Which AV-mod to go for (Atari 2600)

[shootking]

Hello

 

I am new to this place! A lot of really fun reading in this forum!

 

I have two 2600 units (both PAL versions). One 2600 4-button and one 2600 JR. I want to modify them with an better picture and an easier way to connect them to my home cinema reciever. So the AV/S-video-mod seems like the way to go.

 

When searching the net I find several versions of this mods. For example:

Longhorn Engineer

http://longhornengineer.com/DIY/Atarivideomods/2600ukitV2_2F/

Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Atari-2600-DIY-Install-S-Video-and-Stereo-AV-Assembled-Mod-Board-Complete-Kit-/291312901302?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43d39a1cb6

 

I wonder which mods you guys have tested?

And if some are better than others?

 

Cheers Jens

 

Edit: added PAL to clarify my systems...

Edited December 4, 2014 by shootking

[Osgeld]

I use a homebew longhorn based design, and it does just fantastic, in a nutshell the FMS video filter/driver/amp is a good series of chip and is what's driving the final output to your TV, but the ebay link has the ability to adjust trim different parts of the picture, which I would suggest as no 2 atari's or tv's look exactly the same

[iesposta]

The eBay one is designed by batari who started from scratch, but it happens to be close to the longhorn board.

I have both a longhorn and a batari board. Both the 2600 ones are great.

One in a 4-switch, and the other in a light 6-switch.

Everything after the Heavy Sixer's beautiful RF video just does not compare, although I've heard claim some 7800 is very good, I just haven't come across any.

The 7800 av board falls a little short of the nice picture you get with a modded 2600, some people really complain, but I could not even use my 7800's with RF they were that terrible, the mod is worth it for me.

[shootking]

Thanks guys! I ordered the ebay AV-mod. I think I have to improvise a bit when I have a PAL version. What I have read, the pinout on the TIA chip differs on NTSC vs PAL versions. Anyone who has modded an PAL version of the 2600?

 

Regards Jens

[+wood_jl]

The "ebay one" is from Electronic Sentimentalities.....

http://electronicsentimentalities.com/

 

....who offer installation services for those of us too ham-fisted and inexperienced to effectively wield a soldering iron without destroying something. I've had 3 or 4 consoles modded by him, and the results are absolutely pristine and top-notch.