Thank you for watching! Shout out to retrogames-swindon.co.uk/ and check all associated links with the mod in the video description. Some of the effects such as Blur might be hard to see on a small screen, they are more noticable on a large display and/or 4K. Neil - RMC
I got exactly that RGB mod and it’s really a fantastic mod. I think N64 graphics in general haven’t aged very well mainly due to that blur filter. But this mod removes it making it a really nice feature well worth getting this mod for alone!!
The bright S-video issue is due to the fact that the PAL N64 is sending too strong of a signal. To fix this just simply attach a resistor (maybe 75ohm) between the luminance video signal and luminance ground. This is also an issue with AV composite if you are using non-rated N64 cables that don't have their own image signal reduction component. This is what I had to do with my PAL N64 and it worked perfectly.
Yes, and it is not a well known fact: even composite cables for Nintendo consoles are not universal. The resistor is inside NTSC consoles and inside PAL cables, so if you mix you either get a dark picture (resistor in console and in cable) or, like in your case, too bright (no resistor anywhere)! WHY DID THEY DO THAT?
@@giacomovalenti8619 No idea. Nintendo does interesting things. But yeah, it drives me crazy when you try to buy a cable online and it just doesn't tell you if it has a resistor or not. X(
This isn't just a Nintendo or just S-video thing if I remember correctly. The original RGB cables for Megadrive and PlayStation also have several components regulating the signal output from the consoles. Cheaper third party cables often leave these out. So while they do give the advertised sharper picture, they are probably not giving the correct picture.
@@AltCutTV yes, but the thing is that OFFICIAL Nintendo RGB and composite cables differ between regions (and consoles! RGB PAL GC cable is incompatibile with PAL SNES!)
Nice TV =O Looks great in RGB! The S-Video cable, you need to add a 75ohm termination resistor to the N64 - I covered this in a video years back. Without it, its overbright as you discovered! The title was "Nintendo 64 - Everdrive Stuff & S-Video Over Bright Fix (Video Mod)". I've also seen people just add 75ohm termination on both luma and chroma, and then AC couple each through a cap.
It also appears to be one of the fake S-video cables with Chroma connected to Composite Video. See the destructive interference in the flames on the Zelda logo?
S video is probably the best option for someone who isn’t willing to spend 100+ dollars or risk damaging their system. The quality of s video over comp. is very substantial, but the jump from s video to rgb is sorta minor not considering deblur. I don’t like deblur anyways, so it’s perfect for me.
Nope. S-Video were not a common thing back then. Scart plugs were. And scart carry sound as well, and can do RGB. Something that S-Video does not. Just go with Scart-RGB.
@@brostenen I never made a statement that this S-Video was common here. But fyi: Scart is only the container, and can also carry composite or S-Video (incl. audio), so I could have S-Video via Scart. That said, without the deblur there is not much to gain coming from an S-Video Cable. My first S-Video Cable had the same issue, the second one was fine, knowing what to look for. Image is still not great, though. Neither is it with the RGB mod, which I also own, compared to the RGB Signal the Sega Consoles offer. (Running through OSSC) The RGB-HDMI Mod with deblur and de-smear(?) might be the best solution from what I heard.
@@Retro_Royal I know that about scart. It is just a plug. There are at least 3 different type of signals that are uses with the plug. Well... And then you got RGB signal that scart can carry as well.
the HDMI mod isn't an Analog to Digital converter you put inside your N64, it does actually sniff out the raw digital signals from the board and convert them to to HDMI. Still gonna be 240p/480i tho.
Tim's mods are fantastic, would love to do this mod sometime. Composite just has such fuzzy static and the rainbow colors. It's almost amazing to see such quality come out of these old systems. NA really missed out on Scart love.
S-Video cables for the NTSC N64 are wired straight-through with no extra components inside, but PAL S-Video cables are different. They require a 75 Ohm resistor to ground on both the luma and chroma signals (ideally put them in the console-side connector) to set the brightness correctly. Capacitors in series (put them after the resistors) are also recommended, typically 220 uF for luma and 68 uF for chroma. All of the cheap S-Video cables you'll find online are intended for NTSC consoles and lack those components. There are a couple of sites where you can buy pre-made PAL N64 S-Video cables, though.
Additionally, it looks like the s-video cable used in this video was one of those cheap combo cables with very poor shielding, which contributes to the dithering type effect on the s-video. It's worth finding a somewhat nicer cable, or at least one that doesn't also have composite to intefere with the signals. even better if you get one of those handmade
@@CaesarRoyale Indeed, though bringing the chroma down to the correct levels will clean that up to some degree. Still, the cable from Consoles4You or VideoGamePerfection should perform quite a bit better.
@@CaesarRoyale I believe it’s one of the cheap ones that works in a SNS-101 Super NES “junior” since those are the most common and that’s exactly what you see with them. The cause isn’t shielding, it’s because they only had one of the two S-Video signals and they replaced the other with straight composite! This is why they work on the mini 101 consoles that lack S-Video.
I had a US N64 and could connect it to my TV via s-video due to the fact my TV could handle NTSC s-video. When I decided to have it modded for RGB, I was stunned to discover the colours were even better. The bubbles inside Jabu Jabu were a revelation, stunning.
I have this exact same TV… I love it! I also know first hand just how HEAVY the damn thing is, so getting that in the cave deserves some special praise indeed! Well done Neil!
Stunning TV! Love the B&O sets, they are amazing and I would love to add one to my collection. Oh and YES you should definitely RGB Mod the N64. I have an RGB modded NTSC N64 and it looks way better than the standard composite option.
Interesting that watching on my (very) small phone, the difference is negligible but clearly expanding the screen size is truly the key to benefitting from the mod itself. Brings back lovely memories of my n64 and Zelda ocarina. 1996… I was a mere stripling in my twenties still!
@@mhoppy6639 Yes, I play on either a 29" 4:3 CRT or a 28" 16:9 CRT and there's a good step up. The composite output is pretty poor from the N64 and whilst the RGB isn't as clean as via other machines, it is noticeably sharper. I must admit that playing OOT in the late 90's will always be one of the highlights of my gaming life. I remember being quite down when I finished that game. It really drew me into the world in a way that no other game had done before it and it's influence on gaming since then can not be understated.
Interesting. In some ways, I think I prefer the softer composite image for how it better dithers the colors together and softens the aliased edges of certain sprites or game models, but for very text-heavy games or when you just want the additional clarity, the RGB is a significantly crisper image.
Here's a thought. One slightly excited newcomer will topple all four controllers off that TV quickly. How about installing four hooks or caddies on the white support frame to the left of the TV, in a vertical fashion, and hang them up?
A quick heads up. Many B&O TV's have a secret service menu with options that could potentially be useful when trying to get the best picture quality possible out of retro consoles. On some of them you can access it with the remote, others you have to open up. I'm no expert on the matter, but it might be something you'd be interested in examining.
This one has, too. You cannot enter it with the phallic remote that came with it, however. If you have a BEO4, just enter the menu and hit 0 0 GO. That opens up the service menu.
Great video. It would have been easier with a FRA (French) one, since the mother board already includes all the components' spots needed for a full RGB signal.
God Bless ya for this. PAL N64 was my first console in college, what a time, and when the sound on mine inexplicably died around 2013 I went for a French RGB modded one, and swapped the guts into a Funtastic Orange shell. It looks great now through my OSSC. I also suffer the same S-video issue with the clear blue/white Japanese 64 I have.
If my B&O tv ever dies I will cry! Mines the floor mount one, motorised like yours but also has the speakers which appear from either side of the main sub when you turn it on, sound is incredible
Those vintage B&O televisions are incredible! I was lucky enough to pick up a BeoVision Avant 32inch (with built in VCR no less!) from 2004 for £15 early last year and dragged it (literally as it's SO HEAVY) into my office room. So now if I want to connect up a vintage computer / console, I have the best possible CRT to experience it on. Having known the owners of the set personally, they told me that they paid the obscene amount of £4300 for the TV when it was new. Which is mind blowing. And BTW - the party piece with the rotating stand NEVER gets old ;)
In the 2003 Argos catalogue a 32" Panasonic was £1100. If you wanted the real "Big Screen" experience you could get a 36" Toshiba for £1800. Good luck dragging one of those into your room though :-)
I remember seeing that B&O tv in their shop window, and thinking this is probably as good as a crt TV is going to get. It's really nice to see you've managed to save one, as I doubt there where many sold to begin with.
I had two N64s that I got modded to RGB out. A Japanese original and the American release. This was in 1996 and 1998 though. It always amazed me that Nintendo would go to great lengths to design a console alongside SGI, that pushed the boundaries of what graphics processing could be on a home console and then decided not to wire it for the best possible signal output. I’d suggest that as most Japanese consumer level TVs at the time didn’t have any type of RGB input, unlike Europe with SCART, but the more expensive ones had s-video, the decision was made to cut costs. Odd though that they did wire the Super Famicom (SNES) for RGB. Some screen flicker was always an issue with these mods, even the most professional of them. Here we are in 2024, and I wonder if the issue still exists? Or has tech improved to the point that modern mod designs have eliminated the problem?
I'm really looking forward to visiting The Cave, especially since it's just 3 miles away as the crow flies from where I'm sat right now. I may have a few things to offer to the collection, like a ZX80 with its polystyrene packaging & a 1-3K rampack I was given a couple of years ago, which has been sitting on the shelves in front of me gathering dust. I'm pleased to own it, my first computer was a ZX81, but feel like it deserves a better home.
Love the mod, and that TV is amazing, although i really think a Saturn would suit it better, in style especially. You should keep an eye out for one of the BEOVISION units that had a built in "MEDIA CD" player, which was actually a Philips CD-i and fully compatible. For the S-video issues, i think the cable is missing a termination resistor or something.
I've noticed that B&O and Philips worked closely with each other in the past. For example B&O did a video 2000 machine that was actually a philips machine with wooden panels and dark perspex attached and a transcoder board to allow the B&O remote to work.
@@RMCRetro I've got one you can have - pick up from Cardiff Beocenter AV5 - CDI player would need fixing but otherwise works perfectly - it is very, very heavy mind 😉
Very nice TV! I had the 28" sister model, the BeoVision MX8000. It was a real beauty and the speakers were phenomenal! RGB from a PS2 and a Wii looked sharper than I ever thought an SD CRT could manage.
I know everyone is saying about resistors, but you want the 75 Ohm resistor as close to the TV end as possible. This will act as a termination resistor and kill some of the luma chroma crosstalk that you are seeing. You could terminate the chroma too.
That crosstalk is actually because these are fake S-Video cables that connect chroma to composite. They are absolutely everywhere being sold by the likes of Hyperkin, Retro-Bit, Old Skool, Tomee, etc. This is done to “support” SNS-101 and SHVC-101 consoles that lack S-Video support but still have Luma.
Wrong S-video cable as others have explained already. Personally, I'm perfectly happy with how my N64 looks with the (correct) S-video cable on my Sony Trinitron CRT. I don't think installing the RGB mod is worth it for me. Especially if I have to solder to the legs of a chip, I haven't looked into that, but that is a bit too scary for my low soldering skills :)
I'm pretty sure any connection looks good on a Triniton. I have a Wega kvfs120 and composite from my Wii look almost as good as components. So I bet the Triniton makes an Svideo look close to it
Gratz on the Danish designer Bang & Olufsen CRT TV-set steal. That thing would originally have cost the same as a small car over here, actually several if they we are talking used cars 👍
I remember back in 1997 getting my Toshiba 33” CRT Dolby TV at the time it was massive, it was well specked with 3 AV inputs at the back scart 1 was RGB enabled. Scart 1 did not have RGB or S-video but scart3 has s-video presented in the scart and mini din connector. So I ended up putting my early DVD player on a video (port 3) my vhs recorder (port2) and my sky box and Rgb cabled SNES on port 1 with an scart rgb switch. On the snes it made a massive difference to use composite vs rgb. On the Toshiba 33” it was really noticeable but even on my Philips 8833 (mk1) monitor it was very noticeable. Great video, regarding the s-video, I would get a washed out with weird artefacts on screen if I connected s-video but did not set the input port into a-video mode. It was not auto sensing.
I fitted the same board to my N64 a few years ago. Makes a big difference, especially with the de-blur. The difference is more noticeable on higher quality CRTs though, so if you’ve got a PVM or one of the higher end Trinitrons, it’s definitely worth doing.
I use my N64 with an S-video cable and an upscaler that converts to VGA. This works pretty well and comparable to the RGB output. So, economical, IF you already have a good upscaler. AND did you say "Bean BAG"? Perfect!
I have a very similar setup ! I have a B&O MX8000 and did the exact same mod on my 64 a couple of years back … there is big difference between composite and rgb ! I don’t know what people are talking about especially in terms of the colour reproduction and reduction in shimmering.
Thats a really nice TV you have there. I dont remember if this was a 31khz display or 15khz? Either way I know B&O were some of the best CRTs, I wished we had some in the USA. But yes, RGB on the n64 is worth it. The clarity and the stronger colors are subtle but noticeable, you did a great job of showing that here. I think the biggest difference are to those playing on up-scalers on flat screens, but even on larger and nicer CRTs you can notice. Tho a shame about the s-video and pal compatibility since s-video does look good as well and makes for a nice budget solution. Yes, bad decision on Nintendo for not including it on the system. Even the SNES could output RGB with a cable!
I think that on balance I’d take the RGB mod if only for the enhanced contrast, but this stuff really does depend on what game you’re playing, what type of display you’re playing it on and the size of it. I find the crispness a bit harsh and out of character sometimes. At the end of the day, the output of the N64 and the fuzzy nature is part of its history and charm. Certainly in your case though, with the setup you have, it does seem to hit the sweet spot.
U14 is lifted and needs to be soldered back down. This is very common since the RAMBUS chip only has four legs on that side. It sticks to the heat sink when you remove it as a whole that way. I still do it that way but I remain mindful of it. I only pry from the back and solder back down if I find lifted RAM. Later N64 boards with a stamped heat sink eliminate the unscrewable heat blocks so you can’t avoid this anyway. Thankfully, they are all ground so anyone can solder them back down without worrying about bridging or alignment. The reason the chips are made like that is so that they can be nested more closely together on the board, within each other’s footprints, but Nintendo did not do that.
I though that composite looked better on the Lark test, and couldn't tell the difference on the image quality test, other than the RGB seemed brighter, same with the Zelda test.
Ahhh Swindon the home.of the magic roundabout, im Swindon born and bred but now live in Australia, last time I was there was 1992. One day I'll head back for a visit. Nice mod, I have a few N64s that could benefit from it.
In my opinion, S Video is basically as good as you need for how low poly and blurry most N64 games. Meaning, you probably aren’t going to make Ocarina of Time look much better just to the way it’s rendered and aliased. However, I am still considering an RGB mod just to use Scart or Component cables.
The EON 64 HDMI scaler is amazing despite technically only using the onboard S-Video. MyMateMick on Twitch streams real hardware with one if you want a demo.
Yup, the cheap S Video cables are rubbish, missing the 75 Ohm as mentioned before. I personally bought a RAD2X cable which upscales and converts to HDMI, which is of course not an option on your B&O CRT. The RAD2X is probably the easiest and best solution for people who are using a modern LCD TV and HDMI.
oh WOW!!! I wasn't expecting that...LOL When I saw the title say 'RGB mod my N64' I was thinking you mean adding RGB LIGHTS to the controllers!! (you had the controllers in the thumbnail) and I thought "now that's a weird thing for RMC to be doing... I HAVE to see this!" LOL Well I'm glad I saw it anyway because you basically removed EVERYTHING that I couldn't STAND about the N64 as a kid (same kinda stuff makes me dislike the PS1 also) so THANK YOU for showing me there is a fix! :D
Attempted this mod twice and it worked fine to begin with but after a few hours it killed one n64, I managed to save the second attempted N64 by removing it just in time, same thing here worked fine for a little while then died. In the end I purchased a modded Japanese N64 converted to run PAL RGB. I’m no stranger to difficult mods having done several Game Gear screen mods. This one however got the better of me. Not sure if I just got a bad board or it was my fault. Still got the board but not prepared to risk another N64 attempting to fit it.
Hi Neil, Awesome move to put this combo in the exhibit. Quite tricky though with those controllers, with their flimsy analog stick. How would you handle issues with those sticks? They get wobbly after a while and will definitely drift, due losing their stiffness. I know there someone produces aluminium replacement parts, which would make a huge difference. Although, the plastic parts surrounding the stick could be damaged by that too. I’m really just wondering this, because you’re running a vintage museum and all! Thanks for reading. :)
I have an RGB modded N64 and, without the deblur, the difference is far less pronounced than something like the NESRGB mod. It still looks great on a CRT, though.
Oh I prefer the original output over the modded one no doubt. I especially find the deblur stuff to look gross, to me the N64 needs that AA blur and as it really adds to the visuals rather than taking away in games such as Mario 64 and *especially* Ocarina of Time. Give me some red and yellow AV cables and a VCR any day.
Yes RGB euro SCART is the best, I have a CRT that I can get PAL, NTSC running on my CRT not sure about SECAM because I have never tried. I also have a euro SCART S-video for my Commodore 64. RGB is sharp and colourful. My CRT was my fathers old TV. Hdmi mod does not compare to RGB and a CRT. 240p on my CRT has lovely scan lines. I have a non branded ASDA TV and it is sweet, Mega Drive, Master System, PlayStation's, commodore 64, Dreamcast etc all look good on my CRT. I do use a LCD too, it next to my CRT on my desk. CRT is 24inch, LCD is 32inch.
I use S-Video with my N64 and, yes, it is better. You might want to check the cable, though - a lot of 3rd party Nintendo S-Video cables don't actually do it right and basically just pass composite You can often check the pins in the Nintendo AV adapter and see that they're not correctly populated. I've had this with about half the ones I've bought.
Yep. The new S-Video cables in every indie game shop are almost universally built like this so that they will work with the SNES Junior (SNS-101). They do appear sharper because even the Jr has Luma but they just tap composite for Chroma and you get exactly the kind of artifacts we see here. It’s especially apparent as moving diagonal or diamond patterns in SNES games with simple color background.
I believe some mods affect the a video signal because rgb is amplified where as svideo is not. I'm quite sure I've seen this before and that was the reason.
Nice TV, I picked up a 28" B&O Beovsion for a similar price. I too drove to pick it up from the seller and proceeded to nearly kill myself lifting it up into the atic 😅 It was definately worth the pain though
Whenever there is a question if connecting via RGB shows the best quality a console or home computer is capable of, the answer always seems to be yes. However, these days I think an HDMI mod is well worthwhile as those mods make it far easier to link a vintage console to a modern display.
Love that TV. My NTSC J N64 been RGB modded and it looks so much better. My PAL unit I’ve had since 97 was good back in the 90s tho. Still wish I hadn’t traded in my mega drive and snes at the time for the thing tho. Played my Saturn a lot more. Still Goldeneye, WCW/nWo Revenge and Mischief Makers and the rest all top games. The PAL port of Mario Kart a bit pap tho.
Really great results! I'm still a little miffed we never really got SCART in North America. Even SVideo never became universal, so I was suffering with composite video well into the mid-2000s blissfully unaware that there was a much better way out there.
I'm rather miffed that WE never got the RGB scart option here in the UK.... it was a standard! The SNES had it, the MegaDrive had it, the PS1 had it...so why Nintendo cheaped-out and gave us an inferior connection compared to their previous console has always been a mystery!!😏
I have a HDMI adapter for mine. It took ages to find one that worked, but it works well without having to open up the machine itself. Not cheap, but I prefer it to having to tinker with the electronics.
Perhaps it's the cable / tv combination, but it sure seems the output from the N64 is pretty hard on the eyes - so much so I had to break down play Ocarina of Time on a re-release version for the NGC.
Suddenly I want to dig my childhood N64 out of the closet and have a go…nothing quite like those controllers with the Z-button and the three-hand grip.
@@RMCRetro no way. how amazing. i saw it advertised, i've seen a few actually, but they're all in the south, and there's no way my little corsa will get that far - lucky if it makes it onto the m62.. i've settled for a hand me down 26" lcd panasonic tv from my mum, which has every connection under the sun on it.. however when using the scart (for mister) the picture just rolls. i know the lead is fine cos i had it working on my old crt.. and now money is really tight (energy crisis etc) i daren't spend on computer stuff incase i can't afford my energy bills.. you got an absolute bargain..
I feel, there might be a halfway sweetspot for N64. The RGB just looks too sharp, jaggy. Just from looking at this video on an LCD. Composite, and CRT, smooths out those jaggies somewhat, which looks nicer, IMHO. The shimmering and "ants", good riddance. I suppose one of them retrotinks might help, and looking at the picture in situ. Kinda thinking there is about as many "best solutions" as there are N64 owners. :) Also, I have a SCART cable for N64, looks nice enough, S-video. But if I try to use the same cable on the SNES, picture is unuseable, too dark. Nintendo, in their infinite wisdom, apparently set the N64 to output "hotter" signal. Maybe they wanted to sell new cables...
Superb tv,s our local heart foundation in swindon had a b and o tv some years ago and i think it sold pretty quickly and it was priced at £80 though did also have a samsung crt with hdmi input that sold as well though there not regarded as great tv,s .
LOL! I wouldn’t be concerned since he’s just tinning it and it will be reflowed soon. If it happens again and he doesn’t correct it with flux and heat, then I’d be concerned. ;)
To Danes. Yes. We the Danish people. B&O have always been a pride. That said. We have always said that despite it being expensive. And dude, yes it has always been that. Then it is nothing more than a overprised Philips. If you open it up, you will most likely find that 50 percent of the components are high quality Phillips, and the tube is Phillips.
Thank you for watching! Shout out to retrogames-swindon.co.uk/ and check all associated links with the mod in the video description.
Some of the effects such as Blur might be hard to see on a small screen, they are more noticable on a large display and/or 4K.
Neil - RMC
modded my n64 for rgb scart a while ago, truly an excellent picture , Svideo is hard to find on supporting tv's
you soldered directly onto the bottom of the existing socket - did you not cut the existing output from it? would that not make it better
I need to know, what is the word similar to SCART that is used in the US? I'm lost on that one...
Think the R is silent.
@@cheater00 shart?👌😄
I got exactly that RGB mod and it’s really a fantastic mod. I think N64 graphics in general haven’t aged very well mainly due to that blur filter. But this mod removes it making it a really nice feature well worth getting this mod for alone!!
Can't lie, I was 3 minutes in before I realised "RGB mod" wasn't going to be some kind of clear case lighty up led thing...... :/
Your not alone there
A few on eBay currently have both the problem with them for me is they’re in case swapped n64’s and I do not like the cheesy China n64 cases!
The bright S-video issue is due to the fact that the PAL N64 is sending too strong of a signal. To fix this just simply attach a resistor (maybe 75ohm) between the luminance video signal and luminance ground. This is also an issue with AV composite if you are using non-rated N64 cables that don't have their own image signal reduction component. This is what I had to do with my PAL N64 and it worked perfectly.
I actually had this same problem with the ntsc gamecube
Yes, and it is not a well known fact: even composite cables for Nintendo consoles are not universal. The resistor is inside NTSC consoles and inside PAL cables, so if you mix you either get a dark picture (resistor in console and in cable) or, like in your case, too bright (no resistor anywhere)! WHY DID THEY DO THAT?
@@giacomovalenti8619 No idea. Nintendo does interesting things. But yeah, it drives me crazy when you try to buy a cable online and it just doesn't tell you if it has a resistor or not. X(
This isn't just a Nintendo or just S-video thing if I remember correctly. The original RGB cables for Megadrive and PlayStation also have several components regulating the signal output from the consoles.
Cheaper third party cables often leave these out. So while they do give the advertised sharper picture, they are probably not giving the correct picture.
@@AltCutTV yes, but the thing is that OFFICIAL Nintendo RGB and composite cables differ between regions (and consoles! RGB PAL GC cable is incompatibile with PAL SNES!)
Nice TV =O Looks great in RGB! The S-Video cable, you need to add a 75ohm termination resistor to the N64 - I covered this in a video years back. Without it, its overbright as you discovered! The title was "Nintendo 64 - Everdrive Stuff & S-Video Over Bright Fix (Video Mod)". I've also seen people just add 75ohm termination on both luma and chroma, and then AC couple each through a cap.
It also appears to be one of the fake S-video cables with Chroma connected to Composite Video. See the destructive interference in the flames on the Zelda logo?
S video is probably the best option for someone who isn’t willing to spend 100+ dollars or risk damaging their system. The quality of s video over comp. is very substantial, but the jump from s video to rgb is sorta minor not considering deblur. I don’t like deblur anyways, so it’s perfect for me.
PAL needs special S-Video Cable with extra resistor, the NTSC give that bright screen. A good S-Video is very close to a RGB modded N64.
That's interesting thank you, I'll look into that a little further
Nope. S-Video were not a common thing back then. Scart plugs were. And scart carry sound as well, and can do RGB. Something that S-Video does not. Just go with Scart-RGB.
@@brostenen I never made a statement that this S-Video was common here.
But fyi: Scart is only the container, and can also carry composite or S-Video (incl. audio), so I could have S-Video via Scart.
That said, without the deblur there is not much to gain coming from an S-Video Cable.
My first S-Video Cable had the same issue, the second one was fine, knowing what to look for. Image is still not great, though. Neither is it with the RGB mod, which I also own, compared to the RGB Signal the Sega Consoles offer. (Running through OSSC)
The RGB-HDMI Mod with deblur and de-smear(?) might be the best solution from what I heard.
@@Retro_Royal I know that about scart. It is just a plug. There are at least 3 different type of signals that are uses with the plug. Well... And then you got RGB signal that scart can carry as well.
@@brostenen Scart can actually do S-Video too with Chroma sent on the RBG (red) pin and luma on the video in pin. That way it could audio too.
the HDMI mod isn't an Analog to Digital converter you put inside your N64, it does actually sniff out the raw digital signals from the board and convert them to to HDMI. Still gonna be 240p/480i tho.
This. It can output digitally perfect video grabbed straight from the RCP (GPU).
Tim's mods are fantastic, would love to do this mod sometime. Composite just has such fuzzy static and the rainbow colors. It's almost amazing to see such quality come out of these old systems. NA really missed out on Scart love.
S-Video cables for the NTSC N64 are wired straight-through with no extra components inside, but PAL S-Video cables are different. They require a 75 Ohm resistor to ground on both the luma and chroma signals (ideally put them in the console-side connector) to set the brightness correctly. Capacitors in series (put them after the resistors) are also recommended, typically 220 uF for luma and 68 uF for chroma. All of the cheap S-Video cables you'll find online are intended for NTSC consoles and lack those components. There are a couple of sites where you can buy pre-made PAL N64 S-Video cables, though.
Additionally, it looks like the s-video cable used in this video was one of those cheap combo cables with very poor shielding, which contributes to the dithering type effect on the s-video. It's worth finding a somewhat nicer cable, or at least one that doesn't also have composite to intefere with the signals. even better if you get one of those handmade
Thank you guys, I'm going to find myself one to try out
@@CaesarRoyale Indeed, though bringing the chroma down to the correct levels will clean that up to some degree. Still, the cable from Consoles4You or VideoGamePerfection should perform quite a bit better.
@@Sirotaca from my experience as an NTSC n64 gamer! Looks great on my svideo Sony pvm :) no RGB on that anyway
@@CaesarRoyale I believe it’s one of the cheap ones that works in a SNS-101 Super NES “junior” since those are the most common and that’s exactly what you see with them. The cause isn’t shielding, it’s because they only had one of the two S-Video signals and they replaced the other with straight composite! This is why they work on the mini 101 consoles that lack S-Video.
I had a US N64 and could connect it to my TV via s-video due to the fact my TV could handle NTSC s-video. When I decided to have it modded for RGB, I was stunned to discover the colours were even better. The bubbles inside Jabu Jabu were a revelation, stunning.
I have this exact same TV… I love it! I also know first hand just how HEAVY the damn thing is, so getting that in the cave deserves some special praise indeed! Well done Neil!
Glad to see Mark back at it helping RMC with those essential mods. Keep up the great work guys!
Stunning TV! Love the B&O sets, they are amazing and I would love to add one to my collection. Oh and YES you should definitely RGB Mod the N64. I have an RGB modded NTSC N64 and it looks way better than the standard composite option.
Interesting that watching on my (very) small phone, the difference is negligible but clearly expanding the screen size is truly the key to benefitting from the mod itself. Brings back lovely memories of my n64 and Zelda ocarina. 1996… I was a mere stripling in my twenties still!
@@mhoppy6639 Yes, I play on either a 29" 4:3 CRT or a 28" 16:9 CRT and there's a good step up. The composite output is pretty poor from the N64 and whilst the RGB isn't as clean as via other machines, it is noticeably sharper. I must admit that playing OOT in the late 90's will always be one of the highlights of my gaming life. I remember being quite down when I finished that game. It really drew me into the world in a way that no other game had done before it and it's influence on gaming since then can not be understated.
I never rated B&O tv's. They are simply Philips TV's in a posh case, sold for several times the price. (I used to service them)
Interesting. In some ways, I think I prefer the softer composite image for how it better dithers the colors together and softens the aliased edges of certain sprites or game models, but for very text-heavy games or when you just want the additional clarity, the RGB is a significantly crisper image.
Thanks for the shoutout Neil. Glad your putting the N64 to good use. Hopefully see you soon!
Here's a thought. One slightly excited newcomer will topple all four controllers off that TV quickly. How about installing four hooks or caddies on the white support frame to the left of the TV, in a vertical fashion, and hang them up?
A quick heads up. Many B&O TV's have a secret service menu with options that could potentially be useful when trying to get the best picture quality possible out of retro consoles. On some of them you can access it with the remote, others you have to open up. I'm no expert on the matter, but it might be something you'd be interested in examining.
This one has, too. You cannot enter it with the phallic remote that came with it, however.
If you have a BEO4, just enter the menu and hit 0 0 GO. That opens up the service menu.
Yeah B&O ... awesome piece of hardware for Retro Gaming 😄
Great video. It would have been easier with a FRA (French) one, since the mother board already includes all the components' spots needed for a full RGB signal.
God Bless ya for this. PAL N64 was my first console in college, what a time, and when the sound on mine inexplicably died around 2013 I went for a French RGB modded one, and swapped the guts into a Funtastic Orange shell. It looks great now through my OSSC.
I also suffer the same S-video issue with the clear blue/white Japanese 64 I have.
If my B&O tv ever dies I will cry! Mines the floor mount one, motorised like yours but also has the speakers which appear from either side of the main sub when you turn it on, sound is incredible
Those vintage B&O televisions are incredible! I was lucky enough to pick up a BeoVision Avant 32inch (with built in VCR no less!) from 2004 for £15 early last year and dragged it (literally as it's SO HEAVY) into my office room. So now if I want to connect up a vintage computer / console, I have the best possible CRT to experience it on.
Having known the owners of the set personally, they told me that they paid the obscene amount of £4300 for the TV when it was new. Which is mind blowing.
And BTW - the party piece with the rotating stand NEVER gets old ;)
In the 2003 Argos catalogue a 32" Panasonic was £1100. If you wanted the real "Big Screen" experience you could get a 36" Toshiba for £1800. Good luck dragging one of those into your room though :-)
I remember seeing that B&O tv in their shop window, and thinking this is probably as good as a crt TV is going to get. It's really nice to see you've managed to save one, as I doubt there where many sold to begin with.
Found your channel a year or so ago so glad I did . Love the vibe & love for vintage tech .
beanbags would be ace, also the amusement of watching people our age (ahem) trying to get back out of them again :D great vid, as always
I love when Mark fixes stuff.
I had two N64s that I got modded to RGB out. A Japanese original and the American release.
This was in 1996 and 1998 though.
It always amazed me that Nintendo would go to great lengths to design a console alongside SGI, that pushed the boundaries of what graphics processing could be on a home console and then decided not to wire it for the best possible signal output.
I’d suggest that as most Japanese consumer level TVs at the time didn’t have any type of RGB input, unlike Europe with SCART, but the more expensive ones had s-video, the decision was made to cut costs. Odd though that they did wire the Super Famicom (SNES) for RGB.
Some screen flicker was always an issue with these mods, even the most professional of them. Here we are in 2024, and I wonder if the issue still exists? Or has tech improved to the point that modern mod designs have eliminated the problem?
I'm really looking forward to visiting The Cave, especially since it's just 3 miles away as the crow flies from where I'm sat right now.
I may have a few things to offer to the collection, like a ZX80 with its polystyrene packaging & a 1-3K rampack I was given a couple of years ago, which has been sitting on the shelves in front of me gathering dust. I'm pleased to own it, my first computer was a ZX81, but feel like it deserves a better home.
Love the mod, and that TV is amazing, although i really think a Saturn would suit it better, in style especially.
You should keep an eye out for one of the BEOVISION units that had a built in "MEDIA CD" player, which was actually a Philips CD-i and fully compatible.
For the S-video issues, i think the cable is missing a termination resistor or something.
Oh wow now that sounds like a treat. I’ll keep an eye out
I've noticed that B&O and Philips worked closely with each other in the past. For example B&O did a video 2000 machine that was actually a philips machine with wooden panels and dark perspex attached and a transcoder board to allow the B&O remote to work.
The cable is missing the resistor for PAL **and** it has chroma wired to composite. IMO, these are fake S-Video cables without chroma.
@@RMCRetro I've got one you can have - pick up from Cardiff Beocenter AV5 - CDI player would need fixing but otherwise works perfectly - it is very, very heavy mind 😉
Very nice TV! I had the 28" sister model, the BeoVision MX8000. It was a real beauty and the speakers were phenomenal!
RGB from a PS2 and a Wii looked sharper than I ever thought an SD CRT could manage.
I know everyone is saying about resistors, but you want the 75 Ohm resistor as close to the TV end as possible. This will act as a termination resistor and kill some of the luma chroma crosstalk that you are seeing. You could terminate the chroma too.
That crosstalk is actually because these are fake S-Video cables that connect chroma to composite. They are absolutely everywhere being sold by the likes of Hyperkin, Retro-Bit, Old Skool, Tomee, etc. This is done to “support” SNS-101 and SHVC-101 consoles that lack S-Video support but still have Luma.
The more I look at the contents of the cave and stuff you look at in videos I'm just absolutely fascinated by it. Brilliant videos!
Wrong S-video cable as others have explained already. Personally, I'm perfectly happy with how my N64 looks with the (correct) S-video cable on my Sony Trinitron CRT. I don't think installing the RGB mod is worth it for me. Especially if I have to solder to the legs of a chip, I haven't looked into that, but that is a bit too scary for my low soldering skills :)
I'm pretty sure any connection looks good on a Triniton. I have a Wega kvfs120 and composite from my Wii look almost as good as components. So I bet the Triniton makes an Svideo look close to it
Well done. I've been sceptical about this mod previously but this could be my next soldering project. Also love the multi-colour controller setup.
Gratz on the Danish designer Bang & Olufsen CRT TV-set steal. That thing would originally have cost the same as a small car over here, actually several if they we are talking used cars 👍
Amazing to see the end result you got out of the N64 picture. It really looks nice and sharp. Definitely a mod worth doing for sure !
I remember back in 1997 getting my Toshiba 33” CRT Dolby TV at the time it was massive, it was well specked with 3 AV inputs at the back scart 1 was RGB enabled. Scart 1 did not have RGB or S-video but scart3 has s-video presented in the scart and mini din connector.
So I ended up putting my early DVD player on a video (port 3) my vhs recorder (port2) and my sky box and Rgb cabled SNES on port 1 with an scart rgb switch.
On the snes it made a massive difference to use composite vs rgb. On the Toshiba 33” it was really noticeable but even on my Philips 8833 (mk1) monitor it was very noticeable.
Great video, regarding the s-video, I would get a washed out with weird artefacts on screen if I connected s-video but did not set the input port into a-video mode. It was not auto sensing.
I fitted the same board to my N64 a few years ago. Makes a big difference, especially with the de-blur. The difference is more noticeable on higher quality CRTs though, so if you’ve got a PVM or one of the higher end Trinitrons, it’s definitely worth doing.
I use my N64 with an S-video cable and an upscaler that converts to VGA. This works pretty well and comparable to the RGB output. So, economical, IF you already have a good upscaler. AND did you say "Bean BAG"? Perfect!
I have a very similar setup ! I have a B&O MX8000 and did the exact same mod on my 64 a couple of years back … there is big difference between composite and rgb ! I don’t know what people are talking about especially in terms of the colour reproduction and reduction in shimmering.
Thats a really nice TV you have there. I dont remember if this was a 31khz display or 15khz? Either way I know B&O were some of the best CRTs, I wished we had some in the USA. But yes, RGB on the n64 is worth it. The clarity and the stronger colors are subtle but noticeable, you did a great job of showing that here. I think the biggest difference are to those playing on up-scalers on flat screens, but even on larger and nicer CRTs you can notice.
Tho a shame about the s-video and pal compatibility since s-video does look good as well and makes for a nice budget solution. Yes, bad decision on Nintendo for not including it on the system. Even the SNES could output RGB with a cable!
Looks good! For the effort required the end results are fantastic.
I think that on balance I’d take the RGB mod if only for the enhanced contrast, but this stuff really does depend on what game you’re playing, what type of display you’re playing it on and the size of it. I find the crispness a bit harsh and out of character sometimes. At the end of the day, the output of the N64 and the fuzzy nature is part of its history and charm. Certainly in your case though, with the setup you have, it does seem to hit the sweet spot.
U14 is lifted and needs to be soldered back down. This is very common since the RAMBUS chip only has four legs on that side.
It sticks to the heat sink when you remove it as a whole that way. I still do it that way but I remain mindful of it. I only pry from the back and solder back down if I find lifted RAM.
Later N64 boards with a stamped heat sink eliminate the unscrewable heat blocks so you can’t avoid this anyway. Thankfully, they are all ground so anyone can solder them back down without worrying about bridging or alignment.
The reason the chips are made like that is so that they can be nested more closely together on the board, within each other’s footprints, but Nintendo did not do that.
5:31 shows the lifted legs.
I though that composite looked better on the Lark test, and couldn't tell the difference on the image quality test, other than the RGB seemed brighter, same with the Zelda test.
"It's got a freakin' motorized stand!" 🤣🤣🤣
Ahhh Swindon the home.of the magic roundabout, im Swindon born and bred but now live in Australia, last time I was there was 1992.
One day I'll head back for a visit.
Nice mod, I have a few N64s that could benefit from it.
Of course you should do RGB mod, and it's very simple.
I would definitely need reading glasses to solder those wires to the chips legs
If using an LCD screen and playing Doom or Quake, the RGB mod is a must.
In my opinion, S Video is basically as good as you need for how low poly and blurry most N64 games.
Meaning, you probably aren’t going to make Ocarina of Time look much better just to the way it’s rendered and aliased.
However, I am still considering an RGB mod just to use Scart or Component cables.
I have this exact CRT! And an RGB modded aswell as deblur modded N64..never thought to try them together, now I shall! Thank you for the idea sir!
The EON 64 HDMI scaler is amazing despite technically only using the onboard S-Video. MyMateMick on Twitch streams real hardware with one if you want a demo.
Yup, the cheap S Video cables are rubbish, missing the 75 Ohm as mentioned before.
I personally bought a RAD2X cable which upscales and converts to HDMI, which is of course not an option on your B&O CRT. The RAD2X is probably the easiest and best solution for people who are using a modern LCD TV and HDMI.
It’s more than just that. It also has Chroma connected to Composite Video. All the Retro-Bit, Old Skool, Tomee, Hyperkin, etc cables do this.
oh WOW!!! I wasn't expecting that...LOL When I saw the title say 'RGB mod my N64' I was thinking you mean adding RGB LIGHTS to the controllers!! (you had the controllers in the thumbnail) and I thought "now that's a weird thing for RMC to be doing... I HAVE to see this!" LOL
Well I'm glad I saw it anyway because you basically removed EVERYTHING that I couldn't STAND about the N64 as a kid (same kinda stuff makes me dislike the PS1 also) so THANK YOU for showing me there is a fix! :D
I sold my N64 for a pittance on Ebay, I've always been bad at timing that sort of thing.
Amazing work. I must visit the museum soon!
Attempted this mod twice and it worked fine to begin with but after a few hours it killed one n64, I managed to save the second attempted N64 by removing it just in time, same thing here worked fine for a little while then died. In the end I purchased a modded Japanese N64 converted to run PAL RGB. I’m no stranger to difficult mods having done several Game Gear screen mods. This one however got the better of me. Not sure if I just got a bad board or it was my fault. Still got the board but not prepared to risk another N64 attempting to fit it.
Hi Neil,
Awesome move to put this combo in the exhibit. Quite tricky though with those controllers, with their flimsy analog stick.
How would you handle issues with those sticks? They get wobbly after a while and will definitely drift, due losing their stiffness. I know there someone produces aluminium replacement parts, which would make a huge difference. Although, the plastic parts surrounding the stick could be damaged by that too.
I’m really just wondering this, because you’re running a vintage museum and all!
Thanks for reading. :)
I have an RGB modded N64 and, without the deblur, the difference is far less pronounced than something like the NESRGB mod. It still looks great on a CRT, though.
Oh I prefer the original output over the modded one no doubt. I especially find the deblur stuff to look gross, to me the N64 needs that AA blur and as it really adds to the visuals rather than taking away in games such as Mario 64 and *especially* Ocarina of Time. Give me some red and yellow AV cables and a VCR any day.
Yes RGB euro SCART is the best, I have a CRT that I can get PAL, NTSC running on my CRT not sure about SECAM because I have never tried. I also have a euro SCART S-video for my Commodore 64. RGB is sharp and colourful. My CRT was my fathers old TV. Hdmi mod does not compare to RGB and a CRT. 240p on my CRT has lovely scan lines. I have a non branded ASDA TV and it is sweet, Mega Drive, Master System, PlayStation's, commodore 64, Dreamcast etc all look good on my CRT. I do use a LCD too, it next to my CRT on my desk. CRT is 24inch, LCD is 32inch.
I use S-Video with my N64 and, yes, it is better. You might want to check the cable, though - a lot of 3rd party Nintendo S-Video cables don't actually do it right and basically just pass composite You can often check the pins in the Nintendo AV adapter and see that they're not correctly populated. I've had this with about half the ones I've bought.
Yep. The new S-Video cables in every indie game shop are almost universally built like this so that they will work with the SNES Junior (SNS-101). They do appear sharper because even the Jr has Luma but they just tap composite for Chroma and you get exactly the kind of artifacts we see here. It’s especially apparent as moving diagonal or diamond patterns in SNES games with simple color background.
The difference between comp and RGB really is night and day, and that B&O TV for £50!? Incredible result!
I believe some mods affect the a video signal because rgb is amplified where as svideo is not. I'm quite sure I've seen this before and that was the reason.
Nice TV, I picked up a 28" B&O Beovsion for a similar price. I too drove to pick it up from the seller and proceeded to nearly kill myself lifting it up into the atic 😅 It was definately worth the pain though
Whenever there is a question if connecting via RGB shows the best quality a console or home computer is capable of, the answer always seems to be yes. However, these days I think an HDMI mod is well worthwhile as those mods make it far easier to link a vintage console to a modern display.
Love that TV. My NTSC J N64 been RGB modded and it looks so much better. My PAL unit I’ve had since 97 was good back in the 90s tho. Still wish I hadn’t traded in my mega drive and snes at the time for the thing tho. Played my Saturn a lot more. Still Goldeneye, WCW/nWo Revenge and Mischief Makers and the rest all top games. The PAL port of Mario Kart a bit pap tho.
Started this video thinking you were going to add some bling to an N64. But then "ooooooh... THAT RGB! Right!"
😂😂😂
Really great results! I'm still a little miffed we never really got SCART in North America. Even SVideo never became universal, so I was suffering with composite video well into the mid-2000s blissfully unaware that there was a much better way out there.
I'm rather miffed that WE never got the RGB scart option here in the UK.... it was a standard!
The SNES had it, the MegaDrive had it, the PS1 had it...so why Nintendo cheaped-out and gave us an inferior connection compared to their previous console has always been a mystery!!😏
I have a HDMI adapter for mine. It took ages to find one that worked, but it works well without having to open up the machine itself. Not cheap, but I prefer it to having to tinker with the electronics.
Which adapter do you have?
would love to do this but certainly need soldering practice first.
Perhaps it's the cable / tv combination, but it sure seems the output from the N64 is pretty hard on the eyes - so much so I had to break down play Ocarina of Time on a re-release version for the NGC.
Get seats or beanbags that colour match the joypads.
Suddenly I want to dig my childhood N64 out of the closet and have a go…nothing quite like those controllers with the Z-button and the three-hand grip.
Scart was called EIA Multiport in the US. It existed but was stupid rare.
I bet the sound from that TV is a step up from the usual. Looks like a serious bank of speakers underneath.
Excellent job. One day I shall get an N64 and an Everdrive and perhaps try this mod :)
I might have to explore this mod at some point on my new.
A real pleasure to watch this video, thank you.
I would have added a generous glob of hot snot glue strain re leave - pre testing of course
I didn’t know Bang & Olufsen made TVs!
Me watching the first 4 minutes of the video thinking you want to add RGB lighting to your N64 and wondering why you would do such a thing.
i was going to bid on that TV but it was down south and if i recall collection only..
Yep it was about an hour away from me. I turned up and the guy was a reviewer for What HiFi with a house full of old record players and CRTs!
@@RMCRetro no way. how amazing. i saw it advertised, i've seen a few actually, but they're all in the south, and there's no way my little corsa will get that far - lucky if it makes it onto the m62.. i've settled for a hand me down 26" lcd panasonic tv from my mum, which has every connection under the sun on it.. however when using the scart (for mister) the picture just rolls. i know the lead is fine cos i had it working on my old crt.. and now money is really tight (energy crisis etc) i daren't spend on computer stuff incase i can't afford my energy bills.. you got an absolute bargain..
I feel, there might be a halfway sweetspot for N64. The RGB just looks too sharp, jaggy. Just from looking at this video on an LCD. Composite, and CRT, smooths out those jaggies somewhat, which looks nicer, IMHO. The shimmering and "ants", good riddance. I suppose one of them retrotinks might help, and looking at the picture in situ. Kinda thinking there is about as many "best solutions" as there are N64 owners. :)
Also, I have a SCART cable for N64, looks nice enough, S-video. But if I try to use the same cable on the SNES, picture is unuseable, too dark. Nintendo, in their infinite wisdom, apparently set the N64 to output "hotter" signal. Maybe they wanted to sell new cables...
If you find a Loewe CRT, get it! It's even better than the B&O. Their flat screens are not that good though.
Yep, that s-video cable isn't properly shielded. you can tell by the checkerboard pattern.
Daaaaaamn that CRT is SHARP (no pun intended).
Superb tv,s our local heart foundation in swindon had a b and o tv some years ago and i think it sold pretty quickly and it was priced at £80 though did also have a samsung crt with hdmi input that sold as well though there not regarded as great tv,s .
О! Господа! Моё почтение! Очень приятно видеть как Марк фиксит и апгрейдит стафф!
Hook a Wii with video component and get an amazing looking emulation machinr for CRTs.
Big thumbs up from me, looked really good and well worth doing.
Thats one of the neatest crt TV's I've ever seen
Ah god, I remember that TV. A relative had one, I thought the picture quality was ass for the money. Probably worth 50 quid though 😜
6:20 Woah there Mark! Would you like a flake in that ice cream you just made? :)
LOL! I wouldn’t be concerned since he’s just tinning it and it will be reflowed soon. If it happens again and he doesn’t correct it with flux and heat, then I’d be concerned. ;)
Retro gaming cables make excellent s-video and RGB cables (you know that)
Nice, don't you want to clean the flux beneath that flatcable? Or was this not included in the vid?
I settled for S-Video on mine, avec missing components which Ninty left the PCB footprints for.
To Danes. Yes. We the Danish people. B&O have always been a pride. That said. We have always said that despite it being expensive. And dude, yes it has always been that. Then it is nothing more than a overprised Philips. If you open it up, you will most likely find that 50 percent of the components are high quality Phillips, and the tube is Phillips.