I forgot to mention the High Definition Graphics Model ONE I used in the video is also the Non-TMSS model which is compatible with more games including early imports and unlicensed games. Info from Straypixels: So if your Sega Genesis, when booting a game, does NOT display “Produced by or under license of Sega Enterprises Ltd.” you have a non-TMSS unit.

Great Video! I was lucky enough to own the 1989 HI-Def Graphic, No TMSS, 2 tone logo Genesis made in Japan. ( most were made in Taiwan) I was also lucky enough to work for Sega in the late 80’s in South San Francisco. By working there I was able to get the phone modem. Still have it to this day. We use to play Cyberball on the modem.

About Genesis One without "High Definition Graphics" inscription - have one of those myself, but WITH "EXT" port on the back and VA-5 mainboard inside, wich is one of best sounding Genesis mainboards.

These videos are great. I had no idea the amount of support there was for the Genesis still. That power supply for all 3 systems is like a gift from god

HD Retrovision cables have really amazed me and have breathed new life into my retro consoles when connected to a nice CRT such as my 27" JVC i'Art. Great video!

I’m sticking with model 2. Looks the best, didn’t need to deal with the bs for add ons and I personally believe it looks the best on crts. The sound may not be as good to some people but I still like it.

I younger brother used to own the Model 1 Genesis but I was a Nintendo fanboy. Never really got into that system until I got older and now I believe it is as great as the Super Nintendo. I'll own the model 1 sometime soon. My model 2's sound output is at best a 3 out of 5.

Great video! I have two model 1 systems, an original launch model and one that I picked up on eBay. They appear identical to each other, even on the inside. My original will play pal master system games through a master base converter, but the other will not. I find all the different revisions to be so interesting, thanks for the video.

Fun fact, for the Genesis Mini, (I'm from the UK by the way) I've actually replace my PAL Mega Drive Mini with a USA Genesis Mini, I actually got the US one from Santa Claus in 2020, want to know why I changed it? Because the game 'Sonic Spinball' actually plays the European version but modified to play in 60HZ, you may be thinking, not bad, but your wrong, the music was optimized for PAL releases so it plays faster on the PAL Mini and USA Minis set to German or Italian (not English, French or Spanish or even Japanese versions if set to Japanese, Chinese or Korean). Japanese version did play in standard music and game speed 60HZ on PAL Mega Drive Minis, but some text is in Japanese. In addition, 5 other games 'Landstalker: Treasures Of King Nole', 'Light Crusader', 'Beyond Oasis' aka 'The Story Of Thor', 'Castlevania: Bloodlines' aka 'Castlevania: The New Generation' aka 'Vampire Killer' and 'Contra: Hard Corps' aka 'Probotector' all play PAL versions in 60HZ when set to English, but will play US versions when set to either Chinese or Korean. European Mega Drive Mini sucks, USA Genesis Mini cool, Japanese and Asian Mega Drive Minis cool but different games on both models (meaning not just US/PAL systems, but even JP and Asian systems are different to each other, example: 'Sonic The Hedgehog' [the first game] is available on US/PAL and Asian systems but not Japanese systems).

That motion blur you are talking about is actually present in the games mostly in 2D platformers. Its harder to see it on a CRTV but its there. The reason why you see it less on the hd retrovision cables is because most take that image coming from the hd retrovision cables and set there TV to 4:3 ratio which gives you the best picture similar to a CRTV size, the motion blur is still there but not as noticeable. The Hyperkin cables can give you that same similar image. Similar to a CRTV size, but you have to have it set to 16:9 on the Hyperkin box then adjust your TV to 4:3 ratio which will give you less motion blur like the Retrovision cables. So for anyone using RGB route the best way is to have your TV format set to 4:3 not normal. The best way to test is if you have a good CRTV what your CRTV is showing is what you want your Flatscreen showing. Yes some of the picture is missing but that was missing also when looking at the same game on a CRTV.

Thanks for making this

Any revision of the model 1 prior to VA7 has good audio, and you can always tell VA7 in a US Genesis by the position of the power jack and the lack of even a space for the EXT port. I have a VA6 that has a blank where the EXT port normally is. On Japanese consoles it's a little different because Japanese model 1 mega drives never had an RF modulator, and so the power jack and multi-out are in a similar position to the US VA7. However I have not found any instances of a Japanese VA6 missing the EXT port. If you open the console up, a VA7 is always obvious because it will only have one voltage regulator instead of two, and it's missing the massive 64-pin DIP version of the CPU. It should be easy to tell even without removing the RF shield.

Love the intro music.. from "Legendary Axe" 😊

Great video loads of good stuff. You forgot to mention that the will play a cart without any mods since those were locked in the other consoles do to the shape of the cart.

You got a subscriber for this video. Thanks

The best Sega Genesis is the first Model 1's with the words "High Definition Graphics" written around the ring. They have the best picture and sound quality out of all of them. Unfortunately, that is the way of the tech world. As a console sells the parts used to make them become cheaper. That's when slim models hit that use cheaper parts. It was done back then as it is today. This is but one reason I am an early adopter of all things console gaming.

Mod 1 av6 Superior Sound with or without high-definition on it. Mod 3 output best video picture and av4 mod 2 for majesco. And RGB looks crispy

If the power input Jack is on the corner at back of the console, it will have the best sound regardless of weather it has high definition graphics on it. The poor sounding model ones have the power input Jack a couple inches away from the corner more towards the middle. The difference is visible on the model ones you have in this video and would be even more obvious when the power cables are in.

I would have love to see the CDX compare to this. Good video.

another option to consider for those that want to streamline is purchasing a megasd by terraonion or a mega everdrive pro by krikzz which are flash/rom carts that have the sega cd hardware built-in afaik. one still has to use a 32x on top if they want to play those games since they both don't contain the 32x hardware

If anyone is interested in modding the Insurrection Industries Triple bypass mod is the best thing for any model Genesis. Couple that with HD Retrovision cables and you're set!

Great video, very good 👍

The Best is the MD2 with VA4 motherboard. Stereo sound and audio quality same level as MD1. Other MD2 models are crap. But this one is holy grail and got one

Your Genesis 3 is a VA2 that’s why it doesn’t play virtua racing. However the genesis 3 VA1 plays it. I have both revisions . Cool video 😀

HD Retrovision was working (still-working on??) the HDMIzer which was to allow dithering w/much of the RGB crispness so transparencies are still noticeable like the waterfalls in Sonic 1. I do hope they release it as I have yet to find a way to combine shaders/filters in RetroArch to get the best of both worlds.

En su tiempo tuve el modelo 2 y 3 cuando fue pequeño . Grandes recuerdos , muchas horas de diversión en familia y solo. Con mi hermano rompíamos las adaptadores de pared de tanto jugar .

I also love the 3-btn controller when the 6 is not needed. I hope someone begins to sell a 3d printed d-pad for it though that is softer and much closer to the 6btn and saturn dpads which were less harsh on the thumbs compared to the 3 btn's dpad.

Great video I love Sega mega drive / Genesis

Good video!

It’s a good thing the Triple Bypass mod can make a Model 2 sound just as good as a HDG Model 1.

11:15, there are 4 different 3 button controllers too, the newest ones have 6 button dpad ;)

Majesco actually took over a little before the model 3, some later model 2s are Majesco.

There's another version of the model 1 Sega Genesis that was released between the High Definition Graphics and pre Model 2 design, it looks identical to the High Definition graphics one but it doesn't say that also the EXT port is missing but the spot is still there just a blank spot.

The sega genesis model 1 1601 whit high definition graphics is the best for me. I`m still use in year 2021

So I have a high definition model 1 that sounds just as good as my launch model 1. Could there be some model 1 variations that still keep the good sound chips inside?

I love how the hi definition model 1 Sega genesis sounds

VA0 launch model imho is the best model.

It's a shame you didn't also include the Mega Drive Rad2X cable. I've got one coming later this month, after I got one for my SNES/N64/GC I knew that I had to get one for my Mega Drive as well!

7:25 I know I sound like a caveman, but I think that the batmobile looked better in composite, the blur actually made it look more like a smooth image than sharp pixel art.

Interesting. And it has been a longtime.

The most common VA0, VA1 and VA1.8 revisions of the model 2 all have really clean RGB out, but usually crap composite (most of them have the samsung encoder) and the audio quality varies from okay to awful depending on which op-amp chips they have. But these are so common that there are tons of mods to improve the audio. The model 1 VA7 has the same bad audio but with an added crappy headphone amp circuit and also worse RGB. I think any revision of model 2 is preferable to a VA7.

I managed to score a Sega genesis model 1 2nd edition in box (sonic pack-in edition) and imma just say, while he DOES make a good point on which genesis is better, that’s no reason to sell your Sega genesis. All that matters is the sentimental value that it gives you.

I dont my the sound quality i like MD2 looks more than MD1. Also stereo output with RGB-S to tv at same time rocks.

You should have included the sound quality through the Sega CD audio outputs. My Megadrive 2 has the usual poor sound through the tv, but sounds pretty decent when hooked up to my hi fi through my Mega CD2.

These things are built like tanks. Both of my Saturns I've had since '97 are working great still too with lots of use, with the exception that the cart slot is finicky. Really the first and only major durability "problem" with Sega hardware going back to the SMS was the disc drive on the Dreamcast, even if it wasn't broken it sure sounded broken.

I think the second version of the model 2 is probably the best (the version with the smaller 3/4th's motherboard). If your using an HD retrovision cable, avoid insignia brand TV's. It seems to be incompatible with them.

How would the retrovision cables look on a CRT? I prefer how the composite looks on the lcd because it blends together the pixels to make them look closer to how they looked on a crt, however on a CRT the image would be blended by default.

IMO the best Sega Genesis model will be the model that looks best to you then get the “Triple Bypass” mod done. Looks and sounds better than the Model 1 HD. It’s incredible!

10:36 it adds hiss because of no transformers inside, hollow and light compared to oem power supplies

Also, you'll be blown away by the results of using the Retrovision cables/SCART through an OSSC. Pixel perfect display, mask the borders of the image... Basically looks like emulation in terms of clarity with none of the bugs due to it being OG hardware.

I'm sticking with hyperkin mega retro hd & srt3 by retro but for now.

The high definition graphics system is the best it has the Yamaha sound chip

Just picked a model 3 and wow it’s so much smaller than I expected gaha

Question: I've got a Model 1 with a 32X attached. Based on the image at 10:59 it does not look like I need to buy the Model 1 adapter cable offered by Retrovision. Am I right on this? The adapter is $11 and I'd rather put that dough toward a wireless Genesis controller. Note: In addition to my "Tower of Power" I also own a (much smaller) Genesis 3. Good to hear that it has good graphicss and booming sound with the HD Retrovision cables. Thanks for covering all the Genesis models. Cheers!

You mentioned that the Genesis 3 outputs native rgb. I thought the Genesis 3 only supports composite video and to get RGB you need to do an internal mod or install the triple bypass?

I never throttle the system’s volume slider, it’s going peak badly. Go 75% and then adjust it on your receiver or TV. Or am I doing it wrong? Great video btw!

The best model was the imported Japanese version which I had back in the day. The sound was by far superior compared to the US/Euro versions that followed

I have sega model 3 and after not using it for about two or three months I wanted to play it again but A,B,C,X,Y,Z and the start button aren't working on BOTH OF MY CONTROLLERS!!!! only movement keys are working I don't know how to fix it

was this cable compatible also for neo geo aes? plan to buy one with adapter for md1

Retro Game Supply is from France actually.

VA4 Triple Bypass modded Model 2 sounds the best to me.

I LOVE RETRO

The "Best" Sega Genesis is the Model 1 1601 with a VA-5/VA-6 motherboard with the ext port and has the High Definition Graphics on top. The other motherboards aren't bad, just has worse caps.

was retrovision component for md1 also work for neo geo aes ?

Master good morning, I have a Japanese mega drive that has two slots for cartridge 😳, one in the normal place and one right in front lying forward and hidden under the housing, I can't find any other like it, have you come across this model? On the board it is defined like this MD - 1095 G -1.5 ARG02

Explain the unreleased 32X games and boxes.

Do you use the HD Retrovision cables by themselves, or with a scaler like the RetroTink?

The best Sega Genesis model is the high definition graphics system it has the Yamaha sound board

Sega genesis mod 2 va4 & sega genesis 3. Video clip sony cxa1645

eh, I'd say the best model is the one you own if you have a model 1 or 2 because there's not a lot of difference there. Especially with the right video cables. Audio wise, we know that both systems can deliver stereo audio though the model 1 requires jumping through hoops in order to do this. You'd probably be hard pressed to notice a big difference in sound between a model 1 and 2 so that's why I conclude it shouldn't make a difference to most people. If you want the best Audio out of a Sega Genesis PERIOD, the answer is the Mega SG as that has an additional settings to mess around with low pass filter and other settings to correct sound sampling (very cool). I own the model 2 and honestly don't see a need to go out and get a model 1 for anything other than pure aesthetic looks (especially with a model 2 sega cd attached).

I've heard that the genesis model 2 MK-1451 is supposed to be the rare model of the model 2s? Any truth to this?

Model 1 va3

I got a model 2 with a better sound chip for $50 😁

Wouldn't that be the release version of Model 1 because it can run the old, unlicensed cardboard box EA titles and pretty much any import cart?

I have 4 Genesis consoles. 1 HD Graphics model 1.... 1 non HD model 1, and 2 model 2's. My favorite to use is the non HD model 1. So one of my favorite games is Hellfire. It has a dope soundtrack. But the soundtrack slows down to a crawl on 2 out of my 4 Genesis consoles. Gameplay is unaffected....but the music is butchered. The reason is that only the HD Model 1 and one of the model 2's have the necessary sound chip that thegame uses. I went to a buddy who had around 12 Genesis consoles for sale. We hooked up each one to get the console we needed. I had no intention of buying another model 2..... but since it miraculously had the chip too.... I took the model 2 aswell as the HD. Everything is fine with the model 2 when I play it. It's the HD model 1 that concerns me. So the extra soundchip and better overall audio is cool and all...... but I noticed that the console gets really fuckin hot in an hour or so. If you touch the power supply its burning hot and the console itself runs hot too. When I pull the games out, they are hot too. Not as hot as the console or power supply. But noticeable when I touch the game. Now I read this is totally normal.... but I don't want to take the chance with frying a good OEM power supply and potentially wrecking a game or EverDrive because of excess heat over time. This power supply is 36 years old. Maybe it could run that hot for 10 years straight when it was new. I just don't trust it now. Nor do I trust my games being exposed to the level of heat the original model 1 produces. So I play the non HD model 1 instead. The games come out cool to the touch. The console doesn't get hot. And the power supply just gets warm instead of burning hot. I bring out the original model 2 only to play Hellfire. My 2nd model 2 also has the slower soundtrack because it lacks the chip.... so that one just sits as a back up to the back up to the back in case anything happens. I figured it was the extra sound chip that causes the crazy heat. But the model 2 I have that also has that chip does not get nearly as hot as that original HD Genesis.

Sega Millennium/2000

Hello! I'm living in France and i'd like to find and import a High Definition Graphics Model 1 NTFS. Do you know a website where I can find one at good price ?

Its crazy that the rgb cable for the genesis costs 150 dollars lol. They cant be thaaat expensive to make.. sucks, i want one, but could buy all 3 of the genesis models and some games for that price lol

My 32x hates my model 1 for some unknown reason so model 2 it is

2:25 neptune mini

in graphics terms, 3, 2, 1 ?

What about cdx. That's a grail item for me

IT'S CALLED THE MEGA DRIVE!!!!!

Model 1 is best belive me. Better

I had model 1 and 2 didn’t give a shit when I was growing up about sound all I cared about was mortal kombat getting them fatlity scenes

video on model 2 is better than model 1, i have 2 models 2s though and one of the model 2s have better video than the varient with the smaller motherboard

The best Sega Genesis is the laptop I'm watching this video on.

Nomad

Whys this cable nearly $100 tho

The Hyperkin HDTV cable sucks. It don't works on european model 1 (1600-xx) version.

Too bad you can't buy the HD Retrovision cables. They have been out of stock for a long ass time and don't seem like they company is every going to be making more.

Too bad you didn't test every console with composite and component. Gen 1 non-HD has so much better colors on composite than component. The background walls are orange instead of dull brown, and the grass is bright neon green instead of dull green. Gen 1 HD component has almost as good of colors as the Gen 1 non-HD composite. Slightly washed out in comparison, but still way better than the Gen 1 non-HD component. Gen 3 component I would say has the best color and overall picture quality compared to the rest you showed. It looks like the vibrance was turned up like you can do in some PC graphics settings. Model 2 component looks just like Model 1 non-HD component, washed out and dark colors compared to the rest. Too bad we couldn't see Model 2 composite (if that is even an option?) Overall I'm tempted to buy the Model 3 from ebay since the prices are pretty low for those and imo it had the best picture quality of all the ones you showed, plus it has good sound. The only issue is my Trinitron TV only has composite so I don't know how it would look on there. I might go for the Gen 1 non-HD since that has great picture too, only ever so slightly worse than Model 3, and it still has the good sound, and also has composite. (Although idk what outputs it supports without the retrovision cables)

I have a model 2 and it has decent sound but the composite video is extremely bad.

People who shxt on sega genesis shouldn't own one they don't know how powerful the console really is

First!

That’s 16bit .

Mega SG is the best megadrive

Model 3 does not play gargoyles