Support NeoGAF

[TintoConCasera]

Hey you, thanks for dropping by.

The other day I was having the time of my life playing Sega Rally on my Sega Saturn. Thing is, my CRT TV has stereo sound, and I could notice how sometimes the left speaker would output at a way lower volume than the right one, even to the point of not making any sound.

Since the TV is old I thought it could be a problem with the TV, but here's the thing: I have a bunch of other consoles plugged to this TV and none of them ever seemed to have this problem.

So my question here is: could it be a problem with the console? or maybe the SCART connector? and if so... do you gents have any recommendations on a SCART replacement for my Sega Saturn? The current one has a bunch of missing pins, but I've read online that it can be normal if the SCART was designed for X particular specifications.

Oh and in case it matters: it's a PAL model with a mod to be able to display at 60hz.

 

[Hudo]

Just out of curiosity, you should write to Sega support (don't forget the picture).

 

[Guilty_AI]

Have you tried the vintage solution of smacking the TV?

 

[coffinbirth]

Start at the cables and work your way back. Could be bad caps, could be your cd drive(if applicable)whereas if using the expansion port it could be that as well...but start with the SCART.

 

[cireza]

retrogamingcables.co.uk have excellent cables if you are ready to put the price.

A common issue with old consoles is that the connector on the board has the solder dried out and this can lead to bad connection, especially if the cable was inserted and removed regularly. You can eventually try to move a bit the cable at the back of the console and see if this waggles a bit and causes picture/sounds variations. Checking that the solder points are good is very easy but you need to open the console of course...

This is the most basic fix I have done on my consoles (MegaDrive, Saturn, Master System) and I also did it on my scart pins on the motherboard of the CRT. Absolutely essential.

If the connector looks clean, then yes you can start thinking about trying another cable.

 

[Codiox]

sounds like your cable is broken

 

[TintoConCasera]

Have you tried the vintage solution of smacking the TV?

Several times! I'm an expert, but it didn't work...

Start at the cables and work your way back. Could be bad caps, could be your cd drive(if applicable)whereas if using the expansion port it could be that as well...but start with the SCART.

retrogamingcables.co.uk have excellent cables if you are ready to put the price.

A common issue with old consoles is that the connector on the board has the solder dried out and this can lead to bad connection, especially if the cable was inserted and removed regularly. You can eventually try to move a bit the cable at the back of the console and see if this waggles a bit and causes picture/sounds variations. Checking that the solder points are good is very easy but you need to open the console of course...

This is the most basic fix I have done on my consoles (MegaDrive, Saturn, Master System) and I also did it on my scart pins on the motherboard of the CRT. Absolutely essential.

If the connector looks clean, then yes you can start thinking about trying another cable.

sounds like your cable is broken

Thanks for the help dudes. I'll start by checking out the console, which is modded and bought 2nd hand so I really don't know in what state it might be when it comes to internal components. If everything looks ok I'll try with another cable.

 

[Sethbacca]

Ignore me, I can't read.

 

[Skyfox]

Blow on it

 

[TintoConCasera]

Blow on it

Grew up with a NES in the house, so of course I already did that!

Might just work. I'd clean it with some alcohol as well but I left it at a friends house.

 

[StereoVsn]

Grew up with a NES in the house, so of couse I already did that!

Might just work. I'd clean it with some alcohol as well but I left it at a friends house.

Just take a few shots of whiskey, vodka or similar and breath out onto the connectors in an even fashion to get good alcohol vapor coverage!

On a more serious note, yeah, I would start with the cables, but it doesn't hurt to open up the console and check for issues.

 

[Sooner]

I didn't read, but I'm pretty sure the answer is to blow into it.

 

[ThaMonkeyClaw]

I was going to say flip the red/white audio cables around to see if the issue switches to the other speaker, but you are using a SCART connector. Does any other device have this problem on the TV or just the Saturn? Could be as simple as a bad cable or it could be bad caps inside the console.

 

[Drew1440]

Scart cables can be fiddly, especially on older equipment. Try to gently push the scart cable into the TV to ensure it's making full contact, it's very common for the connector to be loose and not make full contacts with the pins. Otherwise check the cable physically for damage. Also if the TV has any sound enhancements (like Nicam or noise reduction ) try turning them off.

 

[Steve Holt]

Need tech help? Bringing in my man T Tobimacoss

 

[TintoConCasera]

I was going to say flip the red/white audio cables around to see if the issue switches to the other speaker, but you are using a SCART connector. Does any other device have this problem on the TV or just the Saturn? Could be as simple as a bad cable or it could be bad caps inside the console.

Just the Saturn as far as I've noticed. I play a lot on my other consoles as well and never noticed any issues.

I'll probably open it when I have some time and check the connection. If everything seems fine at a first glance I'll order some cable online.

Also if the TV has any sound enhancements (like Nicam or noise reduction ) try turning them off.

Didn't thought of that! Thanks, I'll check that out as well.

 

[Miles708]

Are you connecting the console to the TV via SCART?
If so, keep in mind scart are very finicky about their position even when fully functional, it takes just a gentle nudge on any direction to make the audio go more in one side, or to make the image to all green/red/monochrome.

Before doing anything, check that your scary cable is attached correctly, do some tries by get nudging it in every direction (just a little bit) while the console is operating

 

[ThaMonkeyClaw]

Just the Saturn as far as I've noticed. I play a lot on my other consoles as well and never noticed any issues.

I'll probably open it when I have some time and check the connection. If everything seems fine at a first glance I'll order some cable online.


Didn't thought of that! Thanks, I'll check that out as well.

So it definitely sounds like it is not the TV then, I would start with a fresh new cable and see if that fixes the issue, if it doesn't then 99% sure it is probably some bad caps inside the console

 

[TintoConCasera]

Before doing anything, check that your scary cable is attached correctly, do some tried by get nudging it in every direction (just a little bit) while the console is operating

I already did this while playing the game and I could swear it helped. But since the "bug" is kind of subtle it's hard to tell.

Sometimes I can be playing for a while while the audio is "wrong" and I only notice it when it comes back to being "good".

So it definitely sounds like it is not the TV then, I would start with a fresh new cable and see if that fixes the issue, if it doesn't then 99% sure it is probably some bad caps inside the console

Yeah I might just do that. I saw a cable on Amazon for 10 bucks that while not perfect many say it's pretty good for the price.

Not a perfect bsolution but if it helps me to spot and fix the issue then maybe later on I could look into getting some better cable for all my consoles. Honestly, it's an aspect of console gaming I've never put too much thought into.

 

[ThaMonkeyClaw]

I already did this while playing the game and I could swear it helped. But since the "bug" is kind of subtle it's hard to tell.

Sometimes I can be playing for a while while the audio is "wrong" and I only notice it when it comes back to being "good".


Yeah I might just do that. I saw a cable on Amazon for 10 bucks that while not perfect many say it's pretty good for the price.

Not a perfect bsolution but if it helps me to spot and fix the issue then maybe later on I could look into getting some better cable for all my consoles. Honestly, it's an aspect of console gaming I've never put too much thought into.

I just figured the cable is going to be the cheapest/easiest fix if that is the problem, worst case if it is the caps and you bought the cable you have a spare cable in case anything happens to your original one. Good luck on everything!

 

[VolticArchangel]

Dude, you said there are missing pins on the SCART cable.

Check if the 3RD pin from the left (top row) and 2ND pin from the left (bottom row) are the missing pins. They're for left channel audio in and out.

Your best bet is a new cable.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Dude, you said there are missing pins on the SCART cable.

Check if the 3RD pin from the left (top row) and 2ND pin from the left (bottom row) are the missing pins. They're for left channel audio in and out.

Your best bet is a new cable.

Yeah but I checked online and afaik it's normal for it to miss some pins:



Mine looks just like the one on the right. And if was that, the audio would fail always and not just sometimes, no?

 

[VolticArchangel]

Yeah but I checked online and afaik it's normal for it to miss some pins:



Mine looks just like the one on the right. And if was that, the audio would fail always and not just sometimes, no?

Can you post a pic of your cable showing the pins?

 

[TintoConCasera]

Can you post a pic of your cable showing the pins?

Yeah sure!