Best Sega CD/Genesis combo?

[GohanX]

I was experimenting the other day with my X'Eye and the CDX. I was attempting to figure out which system was overall better, since I was planning on keeping one and selling the other.

My testing is on my Samsung SDTV, which is a couple of years old. The audio was sent to my Onkyo surround system, set for "Pro Logic 2 Music" mode, which is great for redbook CD audio games. The CDX was connected by official Sega stereo RCA cables, the CDX was hooked up with some fairly heavy duty RCA cables connected directly to the RCA outputs. For those that don't know, the X'Eye has both a Genny model 2 video plug and standard RCA video/audio outputs. I should point out that I really wanted to keep the CDX, so I was pulling for it to win.

After playing Thunderforce 3, Sonic CD, and some of the classics disc, I have to say the X'Eye is better than the CDX. The audio isn't different enough to matter, but the video on the X'Eye is much better. The colors are more vibrant, and the image is sharper. When switching back and forth on Sonic CD the CDX looked slightly washed out and muddled by comparison. I should note that the CDX looked like I would expect from a composite connection, while the X'Eye looked better than I would have expected. The only other console with a composite output that is as strong is the TurboDuo.

That being said, this could just be an anomoly with my TV. Anyone else have any experience using different setups to find the ultimate combination? I have most of the other combinations, but they are in storage.

And yes, the CDX will soon get the axe I'm afraid. I don't really need this many Genesis consoles.

[AD2101]

Ha reading that just now I was pulling for the CDX as well, mostly because I'd be interested in buying the X'Eye if you put it up for sale here. It could be an anomaly between your two consoles but not the tv IMO. Maybe thats just how X'Eyes and CDX's stack up against each other I dunno.

[Joe Redifer]

The Iowa, err, I mean AIWA one totally rulez. Or maybe it doesn't, but it probably does.

http://assembler.roarvgm.com/Aiwa_Megacd_radio/aiwa_megacd_radio.html

[j_factor]

The CDX has a weaker video signal. There's an amp mod out there for CDX to make the signal better (usually done as part of an RGB or s-video mod). The X'Eye has a particularly strong video signal because it was originally designed with an s-video output. That output was removed for the US system, but all they did was remove the socket; they didn't change anything internally. Consequently, the X'Eye is super-easy to mod for s-video.

It should be noted that the video quality would be improved with a 32x.

[Sega-17]

The CDX has a weaker video signal. There's an amp mod out there for CDX to make the signal better (usually done as part of an RGB or s-video mod). The X'Eye has a particularly strong video signal because it was originally designed with an s-video output. That output was removed for the US system, but all they did was remove the socket; they didn't change anything internally. Consequently, the X'Eye is super-easy to mod for s-video.

It should be noted that the video quality would be improved with a 32x.


Boy, do I wish it were that easy to mod a X'eye. Unfortunately, the same sony video chip is used in the X'eye as the CDx and Genesis model 1.

You have to build an amplifier system the same way you would for most Genesis S-Video mods.

Here is a pic of the inside of my X'eye:

http://grapefruit.quickshareit.com/share/photo59cc393.jpg


And the finished product with region switch:

http://grapefruit.quickshareit.com/share/241007_1836c8ade.jpg

The hardest part of this mod was soldering onto the Sony chip. It's so tiny in the X'eye - one mistake could be troublesome.

[j_factor]

Oh, I stand corrected.

[TmEE]

If I had modded it, it would have been lot smaller, and these chips aren't small (well, small is a relative term though, my small is when chip has 15 pins or more on one centimeter)

[Sega-17]

Of course. What you see is not the finished product on the inside. I ended up repositioning the circuit much closer to the rear in order to avoid the wire mess. This was my first time inside of a X'eye.

And yes, the Sony chip in the x'eye isn't small by any measure, but compared to how big it used to be, well, it's like 1/4 of the size.

[Joe Redifer]

Well it's not like the thing will be open for all the world to see all the time, so it really doesn't matter too much what it looks like on the inside.

[Black_Tiger]

The JP Multi-Mega looks great using the XMD2, but is still the most convenient tiny all-in-one.

[David J.]

There was a japanese Multimega? pictures of the hardware and box and general info would be awesome. :D

[Black_Tiger]

There was a japanese Multimega? pictures of the hardware and box and general info would be awesome. :D

It looks just like the Euro version. It has the newer JP bios.

[Dirt Ball Gamer]

Anybody know about the chips inside the pioneer laseractive? My games look and sound a lot better coming from this than my old tower of power, but that was on rf, so that figures. Don't know if it can step to the x'eye or not. I want to hook it up with component. Sega Sonic fan's CDX ultima is definitly the best combo that ive ever seen. Too bad somebody stole it off him. They probably don't even know what the hell it is they stole.

[evildragon]

Well, audio wise, it has the same chip as that in the Genny 2, but uses an ADC to convert it directly to SPDIF.

[Dirt Ball Gamer]

Thats interesting. Now that I think of it, it sounds louder and clearer, but has a different sort of twang to it. When I play super fantasy zone and some other games I can really hear the difference. I like the sound of my model one genesis, the notes seem less crisp but more juicy somehow. The Laseractive sounds more synth-clean. Ive never had a model 2 genesis, so I'm probably not used to the sound. Whats an ADC? Ive heard of SPDIF but can't remember what it is all about either. -Edit*Update, I just found out im a retard and had it hooked up in mono, it sounds much better now.