North America Turbo Duo or Japanese Duo R/RX?

[Ceti Alpha]

OK, I know people have some opinions on this so I'd just like to hear them all.  I have a NA Turbo Duo and, of course, it has the lovely sound issue. I bought the Turbo Duo because it was THE system I always wanted; however, some people have said here that it's just better to buy the Duo RX because it doesn't seem to have the same issues as the TD.

Anyway, I was just wondering what people advise here. Should I fix my TD audio issue and soup it up with S-Video and a region mod or just invest in a Duo RX? I guess I could just own both in the end. heh. I'll be honest and just say now that I love the North American Duo, crappy game artwork and all. 

[nat]

I love the American Duos too personally, since you've already got it you might as well fix the sound issue. That's what I would do.

[Turbo D]

I'd say fix it up and soup up the audio. American Duos rock! 

[termis]

If you were starting out from scratch, I'd say buy a JP system and mod it, but since you already have a US Duo, no real point in getting another R/X IMO.

Just get it modded & get the sound issue worked out at the same time, and you have no reason to plunk down more money for a Japanese system as far as playability goes. 

If you have your own anal reasons -- you really want a white Duo, or the latest Duo version (RX) with 6 button controller, or whatever -- then do what floats your boat! (though I'd say you STILL should get it modded to get the full compatibility of both regions.)

[NecroPhile]

If I were you, I'd fix what I have before buying another Duo.  It's the bestest 'cause it'll never yellow like a R/RX can, it lacks the ghey Barney coloring, and it's Turbo Powered!

[Ceti Alpha]

If I were you, I'd fix what I have before buying another Duo.  It's the bestest 'cause it'll never yellow like a R/RX can, it lacks the ghey Barney coloring, and it's Turbo Powered!

hehe. Turbo Power vs. Blast Processing. Are there any technical specs showing which is more powerful. 

I forgot about the yellowing factor. I've been looking around for an original PCE just because I would love to own one. Their so small!!  But so many of them have yellowed and/or also seem like they are pealing - like the owner tried to bleach out the yellowing or something...idk...just looks strange. Maybe the Coregrafx II is the way to go in that regard.

[MissaFX]

I forgot about the yellowing factor. I've been looking around for an original PCE just because I would love to own one. Their so small!!  But so many of them have yellowed and/or also seem like they are pealing - like the owner tried to bleach out the yellowing or something...idk...just looks strange. Maybe the Coregrafx II is the way to go in that regard.

The color issue is one reason I purchased a Core Grafx II over a PC-Engine.  The small size of the Core Grafx II (or any of those small box models) is the other reason I wanted one as I can easly pack it up and everything to go with it in a small case and take it to hotels or family when I stay over.  I'm also going to take it over to my ex-motherinlaw's house as she has 3 adopted children, who I sometimes help watch.  2 Years ago when the oldest girl was 6, I got her a "Gibbi".  It's a toy that looks somewhat like Pikachu and it has a video and audio out cable.  It is commanded through a voice interface and it has games and a "pet hospital" type area, a Gibbi dress-up area, etc.  Anyways, I plan on letting her try out the Core Grafx II once it arrives and if she likes it, I am going to buy her a Onestation with 99 NES games.

[SignOfZeta]

Fixing the US Duo will cost about as much as buying a Duo R...but then you'd have a busted Duo laying around.

In your situation I'd go with whatever you think looks cooler.

Back in the day I *really* wanted a Duo R when they first came out, but they were $500-600 and I already had the US system (which was only $300, with games even). At the time it made no sense to buy a Duo R.

Fast forward to a few years ago...I bought a busted Duo R for $60, fixed it for free, and sold the US a year later for god knows what. Probably almost triple that. It had no sound issues though.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

hehe. Turbo Power vs. Blast Processing. Are there any technical specs showing which is more powerful. 

Well duh! Blast Processing isn't even real!  Nintendo proved that! So of course Turbo Power wins HANDS DOWN!!!   


As far as which to buy- Well I am in a somewhat similar situation:  I have a US Duo with some sound issues, So I just bought a PCE DuoR because it was the least expensive.

With your US Duo you can play US Turbo Chips
And with your Japanese Duo you can play US CD/ US SCD/ JP HuCard/ JP CD/ JP SCD

So your pretty much covered.

If you go the US Duo rout again, you would need to pick up an adapter to play JP HuCards, assuming you do NOT have a HuCard converter to play JP games =)

Get the Duo R, it looks super awesome!!

[nat]

It had no sound issues though.

Still doesn't. 

[WoodyXP]

Stick with what you have.  Having a NA DUO all modded out will be uber pimp and you'll still have
your phone jack and drive lock. 

[SignOfZeta]

It had no sound issues though.

Still doesn't. 

Cool! I was worried it would crap out the day after you got it.

[TR0N]

Stick with turbo-duo since you have gone through all that trouble own one.

Then send it to d-lite to have it modded etc.

If he can't fix it then i'd replace it with a duo-r or rx.

Still it never hurts to own an extra pce just for any kind of situation 

[Ceti Alpha]

Stick with turbo-duo since you have gone through all that trouble own one.

Then send it to d-lite to have it modded etc.

If he can't fix it then i'd replace it with a duo-r or rx.

Still it never hurts to own an extra pce just for any kind of situation  Wink

Yeah, I should really take a number for D-Lite's Pimp My Turbo lineup.    And having another PCE around for emergencies sounds like a good idea as well.

[D-Lite]

I love the sleekness of the US Duo, but honestly you put a couple of purple LEDs in the DuoR and it looks like teh sex.

Also, as far as I can tell, the RX shell doesn't yellow.  It's different in shade and composition compared to the R.

[Ceti Alpha]

I love the sleekness of the US Duo, but honestly you put a couple of purple LEDs in the DuoR and it looks like teh sex.

Neat. I looked briefly online for any pics someone uploaded of teh sex, but unfortunately I only managed to find a post on GameSpot forums where a guy was describing his purple LED that you modded for him. 

By the way D-Lite, how do I set up a time with you? Just send a personal message? I can't do it right now as I've had to shell coin into my car, but I imagine it shouldn't be too long before I'll be able to pimp my Turbo. 


Here's the reference to the purple LED mod: (the pic is on page 1 of the thread...I think.)

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=21297697&union_id=859&page=7

[NecroPhile]

Neat. I looked briefly online for any pics someone uploaded of teh sex, but unfortunately I only managed to find a post on GameSpot forums where a guy was describing his purple LED that you modded for him. 

Look in the Turbo hardware section of the sales area of D-Lite's site for some nice pics of modded up Duo-Rs.

[Ceti Alpha]

Look in the Turbo hardware section of the sales area of D-Lite's site for some nice pics of modded up Duo-Rs.

Cool. Thanks NecroPhile. The links to those particular pics seems to be down though. However, the sales section answered my questions as to how much it would cost to mod my system. Pretty much around what I thought. And pretty much around what it cost me to fix my side mirror.  haha.

Though I did notice that D-Lite want you to play the system after 2 hours to check for the sound issue, since that's how long the system usually takes to heat up. However, my sound issue usually happens right away or maybe 15 minutes into play. Some games also seem to be worse than others, but that could just be my imagination. So I was just wondering if maybe it's another issue altogether.  I was talking to a clerk at a local game store over Christmas (no Turbo stuff there  ) and he said that at one time they had a Duo with a sound issue and they just bought a new RCA cord and it cleared up.  Just curious.

[SignOfZeta]

Once you've seen the Duo R with a blue LED the green one just looks wrong.

[Ceti Alpha]

Once you've seen the Duo R with a blue LED the green one just looks wrong.

Sweet Jesus! 

[SNKNostalgia]

Here is my 10 step history of what I went through with my US March 93 Duo:

1. Bought it in 2000-2001 or so from TZD new for $200 or so.

2. Played it a little when I got it with Ys1+2, Final Zone 2 and the 4 in 1 disc.

3. Went to college in 2003 living in dorms outta town and let it sit at parents.

4. I did not touch it until 2007 and then the audio started to fade out.

5. I fixed it by replacing the capacitors myself.

6. Then I played a lot of CD-Rs and more official CD and HuCard games on it.

7. Got my Duo region modded and S-video modded by grahf and bought tons of US and JAP HuCards from D-Lite along with a nice Avenue 6 button.

8. Then a month later the lens started to crap out.

9. Ordered 2 lenses from electronix and replaced it and works as good as new.

10. Now look at it, its kick ass!!!!

[Ceti Alpha]

Here is my 10 step history of what I went through with my US March 93 Duo:

1. Bought it in 2000-2001 or so from TZD new for $200 or so.

2. Played it a little when I got it with Ys1+2, Final Zone 2 and the 4 in 1 disc.

3. Went to college in 2003 living in dorms outta town and let it sit at parents.

4. I did not touch it until 2007 and then the audio started to fade out.

5. I fixed it by replacing the capacitors myself.

6. Then I played a lot of CD-Rs and more official CD and HuCard games on it.

7. Got my Duo region modded and S-video modded by grahf and bought tons of US and JAP HuCards from D-Lite along with a nice Avenue 6 button.

8. Then a month later the lens started to crap out.

9. Ordered 2 lenses from electronix and replaced it and works as good as new.

10. Now look at it, its kick ass!!!!

Nice. I can't wait to get mine to the state yours is at.  But it's so worth it to get the Duo up and running like that. Cosmetically my Duo is great and the lens seems to be running fine (I really shouldn't have said that. lol), but the sound issue must be remedied. I had a Raiden marathon tonight (nope, still haven't beat it.  but close) and the sound never gave me a problem, though the audio has that scratchiness to it. Dungeon Explorer seems to be OK too sound wise, but the red book audio on the CDs is pretty much a no go most of the time now. Damn capacitors Though Galaga 90 sound seems to bonk out more often than the other HuCARD games. To make a short story long, my Duo needs some TLC.