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Spectacular...If I had to choose one word to describe both my dealings with and the end results of the service that ElectronicSentimentalities offers, spectacular would be that word.


I have had the pleasure of purchasing and currently own the Best 7800 Composite mod system, a 7800 system mod from Yurkie, and now one from ElectronicSentimetalities.


Yurkie was dead on the money recommending their service after discontinuing the one he provided. The recommendation meant a lot to me, knowing how satisfied I was and how awesome Yurkie's work was on the 7800, for him to recommend another - I knew it had to be good.


I was wrong. It is not good, but excellent.


Joe was friendly, fast, and a pleasure to deal with; including shipping my console back way before the expected return date. Further, the price is extremely reasonable. You get S-Video, Composite, and audio out jacks. The composite picture is the clearest I have seen and the S-Video is even more stunning.


Being that I own a "CPS 7800 Diagnostic Test Cartridge'', the console was tested, and the color calibration was shown to have been performed perfectly as well.


The console was packaged very carefully when sent back including a second box with padding/insulation in addition to the one I utilized sending my system out. Externally, you could not tell (Outside of the new connectors) the system was even touched. In fact, it was wrapped nearly exact the way I shipped it.


You're not a DIY console mod person or not very good at it; or just want the ease and convenience of having your 7800 system mod done beautifully and professionally with spectacular results, this would be the place your console needs to go. Highly recommended and highly impressed - Bravo, Joe/ElectronicSentimentalities.

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I've been contemplating this mod for awhile and Joe's will probably be the one I go with. My RF picture isn't great with my 7800 (especially in comparison with my Intellivision using the same connection method) and I've been looking to upgrade the quality of its picture for some time.

 

Any chance you can post some pictures of the display quality post-mod?

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I have to ask, what is Yurkie's "system mod"?

Yurkie previously offered a complete 7800 console modification similar to the way his ColecoVision modifications are performed.

 

Specifically, it added composite output via a Longhorn Engineering board utilizing a 3.5 mm output jack sending both the composite and audio signal (And providing the necessary cable), replaced the red LED with a blue one, added the TIA switch to eliminate any TIA video interference when in 7800 mode, and modified controllers with the shorter shaft and round tops.

 

Additionally some included/optional swap of the NTSC BIOS with a EURO one with Asteroids embedded when no cart is detected (I have this feature in my modded console from him).

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Any chance you can post some pictures of the display quality post-mod?

I will try to get some posted over the next several days. :)

 

Bear in mind, that playing on a flat panel will still manipulate palette colors to an extent. CRT of course always has 'perfect' colors.

 

Particularly, some blues may appear slightly more purplish, some reds more pinkish, and some brown/gold values will appear much greener (Especially true of games that utilize Hue 1x - See 7800 example link below which highlights Commando).

 

'Fix' or lessen this to an extent, by shifting the hue/tint controls on the flat panel display more towards red. But you have to balance it accordingly, so as not to over-saturate the red against the display; regardless, not ideal but it will be closer to how the console's color palette would be seen on a CRT.

 

The above is true of any of the Atari systems with and without any mod I have seen or/and own. A breakdown can be found here.

 

2600 example: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/216590-stella-gets-some-new-clothes/page-3?do=findComment&comment=2842445

7800 example: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/206923-ntsc-color-palette-crt-tv-default-tuning-varieties/page-2?do=findComment&comment=2699592

 

5200 specifics (if interested - same behavior): http://atariage.com/forums/topic/218439-pam-finally-gets-some-clothes/

 

Last note: The above should not be confused with phase shifting (system 'warming-up') which happens to all Atari consoles, shifting colors, some to a greater extent than others dependent on a variety of factors. The most noteworthy change is the higher-end of the scale - Hues Ex and Fx - those colors shift from strong greens to weak greens-->olive-->tan/gold and even a deeper gold (or dark brown) for the Fx values in some cases.

 

Hue 1x (Again, see Commando - specifically the 'dirt' field) is unaffected by warm-up/phase shifting. For a good example of phase shifting and how severely, the value of Ex is used for the color of the enemy bird's wings in Joust (They'll go from dark green to olive to brownish - depending on the console's palette phase shift).

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I too have nothing but good things to say about ElectronicSentimentalities. I have both a 2600 and a 7800 modded by this guy, and both are excellent. But beyond that, when my 2600 started acting quirky, he took a look and discovered a problem not related to his mod. Not only did he fix that problem, he did so without charging anything above return shipping. It turned out to be a small issue, something stuck in the cartridge port and shorting it out, but he still could have justified charging for the fix, yet didn't.

 

One of these days I'm going to see if he's willing to do a ColecoVision mod, because I really want S-video on all my systems.

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Yurkie previously offered a complete 7800 console modification similar to the way his ColecoVision modifications are performed.

 

Specifically, it added composite output via a Longhorn Engineering board utilizing a 3.5 mm output jack sending both the composite and audio signal (And providing the necessary cable), replaced the red LED with a blue one, added the TIA switch to eliminate any TIA video interference when in 7800 mode, and modified controllers with the shorter shaft and round tops.

 

Additionally some included/optional swap of the NTSC BIOS with a EURO one with Asteroids embedded when no cart is detected (I have this feature in my modded console from him).

Nice. It should be noted that the Euro BIOS Mod is available from Best Electronics...

 

See, I even give them props despite the fact that I friggin hate their website and last purchased something from them back in 1995.

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How much $$$?? Is it a mod service?

 

Oh sorry checked the link about 70 and 10 for diagnostic cart check.

But how much for a best 7800 already modded? Or are those not as good?

Best Offers: http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/7800.htm

 

Reconditioned Atari US CX7800 System Upgraded with the Atari Engineering 7800 Rev. 2 Composite Video Modification below. Comes with CX7800 Console (All in like New condition), two New Non Atari brand PB or Pro-Stick Joysticks your choice (Click here to see pictures of the Joysticks) (Some Atari 7800 game cartridges require an Atari CX24 Joystick or CX78 Joypad for proper game operation), New Atari CX7800 Power Supply, New boxed Atari 7800 Jinks game with Owners Manual (see Atari 7800 Game listing below for more information on the Atari 7800 Jinks game), New 7800 System Owners Manual and comes with the same Atari 90 day Warranty as when they were first released! CX7800-RECV 124.95

 

Reconditioned Atari US CX7800 System Upgraded with the Atari Engineering 7800 Rev. 2 Composite Video Modification and Atari 7800 OS Upgrades below. Comes with CX7800 Console (All in like New condition), two New Non Atari brand PB or Pro-Stick Joysticks your choice (Click here to see pictures of the Joysticks) (Some Atari 7800 game cartridges require an Atari CX24 Joystick or CX78 Joypad for proper game operation), New Atari CX7800 Power Supply, New boxed Atari 7800 Jinks game with Owners Manual (see Atari 7800 Game listing below for more information on the Atari 7800 Jinks game), New 7800 System Owners Manual and comes with the same Atari 90 day Warranty as when they were first released! CX7800-RECVOS $139.95

 

Regarding "Composite" mod systems. You are getting the console included (Mine looked refurbished like new with a brand new face plate) with 2 new 2600 compatible controllers. The Power Supply is also new and a thrown in new Jinks game. Additionally, both the power and reset internal switches were replaced with higher quality ones by BEST - That was a very nice surprise :)

 

Both ElectronicSent. and Best provide 90 day warranty.

 

The difference in video is (at least when I purchased it a couple of years ago) Best provides a 'simple' composite mod with a few resistors and wires mixed in while ElectronicSent. provides the Longhorn Engineer board. On a scale of 5, let's say RF is a ~2.0-2.5. IMHO, Best looks to shoot for a ~3.0-3.5, while ElectronicSent is more a ~4.0-4.5 (S-Video may place that score even higher for some, but I like my NTSC artifacts in place as intended - so I rather stick with Composite :-D ). ElectronicSent. also provides S-Video out and the TIA toggle switch which Best does not. As Lynxpro mentioned, you can get the BIOS swap ("OS Upgrades") from BEST which I believe is not an option from ElectronicSent. (If interested in it).

 

Don't get me wrong, BEST composite mod is no slouch, but a 'simple' 7800 composite mod is edged out by the Longhorn Engineering 7800 mod video board any day of the week ;)

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I've never seen the Best mod in action, but I have several 7800 consoles, one with the Longhorn/Electronic sentimentalities board and one with a homegrown/slightly modified version of the "Easier 7800 Composite mod".

 

The S-video from a properly installed Longhorn/ES mod is spectacular, as Trebor noted. Problem with that is that almost all newer TVs don't have S-Video ports. Even lots of older still good CRTs don't have it. It was universally dropped as the default legacy port type in favor of composite (presumably due to cost) by most CE manufacturers years ago when HD began taking over. If you have a good CRT with an available S-Video port, the Electronic Sentimentalities board is the way to go.

 

As for Compostie, it's a bit of a toss up. The ES/Longhorn composite signal is good - but you can't tinker with it, without affecting the S-video signal. It still has lots of color smear and artifacting, not just normal NTSC artifacts, by what appears to be poorly converged color signal artifacts.

 

The Easier Composite mod, though lacking S-Video, is far more felxible in making adjustments to get the picture nearly as clean as the Longhorn S-Video signal, but without all the de-soldering work of putting in a Longhorn board, and no need for the TIA 9 switch, either.

 

One thing I discovered recently is that adjusting the value of the 7800 Chroma resistor up from 4.3k to somewhere between 7k and 8k tightens up the 7800 signal immensely. Gone is all of the blue and red color smearing and ghosting, and the thin blue lines in Pac-Man Collection are tight and solid, on both CRT and LCD/HD displays.

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As for Compostie, it's a bit of a toss up. The ES/Longhorn composite signal is good - but you can't tinker with it, without affecting the S-video signal. It still has lots of color smear and artifacting, not just normal NTSC artifacts, by what appears to be poorly converged color signal artifacts.

This may depend on what version of the Longhorn Engineering board you have and perhaps other system related factors and conditions. Current revision of the Longhorn Engineer board is 2.1. Owning now two Longhorn Engineer mod 7800 systems and factoring a "simple mod" I would rate the picture clarity order this way on both CRT and Flat Panels:

 

1. ElectronicSent. S-Video

2. ElectronicSent. Comp.

3. Yurkie mod. Comp.

4. Best Electronic Comp.

 

Both ElectronicSent and Yurkie utilized a Longhorn Engineer board, but ElectronicSent has a slightly crisper, and less 'bleed' than the Yurkie mod one. BEST appears the least desirable of them all - Which again, don't anyone take the wrong way. BEST still looks good and Yurkie's looks great. The ElectronicSent mod looks excellent though, and as agreed S-Video clarity is spectacular (If you wish to eliminate NTSC artifacts - Tower Toppler would not be happy, btw).

 

Not insulting anyone's skill or ability, just offering up my observations, experience, and that there may be more items coming into play here as well; including revision of the Longhorn Engineer mod, how it was assembled, and aging/condition of the console being used as well. ColecoGemini may very well have a "simple mod" Composite job that does look superior.

 

As mentioned, for those that either are not DIY, screws it up bad (Raises hand :-D - Frying one 7800 motherboard was more than enough for me), or looking to have or had it done by those offering up the service; hopefully this proves to be beneficial ;-)

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I got this and am perfectly happy with its output.

 

Reconditioned Atari US CX7800 System Upgraded with the Atari Engineering 7800 Rev. 2 Composite Video Modification below. Comes with CX7800 Console (All in like New condition), two New Non Atari brand PB or Pro-Stick Joysticks your choice (Click here to see pictures of the Joysticks) (Some Atari 7800 game cartridges require an Atari CX24 Joystick or CX78 Joypad for proper game operation), New Atari CX7800 Power Supply, New boxed Atari 7800 Jinks game with Owners Manual (see Atari 7800 Game listing below for more information on the Atari 7800 Jinks game), New 7800 System Owners Manual and comes with the same Atari 90 day Warranty as when they were first released! CX7800-RECV 124.95

 

 

But i dumped the sticks they included for "un-advertised" trade up ($10 credit) and got the cx78's and one cx24 instead.

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I got this and am perfectly happy with its output.

:thumbsup: Awesome. It is worlds better than RF and their packaged deal is sweet! :)

 

 

One thing I discovered recently is that adjusting the value of the 7800 Chroma resistor up from 4.3k to somewhere between 7k and 8k tightens up the 7800 signal immensely. Gone is all of the blue and red color smearing and ghosting, and the thin blue lines in Pac-Man Collection are tight and solid, on both CRT and LCD/HD displays.

Interestingly, looking over the Longhorn Engineering assembly instructions guide there is an update to most of the resistor values stated on the Rev 2.1 board for this portion:

 

post-18-0-09911100-1393555597_thumb.png

Not sure of the exact correlation, but what I did notice in both yours and the Longhorn Engineer findings are somewhat of a doubling of the original resistor value(s). The end results may be the similar as I don't encounter that smearing and ghosting you referred to with the Longhorn Engineering mod.

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Nice. It should be noted that the Euro BIOS Mod is available from Best Electronics...

 

See, I even give them props despite the fact that I friggin hate their website and last purchased something from them back in 1995.

I like them and the service is also good, bought my modded 7800 from them. Will check these guys out as well! nice that there are options out there.

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I got this and am perfectly happy with its output.

 

Reconditioned Atari US CX7800 System Upgraded with the Atari Engineering 7800 Rev. 2 Composite Video Modification below. Comes with CX7800 Console (All in like New condition), two New Non Atari brand PB or Pro-Stick Joysticks your choice (Click here to see pictures of the Joysticks) (Some Atari 7800 game cartridges require an Atari CX24 Joystick or CX78 Joypad for proper game operation), New Atari CX7800 Power Supply, New boxed Atari 7800 Jinks game with Owners Manual (see Atari 7800 Game listing below for more information on the Atari 7800 Jinks game), New 7800 System Owners Manual and comes with the same Atari 90 day Warranty as when they were first released! CX7800-RECV 124.95

 

 

But i dumped the sticks they included for "un-advertised" trade up ($10 credit) and got the cx78's and one cx24 instead.

 

I got this and am perfectly happy with its output.

 

Reconditioned Atari US CX7800 System Upgraded with the Atari Engineering 7800 Rev. 2 Composite Video Modification below. Comes with CX7800 Console (All in like New condition), two New Non Atari brand PB or Pro-Stick Joysticks your choice (Click here to see pictures of the Joysticks) (Some Atari 7800 game cartridges require an Atari CX24 Joystick or CX78 Joypad for proper game operation), New Atari CX7800 Power Supply, New boxed Atari 7800 Jinks game with Owners Manual (see Atari 7800 Game listing below for more information on the Atari 7800 Jinks game), New 7800 System Owners Manual and comes with the same Atari 90 day Warranty as when they were first released! CX7800-RECV 124.95

 

 

But i dumped the sticks they included for "un-advertised" trade up ($10 credit) and got the cx78's and one cx24 instead.

Did this same deal

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Did this same deal

For the record, that's the one I also purchased a few years ago ("CX7800-RECV" - Reconditioned Atari US CX7800 System Upgraded with the Atari Engineering 7800 Rev. 2 Composite Video Modification) :)

 

I was also very happy with the results. Again, super impressed with seeing both the Power and Reset internal switches replaced with brand new higher quality ones as well as what appeared to be a brand new face plate on the console. The system appeared better than new.

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This may depend on what version of the Longhorn Engineering board you have and perhaps other system related factors and conditions. Current revision of the Longhorn Engineer board is 2.1. Owning now two Longhorn Engineer mod 7800 systems and factoring a "simple mod" I would rate the picture clarity order this way on both CRT and Flat Panels:

 

1. ElectronicSent. S-Video

2. ElectronicSent. Comp.

3. Yurkie mod. Comp.

4. Best Electronic Comp.

 

Both ElectronicSent and Yurkie utilized a Longhorn Engineer board, but ElectronicSent has a slightly crisper, and less 'bleed' than the Yurkie mod one. BEST appears the least desirable of them all - Which again, don't anyone take the wrong way. BEST still looks good and Yurkie's looks great. The ElectronicSent mod looks excellent though, and as agreed S-Video clarity is spectacular (If you wish to eliminate NTSC artifacts - Tower Toppler would not be happy, btw).

 

 

 

I am curious how Yurkies composite isnt quite as good as Electronicsent. composite ... they are the same mod ? Keep in mind guys I dont think electronicsent. adjusts the sound for commando like Yurkie did , so all you hear is really loud gunfire and you can hardly hear the music at all .

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The S-video from a properly installed Longhorn/ES mod is spectacular, as Trebor noted. Problem with that is that almost all newer TVs don't have S-Video ports. Even lots of older still good CRTs don't have it. It was universally dropped as the default legacy port type in favor of composite (presumably due to cost) by most CE manufacturers years ago when HD began taking over. If you have a good CRT with an available S-Video port, the Electronic Sentimentalities board is the way to go.

 

Owners of an s-video modded system can simply pick up an under-$5 s-video to composite adapter since composite is basically just the two s-vid signals combined. I've found that the picture obtained this way is typically better than your usual composite output on the same system. This depends on how you're obtaining the composite in the first place, of course... it may not beat a fancy mod board's composite output, but it generally beats a system's built-in composite if they have it.

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Owners of an s-video modded system can simply pick up an under-$5 s-video to composite adapter since composite is basically just the two s-vid signals combined. I've found that the picture obtained this way is typically better than your usual composite output on the same system. This depends on how you're obtaining the composite in the first place, of course... it may not beat a fancy mod board's composite output, but it generally beats a system's built-in composite if they have it.

Hmmm... Now that is an interesting test.

 

Considering you get both S-Video and Composite-Out from ElectronicSent.'s modification; I wonder how their s-video split via adapter compares to their composite out.

 

I would presume "slightly" cleaner. Curious how Tower Toppler looks as well under the 's-video split to composite' conditions. It needs NTSC artifacts to appear correctly.

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Hmmm... Now that is an interesting test.

Considering you get both S-Video and Composite-Out from ElectronicSent.'s modification; I wonder how their s-video split via adapter compares to their composite out. I would presume "slightly" cleaner.

 

Probably extremely similar, if not the same. I imagine this mod does the same internally to produce the composite output.

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Here are some captures from my Atari 7800 modded for composite and S-video by Eletronic Sentimentalities. Note, I did not opt for the TIA-disabling switch, plus my house's electrical system isn't the cleanest, so these captures show a bit of interference. They were all captured with the same hue/contrast/brightness/saturation settings, and all within a few seconds of each other, so they still give a pretty good idea of what each connection option provides.

 

Suffice it to say, S-video looks best, except in games that rely on NTSC artifacts. In those games, "true" composite works best. In all cases, "blended" composite actually looks the worst. The adapter I used may be a factor in that; this was something purchased at Fry's for $3.50, God knows how long ago. Quality issues aside, though, it's interesting how the converted signal ends up with different artifact colors than the true composite connection.

 

Asteroids: S-video, true composite, blended composite

 

post-6115-0-54887500-1393903311_thumb.png post-6115-0-21506800-1393903320_thumb.png post-6115-0-73744100-1393903329_thumb.png

 

Tower Toppler: S-video, true composite, blended composite

 

post-6115-0-27564100-1393903348_thumb.png post-6115-0-01324800-1393903357_thumb.png post-6115-0-82147300-1393903371_thumb.png

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I am curious how Yurkies composite isnt quite as good as Electronicsent. composite ... they are the same mod ? Keep in mind guys I dont think electronicsent. adjusts the sound for commando like Yurkie did , so all you hear is really loud gunfire and you can hardly hear the music at all .

Could be several factors:

 

1. How was the board assembled; using what was written on the board or via the updates from the online manual - could make a difference.

 

2. Yurkie's mod contains composite out only - There is no s-video; presumed then there needs to be some differences in board assembly and utilization that may affect the quality of video.

 

3. In harmony with 1 and 2, not sure if both are using the same revision of the board. The latest revision is 2.1.

 

4. The quality/condition of the console. I sent a pristine condition early (AT84 serial) model to ElectronicSent. for the mod. Yurkie's mod provided a console (although in excellent condition) with a much later serial - an A3 model. The revision/differences/quality of the console build as well as condition of the overall system components no doubt can make a difference. For example, some systems color phase shift quicker and/or higher than others for similar reasons.

 

Commando's music is balanced loud and clear with the ElectronicSent. system mod I own. Again, could be the result of not only improvements to the modification but also console conditions. I believe earlier performed BEST Electronics system mods had the same problem with Commando POKEY music which was corrected (Part of the "Rev. 2" updates). The BEST system I own does not have a problem with Commando's music - loud and clear there as well.

 

Please allow me to be clear on this matter - as I made mentioned too earlier. BEST Electronics, Yurkie, or ElectronicSent. they are all quality work and it's worlds above RF - Regardless of which one you own. The differences noted are my personal observations and for some may appear to be a moot point and not even noticeable depending on personal preference, quality/type of display, and a plethora of other conditions noted above.

 

Again though, emphasizing the outstanding job ElectronicSentimentalities performed with not only quality, but quick turnaround on top of spectacular results. I am left extremely satisifed and highly recommend their services.

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This may depend on what version of the Longhorn Engineering board you have and perhaps other system related factors and conditions. Current revision of the Longhorn Engineer board is 2.1. Owning now two Longhorn Engineer mod 7800 systems and factoring a "simple mod" I would rate the picture clarity order this way on both CRT and Flat Panels:

 

1. ElectronicSent. S-Video

2. ElectronicSent. Comp.

3. Yurkie mod. Comp.

4. Best Electronic Comp.

 

Both ElectronicSent and Yurkie utilized a Longhorn Engineer board, but ElectronicSent has a slightly crisper, and less 'bleed' than the Yurkie mod one. BEST appears the least desirable of them all - Which again, don't anyone take the wrong way. BEST still looks good and Yurkie's looks great. The ElectronicSent mod looks excellent though, and as agreed S-Video clarity is spectacular (If you wish to eliminate NTSC artifacts - Tower Toppler would not be happy, btw).

 

Not insulting anyone's skill or ability, just offering up my observations, experience, and that there may be more items coming into play here as well; including revision of the Longhorn Engineer mod, how it was assembled, and aging/condition of the console being used as well. ColecoGemini may very well have a "simple mod" Composite job that does look superior.

 

As mentioned, for those that either are not DIY, screws it up bad (Raises hand :-D - Frying one 7800 motherboard was more than enough for me), or looking to have or had it done by those offering up the service; hopefully this proves to be beneficial ;-)

Back when I offered 7800 mods, I was using the electronic sentimentalities board.

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