Sega Mega Drive/Genesis - Model 1 vs Model 2 vs Model 3

I was wondering, does anyone know what model Mega Drive/Genesis is the best model of there, for both systems? I know that typically Model 1 systems have the best audio quality, however I've also heard model 1, model 2 and model 3 systems have different video encoder chips. Does that only apply to the Genesis where video is being converted into composite? What about the Mega Drive which is running RGB? We're wanting to try and get the best out of the system and trying to figure out which is the best way to go. Superior audio AND video quality is preferred but it seems for NA at least compromises are being made somewhere as the systems lifespan went on.

 

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I see, so what sort of effect does the motherboard have exactly? Why are the VA7s so bad?

 

I think many people have different opinions... from a hardware perspective, i personally prefer the Mega Drive 2, Crisp sound, nice colours. Aesthetically i love the look of a model 1 with a model1 sega cd beneath it

mega drive 3 i havent had too much experience with it, have only ever seen it once, but as i recall, it felt like a cheap toy.

 

Just forget about the Mega Drive 3 straight away. Cheap crap with poor audio (not sure about the video) and compatibility problems with Virtua Racing and other games plus you can't connect it to a Mega CD or 32X.

Personally, I own a 2 Mega Drive 1 consoles and a Mega Drive 2. The Mega Drive 1 gives really poor video over composite however the RGB looks very cool. Better than the Mega drive 2 IMO.

Yakumo

 

So would it be fair to say the only people who would be disappointed in the model 1 would be those without the ability to use RGB? What about the motherboards? Mega Drive HD Graphics is the best for audio? Since we can use RGB sounds like the model 1 is the way to go.

 

I think you are correct, if you can use RGB, get a good old model 1. That is what I use even though it takes up more space.

 

The model 1 is the best version in my opinion. It has stereo sound, unlike the model 2. I don't know about the model 3 but I assume it doesn't. It also has superior RGB video quality to the model 2. The model 2 is a little fuzzy, and it suffers from a problem where, on certain colors, vertical lines go down the screen. The model 1 suffers from this problem to a minor extent, but it's barely noticeable, and the picture is razor sharp.

In other words, if you want stereo sound and higher-quality RGB, get a model 1. If you don't care about either of those things, get a model 2.

 

Here's a little plan to help you.

Model 1 - Stereo out via 3.5mm audio jack (headphone type) but only mono through the Din Plug at the rear.
Model 2 - Stereo out via the mini Din Plug at the rear. It's said to have slightly different audio (worse)
Model 3 - Stereo out via red & white phono ports. Much worse audio than the other 2 models.

Model 1 - Crisp clear RGB but can have the jail bar effect with some model boards.
Model 2 - nice RGB but suffers from slight lack in colour and clarity IMO
Model 3 - No idea about RGB. Probably has it but I couldn't say for sure.

Model 1 - Works with every Mega Drive accessory
Model 2 - Works with every Mega Drive accessory apart from the modem due to no modem port.
Model 3 - Works with only a few Mega Drive accessories. Doesn't work with Mega CD, 32X, Modem, Master System converter and so on.

Basically you should get a Model 1 Mega Drive. It’s the ultimate choice however the jail bar lines on the screen via RGB may put some people off. They’re not that easy to notice but once you notice them you'll always notice them. Some Model 1 Mega Drives suffer from them while others don't. However I have a solution that will remove these jail bar lines pretty much 100% and it doesn't involve any internal mods. Later tonight when I get home I'll post some pictures showing what I mean.

If you don't have access to RGB then the Model 1 will be the worst choice. The composite video really is bad. Colour bleeding everywhere and fuzzy shit around everything. Just like a NES really.

Yakumo

 

Correction: the model 2 does not output stereo sound via the mini-DIN in the back. Trust me, I've tried. If you connect a cable with left and right audio to it you'll get audio over both channels, but it's not stereo - it's just the same audio on both channels. As for the jail bar effect, as I said both the model 1 and 2 suffer from this, but it's worse on the model 2 and it's barely noticeable on the model 1 (on my model 1, anyway).

 

Are you 100% sure about the Mega Drive 2 not giving out stereo audio? I'm pretty sure that via RGB it did. Maybe the composite cable doesn't have the stereo pin?

EDIT: I just checked and the Mega Drive 2 does indeed give stereo via the mini 9pin din. Check out the diagram here - http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/gamescart/gamescart.htm

I guess you where using a Mega Drive 2 via composite which is why you never got true stereo. Then again, my Mega Drive 2 runs through composite with stereo. Did you use a 3rd party cable?

 

Really ? I modded MD2 when i was 14 years old, to connect it to my amp with 3,5mm jack to 2x RCA cable. Sound was stereo. And socket was connected to mini-din pins. AFAIR pin 8 is left channel, 9 - right, ground is not hard to find

 

Mega Drive 2 is capable of composite with stereo.

But Sega indeed released a 1st party mono cable. It's included in the box with 32X.

 

I'm fairly certain about the US version. I bought a stereo cable for it once, and it sounded to me like the same audio was being output on both channels. I'm pretty sure about that, because some of the games I tested make obvious use of stereo sound. Perhaps the European and/or Japanese versions were different.

 

Quite possible. i just checked my Mega Drive 2 composite cable and it did give real stereo.

 

Unfortunately I don't have mine with me at the moment, so I can't test it. It could have been the cable I was using, I guess.

 

Model 1, I've just overall loved the design of it.

 

I was under the impression it was Stereo via DIN on the Model 2 and Mono on the Model 1. To get stereo, you need to have the sound come from the headphone jack instead.

Which is why you get cables like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEGA-MEGA...Games_Cables_and_Adaptors&hash=item5ae69c4488

Edit:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/gamescart/gamescart.htm#megamstr

Model 1 is Mono via DIN. Model 2 is Stereo.

 

Yeah to compare, here's the real Sega mono model 2 cable:

 

I saw a model 2 at a thrift store for $7 the other day. I'm tempted to get it now, just to test these claims.