Monitor choices in 2020?

[svhovater]

hi folks

 

I recently unpacked my Atari gear and have working machine(s), but the video is utter crap.

I'm using the monitor port on a 65XE and pushing the composite video into (yikes...) a composite-to-hdmi converter.

I've seen several videos where the presenter has what looks like a modern monitor, but their display is MUCH

crisper. I know the composite-to-hdmi conversion isn't ideal, but what are you all using?

Steve

 

[+DrVenkman]

 I personally still use a CRT for 95%+ of my retro stuff but that’s going to become increasingly rare as CRTs die. Composite to HDMI is pretty good through a good scaler like a RetroTink - noticeably better than the cheap $20-$30 dongles and boxes from eBay and Amazon. But is it 5 x 6 times better per the price? I don’t know.

Some people also have SOPHIA or VBXE boards in their A8 machines, which give RBG or DVI output (in the case of SOPHIA) or RGB (in the case of VBXE), then run that much sharper, cleaner signal to their modern display. 

[Voxel]

My personal favourites (all CRT) for different reasons:

Philips CM883 mk2 - colour gaming

Viewtek - text work

Tandy TRS 80 - green screen nostalgia

 

My current set up is a 14inch Philips VCR combo via a composite signal (also lets me play my older consoles via RF).

 

If I'm sharing with the family it's via composite signal on the HD LCD TV.

 

If I want to be flash I'll hook up a projector via the composite signal.

[cblusb]

65XE's monitor port outputs also S-Video (luma and chroma separated). If the HDMI convertor has S-Video input, connecting to it can improve the image.

http://atariprojects.org/2019/02/23/connect-your-atari-computer-to-an-lcd-screen-30-60-mins/

 

 

[MrFish]

Here, check this thread out: What Is Your Main/Favorite Atari 8-bit Computer Display Used and Why?

 

It's a few years old, so they'll be some outdated opinions; but it's also been posted to fairly recently.

 

Edited June 12, 2020 by MrFish

[Mathy]

Hello guys

 

I mainly use a Philips CM8833 (CRT) and a Funai A-1506 (LCD).

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

[manterola]

A cheap option is to get an old lcd tv with svideo input. The quality depends a lot on the particular TV. 

That Funai TV mentioned by Mathy is pretty popular among fellow Atarians in Europe, because of the good quality. 

As Venkman mentioned a lot of us use svideo to hdmi or svideo to vga converters plus some kind of modern lcd monitor. Again, the quality and pricetag is highly variable, but I am sure somone here can recommend you one or two brands/models which won't be top of the line (and won't cost you a kidney) but good enough managing the Atari video signals for less than usd$50.