I don't know about the Firecore; maybe the video is hiding the imperfections you'd see in person. Video processors like the XRGB-Mini are pricey, but they're the best way to upscale the image. It also helps to get the best output possible from your consoles, even if that requires modding. My 2600, 5200, and 7800 are all S-Video modded for this reason.