HD LCD TV's and the PS2 era

[Miketendo]

I've always had issues with my PS2 games being super dark on my TV. I'm using a Sharp Aquos television, and have brightness on a moderate level, but PS2 games are usually super washed out or dark. Any advice? Or is this just how the system reacts on HD TVs?

[Liamh1982]

What kind of cable are you using to hook it up to the TV?
I'm using a component cable (unofficial) to play my PS2 on my 32" Sanyo LCD and it's fine.

[BuckoA51]

Ah the PS2, made on the cheap and cursed with all those interlace (480i) games. I've found the PS2's component output to be particularly noisy compared to the other consoles of that era, but I've not had problems with brightness from RGB or Component. I think you definitely need to try a different SCART lead assuming you're using SCART. The component leads I've tested have all been much of a muchness (no difference between cheap ones and ones like the Monster one). I am trying to source some upgraded PS1/PS2 SCARTs from the USA at the moment to see if they can improve things further.

Course, RGB SCART gives a better picture but component supports progressive scan, which leaves most setups with a dilemma! If only Sony had been as forward thinking as Sega and given us full VGA support on the console!

[Miketendo]

Ah the PS2, made on the cheap and cursed with all those interlace (480i) games. I've found the PS2's component output to be particularly noisy compared to the other consoles of that era, but I've not had problems with brightness from RGB or Component. I think you definitely need to try a different SCART lead assuming you're using SCART. The component leads I've tested have all been much of a muchness (no difference between cheap ones and ones like the Monster one). I am trying to source some upgraded PS1/PS2 SCARTs from the USA at the moment to see if they can improve things further.

Course, RGB SCART gives a better picture but component supports progressive scan, which leaves most setups with a dilemma! If only Sony had been as forward thinking as Sega and given us full VGA support on the console!

I have the PS2 hooked into the TV through a switchbox. SNES, Dreamcast are both hooked up to it as well, no problems. AV cables are the original cables that come stock.

[Liamh1982]

As you're using the stock AV cables I would definitely switch to component or S-Video if I were you (I would also say RGB SCART but I know it never caught on in the US).

[BuckoA51]

Heavens! No need to use composite with a console that can use component. You should aim for VGA on your Dreamcast too, most games support it.

I trust that you will ditch those awful composite connectors but, I take it you've tried the connection direct and not through a switch box? With SCART particularly, switch boxes can be very hit and miss and do rob the picture of brightness on the poorer switches.

[Miketendo]

Heavens! No need to use composite with a console that can use component. You should aim for VGA on your Dreamcast too, most games support it.

I trust that you will ditch those awful composite connectors but, I take it you've tried the connection direct and not through a switch box? With SCART particularly, switch boxes can be very hit and miss and do rob the picture of brightness on the poorer switches.

I have absolutely no issues with darkness on my Dreamcast, and I use stock cables for that too. It's just, for whatever reason, the PS2 is SO dark I can barely see certain games. They're both hooked up to the same switch box so I doubt it's the box. I even had some problems on my old rear projection big screen with the PS2. Go figure. I'll have to explore a different cable, possibly.

[BuckoA51]

Always try connections direct, rather than through a switch, as a first step in troubleshooting. But yeah, the VGA cable for the Dreamcast wasn't so much to get it to look brighter, just to get it to look decent and not the usual dotcrawl mess composite gives you.

[Miketendo]

Always try connections direct, rather than through a switch, as a first step in troubleshooting. But yeah, the VGA cable for the Dreamcast wasn't so much to get it to look brighter, just to get it to look decent and not the usual dotcrawl mess composite gives you.

Guess I never thought of it that way, but ok, I'll give it a shot. Thanks