The best 31K monitor

[CPS2]

Right then.

I want some opinions as to the best 31K CRT ever made.

I've always been told that the Nanao MS2931 OSD is the best and after seeing one, i'd agree.

Others maintain that the Sanwa PFX is the best......

[geotrig]

i'd presume the best way to tell is if some one had 1 of each and the same game running to see which was the best other wise it just speculation !! nanao is pretty good though,only seen pics of pfx adn tehy also look good !buy i can't compare a picture adn actual!! can i

[cools]

Specifying arcade ones, I'm assuming There's a hell of a lot of better VGA CRTs around.

[SuperPang]

I think Nanao 31KHz picture quality is pretty great across all models. The Toshiba pure flat is considered the daddy for high res.

The MS2931 is an exceptional monitor if you can find one without issues, which is a big if. It has by far the best 15k picture I've seen on a tri-sync. So much so I'm going to make my Blast a CPS3 only machine eventually.


Kiss my scanlines baby

[CPS2]

Yep good ole arcade 'uns. 640x480

[markedkiller78]

I've got an ms2930, ms2931 & tosh pure flat here.

IMO the tosh has the best 31k picture & the ms2930 has the best 15k picture

can't fault any of them, but I would say that the nanao's are better overall and for ease the 2931 with it's osd might be the one I would say is best overall.

Never seen a Pfx in action so can't comment.

[andygeezer]

I have here in the shed all 3

Tosh PF, Sanwa PFX and Nanao MS29-31A

Tosh PF = The best 31K picture money can buy!! Crisp picture.
Sanwa PFX = 31K almost as good as Tosh!! Also a fantastic 15K picture
Nanao MS29-31 = 15K is nice, 31K is not as good as the other 2 monitors. Also being curved means the quality isn't so nice. Also these are prone to errors (especially the magnet strips on the yoke, causing poor convergence).

Sanwa PFX is the winner for overall quality, and user controls.

Tosh PFX is a dream monitor for games like Outrun 2.

Nanao MS29-31, like the BlastCity is sadly overratted IMO.

[markedkiller78]

Both my nanao's have convergance issues

hopefully fixable when my monitor tech arrives

[CPS2]

Sweet. Did you have any Tosh monitors at the show Andy?? The one in the Outrun SP machine looked gorgeous.

[Pete]

Get Lind cab

[CPS2]

Get Lind cab

[Pete]

Looks like somebody else will have to buy mine

[CPS2]

Looks like somebody else will have to buy mine

You flogging yours then Pete?? Whats next a Vewlix??

[Pete]

Well maybe selling just lost interest in it all tbh, hardly playing anything now on any platform.

Not saying I'll' never get back into it though, may get a Astro at some point.

No Vewlix for me though, prob will sell the Lind empty for around £1200.

[cools]

Toshiba monitors = legend.

[capcomguru]

I've seen quite the array of monitors in my time that are 31khz. I don't recall some of the specific models (as a lot were in on-location machines). From the models I specifically recall, here's what I think:

The Nanao MS2932 is stellar in terms of color purity, geometry and vibrance, however it is a analogue monitor, and it has a curved screen. All around very good, but for me, pure flat is preferred. This monitor is a great solution for bringing an old 15khz cab up to JVS specs (I have one in my Astro 2).

The MS2931, while excellent for 15khz, isn't exactly stellar (IMO) for 31khz. I didn't think the vibrance and purity were on par with the other monitors. As mentioned before, if you can find a good working one for a reasonable price, its probably worth picking up. Do bear in mind however these have pretty big component issues, especially with the flyback transformer. I know of more MS2931's that the flyback leaked transformer fluid on the chassis than I know of working ones. In fact, only one friend that I know with a blast city has one that still works. All the others (10+) have melted... Not sure if this is a worldwide issue, absolutely an issue with USA blast cities (stock MS2931 cabinet). WORST of all, there aren't "proper" replacement chassis for this monitor, which brings me onto the next chassis...

The weiya (blast city) replacement chassis is pretty much trash. The 31khz was OK, but the black level was either always washed out, or had a purple hue to it. I never did find a happy medium that looked acceptable for any of my games. The geometry was OK, nothing to brag about. 15khz was a joke. The right hand side of the screen literally compresses. Its especially noticable when a cross-hatch test screen is displayed. Not recommended whatsoever, unless you're on an extreme budget and can't afford anything else.

In my opinion, the Sanwa PFX is the best arcade monitor available (both 31khz and 15khz). Basically out of the box, both of my PFX's looked jaw-dropping in 31khz mode. 15khz took slight tweaking to get the geometry proper and brightness levels. The precision manipulation through the on-screen display is surely impressive.

[andygeezer]

Anyone interested in the UK, there is a few Sanwa PFX's monitors left in boxes.. Priced at around £700+VAT, I'd recommend you get these as there WILL not be anymore..

Stock levels are around 5 or so.

[capcomguru]

Anyone interested in the UK, there is a few Sanwa PFX's monitors left in boxes.. Priced at around £700+VAT, I'd recommend you get these as there WILL not be anymore..

Stock levels are around 5 or so.

Any idea what these retailed for originally from sega USA? I have NO IDEA how its possible, but I got mine from an arcade distributor for ~$350 shipped ea before he sold out. Obviously, thats a tremendous deal, just curious as to what these were worth back when sega parts dept. had them.

[Munchies]

£700? Looks like I'm gonna have to rob some grannies

[niconiconico]

I never saw a screen quality as the Nanao MS32 in the 1st gen. of N.U.C.'s ... never !

After, you find 3 models who are really really great but IMO, they are under even if they are tri/quadri sync :

- Toshiba of NNC & 1st gen. of Egret III (pure flat tri sync)
- Sanwa PFX (pure flat tri sync)
- Pentranic (pure flat quadri sync, the curved i dunno its worth i never saw it running)

As the MS32 is curved, it will never be beaten on the focus compared to a pure flat screen. But, of course it's for a maniac eye Anyway i prefer the brightness and the contrast of the Nanaos.

MS32 for the 31, MS9 for the 15 ... and rock'n'roll beybey !


NOTE : After that, tastes and colors ...