The Best Sega Genesis? Model 1? 2? 3? with HD Retrovision Component Cables and favorite accessories

I forgot to mention the High Definition Graphics Model ONE I used in the video is also the Non-TMSS model which is compatible with more games including early imports and unlicensed games. Info from Straypixels: So if your Sega Genesis, when booting a game, does NOT display “Produced by or under license of Sega Enterprises Ltd.” you have a non-TMSS unit.

Too bad you didn't test every console with composite and component.

Gen 1 non-HD has so much better colors on composite than component. The background walls are orange instead of dull brown, and the grass is bright neon green instead of dull green.

Gen 1 HD component has almost as good of colors as the Gen 1 non-HD composite. Slightly washed out in comparison, but still way better than the Gen 1 non-HD component.

Gen 3 component I would say has the best color and overall picture quality compared to the rest you showed. It looks like the vibrance was turned up like you can do in some PC graphics settings.

Model 2 component looks just like Model 1 non-HD component, washed out and dark colors compared to the rest. Too bad we couldn't see Model 2 composite (if that is even an option?)

Overall I'm tempted to buy the Model 3 from ebay since the prices are pretty low for those and imo it had the best picture quality of all the ones you showed, plus it has good sound. The only issue is my Trinitron TV only has composite so I don't know how it would look on there. I might go for the Gen 1 non-HD since that has great picture too, only ever so slightly worse than Model 3, and it still has the good sound, and also has composite. (Although idk what outputs it supports without the retrovision cables)

Sega Millennium/2000

Model 1 is best belive me. Better

IT'S CALLED THE MEGA DRIVE!!!!!

Mega SG is the best megadrive

Just picked a model 3 and wow it’s so much smaller than I expected gaha

I've heard that the genesis model 2 MK-1451 is supposed to be the rare model of the model 2s? Any truth to this?

There's another version of the model 1 Sega Genesis that was released between the High Definition Graphics and pre Model 2 design, it looks identical to the High Definition graphics one but it doesn't say that also the EXT port is missing but the spot is still there just a blank spot.

Thank you for the video on how to get one of these! I lived in Quebec, Canada here.

I never throttle the system’s volume slider, it’s going peak badly. Go 75% and then adjust it on your receiver or TV. Or am I doing it wrong? Great video btw!

Thanks for making this

VA0 launch model imho is the best model.

About Genesis One without "High Definition Graphics" inscription - have one of those myself, but WITH "EXT" port on the back and VA-5 mainboard inside, wich is one of best sounding Genesis mainboards.

Master good morning, I have a Japanese mega drive that has two slots for cartridge 😳, one in the normal place and one right in front lying forward and hidden under the housing, I can't find any other like it, have you come across this model? On the board it is defined like this MD - 1095 G -1.5 ARG02

Nomad

How would the retrovision cables look on a CRT? I prefer how the composite looks on the lcd because it blends together the pixels to make them look closer to how they looked on a crt, however on a CRT the image would be blended by default.

Its crazy that the rgb cable for the genesis costs 150 dollars lol. They cant be thaaat expensive to make.. sucks, i want one, but could buy all 3 of the genesis models and some games for that price lol

Love the intro music.. from "Legendary Axe" 😊

The best model was the imported Japanese version which I had back in the day.
The sound was by far superior compared to the US/Euro versions that followed

So I have a high definition model 1 that sounds just as good as my launch model 1. Could there be some model 1 variations that still keep the good sound chips inside?

eh, I'd say the best model is the one you own if you have a model 1 or 2 because there's not a lot of difference there. Especially with the right video cables.
Audio wise, we know that both systems can deliver stereo audio though the model 1 requires jumping through hoops in order to do this. You'd probably be hard pressed to notice a big difference in sound between a model 1 and 2 so that's why I conclude it shouldn't make a difference to most people. If you want the best Audio out of a Sega Genesis PERIOD, the answer is the Mega SG as that has an additional settings to mess around with low pass filter and other settings to correct sound sampling (very cool). I own the model 2 and honestly don't see a need to go out and get a model 1 for anything other than pure aesthetic looks (especially with a model 2 sega cd attached).

Also, you'll be blown away by the results of using the Retrovision cables/SCART through an OSSC. Pixel perfect display, mask the borders of the image... Basically looks like emulation in terms of clarity with none of the bugs due to it being OG hardware.

Explain the unreleased 32X games and boxes.

The best Sega Genesis is the first Model 1's with the words "High Definition Graphics" written around the ring. They have the best picture and sound quality out of all of them. Unfortunately, that is the way of the tech world. As a console sells the parts used to make them become cheaper. That's when slim models hit that use cheaper parts. It was done back then as it is today. This is but one reason I am an early adopter of all things console gaming.

The best Sega Genesis is the laptop I'm watching this video on.

You got a subscriber for this video. Thanks

Model 3 does not play gargoyles

HD Retrovision cables have really amazed me and have breathed new life into my retro consoles when connected to a nice CRT such as my 27" JVC i'Art. Great video!

IMO the best Sega Genesis model will be the model that looks best to you then get the “Triple Bypass” mod done. Looks and sounds better than the Model 1 HD. It’s incredible!

I have a model 2 and it has decent sound but the composite video is extremely bad.

Your Genesis 3 is a VA2 that’s why it doesn’t play virtua racing. However the genesis 3 VA1 plays it. I have both revisions . Cool video 😀

Too bad you can't buy the HD Retrovision cables. They have been out of stock for a long ass time and don't seem like they company is every going to be making more.

in graphics terms, 3, 2, 1 ?

The high definition graphics system is the best it has the Yamaha sound chip

It’s a good thing the Triple Bypass mod can make a Model 2 sound just as good as a HDG Model 1.

I would have love to see the CDX compare to this. Good video.

Model 2s generally have cleaner composite video. I know, it’s a cardinal sin but if you don’t have access to RGB, it’s generally going to look better than the model 1s. (Save for the extremely early Japanese mega drives.)

The most common VA0, VA1 and VA1.8 revisions of the model 2 all have really clean RGB out, but usually crap composite (most of them have the samsung encoder) and the audio quality varies from okay to awful depending on which op-amp chips they have. But these are so common that there are tons of mods to improve the audio.

The model 1 VA7 has the same bad audio but with an added crappy headphone amp circuit and also worse RGB. I think any revision of model 2 is preferable to a VA7.

Majesco actually took over a little before the model 3, some later model 2s are Majesco.

Any revision of the model 1 prior to VA7 has good audio, and you can always tell VA7 in a US Genesis by the position of the power jack and the lack of even a space for the EXT port. I have a VA6 that has a blank where the EXT port normally is.

On Japanese consoles it's a little different because Japanese model 1 mega drives never had an RF modulator, and so the power jack and multi-out are in a similar position to the US VA7. However I have not found any instances of a Japanese VA6 missing the EXT port.

If you open the console up, a VA7 is always obvious because it will only have one voltage regulator instead of two, and it's missing the massive 64-pin DIP version of the CPU. It should be easy to tell even without removing the RF shield.

Good video!

I got a model 2 with a better sound chip for $50 😁

These videos are great. I had no idea the amount of support there was for the Genesis still. That power supply for all 3 systems is like a gift from god

The VA7 is notorious for having bad sound.. It´s basically a model 2 in a model 1 shell..

I think the second version of the model 2 is probably the best (the version with the smaller 3/4th's motherboard). If your using an HD retrovision cable, avoid insignia brand TV's. It seems to be incompatible with them.

That motion blur you are talking about is actually present in the games mostly in 2D platformers. Its harder to see it on a CRTV but its there. The reason why you see it less on the hd retrovision cables is because most take that image coming from the hd retrovision cables and set there TV to 4:3 ratio which gives you the best picture similar to a CRTV size, the motion blur is still there but not as noticeable. The Hyperkin cables can give you that same similar image. Similar to a CRTV size, but you have to have it set to 16:9 on the Hyperkin box then adjust your TV to 4:3 ratio which will give you less motion blur like the Retrovision cables. So for anyone using RGB route the best way is to have your TV format set to 4:3 not normal. The best way to test is if you have a good CRTV what your CRTV is showing is what you want your Flatscreen showing. Yes some of the picture is missing but that was missing also when looking at the same game on a CRTV.

Sega genesis mod 2 va4 & sega genesis 3. Video clip sony cxa1645