in. But Composite looks perfectly nice to me, and anything pre-Dreamcast I plan on keeping connected through that. Who cares if it isn't optimal: most people with consoles in the 90s and early 00's didn't have high end equipment!
When buying controllers, remember that it's not a truly authentic retro multiplayer experience unless somebody gets stuck with the terrible Mad Catz one that has slight drift, at least one loose button and a wire that's been chewed partway through by a dog.
I don't have room for a CRT so all of my consoles are hooked up to my HDTV through plug and play adapters. Well, not ALL of them.. sadly there just isn't enough space for them all so I do have to swap consoles out from time to time. The plug and play adapters are a good solution if you don't want to have to mess around with modding your consoles for HD. They are fairly inexpensive too, but I definitely recommend going for the higher end ones. The extra $20 or so for a better picture quality will be worth it in the long run. As for sound, I bought a stereo sound bar for around $60 that really helps fill in the bass and drum sounds. My TV is an older model Sony that was on clearance at Best Buy. The picture is wonderful and it has low input lag. You don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money to have a good setup. Mine isn't perfect by any means but I'm very happy with it and would rather spend my money on more games than chasing the dragon of fidelity lol.
I feel like sound preservation is often overlooked and it's really good that you brought it up! Most pro monitors (and some consumer sets) have abysmal speakers; as audio is not the focus of video production! But as many are repurposing these monitors for use in their home gaming setups, it is important to pair these monitors with speakers that are safe to use around the tube (no electromagnetic interference), loud enough, and do the source material justice. I specifically use powered speakers (Audioengine a2) alongside my PVM and they are a great option. Unrelated, huge emphasis on making time a factopr in creating your gaming setup. Wait for things to fall in your lap. Maybe one day you find a Sony branded TV stand at the thrift for $3. Maybe years later you find a used Bandridge SCART switcher for $50... my point is that my setup took about 4 years to optimize and I'm happy that I didn't rush to do it all at once.
The TVs being used when these games were new, weren't exactly good either. At least for composite systems, you can run the audio cable(s) to speakers without them going to the TV.
completely agree with that statement. Ive been collecting games since 3rd grade (im 23 now haha) but since then ive been steadly growing building my collection and setup. whether it be new games, new monitors or displays, new game systems, new peripherals, systems from different countries, modding or hardmodding consoles. All of it should take time and dedication and build it the way YOU want it.
Interesting video Retro Bird. For me the mini consoles made this very easy. HDMI connection to hook up to my regular TV, nothing beats it. Plug and Play baby!!! It's all about ease. I am keeping my eyes out for the right shelf so I can keep everything out and just swap the HDMI cord and maintain access to a power strip. I do find it interesting how quickly and easily people criticize others. I have to imagine it's more an internet thing and not just limited to retro gaming but I was having a conversation the other day comparing the Genesis Mini 1 and 2 and the other person responded that no real Sega fans would enjoy the Mini 1 because no one could possibly like the 3 button controllers. I apologized that I must be an imposter because I actually like the 3 button controllers.
I consider video quality and input lag to be the most important qualities, but I don't go for the clearest picture (I'll explain). I want the games to look how I remember them looking on a CRT, I don't like the hard pixel look like an emulator. I use a RetroTink 5x for upscaling to prevent input lag, but I connect all of my consoles to it via composite (with a few exceptions). And then I use the video filters to make it look as close to a CRT as possible. It looks great and the dithering effect works too. The only exceptions are I connect Gamecube through S-video and Wii through component but everything else is composite. As for controllers, I have original controllers and extension cables for all consoles but these days I usually use wireless controllers. For NES and SNES I use the Switch Online controllers together with an adapter from 8bitdo, and for Mega Drive I use an 8bitdo controller. Everything else is wired though.
The most important thing for me is picture quality. Why? Because sound may be important too, but it's easy to get some good speakers and run them through a cheap Amp. Most thrift shops will give nice speakers away. OEM controllers are still cheap too. Getting your consoles to output Component, S-Video, or RGB is difficult. It often requires expensive cables and/or mods. Hauling a big quality CRT that takes those inputs is a chore in itself. Finally, once you've got your picture quality figured out lag is figured out as well.
There was one time that I wanted to get the best experience for my PS2 but I settle with an old 720p flat screen and some good third-party component cables and now I can enjoy my old games without the hassle of spending even more than a PS5 just to play my console in newer displays.
Games played: Contra (0:01), Alien Soldier (0:15), Super Mario Sunshine (0:24), Sonic & Knuckles (0:51), Time Crisis 2 (1:25)
alien soldier looks fun
Yes, but which ones were using RF, Composite, S-Video, RGB Scart, Component, VGA, HDMI or directly ported into your brain/heart/soul???
I kinda saw the garbage can joke coming but I really didn't expect you to go all in on it the way you did (no pun intended). Too funny
this man's humor is awsome! I just picked up a 27" magnavox crt I was thinking i made a mistake but nope retrobird convinced me otherwise thanks!!
Thank you !
I just moved, and had a guy helping who was mocking the fact I had an old CRT for my non-HD systems. He kept saying everything looked better on a 4k TV. I tried to educate him on upscaling and lag, but he wouldn't budge. He needs our prayers, guys.
A lost soul. Probably some younger guy that can't appreciate.
🙏😂🤣😅😆 I'm so sorry 😂😭💀⚰️🪦🥀
*prayers for him!*
Sounds like he needs a kick in the ass. Xoxo peeps
Those people alway have a bit o’ lag… with gaming and reality.
For me, the #1 priority is day-to-day convenience. Meaning that it doesn’t matter how much of a hassle it is to set everything up in the first place, but once it’s set up, I don’t want to ever think about the set-up again. From that point on, it should work like in the good old days: pick up the controller and play.
That includes things like proper cable management. It’s certainly a bit of an initial effort to wrap your cables and place them nicely, but once it’s done, there won’t be the ugly sight of dozens of loose cables distracting you while you’re playing.
Yeah, cable management can be a pain but is so satisfying once you get it all in order.
This guy gets it! Simple clean and ready to rock.
any suggestions for having multiple consoles hooked up? specifically interference issues when multiple cables are together.
Love that MyLifeInGaming shout-out. They're the real MVPs.
The reason we enjoy retro games is because it harks back to a simpler time where it was just about having fun. Just have a good time and if your setup is not 'optimal' so what!
Harkens.
It's terrible because back then you played on a crt and if you don't know the nostalgia flies out of the window and you are confronted with input lag. Something you never had back in the day
I love that this guy made that comment. As gamers of the 80s-90s, we never thought to lust after a CRT. Did we know that better connections provided a better picture? Eventually we did but not for a long time. I honestly can’t even remember when I transitioned over from RF. I think it all dawned on me when the 5th gen. system HAD to used the yellow, red, white.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The day I got rid of my CRT was one of the best days of my life. I don’t give a flying f*** if it has less lag and looks more “pure”. Pure can go suck an egg. Those monitors are horrible in so many ways. Do you know that CRTs cause 3 times more strain on your eyes? Ugh, no thanks.
I do believe in bette connections.
@@leeartlee915 Flat TVs have garbage sound.
@ Who the hell uses the built in speakers?
1:54 Man this hits home. I am on the lookup for a PVM, and ebay is out because shipping to South Africa is like 5x the price of the monitor.
As someone who knows absolutely nothing about technology I could not even tell you what the red white and yellow cables were called until this video. I plug all my consoles new and old into the only TV I have which is a flat screen and I’ve had people tell me how bad it is since all the old consoles get stretched to wide screen, but I feel like if you have fun playing your games then it doesn’t matter what TV or cables you have, that makes your set up good if you have fun with it.
As a kid, I played NES on an old POS console TV via RF. It was a blast.
Like you said in the video, you don't hear many people talking about the sound in their set-up! Definitely an overlooked aspect, especially since lots of old games supported 5.1 surround.
Bird, you're so awesome, i really hope that we'll never lose you in youtube.
Oh no, you can lose people in the UA-cam? Like, through the cracks? I also now hope we don’t. Be careful Bird. Please. You’re too awesome to be lost in the Tube.
I know a lot of gamers aren't fans but I love my Analogue consoles. They're so simple and they work great.
Most important to me is having every console plugged in and ready to go. That means both to the CRTV and also to an audio receiver for awesome sound. Then it's just a matter of pressing the appropriate input selectors and turning on the console to play. This isn't as easy as it sounds when you have 16 retro consoles, but when it's set up, it's a beautiful thing!
You touched on my setup philosophy. It's mostly whatever works. To each their own, but I do find it funny how some people talk about how they like certain games for the nostalgia from playing them when they were younger, but have them running through all these special cables and filters when if they were really nostalgic, they'd be playing them on their old hand-me-down 12" CRT tv through coax cables while sipping on some Ecto Cooler flavored Hi-C and entering some cheat codes your buddy gave you on the bus ride home written down on a piece of paper ripped from their composition notebook.
As a video game sound designer, it may seem obvious what my #1 priority is when gaming…sound!
The most important aspect of my gaming set up is comfortness, as in I need to be cozy and comfy while I'm playing my games with a comfy lounge chair, bean bag, or reclining gaming chair, maybe something to help me hang my feet in the air, that kind of thing.
My biggest priority I've found out is how close my setup is to my bedroom! We have a spare room perfect for gaming, and I have a HUGE trinitron in there with all the space I'd need for gaming... yet I find myself moving everything I can into my bedroom. Something about a cozy setup at my desk has made it much more accessible and enjoyable for me.
Thanks for this. I moved recently and didn't bother setting up my old games bc I "didn't have the perfect display"
This is solid advice. Went down the rabbit hole myself and quickly got to the point where I spent more time fidgeting with cable upgrades than actually playing games.
I hate to admit it but, even though we have many consoles hooked up in our house. I still have our NES, SNES and Genesis hooked up on a big ol 28' Zenith via RF cables. I just enjoy having them hooked up the way we all did back when I was a little gamer. Great vid bird!
I am also strangely moved by the My Life In Gaming intro music. You are not alone.
All my retro stuff is played on a Sony Trinitron, using either s-video or component. I love the setup and the picture quality is awesome.
The most important part of my video game setup having all the consoles wired up to be played at a moment notice.
I feel satisfied and happy with my set up: gamecube kiosk, 2k 1ms TN gaming monitor, PC CRT 85hz for 480p and retro pc games and finally a 25 inch trinitron with composite/component or DVD inputs for ps3/blu ray disk with 3.1 surround sound! It took me 7 years but I need no more!
The most important part for me personally is comfort. I want a nice place to sit or lay down and an easy pick up and play kind of expercience! Thats why most of my consoles are always connected.
I recently dug up my Genesis model 2 and cleaned it up, looking for a CRT for it is almost impossible with the "video game collectors" aka scalpers around here. I use the evil E word a lot because money and other conveniences (PC ports, DAC, etc) but I really think the most "authentic" way to play without physically dealing the media, is a physical controller. To me the controllers make the retro nostalgic feel be most authentic. I'm looking into USB controllers and links for my beautiful and perfectly fitting 3 button Genesis pad. Thanks for these videos man!
My brother was helping me to replace a laser lens on my sega saturn so I could improve it and play reproduction games, such as the english translations of Scenario 2 and 3 for Shining Force 3. But instead we ended up breaking it entirely, but thankfully he's coming back next weekend so hopefully we'll get it figured out. Anyways, it's an extreme hassle, but I'm sure it'll be totally worth it once we get it fully fixed. I just have to keep buying pizza and beer to bribe my brother for his services is all.
Great video - once again! Most important quality for me is picture quality, followed by functionality, and then orderliness in that order 😊
Using a CRT television is the single most important factor. However, having a hifi audio system is a great investment and really enhances the experience. Realistically, the buy in for an entry level hifi stereo set up new would be at least $500 but even decent vintage equipment can be great. It also instantly gives your gaming space the ability to also be a music space, throw in a record player and you'll really be rolling. I think most retro gamers with sophisticated setups might not even consider audio but they would be blown away by the upgrade and just how much it adds to the experience.
That’s not instant at all. You can’t just bung some speakers and an amp in any old cluttered room and expect a good audio experience. Unless you’re willing to compromise your game room in the name of acoustics or vice versa this isn’t going to work. Mind you, I’m totally with you that audio is just as if not more important than image quality.
@@ChrisStoneinator "Some speakers and an amp in any old cluttered room" would be a greater leap in quality over inbuilt speakers, than the difference between the improvised stereo and a room with dampening materials, geometry and stupidly expensive speakers.
These days, the most important aspects to my gaming setup are convenience and physical minimalism. I used to have a huge collection of 100s of games across genesis, 32x, sega cd, dreamcast, n64, gamecube, wii, xbox. But that was easier when living alone as a bachelor. Now I'm two years into my marriage and have a 9-month-old baby. We don't own a house (yet), so there isn't a ton of space for that sort of setup in our living room and I wouldn't want to leave all of that out with the baby around.
So what's my setup? A Retroid Pocket 2+ with all libraries for all the old consoles I want, along with a long HDMI cable so I can plug it into the TV when it's time to play. It's minimal, convenient, and out of the way.
The only inconvenient thing so far is that I'm not sure what's the best way to configure extra controllers for when I want to game with a friend. This setup works well for now. One day however, I'd like to get back into physical collecting... as soon as we're more established and have the space for it again.
My life in gaming is TV documentary quality, a lot of work for sure
Inherited a 32in flat screen CRT recently, plugged my gamecube & N64 into it and the games look sooooo much better than the 48in HD TV they were hooked up to.
My setup priorities
1. Having everything always hooked up
2. TV Image quality
3. Surround sound quality
4. all wireless controllers
5. Room lighting
I run a 20” PVM with SCART for all consoles and a switcher that allows me to easily change between them.
However, this wasn’t how I used to play games so I guess it’s more important to me to have a certain picture quality these days. I love true scanlines, for example. And the artistry of graphics and pixels and sprite designs. I like to give them the space to breathe and admire what they look like. That’s a huge part of the gaming experience for me.
But rightfully said in the video; that’s personal to me. There is no right or wrong way to play games. Only a fun way or not.
I have a very similar setup. The image quality, no lag, and original hardware are very important to me. Sure when I was younger too I didn't play these systems through RGB but instead RF or Composite. But kids don't appreciate the fine details anyway. I really don't think a kid would pay much attention to or notice the difference between RF, Composite, S-Video, and RGB. Usually their imagination fills in the gaps in detail.
But as an adult when you understand the technology, it's nice to get as sharp and accurate of an image as possible. It does fall behind input lag as a priority for me, but it's up there. I'd take a CRT with Composite over playing on a modern LCD with input lag.
@@mottzilla4858 Really well explained. I too share the lag avoidance. I’m not a speed runner or anything like that, but even the slightest hint and it will spoil my enjoyment.
For me personally, i strive to use original hardware as much as possible and CRTs for the preHD consoles
Honestly, that's not a bad way to go other than the increasingly smaller supply of options to use. And, it's the only way of getting the light gun to work, that is unless you go with a newer option that detects a border for locating the shots like the sinden light gun does.
@@SmallSpoonBrigade i concur 🤝
Such an underrated channel. Thanks for the great content my friend!
Thank you for watching Dave :)
Recently found your channel and been having so much fun watching through your backlog.
Glad to hear and welcome to the channel!
I have my setup in my garage on my workbench. I’m a mechanic but my video game passion has taken over for the past 2 years now. I have the nes snes n64 tg16 mini Genesis GameCube neo geo mini Dreamcast and the 2600 all under the table and my 15 inch tv next to them under the table. I have a small 9 inch on the actual workbench but I have 4 other crts that I can use. All compostite going through a 3 switch and a bunch of Y cables so some systems share the connection. For me it’s versatility. I can swap cables and tvs with no problem at the drop of a hat. Last night I used a 20 inch flat screen crt. As long as I’m having fun I don’t mind at all.
I don't even collect retro games but I watch every Retro Bird video.
Thank you for watching :).
I originally bough a Framemeister for use with my gaming setup, but apart from one LCD that lacked a 4:3 mode I didn't like using it - never felt like it was worth it. Now swapped it out for a different screen with SCART inputs on it and I'm happier, just one less thing to fiddle around with.
I was fortunate enough to find an entertainment center on wheels so I can easily access the cords. Very helpful.
My setup in regards to how they are connected to my TV is complicated since I am using a modern Sony 48" OLED TV with 11 consoles connected at once. The description of the details of my setup is going very long ,because there lot going on with it. The consoles connected to my TV: Analogue Super NT(SNES), Analogue Mega SG(Genesis), N64, Saturn, Gamecube, PS2, PS3, PS5, Wii U, Switch, and Xbox Series X. Retro Consoles HDMI Converters: Gamecube( GCHD HDMI Mod), XRGB Framemeister (N64 via S-Video, Sega Saturn via SCART), OSSC 1.6 (PS2 via Component). Connections to TV: Xbox Series X and PS5 in the first 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, in the third port is a Marantz SR 5013 with 8 HDMI INs and 2 HDMI Outs. Plugged into the Marantz is the Mega SG, Super NT, PS3, Switch, Wii U, Gamecube , OSSC 1.6, and Framemeister. There are upsides to having a setup like this, but I still recommend using a CRT if you have the space to put it. The cost of upscalers, HDMI Switches, and AVR make no sense fiscally speaking if you can spare the room for a CRT.
Great content! Thanks for the inspo.
I have spent hundreds on my set up with the goal of the cleanest pixels possible through HDMI so that I can have all my consoles hooked up and able to be switched between with the single (or sometimes 2 or 3) push(es) of a button. And you know what? It was worth it. Not only is it super super convenient being a content creator, but it's something I enjoyed planning out and working towards little by little and now that the set up is at long last complete, I can say I am extremely proud of the display.
My setup includes FPGA NES (AVS), SNES (Super NT), and Genesis (Mega SG) + CD (with a big expensive work around to use the not natively supported 32X, and even more work around to be able to pull out the 32X and use the cartridge adapters for Master System and Game Gear without changing cables out), the EON HDMI converters for N64 and GameCube, some consoles that just natively support HDMI out, some consoles that natively do component run into an HDMI converter, other consoles that have had HDMI cables made with built in upscalers (like those pound cables, but the only ones of those I'm truly happy with are for the Saturn and OG Xbox), and all of this runs into a big HDMI switch box (which has an aux audio out so I can mute the TV to keep my recordings clean from noise pollution.) which in turn is split into two TVs and an extra line that runs through an HDMI splitter (for that pesky PS3 and newer HDCP protection) and I to the capture card on my PC. Consoles included: Atari 5200 (modded for native component out and a seperate power supply), Saturn, Genesis32XCD (Mega SG), NES (AVS), SNES (Super NT), N64, Wii, Wii U, Switch, OG Xbox, 360, XboneX, PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PSTV, PS5, a Steam Machine, and soon to be a consolized Virtual Boy and an Analogue Pocket dock.
I used to have all of my consoles hooked up at once but quickly outgrew that with the advent of things like component and HDMI that didn't mix well with a more retro environment. It got to a point where I had multiple switch boxes and converters with sound routed through a receiver and half the time I couldn't even figure out how to turn a console on. Even though I set it up! Not to mention the cable mess and having multiple surge protectors to plug everything into. That messiness just made the whole thing unsatisfying for me. Nowadays I just have the three current systems hooked up (which already looks messy enough!) and everything else is boxed. That does mean I play the retro systems less but every once in a while I'll hook one up for a few days. Someday I'd love to have them all hooked up and finally organized on a big set of shelves, but I just haven't found good solutions for that yet. And it seems like it would take multiple solutions; the right furniture, dealing with the different output types, the cable management, power management, etc.
My setup is like that. Switch box 1 needs to be on #2 Switch box 2 should be on #4 etc.. etc.. to play : n64. I had to write down all the combinations for each console because after a few weeks of not playing a certain console, I HAD forgotten how to turn it on. lol
Most important to me in
order of importance:
1) Low input lag
2) High frame rate
3) Sharp picture quality
4) Easy access
Thank you for the great video.
Best regards.
Having everything set up is most important to me. I have my retro consoles (SG-1000 through Dreamcast) hooked up to a CRT in my game room. Then I have a second Dreamcast, Wii, Wii U, Switch, PS4, and all Xbox/Mini consoles hooked up to an HD TV in my family room.
So the most important part of my setup is the quick access to play what I want on a whim, Keeping the consoles safe, and the ability to record for UA-cam Videos.
You deserve way more subscribers. I love your videos.
Thank you and glad to hear you're enjoying the videos :)
Great topic. I just got a PVM hooked up with an RGBS cable. I thought I was set... then I learned about geometry issues.
Geometry issues can be an absolute field day for any OCD-er. Once you get it close enough to perfect, pat yourself on the back and try not to fret any further my friend :)
@@RetroBirdGaming I found the service manual and reset the values to default. Definitely not perfect, but it gives me some peace XD
I love the little interstitials that you put in the video. The facial expressions are awesome!
I love my visuals, so I've been investing in nice SVideo and Component cables recently and they've made all the difference! I even got one of the fancy HD Retrovision cables for my Genesis and it was mind blowing.
To me it's all about everything being hooked up at the same time which is a pain all I'm itslef considering the different tvs and all the splitters and end everything. That and official controllers are a must for me.
Thanks for the vid! I have a medium sized CRT I use for my main three consoles…NES, SNES, and Genesis. I also have a PC running Recalbox (with custom CRT filter) for all the other consoles. I’ve invested quite a bit of time and money into getting all the controllers right. I have first party controllers and adapters for most of the consoles I play on Recalbox. Input lag is a priority, too. I love the CRT for zero lag, but I also like sitting back on the couch with a big modern screen. You’ll want to make sure your modern TV has a fast response time.
Thank you for this video, it’s given me a lot too think about. I also need to go back and review the videos mentioned.
Happy to hear it!
Right now is a great time to get a Retro TV for free or cheap as everyone seems to be getting those Smart TVs. They are not so smart when it comes to hooking retro games! Anyway, the only thing I use is a cheap fold up table to hold my consoles on. That way I can get to all my cables easy & not struggle like when you couldn't get to your GGB to Component Video Converter. Don't want your cables to show, just buy a video game blanket & throw it on there to hang in the back hiding your cables. As blankets are easy enough to still get to your cables.
I just have a CRT and I play my retro games via AV. They look great.
After obsessing over getting perfect video quality for over almost 10 years in 2022 I'm now obsessing over sound. I've searching for the perfect magnetically shielded speakers and a vintage Marantz receiver.
I don't have the craziest TV, but I am pretty happy with all the stuff I have.
I did go down that major, major technical rabbit hole and that was a trip.
Dithering too. I played through Silent Hill 1 recently, with composite and man it is a different experience entirely than if I had a more clearer cable such as component.
the most important part is comfort and familiarity, i do things a certain way and that's just how it is.
some preferences are weird, but its just how i like it.
Retro Bird = most likeable dude on the entire world wide web
Having a CRT is the #1 factor for me. With it, the graphics aren't "pixel art"- they're just art!
Everything from NES to Wii is hooked up with composite, but I'm fine with that.
Audio is an underrated aspect, and I admit that I haven't given it the attention it probably deserves. Unfortunately, my setup (a hodgepodge of multiple devices and screens) is too scattered for everything to run through just one set of speakers. Maybe if I ever get a place with a bigger living room, I'll invest in a half-decent sound system.
Friday Night Retrobird Enjoyment! My Gaming setup has evolved over time. I am almost finished with how I want my setup to be. In terms of Controllers, I always use the first party ones but have some other controllers as nice secondary options. My cable setup is well, expensive. I hate to think how much I spent on it over time. I have all my systems hooked up to 5 different screens. 1 TV in the living room and 4 in the game room.
I have one console that I use Composite with. The Nes. I have that hooked into my very large Panasonic Crt.
I have two consoles that I use S Video with. I have the Philips Cdi and Panasonic 3DO hooked up to the large Panasonic Crt.
I have 8 consoles hooked up through Hdmi. I have the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii U, and Switch hooked up to the 1080P 3D 46 inch Samsung in the Gameroom. Downstairs in the living room, I have the 4 other Hdmi consoles hooked up to the 85inch Qled. Those consist of the PS4 Pro, The Super NT, the Mega SG hooked to a Model 2 Sega Cd, and Finally the Analogue NT Mini Noir. All those systems on the living room tv are hooked audio wise to a soundbar/sub combo.
I have 1 console hooked up through VGA. I have my Dreamcast hooked up through the first party Sega VGA box on a nice Monitor with audio going to the 5.1 surround setup I have in the game room.
Finally, the connection type, I have the most of. I have 12 systems hooked up with Component cables. I have the OG Xbox using the Advanced Video pack with male to male HD Retrovision component cables and a Nice Optical cable for sound in the receiver. I have the PS2 hooked up through with first party Sony Component cables as well as the Optical out for sound with the stereo. My Gamecube setup is pretty ridiculous. I have a Gamecube with the Gameboy Player, the Broadband adapter, 4 Wavebirds, and it is hooked up with the Nintendo Component cable. Finally all the rest of my systems use the HD Retrovision component cables. I am using them with my PS1, Super Nes, RGB Modded N64, Sega Master System, Hi Def Genesis/Model 1 Sega Cd/32X tower, Sega Saturn, Neo Geo Aes U.S model with clean Rgb, my Rgb/region free modded Turbo duo with recap, and using the snes to Jag adapter, I have component out on the Jag/Jag cd combo. I have two G Comp Switchers that all these component cables are plugged into. They each have two outputs. I have any consoles that have games that run in Widescreen, Tate mode, or any HD Resolution’s hooked up to the Flatscreen and my large Crt. That consists of The OG Xbox, PS1, PS2, N64, Gamecube, Genesis/Sega Cd/32X tower, and the Sega Saturn. The other G Comp goes to the Big Crt and the small Crt and consists of the Snes, Sega Master system, Neo Geo Aes, and the Jaguar/Jag Cd unit.
The only change I still want to make is I want to RGB mod my 3do so that I can add HD retrovision component cables to that system and make it to where I only have one system that uses S Video. My biggest challenge is cable management. I need to get better about that. I will say, that my Surge Protector setups are a sight to behold as well. Lol.
Those surge protectors are the first thing to show people when giving them a tour of your collection :)
@@RetroBirdGaming Lol. Right?! They are asking about the Electric bill. My favorite one has to be the Sega Power Strip. That one has the Master System, Genny/Cd/32x tower of wall warts, and the Neo Geo Aes plugged into it. Really helps with eliminating so many of those large wall plugs.
I connect all my mini systems (NES, Genesis, TG-16, SNES, Neo-Geo, PS1) to a 13in CRT with component via HDMI converter. Very happy with the results!
This. I was surprised at how well my convert worked for my NES. And it wasn't even one of the expensive ones either.
@@SmallSpoonBrigade The $15 one I originally bought did not work but then ponied up about $40 for one that has a button to toggle between various resolutions with some very slight black border (I play in the dark so irrelevant). Vibrance of color, clarity, and brightness is much better than Composite although honestly that still looks decent on a 13/14 in set. I have PS2, GC, Xbox, and Wii connected via component switch box to my 27in.
Honestly, I just plug my games into a regular ol CRT TV via composite switchbox and I couldn't be happier.
For me, now that I have the space, having all my consoles hooked up ready to play at a moment's notice was the most important aspect. Next, which I'm still working on, is the best way for me to have my controllers at the ready without being messy or just laying about.
As soon as I got my CRT I stopped caring about cables and console mods for image quality and Framemeisters, Retrotink, whatever, and I stopped lusting after PVM/BVM. I realised it already looked great, and what’s more, it looked RIGHT, I had alighted on the correct and authentic way to play, I need nothing more. Well, more games and consoles and a few more CRT’s and some B&O speakers to plug into my B&O MX8000, maybe a few more … uh never mind.
I have a 28" CRT (RGB SCART) for PS2 and older, 42" Plasma for PS3, PS4 and Switch, and a 21" LCD monitor with s-video and component inputs which can be rotated for games which benefit from that. Very happy with my setup.
Hey thanks! I nearly spat my coffee all over myself when you stuck your head in the bin!
🤣
I'm happy with Composite so far. Got 2 8-way switch Boxes to hook All my Systems up and it works for me. For the Sound i connected an old Stereo System to my TV for games like Einhänder, the Final Fantasy Games and everything with amazing Soundtracks ^^
From being an ex-game collector to now being more of a toy collector, I build my collections and displays for myself and really don't care to share them with other people, especially online. There are collectors who get a kick out of being overly critical or just insulting.
Having given up collecting games, I love retro gaming and I always will so being able to play games through emulation, flash carts, retro consoles, or compilations are the way to go for me. That said, someday I want to have a dedicated room to play my consoles on ideal monitors or TVs, especially those that need a CRT. I like watching videos like yours that give advice on what is a good set up without breaking the bank.
By the way, does anyone know if it's possible to hook up a Dreamcast or original XBOX to a flat screen with either component or HDMI and not get 2D games looking extremely pixelated? I have had this issue with both consoles with games like Marvel Vs Capcom 2 or Capcom Vs SNK 2. The 3D polygon backgrounds will look fantastic but the 2D character sprites are horribly pixelated. Or is this just an issue with using a flat screen with consoles that were meant to be used with CRTs?
I mean it is probably possible, IDK, maybe My Life In Gaming has covered it at some point. If you just want it to work and look nice, be easy and not cost an arm and a leg, CRT TV or CRT monitor through VGA (however that is done, IDK) is the way to go. Unless you wanna buy some goofy box that costs hundreds of dollars it’s probably not possible, without just plugging it into a CRT of course. I gave up on all those boxes and Frame-Meisters ages ago. With all the fancy boxes you can get lovely crystal clear image quality on a flatscreen, OLED, LCD, whatever, but you may have delay issues, not sure, and it won’t look like how Dreamcast or arcade is supposed to. I guess play a Dreamcast emulator to see wether modern flatscreen (in this case on your PC/laptop, maybe even mobile phone) or CRT style is what you want, CRT is cheaper and easier and so still is CRT PC monitor with VGA, lots of Dreamcast nuts do that one, look it up, I’m no expert. In U.K. it’s getting expensive to get CRT pc monitors now, TV’s is much cheaper here. At any given time the fancy box you need to make the Dreamcast look good on flatscreen may be out of stock or unavailable, they’re not made in large numbers and are for real anoraks.
Input lag was my main focus for a while. My cablework needs... work, though, but my setup is weird and I can't just put them behind somewhere out of sight.
Picture quality 1000% is most important for me. I've been on a quest for perfect retro video quality and have spent nearly $500 this year on cords and a Retrotink 5X.
My set up was originally just a 13" that had RF and AV crt. Now I have a 28" older flat-screen with RF, AV, S-video, VGA, Component, and HDMI and a 20" CRT with RF, AV out and an audio in so I could hook up a stereo to my set up which would be a really nice addition. I do find it odd that not many people talk about audio as much as they talk about video
In most retro setups, you don't go past stereo sound. But that's another area of expertise many of us don't get involved because most of the times.... a couple of CRT speakers are "good enough" for most people.
Shinmoh is correct in regards not having an external sound system with a retro setup. Being Videophile and Audiophile can often be conflicting interests in regards to how the setup put together. I do consider myself a audiophile, I use a traditional 2 channel system. I use a Marantz SR5013 as my Video Processor and preamp which is connected to my integrated amp a Marantz PM 8006. The integrated amp powers my Klipsch RP 600Ms. I also use a Topping D70s as my external DAC which takes PCM Audio from my TV's Optical port to the CD line input on my SR 5013.
I dunno what’s most important to me overall (I am a bit of a snob about sound quality and using CRT’s and original hardware) but now I have a B&O MX8000 CRT TV the most important thing I’ve got to do for my the retro part of my setup is get it to where I can have all of it displayed and playable at once in an ergonomic way. I’m trying to build (still in planning and prototyping) a TV unit/shelving cubby unit thing with custom sized compartments for each console, which will elevate my TV so the middle of the screen is exactly eye height for me. For me it’s extremely important as I have scoliosis and back/neck issues, I’m very OCD about how I sit to game/watch my CRT. So basically I cannot play anything right now, Xbox hooked up to test some eBay games, that’s it. I want all retro and modern consoles connected in the best/least annoying way to use them.
I’m glad a larger UA-camr finally said it. I’ve got the OSSC, mClassic and Retrotink. I almost always prefer the simplistic options that look pretty good. I do favor the mClassic but it has an added benefit of forcing the aspect ratio into 4:3.
Love to see your view count growing, you deserve it! I literally watch and rewatch your videos all day lol. Your volume is incredible and every time the video is super entertaining. Thanks so much for sharing your passion with all of us. Excited to see your channel continue to grow!
Thank you for that! Much appreciated :)
@RetroBirdGaming love your videos. I really enjoy your kid at heart approach. 🎉i built a small arcade in my garage i have a mame cabinet...a virtual pinball machine and i recently built an original xbox based racing arcade gig with vibrating seat and all 😂 i just subd and will go look for any old arcade stuff if you have any. If you ever in ottawa id love to invite you to play some games 😊
My setup atm i use is a series x and a 55" cx. Switch and MiSTer used with a 24" LED low lag monitor 2ms. Very compact and dozens of consoles. All other hw like super NT and og retro hw is stored. I couldnt be happier.
The most important thing to me is to be able to switch to each console quickly. Fussing around with plugging each cable in as I need then was too much so I got a single box that they run through that plugs directly into my TV. With the press of a button, I can switch to whatever console I want nice and fast.
I fell down the RGB rabbit hole and ended up with a massive CRT that I sold after realizing that I wasn't enjoying my games while chasing better video quality. My RetroTINK 2X, collecting dust, now converts RGB and S-Video to a little HP CRT monitor that is paired with a Logitech 2.1 speaker system that sounds amazing. The most important part is having fun; if you want to upgrade, do it! If you have a blast using RF, more power to you!
I use a 20'' Magnavox CRT and I'm running my Wii, PS2, and SNES through an accessory selector from Radioshack so I don't have to plug and unplug stuff whenever I want to switch consoles, and it's working just fine so I'm happy.
As long as the game plays well and the display is viewed clearly, anything is fine by me.
Great topic. Man, I feel like some old dinosaur but I have never had any complaints about a good old CRT and composite video from my older systems. Expensive upscalers and cables, personal video monitors, that whole scene just seems like a snob fest to me. I do think that S-Video or component should be used if the consoles, switchers and TVs you happen to have support it. I think the best "stock" output from any console is fine. As long as it isn't RF, which is unnecessarily bad. And yes stretching a 4:3 game to 16:9 on a modern TV makes my eyes bleed. Input lag on new TVs makes things unplayable for me, I don't get how anyone does it. Timing is everything. A CRT with composite is the cheapest, easiest and best experience in my book.
I think easy of use is mine, I don't want to touch a switch box, or unplug/plug in any consoles, I like all my consoles setup on one or two tvs and the most I have to do is hit a power button and go, all consoles in 4k and auto switched.
I use a rack mountable 16in, 1 out HDMI autoswitch, a retrotink 5x, a few RF demodulators (for the really old ones), a bunch of scart auto switched with dual output (so I can use light guns on a CRT while capturing a scaled image) a auto switching s-video/component switch.
basically RF gets converted to composit, then scaled by the retrotink, which then goes to the HDMI switch.
this is also the process for s-video, component and scart.
the second output on the scart switch goes to a scart to component converter which then goes to a CRT, this allows me to play light gun games and since the first input is still going to HDMI, I can record it in 4k. that's basically how my setup is done (with 56ish consoles)
I gave up on having consoles, and settled for having a CRT monitor connected to my computer, and just emulate all my retro games. That's honestly been good enough for me, especially since I use RetroArch to reduce input lag, and shaders to clean up the image the way I like it. I like my CRT monitor so much, I play all my games on it, not just retro.
Man, last time i had to buy a new tv all i asked for is that it had av plugs in the back. I play all my retro consoles via AV, and the modern ones through HDMI. I keep it simple, all i care is enjoy my games.
I like to have all my consoles basically hooked up and ready to go so I can play them whenever. I also paired up the consoles that can share the same video connections (snes & n64, Wii & Wii U, ps2 & ps3, Genesis & saturn vía had retrovision cables and appropriate adapters). The cable clutter really adds up and it’s hard to manage so this is how I manage it a little better.
I also like to game on a CRT with original hardware because I’m lucky enough that most of the stuff I have had since I was child or teen and was able to keep it. I’m not opposed to alternatives though, the important thing is that we game and enjoy it.
Yeah, I do the most of my retrogaming thru modern day FPGA solutions - controllers and having a permanent setup for the most played consoles is important too
I remember using a converter on the two forks with screws to run RF on my tiny black and white tv. Didn’t matter, still played double dribble for hours with no complaints.
I have that adapter for my Vic-20
After discovering that my TV's video chip supports S-Video, I plan on adding that in. But Composite looks perfectly nice to me, and anything pre-Dreamcast I plan on keeping connected through that. Who cares if it isn't optimal: most people with consoles in the 90s and early 00's didn't have high end equipment!
I can’t believe you put reaching enlightenment ABOVE finding the official Rocket Knight T-shirt. You need to get your priorities in order.
Hahah. It's because reaching enlightenment requires the t-shirt :)
When buying controllers, remember that it's not a truly authentic retro multiplayer experience unless somebody gets stuck with the terrible Mad Catz one that has slight drift, at least one loose button and a wire that's been chewed partway through by a dog.
I don't have room for a CRT so all of my consoles are hooked up to my HDTV through plug and play adapters. Well, not ALL of them.. sadly there just isn't enough space for them all so I do have to swap consoles out from time to time. The plug and play adapters are a good solution if you don't want to have to mess around with modding your consoles for HD. They are fairly inexpensive too, but I definitely recommend going for the higher end ones. The extra $20 or so for a better picture quality will be worth it in the long run. As for sound, I bought a stereo sound bar for around $60 that really helps fill in the bass and drum sounds. My TV is an older model Sony that was on clearance at Best Buy. The picture is wonderful and it has low input lag. You don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money to have a good setup. Mine isn't perfect by any means but I'm very happy with it and would rather spend my money on more games than chasing the dragon of fidelity lol.
I feel like sound preservation is often overlooked and it's really good that you brought it up! Most pro monitors (and some consumer sets) have abysmal speakers; as audio is not the focus of video production! But as many are repurposing these monitors for use in their home gaming setups, it is important to pair these monitors with speakers that are safe to use around the tube (no electromagnetic interference), loud enough, and do the source material justice. I specifically use powered speakers (Audioengine a2) alongside my PVM and they are a great option.
Unrelated, huge emphasis on making time a factopr in creating your gaming setup. Wait for things to fall in your lap. Maybe one day you find a Sony branded TV stand at the thrift for $3. Maybe years later you find a used Bandridge SCART switcher for $50... my point is that my setup took about 4 years to optimize and I'm happy that I didn't rush to do it all at once.
The TVs being used when these games were new, weren't exactly good either. At least for composite systems, you can run the audio cable(s) to speakers without them going to the TV.
completely agree with that statement. Ive been collecting games since 3rd grade (im 23 now haha) but since then ive been steadly growing building my collection and setup. whether it be new games, new monitors or displays, new game systems, new peripherals, systems from different countries, modding or hardmodding consoles. All of it should take time and dedication and build it the way YOU want it.
Interesting video Retro Bird. For me the mini consoles made this very easy. HDMI connection to hook up to my regular TV, nothing beats it. Plug and Play baby!!! It's all about ease. I am keeping my eyes out for the right shelf so I can keep everything out and just swap the HDMI cord and maintain access to a power strip.
I do find it interesting how quickly and easily people criticize others. I have to imagine it's more an internet thing and not just limited to retro gaming but I was having a conversation the other day comparing the Genesis Mini 1 and 2 and the other person responded that no real Sega fans would enjoy the Mini 1 because no one could possibly like the 3 button controllers. I apologized that I must be an imposter because I actually like the 3 button controllers.
I consider video quality and input lag to be the most important qualities, but I don't go for the clearest picture (I'll explain).
I want the games to look how I remember them looking on a CRT, I don't like the hard pixel look like an emulator. I use a RetroTink 5x for upscaling to prevent input lag, but I connect all of my consoles to it via composite (with a few exceptions). And then I use the video filters to make it look as close to a CRT as possible. It looks great and the dithering effect works too. The only exceptions are I connect Gamecube through S-video and Wii through component but everything else is composite.
As for controllers, I have original controllers and extension cables for all consoles but these days I usually use wireless controllers. For NES and SNES I use the Switch Online controllers together with an adapter from 8bitdo, and for Mega Drive I use an 8bitdo controller. Everything else is wired though.
Great video! Great points made! Love how you always emphasize inclusion no gatekeeping and overall enjoyment.
Totally. Love to see everyone so passionate about the hobby being able to enjoy it :)
the best purchase I ever made for my retro set-up was a component input switcher. Was cheap and made my life so much easier !
What's a good one to buy?
The most important thing for me is picture quality. Why? Because sound may be important too, but it's easy to get some good speakers and run them through a cheap Amp. Most thrift shops will give nice speakers away. OEM controllers are still cheap too. Getting your consoles to output Component, S-Video, or RGB is difficult. It often requires expensive cables and/or mods. Hauling a big quality CRT that takes those inputs is a chore in itself. Finally, once you've got your picture quality figured out lag is figured out as well.
There was one time that I wanted to get the best experience for my PS2 but I settle with an old 720p flat screen and some good third-party component cables and now I can enjoy my old games without the hassle of spending even more than a PS5 just to play my console in newer displays.
I NEED a good Composite/Component Option for my Dreamcast on a UHD TV cause sadly NO VGA and all HDMI ports are already in use!! *Thanks*