Is the JVC TM-13U any good?

Video Games
21

I picked up a 14" JVC (TM-H140PN) earlier this year and am really smitten with it.

I wouldn’t go for a composite-only model because it might really limit your options when it comes to certain systems. I’m happy using composite with my NTSC-J N64, PC Engine and Super Famicom, but the output is terrible on my PAL N64, Saturn, Xbox 360 and PS2 Slim and always use S-Video where possible there (including TV out on my PSP). Seek out a system that also does S-Video if you can.

Does it have a comb filter as well? I’m still blown away by how good the composite output can be on my JVC:

On PC Engine it also completely eliminates any weird pixel crawling while still offering the benefits of composite blending that many PCE games were designed for.

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22

I’m not sure about a comb filter, but someone on this forum really liked the composite image on this CRT.

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Comb filter isn’t mentioned in the manual, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. Some sets have them and even keep them engaged by default.

In fact the PVM20L5 doesn’t even have a comb filter option like older PVMs do. But I’m sure it has one since the image is still pretty clean via composite.

24

I found this post talking about the TM-13U: https://www.retrogameboards.com/t/consumer-crt-thread/703/282?u=heyman980
Dynamite_Headdy said it doesn’t have s-video. I asked the seller if it had s-video just to be sure and he hasn’t gotten back to me yet. I’ll wait for him to respond but I probably won’t buy it.

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You know what, I think I read the model number wrong (my bad). Glad you checked this.

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image1242×741 164 KB

I think you’re right. I was looking at the picture above this one but it’s clearly not S-Video capable if this is the actual model number.

Really really sorry about that. My eyes glazed over the “s” in these model numbers.

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Don’t feel bad. I was doing some searching last night and I found an RGB CRT computer monitor for $60. It’s probably 480p VGA so I would have to use a scaler, I wouldn’t get the 240p sort of picture, and it wouldn’t work with lightgun games. I also found two s-video PVM 1220s for $150 per TV. Which one should I get?

RetroRGB did a video comparing an RGB PVM to an RGB CRT computer monitor; even though this isn’t an RGB PVM I still think it’s helpful. Here’s the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLkN2AZLBMA

27

Yeah, you’re not going to be able to hook up most consoles directly to a PC monitor, as they are 31KHz. Consoles require a 15KHz signal. You can get converters as you mentioned, but you’re probably right that it would prevent light guns from working due to a slight addition to input latency.

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Which one of these CRTs would you get?

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These seem like a nice option if you’re looking for a PVM. If they don’t have RGB, you’re going to be limited to S-Video though. If you want RGB, chances are it’ll cost you more than $150 though for a PVM.

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I meant the PVM or the RGB computer monitor.

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The RGB PC monitor won’t work with your consoles, so don’t bother with that. If you really want to run that PC monitor you need a scan doubler.

Maybe someone else can chime in here if they have tried a light gun game with a scan doubler on a PC monitor, but I have my doubt that it would work.

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32

The PVM I found is a PVM 1220. I can’t tell if it has split Y/C or none. I thought it did but now I’m not sure. Could you check?

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PVMs can have add-in cards that can drastically change their capabilities. Best to look up the model yourself, and get photos of the back of the unit before buying.

If you google search for Sony PVM 1220 you will find lots of information including manuals and service manuals.

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Where is the add-in card usually located?

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They slot into the back of the PVMs. Not all PVMs have capabilities for add-in cards though.

You can see the cards on the left side of this photo.

image

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It seems like this one doesn’t have a slot for an add-in card.
image1

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I don’t think that has S-Video. Tally is something to do with the light on the front of the monitor.

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If your goal is to play retro consoles, don’t get the VGA monitor. Go with the S-Video.

And yea, those aren’t s-video ports. They’d actually say “s-video” on every CRT I’ve seen with it.

39

Mind if I ask why you’re looking at monitors only? Why not get a smaller TV of some sort? There are lots of 13" and 20" TVs from JVC, Toshiba and Sony that have component, s-video, composite, and RF.

You can pick them up super cheap, and then you can connect a lot more stuff to it.

40

I have been searching for a while and I haven’t found a 13" tv with component or s-video.