I almost bought one of these about 2 years ago and stopped myself. I was turning into a collector. I don't even like the neo geo that much and I was ready to drop a grand to get the whole thing going just because it was next on the list. I haven't brought much of anything since. I've got more games than I can play in a lifetime as is.
@@ShowMeInHD yeah. I still haven't bought anything really. I got retroarch working with crtemudriver and runahead. I use that setup to emulate all the consoles I don't feel like buying. It works great
I know that feel. I am still trying to get through my collection, trying not to buy anything until I finish at least 50% of what I have already haha. Thousands. Of. Games.
@Ken Mason I don't know about collecting but for just purely gaming you can do a lot of that with a MiSTer. I sold my TG16 stuff and bought a MiSTer. It actually works better than original hardware in most cases--no jailbars, better controller, sharp as a knife video output, CD audio boost options...
@Ken Mason it was the pc engine and neo geo cores that got me on board. Check back once in awhile. New stuff gets added all the time. I believe cps2 was completed a week or two ago.
I have one of these with the drop-in board. It is beautiful. Thank you for this video. I always point people to it now to help explain the original outputs vs the drop-in board.
I almost bought one of these about 4 years ago. I did place an order but it soon became apparent that the seller did not stick to time scales. After about 6 weeks of waiting, I decided I'd had enough and wanted to cancel. The problem was I had no means of contacting the seller as the email address on his website wasn't working. In the end, I had to join the Neo-Geo forum to track him down. And to be fair, he did respond to my messages and promised to refund. Which he did... After I opened a Paypal dispute. I'm not saying it's always like this. I know people who've bought Omega's and love them to bits. I just think the customer service left a lot to be desired. Glad I opted for an AES in the end!
Unfortunately, every time I bring up the name 'ArcadeWorks', I hear a story exactly like yours. The owner Quan seems like a good person and was concerned when I told him about all the customer service complaints...but these are YEARS of complaints. Hopefully he takes the criticism seriously and finds a way to solve the problem.
Great video as always Bob! I was considering getting one when I started getting into the MVS scene, but at $500+, it was off the table for me. I ended up getting a Supergun + MV1F + Unibios for around $300, which gave me the extra cash to buy an AES controller, and a couple games. I want to love this, but I don't think the aesthetic look of the Omega MVS was worth the extra cash. Especially knowing I'd have to put more money into it for perfect performance. Props to the Arcade Works teams for making it though, it was really cool then, and it's still really cool now. Unfortunately, with devices like the NeoSD and the MiSTer supporting Neo Geo, on top of the growing availability of well built Superguns, the market is beginning to shrink for devices like this...
I bought one of these in early 2016. The unit worked for about a year, then would not boot up suddenly. Upon opening it and inspecting, there was previous water damage to the motherboard. Not sure how it got there (ArcadeWorks tried to wash the motherboard perhaps, to clean it?). This permanently damaged traces between layers, beyond repair. After reporting this to ArcadeWorks, the initial response (took 2-3 week to respond) was to send it back in for inspection and a promise of a new motherboard if indeed mine could not be repaired. Never heard back from them again. Tried calling and e-mailing for the next few months...no luck. I then decided to buy another MV1C motherboard from eBay and simply perform the replacement myself. The unit has been working great since. I really like it, now that it's working as it should. But... to mirror some other comments here, this is a decent idea for a product, but at this price range, the execution, lack of ethics / morals from ArcadeWorks, and poor customer support... make this overall a BAD buy / experience. They should not be selling previously damaged boards (even if it is only battery leakage). They should be more ethical around this, as it's not mentioned anywhere that you may be getting a previously repaired / damaged / etc board. Finally, they need to stand behind a product with proper support and not hide when faced with issues.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope ArcadeWorks is reading these comments and gets a better sense of how other people view their company. Even if your situation is one out of a hundred, that's still (in my opinion) something that shouldn't happen...especially when you consider the price of the unit you're getting. I really am rooting for them to succeed, but their customer service seems to be a giant concern.
Having owned this for a while, I have mixed feelings on it. Like you mentioned, it was one of the better options for its time in the early ‘10s. Despite how nice the case looks, in my opinion the plastic felt cheap and thin, and was definitely rough around the cart slot. I had a few issues with video output as well, mostly via component. The picture often was overly bright and colors were highly saturated. I always had a very low buzz on the audio output on mine too. It wasn’t enough to drive me crazy, but it was noticeable. Eventually the component video ceased working altogether and that’s when real issues began with getting support for the device. Once it was repaired and back in my hands I sold it. Good for what it is (although expensive) but it does have some shortcomings.
The low plastic quality and questionable molding alone would cause me to look elsewhere. I'd rather have a nice brushed and anodized or painted metal case.
You game on component? What tv do you use? I've recently got into consumer grade sony wegas. I found a bunch for free. They are an interesting alternative to rgb monitors.
I have two Sony Wegas that I use component for. I’ve drifted a little from that in recent times though, and typically feed component output into the RetroTink 2X and then out to a TCL S405. The lcd is pretty low latency, and honestly, far more convenient for me for switching and capturing footage when I need it. At some point I’ll set the CRTs back up in the basement strictly for games, but for now, convenience is king for what I’m doing.
Bob, this is probably one of your best videos yet. Bravo! Question, if you're using the output board from TianFeng could you safely use HD Retrovision cables? I know you said you lose component video but don't their cables pull RGB signals?
Yes.. quick FYI: What HD retrovision cables do, is take RGB from the console, and converts it to YPbPr (that little circuit in the centre of the cable). Now if you understand that point, then you will also need to know that some consoles don’t output RGB natively (ie.N64). So HD Retrovision will not work on those consoles, unless you have modded them for RGB.
@@silentfanatic I don't see any reason for it to be a priority to anyone apart from hardcore collectors and then it's not about the games, it's about the psychology of acquiring things.
@@DenkyManner That's one aspect, sure, but some people appreciate the tangible feeling that can only come from playing on real hardware with a real controller. It's certainly my preferred method to play. Even so, I recently switched to a MiSTer just because it takes up so much less space.
I only heard about the Omega MVS for the first time yesterday when I was searching for my video about the Uzebox Omega open source games console. I helped design the Uzebox Omega. When I was choosing what AV socket to use, the main alternative, apart from a Mega Drive 1 style 8 pin din, was to use a Neo Geo style AV socket. I decided to go for the MD2 style because there will be more MD2 scart cables out there than NG cables. You could buy at least eleven Uzebox Omegas for the price of one NG Omega but the Uzebox is more comparable in spec to a NES than a Neo Geo. ua-cam.com/video/ywfHZAgZv9U/v-deo.html
I agree. I own one of these and the cmvs is great. It now has the stereo mod and resistor fix that works great with the ossc and retrovision cables. And the customer service was great. I had an issue with the sega saturn port and he just sent me a whole new port.
I've been looking for an in-depth review on this for a while now and I'm elated to see it came from you, so thanks for that! Also, will the original uncompressed version of this vid be available on LBRY for us to really see the differences in those comparison shots?
Hey Bob, I had a question about the drop in RGB board and the Omega plus switch boxes- Superg says that the GScartsw won’t work with any super gun consoles, that they will fry the board. But if you used the drop in RGB replacement on the Omega as well as the Genesis 2 cables with resistors, wouldn’t that be alright? I’ve seen other folks going through switches and OSSCs with the cheaper CMVS from China with no problem. Thoughts?
Hopefully you can answer this question; if I bought an Omega with the scart cable they sell on their website, will I be able to use it on the Retrotink Scart-2X ?
Yes. Just make sure not to mix up the cables: - Original Omega cable + unmodified omega = fine - Omega replacement board + Genesis 2 cable = fine - Original Omega cable + ANY OTHER CONSOLE (including this bypass board) = Very bad.
Have you receive your Omega yet? I ordered in early October 21' and I am STILL waiting. These guys super suck with customer service, the don't even answer my emails to them asking for status. I may just cancel my order and go another route.
I don't really see any difference between the Genesis 2 connector and the Omega connector. Maybe the only problem I see is that the Omega cable doesn't use 75ohm resistors and 220uf capacitors? But that shouldn't influence the voltage output to pins 16 and 8 as long as a resistor of at least 180ohm is used between them or pin 8 isn't connected Can you link the information from gamesx?
I'm curious to know if the drop-in board is useful for consolizing other non-Omega MVS boards. It obviously wouldn't be "drop in" with those, but it would still be useful. For the dual output: Streamers like to stream with HDMI capture devices. World-class speed-runners and other pro gamers often like to play on the best CRT they can for the lowest latency. For world-class speed-runners who also stream their attempts, they'll want dual output. One output to a RAD 2X Genesis cable and an HDMI capture device and the other to a PVM sounds like the way to go. :)
I had heard of neo geo before but only recently dug into it when I saw the AES for the first time. Man those things look sweet. I wish it all wasn’t so expensive. I thought saturn was bad
Please please please, i have a big confusion on this sega looking like din where i can find the same scheme you used at minute 5:33 but for turboduo and for all the other din that looks the same?? I need to understand more clearly wich pins does what in each system as i’m start to have too many cables that looks the same and i don’t want to accidentally plug in the wrong console 😫
The only consoles that would ever be an issue is a modded console where someone used a Genesis 2 Mini DIN without having it output the same specs as the Genesis (like the Omega). The SSDS3 and GrafxBooster come from the factory with a Genesis 2-style DIN...but the signal is exactly the same as would be used with Genesis 2 RGB cables, so you're totally safe. Keep in mind there's an 8-pin MiniDIN that kinda looks the same and many modders use it...but it won't fit in 9-pin DIN's, so you don't have to worry.
The ports shown at 5:33 are 9-pin Mini-DIN. TurboDuo uses full-sized (non-mini) DIN-5. DIN and Mini-DIN are completely different sizes so it'll be hard to mix those up, but there is a lot of potential for confusion with between consoles (as Bob shows here). The only Sega-style DIN that could be confused for TurboDuo is the Master System DIN-8 that was carried over to Genesis/Megadrive model 1. Genesis 2 uses mini-DIN like you see at 5:33. If your TurboDuo has a DIN-8 or mini-DIN then it has been modded and it would be difficult to guess how it was wired inside. DIN-8 gets confusing because there two different arrangements: U-shaped 262° DIN-8 C-shaped 270° DIN-9 DIN-5 fits either DIN-8 style and many DIN consoles use similar-enough DIN-5 composite cables that you can use them across consoles. The same DIN-5 mono composite AV cables work between Master System, Gen/MD1, Neo Geo AES, and Neo Geo CD. DIN-8 mono AV cables have vestigial pins that may not fit without removing the unused pins. You can even use a Duo stereo composite AV cable with all these other systems though the Right audio jack will be connected to Green and you will get mono from the Left audio jack. Unfortunately, different output specs and the whole U vs. C thing comes into play when you start looking at DIN-8 RGB cables. Keeping that straight can be a nightmare. Personally, I like having HD Retrovision cables with adapters for different consoles. The adapters are clearly marked what they are for, though I hear they recently stopped making the Neo Geo adapter. Obviously, printing some labels to keep them straight is a lot easier and possibly cheaper than basing your purchase decisions on how prominently they indicate the system they are for. ;) One thing that really helps is getting as many consoles as possible properly modded/upgraded to Gen/MD 2 spec, since it's kind of the standard for retro AV. That's why the half-standard Omega MVS is so frustrating... it uses the same port and pinout but doesn't conform to Gen/MD 2 specs. Same deal with the early Super SD System³ though they finally dealt with that.
@@emmettturner9452 thank you very much for the full explanation, i have a bit more informations now, i always confused those kind of cables because of the shape...
I'm confused about something. Isn't there adapters to play the arcade cartridges on the official home console? Why do people need arcade board conversions then?
Because overall it might just be a better fit for some people. Especially if you've already amassed a collection of MVS carts. You're right though - for someone starting out, it might be easier to get an AES and a converter.
@@RetroRGB Cool, thanks for answering. I was concerned that there is a quality reason that perhaps I wasn't aware of on why people shouldn't use a converter.
If you already have an RGC cable for the stock board, that's a tough one. If you're only a casual Neo Geo user, what you're already using should be good enough. If you love the Neo Geo though, yeah, you'll notice a small difference in both audio and video and it'll be worth buying the board (and a Genesis 2 RGB cable for it).
@@RetroRGB Ok. I'm a hardcore Neo Geo user with a large MVS and AES library. I will definitely be getting the board and cable. Keep up the Great work. Thanks
@@RetroRGBQuick Question. I have a board on the way to me and a RGC Genesis 2 Packapunch cable on the way. I just noticed that on the board it says to use an official Genesis 2 cable. I will be ok right?
You can use HD Retrovision cables with the new board for a VERY high quality component video output. Do NOT use them with the old board though, as the improper voltage could damage it.
Will be ordering this as I prefer Mega Drive scart from Computer Shack (very high quality, well made, and great pins) than over overpriced crappy retro gaming cables. I went through Omega's scart cable, garbage and then retro gaming cables which as always, is low quality when it comes to the connector especially pins (Saturn suffers terribly). If only Computer Shack made Saturn scart cables, his Mega Drive cables are great. If I were anyone, I wouldn't even buy an Omega. I got it as a gift. Their customer service is god awful too. Just get your own consolized MVS elsewhere or build your own if you can. Not worth the price especially if you have to buy this upgrade and then install it yourself. This upgrade is much needed for Omega owners imo. Can't wait to get mine and see the difference on my Trinitron.
The link in the description brings you to the pre-order page. You can buy one now and it'll ship fairly soon: castlemaniagames.com/products/rondo-products-replacement-av-board-for-the-omega?ref=w9_zngec1o_ Also, as stated inthe video, do NOT use the cable that came with your Omega. Use one of these: www.retrorgb.com/genesisrgbcables.html
I can't remember seeing that, but my guess would be it's either your cart or the UniBIOS. I can't imagine the Omega having anything to do with that...unless one of the RAM chips went bad on your motherboard. If that was the case, you'd notice similar glitches on pretty much all other games.
RetroRGB wow! Thanks for replying! I love your work! Since I posted that comment I tried the cartridge on a different MVS board and didn’t have the same problem, so at least it’s not my cartridge.
Unless your goal is to play with original MVS carts, I would find it hard to recommend any consolized MVS over a MiSTer with the NEO-GEO core nowadays.
How is that core? I have an MVS and 2 carts for it, but the MiSTer sounds like a really cool portable alternative so I wouldn't have to carry around my setup, which is a cluttered mess if I were to be honest lol Either that, or I would just find a way to get the Omega's Jamma adapter, PSU and get that Genesis 2 video encoder separately and integrate it into my setup, as I already have Genesis 2 Retrovision cables anyway. I really only play KOF98 and SvC, so I don't really have a reason to get a MiSTer or even a flash cart for my MVS since I play on original hardware as much as I can anyway.
@@tyisafk A "core" is what we call a system that you can replicate on an FPGA. Also, it's obvious that my post is for people who do NOT have any NEO-GEO hardware. If you have NEO-GEO hardware and you're happy with your setup, more power to you. For people who want the hardware experience but do not want to pay over $1000 for a consolized MVS and MVS flash cart or take out a 2nd mortgage to buy real MVS carts, then the MiSTer FPGA is the solution. If you want a 2nd NEO-GEO or a portable one, then it can be a solution as well.
@@RetroRGB That's great to hear! When they become available, I'll certainly grab this mod. I love the Omega, but when I used it on the Framemeister, it was a bit of a pain to lock in the setting. II just need this and the MVS Pro Cart from Terraonion and I'll be set. One last question, would the HDRetrovision cables for the Genesis 2 work on the mod? Being that it uses the same RGB output?
Tindie is having some issues, but keep checking the link in the description and as soon as the issues are fixed, the new board should appear on Tianfeng's page. Sorry!
NOT with the original board - You’ll blow out the RAD2x. After upgrading to this board, all properly made Genesis 2 cables will work, including the RAD2x.
wow ! being a video gamers in the 80ies and after, I'm really sad for young players : back then, AES was VERY expensive, but MVS was really more affordable (I remember buying samurai showdown MVS for 35 EUR...! yeah , and it was not a pirate copy !!!.... the number was scratched, of course....). Now it's the turn of MVS..... it's really silly ! oh well : MOST of the players will discover and play pirate roms of NEO GEO on PC, so.....
I wouldn't be sad for younger players. Neo geo is cheaper than ever, with flash carts, emulation, mister fpga, etc. I fully consolized an mvs myself for about $80 total, combined with the $65 banana cart, that's about as cheap as you can get for real hardware. If they want to play, there's a plethora of inexpensive ways. Neogeo is one of the consoles that doesn't make sense to collect games for IMO. They are huge, and not very nice looking. With an investment of $200 for a mister or $500 for a flash cart, you get everything.
I've been really sick the past few weeks and haven't had time to finish it...but the video you're talking about is a Nintendo-focused RAD2x video. I'm aiming for late next week to release it. ...and this video's been pretty much done for months, I've just been waiting on a few things to finish it up.
Scarlet Sprites had issue's with his. The JNX is a better buy and made better that works in more conditions. I actually got brain washed to get the JNX and muilticart. THe cost held me back. But i was saving. Now that the MiSTer has neogeo i don't have to spend the $1500, that money can go towards a pc. Smokemonster swears with the has and mvs board which will be cheaper, but it will be all exposed. That upgrade board is usfull, just use hd retrovsion cables with adapter if your looking at component. I have been emulating neogeo since the early 2000's. It was a system i couldn't get my hands on. Later i found out the price for one and was to much for me then.
I sure did. It's unfortunate that the JNX has become so difficult to obtain given that James is the very definition of a one man operation. I'm still holding out a glimmer of hope that we get an Analogue FPGA console. I know it's a long shot and that the MiSTer exists, but I really would like to have something with a cart slot.
Excellent review of the Omega MVS. I own an original Japanese AES home console with a full Neotropolis REI modification. www.neotropolis.net/33401.html My question is, would my AES benefit from the new pcb addition for SCART like the Omega does? Also, would it be a plug and play option as well? I have an OSSC for video duties.
This will not work with an AES, but there IS a mod coming next year you'll be interested in. I'm not allowed to talk about it yet, but I'll have more info in a month or so...
Not a fan of the Omega, I used to have one cause visually it looks good, but it gave me mediocre video output on all connections. He couldn't figure out the problem and blamed the tv's I was using, so I took a refund. Definitely better to stick with something more professional imo, such as JNX's cmvs (all of which give crystal clear video output on the same tv's mind you)
Thanks! Check out the Open MVS one and the Warrior 64 one. If you liked this, you'll really enjoy those! ua-cam.com/video/C0Y-7GXSoRc/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/MKuGIGHTEPs/v-deo.html
Looks cool but for around 300 bucks you can get an original Neo Geo AES with the arcade stick and a game included. If clone hardware is more expensive than the real deal, there’s something wrong even if it was manufactured with care.
Awesome video. Thanks you so much for the comparison shots! Wow, this looks cool, what is that? ua-cam.com/video/l3rg6GCAOHU/v-deo.html It gives me a CPS-player vibe!
@@RetroRGB Looking forward to it. I owned an AES back in 1994 and I bought AOF2 brand new from a gaming shop. I had to sell a kidney to buy that game! Just imagine me coming home with that game and playing it! I felt like a king!
too expensive, don't get my wrong i know it is a nice product and there is a lot of work but how could you choose the omega instead of a real neogeo for less than 300$ in japan ? retrogaming is great but don't get silly with prices please.
I'm just watching this video now, and the music is f*****ing distracting. It's both loud, and inappropriate. No, I don't know where it's from; but I'm trying to focus on what the host is saying about the Omega, and the music is really, really getting on my nerves. I've reached the point where I had to turn the audio down so that I barely heard the music in the background. Good info, but awful choice of music.
I almost bought one of these about 2 years ago and stopped myself. I was turning into a collector. I don't even like the neo geo that much and I was ready to drop a grand to get the whole thing going just because it was next on the list. I haven't brought much of anything since. I've got more games than I can play in a lifetime as is.
Thank for for saying this. Im in the same place now! Trying to stop myself
@@ShowMeInHD yeah. I still haven't bought anything really. I got retroarch working with crtemudriver and runahead. I use that setup to emulate all the consoles I don't feel like buying. It works great
I know that feel. I am still trying to get through my collection, trying not to buy anything until I finish at least 50% of what I have already haha. Thousands. Of. Games.
@Ken Mason I don't know about collecting but for just purely gaming you can do a lot of that with a MiSTer. I sold my TG16 stuff and bought a MiSTer. It actually works better than original hardware in most cases--no jailbars, better controller, sharp as a knife video output, CD audio boost options...
@Ken Mason it was the pc engine and neo geo cores that got me on board. Check back once in awhile. New stuff gets added all the time. I believe cps2 was completed a week or two ago.
I have one of these with the drop-in board. It is beautiful. Thank you for this video. I always point people to it now to help explain the original outputs vs the drop-in board.
I almost bought one of these about 4 years ago. I did place an order but it soon became apparent that the seller did not stick to time scales. After about 6 weeks of waiting, I decided I'd had enough and wanted to cancel. The problem was I had no means of contacting the seller as the email address on his website wasn't working. In the end, I had to join the Neo-Geo forum to track him down. And to be fair, he did respond to my messages and promised to refund. Which he did... After I opened a Paypal dispute.
I'm not saying it's always like this. I know people who've bought Omega's and love them to bits. I just think the customer service left a lot to be desired. Glad I opted for an AES in the end!
Unfortunately, every time I bring up the name 'ArcadeWorks', I hear a story exactly like yours. The owner Quan seems like a good person and was concerned when I told him about all the customer service complaints...but these are YEARS of complaints. Hopefully he takes the criticism seriously and finds a way to solve the problem.
Great video as always Bob!
I was considering getting one when I started getting into the MVS scene, but at $500+, it was off the table for me. I ended up getting a Supergun + MV1F + Unibios for around $300, which gave me the extra cash to buy an AES controller, and a couple games. I want to love this, but I don't think the aesthetic look of the Omega MVS was worth the extra cash. Especially knowing I'd have to put more money into it for perfect performance.
Props to the Arcade Works teams for making it though, it was really cool then, and it's still really cool now. Unfortunately, with devices like the NeoSD and the MiSTer supporting Neo Geo, on top of the growing availability of well built Superguns, the market is beginning to shrink for devices like this...
I bought one of these in early 2016. The unit worked for about a year, then would not boot up suddenly. Upon opening it and inspecting, there was previous water damage to the motherboard. Not sure how it got there (ArcadeWorks tried to wash the motherboard perhaps, to clean it?). This permanently damaged traces between layers, beyond repair. After reporting this to ArcadeWorks, the initial response (took 2-3 week to respond) was to send it back in for inspection and a promise of a new motherboard if indeed mine could not be repaired. Never heard back from them again. Tried calling and e-mailing for the next few months...no luck. I then decided to buy another MV1C motherboard from eBay and simply perform the replacement myself. The unit has been working great since. I really like it, now that it's working as it should. But... to mirror some other comments here, this is a decent idea for a product, but at this price range, the execution, lack of ethics / morals from ArcadeWorks, and poor customer support... make this overall a BAD buy / experience. They should not be selling previously damaged boards (even if it is only battery leakage). They should be more ethical around this, as it's not mentioned anywhere that you may be getting a previously repaired / damaged / etc board. Finally, they need to stand behind a product with proper support and not hide when faced with issues.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope ArcadeWorks is reading these comments and gets a better sense of how other people view their company. Even if your situation is one out of a hundred, that's still (in my opinion) something that shouldn't happen...especially when you consider the price of the unit you're getting. I really am rooting for them to succeed, but their customer service seems to be a giant concern.
I agree 100% if im going to pay top dollar, i expect the absolute best. Nothing was neet picking! And thanks for this great review.
I bought one maybe nearly 10 years ago. Wow, it’s been that long!
I just noticed that Rust in Peace guitar behind you! That's sick!
Thank you! It's fully customized and my favorite guitar I've ever owned.
Having owned this for a while, I have mixed feelings on it. Like you mentioned, it was one of the better options for its time in the early ‘10s. Despite how nice the case looks, in my opinion the plastic felt cheap and thin, and was definitely rough around the cart slot. I had a few issues with video output as well, mostly via component. The picture often was overly bright and colors were highly saturated. I always had a very low buzz on the audio output on mine too. It wasn’t enough to drive me crazy, but it was noticeable. Eventually the component video ceased working altogether and that’s when real issues began with getting support for the device. Once it was repaired and back in my hands I sold it. Good for what it is (although expensive) but it does have some shortcomings.
The low plastic quality and questionable molding alone would cause me to look elsewhere. I'd rather have a nice brushed and anodized or painted metal case.
You game on component? What tv do you use? I've recently got into consumer grade sony wegas. I found a bunch for free. They are an interesting alternative to rgb monitors.
I have two Sony Wegas that I use component for. I’ve drifted a little from that in recent times though, and typically feed component output into the RetroTink 2X and then out to a TCL S405. The lcd is pretty low latency, and honestly, far more convenient for me for switching and capturing footage when I need it. At some point I’ll set the CRTs back up in the basement strictly for games, but for now, convenience is king for what I’m doing.
@@ScarletSprites that's cool. I've heard of low latency lcd monitors but never got into it myself. Happy gaming
Bob, this is probably one of your best videos yet. Bravo! Question, if you're using the output board from TianFeng could you safely use HD Retrovision cables? I know you said you lose component video but don't their cables pull RGB signals?
iCach0 yep. It was designed to work with HD retrovision cables.
Yes! It's tested and working with both the HD Retrovision cables AND the RAD2x!
Yes.. quick FYI:
What HD retrovision cables do, is take RGB from the console, and converts it to YPbPr (that little circuit in the centre of the cable).
Now if you understand that point, then you will also need to know that some consoles don’t output RGB natively (ie.N64). So HD Retrovision will not work on those consoles, unless you have modded them for RGB.
@@RetroRGB Awesome! Thanks! The next time you visit us at the ranch your suite will be upgraded free of charge.
I'm not too keen on that floating earth pin in the C14 power inlet. A C18 inlet would've been preferable if the C8 were off the table.
I have one of those Cbox from ali express and i am happy
Getting a flash cart will almost double the price, too. Neo Geo will always be the Rolls Royce of gaming.
Thank you emulation
Just get a MiSTer.
@@mirabilis Certainly the less-expensive option if playing on real hardware isn't a priority.
@@silentfanatic I don't see any reason for it to be a priority to anyone apart from hardcore collectors and then it's not about the games, it's about the psychology of acquiring things.
@@DenkyManner That's one aspect, sure, but some people appreciate the tangible feeling that can only come from playing on real hardware with a real controller. It's certainly my preferred method to play. Even so, I recently switched to a MiSTer just because it takes up so much less space.
8:40 Fuck yeah. Much respect to you bro!
I only heard about the Omega MVS for the first time yesterday when I was searching for my video about the Uzebox Omega open source games console.
I helped design the Uzebox Omega. When I was choosing what AV socket to use, the main alternative, apart from a Mega Drive 1 style 8 pin din, was to use a Neo Geo style AV socket. I decided to go for the MD2 style because there will be more MD2 scart cables out there than NG cables.
You could buy at least eleven Uzebox Omegas for the price of one NG Omega but the Uzebox is more comparable in spec to a NES than a Neo Geo.
ua-cam.com/video/ywfHZAgZv9U/v-deo.html
Nice video. Can you do one on the Time Harvest Cbox?
I agree. I own one of these and the cmvs is great. It now has the stereo mod and resistor fix that works great with the ossc and retrovision cables. And the customer service was great. I had an issue with the sega saturn port and he just sent me a whole new port.
@@cbk12 I have mine hooked with component cables. I Was to scared to miss around with the sega saturn port.
@@cuzxixcan thats awesome. How long have you had it?
@@cbk12 I just got it so im fairly new to all this
Hello Bob, quick question the LPF switch with the replacement board should be set to off using RGB Scart going directly into a BVM correct?
Correct.
@@RetroRGBThanks
I've been looking for an in-depth review on this for a while now and I'm elated to see it came from you, so thanks for that!
Also, will the original uncompressed version of this vid be available on LBRY for us to really see the differences in those comparison shots?
I forgot to put the uncompressed version on LBRY. I'll try and get to that within a few days...
Hey Bob, I had a question about the drop in RGB board and the Omega plus switch boxes- Superg says that the GScartsw won’t work with any super gun consoles, that they will fry the board. But if you used the drop in RGB replacement on the Omega as well as the Genesis 2 cables with resistors, wouldn’t that be alright? I’ve seen other folks going through switches and OSSCs with the cheaper CMVS from China with no problem. Thoughts?
Hopefully you can answer this question; if I bought an Omega with the scart cable they sell on their website, will I be able to use it on the Retrotink Scart-2X ?
Yes. Just make sure not to mix up the cables:
- Original Omega cable + unmodified omega = fine
- Omega replacement board + Genesis 2 cable = fine
- Original Omega cable + ANY OTHER CONSOLE (including this bypass board) = Very bad.
@@RetroRGB I think I'm going to buy the replacement board and use a Rad2X cable after all
Have you receive your Omega yet? I ordered in early October 21' and I am STILL waiting. These guys super suck with customer service, the don't even answer my emails to them asking for status. I may just cancel my order and go another route.
@@retro_escape2969 well I just ordered it a few weeks ago, it says lead time 6-8 weeks so I haven't bothered them yet but your comment is concerning
I don't really see any difference between the Genesis 2 connector and the Omega connector. Maybe the only problem I see is that the Omega cable doesn't use 75ohm resistors and 220uf capacitors? But that shouldn't influence the voltage output to pins 16 and 8 as long as a resistor of at least 180ohm is used between them or pin 8 isn't connected
Can you link the information from gamesx?
If you use the Omega cable on a Genesis 2, you'll blow out your target device.
@@RetroRGB I don't doubt it. But using the Genesis 2 cable on the Omega works perfectly.
It’ll be dimmer and put extra load on the Omega. I’d avoid it if possible
I'm curious to know if the drop-in board is useful for consolizing other non-Omega MVS boards. It obviously wouldn't be "drop in" with those, but it would still be useful. For the dual output:
Streamers like to stream with HDMI capture devices. World-class speed-runners and other pro gamers often like to play on the best CRT they can for the lowest latency. For world-class speed-runners who also stream their attempts, they'll want dual output. One output to a RAD 2X Genesis cable and an HDMI capture device and the other to a PVM sounds like the way to go. :)
The other thing I showed will be overall a far better option. I'll have a video on it soon.
Damn it Bob, you post this and those upgraded RGB boards sell out in minutes.
They're not sold out, it's a waitlist to see how many people want one, then they'll get made. Super short wait though - I guess less than two weeks.
I had heard of neo geo before but only recently dug into it when I saw the AES for the first time. Man those things look sweet. I wish it all wasn’t so expensive. I thought saturn was bad
Please please please, i have a big confusion on this sega looking like din where i can find the same scheme you used at minute 5:33 but for turboduo and for all the other din that looks the same?? I need to understand more clearly wich pins does what in each system as i’m start to have too many cables that looks the same and i don’t want to accidentally plug in the wrong console 😫
The only consoles that would ever be an issue is a modded console where someone used a Genesis 2 Mini DIN without having it output the same specs as the Genesis (like the Omega). The SSDS3 and GrafxBooster come from the factory with a Genesis 2-style DIN...but the signal is exactly the same as would be used with Genesis 2 RGB cables, so you're totally safe.
Keep in mind there's an 8-pin MiniDIN that kinda looks the same and many modders use it...but it won't fit in 9-pin DIN's, so you don't have to worry.
The ports shown at 5:33 are 9-pin Mini-DIN. TurboDuo uses full-sized (non-mini) DIN-5. DIN and Mini-DIN are completely different sizes so it'll be hard to mix those up, but there is a lot of potential for confusion with between consoles (as Bob shows here).
The only Sega-style DIN that could be confused for TurboDuo is the Master System DIN-8 that was carried over to Genesis/Megadrive model 1. Genesis 2 uses mini-DIN like you see at 5:33. If your TurboDuo has a DIN-8 or mini-DIN then it has been modded and it would be difficult to guess how it was wired inside.
DIN-8 gets confusing because there two different arrangements:
U-shaped 262° DIN-8
C-shaped 270° DIN-9
DIN-5 fits either DIN-8 style and many DIN consoles use similar-enough DIN-5 composite cables that you can use them across consoles. The same DIN-5 mono composite AV cables work between Master System, Gen/MD1, Neo Geo AES, and Neo Geo CD. DIN-8 mono AV cables have vestigial pins that may not fit without removing the unused pins.
You can even use a Duo stereo composite AV cable with all these other systems though the Right audio jack will be connected to Green and you will get mono from the Left audio jack.
Unfortunately, different output specs and the whole U vs. C thing comes into play when you start looking at DIN-8 RGB cables. Keeping that straight can be a nightmare. Personally, I like having HD Retrovision cables with adapters for different consoles. The adapters are clearly marked what they are for, though I hear they recently stopped making the Neo Geo adapter.
Obviously, printing some labels to keep them straight is a lot easier and possibly cheaper than basing your purchase decisions on how prominently they indicate the system they are for. ;) One thing that really helps is getting as many consoles as possible properly modded/upgraded to Gen/MD 2 spec, since it's kind of the standard for retro AV. That's why the half-standard Omega MVS is so frustrating... it uses the same port and pinout but doesn't conform to Gen/MD 2 specs. Same deal with the early Super SD System³ though they finally dealt with that.
@@emmettturner9452 thank you very much for the full explanation, i have a bit more informations now, i always confused those kind of cables because of the shape...
I'm confused about something. Isn't there adapters to play the arcade cartridges on the official home console? Why do people need arcade board conversions then?
Because overall it might just be a better fit for some people. Especially if you've already amassed a collection of MVS carts. You're right though - for someone starting out, it might be easier to get an AES and a converter.
@@RetroRGB Cool, thanks for answering. I was concerned that there is a quality reason that perhaps I wasn't aware of on why people shouldn't use a converter.
Does the MiSTer output uniform analog video across all its cores, and how does it compare to a RGB modded original Neo Geo?
Great Episode. I have the Omega. Using it with a BVM in RGB. Should I get the new board with my RGC Omega Packapunch Scart Cable. Thanks
If you already have an RGC cable for the stock board, that's a tough one. If you're only a casual Neo Geo user, what you're already using should be good enough. If you love the Neo Geo though, yeah, you'll notice a small difference in both audio and video and it'll be worth buying the board (and a Genesis 2 RGB cable for it).
@@RetroRGB Ok. I'm a hardcore Neo Geo user with a large MVS and AES library. I will definitely be getting the board and cable. Keep up the Great work. Thanks
Good call...and see what you think about the audio as well. Casual gamers won't notice, but I bet you'll hear a difference!
@@RetroRGB Thanks man
@@RetroRGBQuick Question. I have a board on the way to me and a RGC Genesis 2 Packapunch cable on the way. I just noticed that on the board it says to use an official Genesis 2 cable. I will be ok right?
Too bad there's no component video on the replacement board.
You can use HD Retrovision cables with the new board for a VERY high quality component video output. Do NOT use them with the old board though, as the improper voltage could damage it.
RetroRGB cool. I'll check that cable
Will be ordering this as I prefer Mega Drive scart from Computer Shack (very high quality, well made, and great pins) than over overpriced crappy retro gaming cables. I went through Omega's scart cable, garbage and then retro gaming cables which as always, is low quality when it comes to the connector especially pins (Saturn suffers terribly). If only Computer Shack made Saturn scart cables, his Mega Drive cables are great.
If I were anyone, I wouldn't even buy an Omega. I got it as a gift. Their customer service is god awful too. Just get your own consolized MVS elsewhere or build your own if you can. Not worth the price especially if you have to buy this upgrade and then install it yourself. This upgrade is much needed for Omega owners imo. Can't wait to get mine and see the difference on my Trinitron.
Is the AV board still available anywhere? Looks like out of stock and definitely discontinued from the small research I made 🤔
The link in the description brings you to the pre-order page. You can buy one now and it'll ship fairly soon: castlemaniagames.com/products/rondo-products-replacement-av-board-for-the-omega?ref=w9_zngec1o_
Also, as stated inthe video, do NOT use the cable that came with your Omega. Use one of these: www.retrorgb.com/genesisrgbcables.html
@@RetroRGB thanks mate! I think it might have been updated overnight as yesterday it was OOS! :D Great news!!
Anyone else with an Omega get garbled text on the Garou high score screen? I was curious if it was my cart or a Unibios thing.
I can't remember seeing that, but my guess would be it's either your cart or the UniBIOS. I can't imagine the Omega having anything to do with that...unless one of the RAM chips went bad on your motherboard. If that was the case, you'd notice similar glitches on pretty much all other games.
RetroRGB wow! Thanks for replying! I love your work! Since I posted that comment I tried the cartridge on a different MVS board and didn’t have the same problem, so at least it’s not my cartridge.
Unless your goal is to play with original MVS carts, I would find it hard to recommend any consolized MVS over a MiSTer with the NEO-GEO core nowadays.
How is that core? I have an MVS and 2 carts for it, but the MiSTer sounds like a really cool portable alternative so I wouldn't have to carry around my setup, which is a cluttered mess if I were to be honest lol Either that, or I would just find a way to get the Omega's Jamma adapter, PSU and get that Genesis 2 video encoder separately and integrate it into my setup, as I already have Genesis 2 Retrovision cables anyway. I really only play KOF98 and SvC, so I don't really have a reason to get a MiSTer or even a flash cart for my MVS since I play on original hardware as much as I can anyway.
@@tyisafk A "core" is what we call a system that you can replicate on an FPGA. Also, it's obvious that my post is for people who do NOT have any NEO-GEO hardware. If you have NEO-GEO hardware and you're happy with your setup, more power to you. For people who want the hardware experience but do not want to pay over $1000 for a consolized MVS and MVS flash cart or take out a 2nd mortgage to buy real MVS carts, then the MiSTer FPGA is the solution. If you want a 2nd NEO-GEO or a portable one, then it can be a solution as well.
Hey Retro Rgb, i have a question would this upgrade board for the omega be safe to use running a hdretrovision cable with a gcompsw through an ossc.
Yes, absolutely. This board was tested on all Genesis 2 solutions, including the HD Retrovisions.
Ok thanks for the info and for the reply!
Curious questions, for those of us with Framemiester's; would you recommend changing out the video board?
If you're only using the RGB output, yes. While the OSSC is a bit sharper, the Framemeister is still excellent and you should notice a difference.
@@RetroRGB That's great to hear! When they become available, I'll certainly grab this mod. I love the Omega, but when I used it on the Framemeister, it was a bit of a pain to lock in the setting. II just need this and the MVS Pro Cart from Terraonion and I'll be set. One last question, would the HDRetrovision cables for the Genesis 2 work on the mod? Being that it uses the same RGB output?
Hello I own the OMEGA CMVS currently. Just wanted to know how I could purchase the new AV board?
Tindie is having some issues, but keep checking the link in the description and as soon as the issues are fixed, the new board should appear on Tianfeng's page. Sorry!
Thank you very much. And when you say “his page”. What page are you referring too?
www.tindie.com/products/tianfeng/replacement-av-board-for-the-omega/
@@RetroRGB out of stock - sold out that fast....hopefully will restock soon
Would the RAD2X work with the replacement video board?
Yes! I tested myself and it works great. Just DO NOT try to use it with the orginal board, or it might blow it out.
@@RetroRGB Awesome thanks for the confirmation Bob!
Grant theme from garou
Can a Sega genesis rad2x work with this?
NOT with the original board - You’ll blow out the RAD2x. After upgrading to this board, all properly made Genesis 2 cables will work, including the RAD2x.
@@RetroRGB thank you, was hoping for a plug and play hdmi solution then having to mod it. I’ll stick to the RetroTINK 5X.
These Neo Geo's are like old Porsche. Everything is hard to find and really expensive.
Dude knows his shit
Tell me about the cheap option.
I'll have a video on it soon...
@@RetroRGB Looking forward to that :-)
Can't afford the Omega but a interesting video nonetheless.
Great work!
Thanks dude!
Aight then.
wow ! being a video gamers in the 80ies and after, I'm really sad for young players : back then, AES was VERY expensive, but MVS was really more affordable (I remember buying samurai showdown MVS for 35 EUR...! yeah , and it was not a pirate copy !!!.... the number was scratched, of course....).
Now it's the turn of MVS..... it's really silly !
oh well : MOST of the players will discover and play pirate roms of NEO GEO on PC, so.....
I wouldn't be sad for younger players. Neo geo is cheaper than ever, with flash carts, emulation, mister fpga, etc. I fully consolized an mvs myself for about $80 total, combined with the $65 banana cart, that's about as cheap as you can get for real hardware. If they want to play, there's a plethora of inexpensive ways. Neogeo is one of the consoles that doesn't make sense to collect games for IMO. They are huge, and not very nice looking. With an investment of $200 for a mister or $500 for a flash cart, you get everything.
I believe the scart cables they sell are jp21 and not euro scart. So beware!
I could have sworn you said your next video was going to be about the N64 and different ways to play it.
I've been really sick the past few weeks and haven't had time to finish it...but the video you're talking about is a Nintendo-focused RAD2x video. I'm aiming for late next week to release it.
...and this video's been pretty much done for months, I've just been waiting on a few things to finish it up.
@@RetroRGB Oh well no rush and I really hope you feel better soon. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you and yours. Loving the channel. :D
Scarlet Sprites had issue's with his. The JNX is a better buy and made better that works in more conditions.
I actually got brain washed to get the JNX and muilticart. THe cost held me back. But i was saving. Now that the MiSTer has neogeo i don't have to spend the $1500, that money can go towards a pc.
Smokemonster swears with the has and mvs board which will be cheaper, but it will be all exposed.
That upgrade board is usfull, just use hd retrovsion cables with adapter if your looking at component.
I have been emulating neogeo since the early 2000's. It was a system i couldn't get my hands on. Later i found out the price for one and was to much for me then.
I sure did. It's unfortunate that the JNX has become so difficult to obtain given that James is the very definition of a one man operation. I'm still holding out a glimmer of hope that we get an Analogue FPGA console. I know it's a long shot and that the MiSTer exists, but I really would like to have something with a cart slot.
@@ScarletSprites well you got all the games. It's a good buy for you :).
Not quite all, I'm working on it though ;)
If mister core didn't exist, i don't think id regret getting the jnx+multicart to much. I play neogeo all the time.
Excellent review of the Omega MVS. I own an original Japanese AES home console with a full Neotropolis REI modification. www.neotropolis.net/33401.html My question is, would my AES benefit from the new pcb addition for SCART like the Omega does? Also, would it be a plug and play option as well? I have an OSSC for video duties.
This will not work with an AES, but there IS a mod coming next year you'll be interested in. I'm not allowed to talk about it yet, but I'll have more info in a month or so...
Not a fan of the Omega, I used to have one cause visually it looks good, but it gave me mediocre video output on all connections. He couldn't figure out the problem and blamed the tv's I was using, so I took a refund. Definitely better to stick with something more professional imo, such as JNX's cmvs (all of which give crystal clear video output on the same tv's mind you)
Nerdiest video I've ever seen, hands down. Congratulations.
(I mean this in a good way.)
Thanks! Check out the Open MVS one and the Warrior 64 one. If you liked this, you'll really enjoy those! ua-cam.com/video/C0Y-7GXSoRc/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/MKuGIGHTEPs/v-deo.html
Cool console
Looks cool but for around 300 bucks you can get an original Neo Geo AES with the arcade stick and a game included. If clone hardware is more expensive than the real deal, there’s something wrong even if it was manufactured with care.
Well, just keep in mind it's not "clone hardware". It's a real MVS motherboard with a "clone" case.
@arioca get your facts straight. It's not a clone . Did you watch the whole video???!!
Joe Zayas I did. Retro RGB explained very well. I meant it’s not 100% original hardware manufactured by SNK
Awesome video. Thanks you so much for the comparison shots!
Wow, this looks cool, what is that?
ua-cam.com/video/l3rg6GCAOHU/v-deo.html
It gives me a CPS-player vibe!
More info coming soon :)
@@RetroRGB Looking forward to it.
I owned an AES back in 1994 and I bought AOF2 brand new from a gaming shop. I had to sell a kidney to buy that game!
Just imagine me coming home with that game and playing it! I felt like a king!
Very good musique on that vidéo
Great review, but the quality of the case isn't very good. It has uneven and rough edges and can't compete in the slightest with an original AES case.
You sound like you've never seen one in person.
@@RetroRGB You sound unnecessarily defensive. I own one myself. Great machine, just the case isn't of the highest quality.
too expensive, don't get my wrong i know it is a nice product and there is a lot of work but how could you choose the omega instead of a real neogeo for less than 300$ in japan ?
retrogaming is great but don't get silly with prices please.
I'm just watching this video now, and the music is f*****ing distracting. It's both loud, and inappropriate. No, I don't know where it's from; but I'm trying to focus on what the host is saying about the Omega, and the music is really, really getting on my nerves. I've reached the point where I had to turn the audio down so that I barely heard the music in the background. Good info, but awful choice of music.
Ever think maybe it's just your speakers?
600€.......NeoGeo card + a supergun are about 100€