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NEC PC-Engine/SuperGrafx => PC Engine/SuperGrafx Discussion => Topic started by: wildfruit on March 22, 2015, 04:20:15 AM

Title: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: wildfruit on March 22, 2015, 04:20:15 AM
So I've finally decided to get myself a cd rom setup. However I have 2 choices
1)briefcase with 3.0 card
2) duo modded to play both us and jp cards

Both are refurbished caps/gear and RGB modded.
The duo is about £20 more than the briefcase.
Does anyone have a preference between the two or is this a stupid question ?
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: Black Tiger on March 22, 2015, 05:02:45 AM
In all my tests with refurbished and unrefurbished setups, Duos seem to load faster and have quieter chip sound. Combos have louder search sounds, especially CD-ROM units with the cheaper good-enough replacement gear.

Black Duos have an earphone jack that outputs the same sound as the AV jack. CD-ROMs have an earphone jack that outputs only the CD sound.

The briefcase likely suffers some level of yellowing unless it was bleached/retrobrited.

Black Duos have a large model 1 Mega Drive style AV cable sticking out the left side and power jack on the back. IFUs have rca and power jacks on the right side. Duo R/RX have Duo AV port and power jack on the back.

Arcade Card PRO typically sells for more than the DUO.
Title: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: VenomMacbeth on March 22, 2015, 05:28:16 AM
In all my tests with refurbished and unrefurbished setups, Duos seem to load faster and have quieter chip sound. Combos have louder search sounds, especially CD-ROM units with the cheaper good-enough replacement gear.

Black Duos have an earphone jack that outputs the same sound as the AV jack. CD-ROMs have an earphone jack that outputs only the CD sound.

The briefcase likely suffers some level of yellowing unless it was bleached/retrobrited.

Black Duos have a large model 1 Mega Drive style AV cable sticking out the left side and power jack on the back. IFUs have rca and power jacks on the right side. Duo R/RX have Duo AV port and power jack on the back.

Arcade Card PRO typically sells for more than the DUO.

Yes.  Also with the IFU, there's a lot more troubleshooting if something goes awry thanks to all the various interconnected hardware (especially if you're a layman like me).

However, I've heard rumors that the black Duo doesn't read CD-Rs as well as other variations, if that's important to you.
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: Dicer on March 22, 2015, 06:34:30 AM
I prefer the look of the briefcase, but as others have said it can be a bit more finicky... A Duo-R/RX is the best overall route but as for briefcase vs black duo, personally I'd go briefcase.

Make sure you get a lid, and clean the yellowing off the white bits of the system when you can, it looks very posh in good or better condition.

Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: pulstar on March 22, 2015, 09:28:15 AM
Personally, my list (according to the look of the systems) would be Briefcase > Duo > Duo-R...for functionality it would be Duo-R > Duo > Briefcase.
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: wildfruit on March 22, 2015, 10:29:50 AM
thanks guys ill take this on board
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: GohanX on March 22, 2015, 01:35:42 PM
The smart person would get a Duo R. It's probably the cheapest and most reliable setup. That being said, I sold my Duo and have two briefcases and a Turbo CD setup.
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: Arkhan on March 22, 2015, 05:00:36 PM
BEEF CASE THAT'S BEEN FULLY RESTORED.

DO IT

DO IT

BEEF IT UP.
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: wildfruit on March 22, 2015, 07:16:43 PM
BEEF CASE THAT'S BEEN FULLY RESTORED.

DO IT

DO IT

BEEF IT UP.
I did it I did it!
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: wildfruit on March 22, 2015, 07:23:11 PM
The smart person would get a Duo R. It's probably the cheapest and most reliable setup. That being said, I sold my Duo and have two briefcases and a Turbo CD setup.
Duo R/Rx are few and far between here and the cost of shipping from the far east/west kind of made it an unviable option for me.
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: seieienbu on March 22, 2015, 09:19:53 PM
Purely for aesthetic reasons, I'd say go with a Brief Case.  Not that the Duo looks much bad by any stretch of the imagination, but the Brief Case is a splendid and handsome setup.
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: Necromancer on March 23, 2015, 04:02:48 AM
Duo.  The only reason to go with a beefcase over a Duo is aesthetics.  Alternatively, you could go with Option C - SGX with SuperCD.  Or Option D - all of the above..... it's only money.  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: esteban on March 23, 2015, 04:09:19 AM

The smart person would get a Duo R. It's probably the cheapest and most reliable setup. That being said, I sold my Duo and have two briefcases and a Turbo CD setup.
Duo R/Rx are few and far between here and the cost of shipping from the far east/west kind of made it an unviable option for me.

Don't listen to these folks. The briefcase is a nice setup. However, like everything else, it might need some maintenance/repairs.

AS A BONUS YOU HAVE A SEMI-PORTABLE CD-PLAYER NOW!!!!

That was a very nice feature for late 80's. :)
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: WoodyXP on March 24, 2015, 11:40:23 AM
AS A BONUS YOU HAVE A SEMI-PORTABLE CD-PLAYER NOW!!!!


(http://i.imgur.com/Ycn6E.gif)

Damn right.
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: Groover on March 28, 2015, 12:03:53 PM
I have always loved the Duo Design. I say for everything get a duo. However once you buy the duo you will want the briefcase next.
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: ClodBuster on March 29, 2015, 02:06:31 AM
I have always loved the Duo Design. I say for everything get a duo. However once you buy the duo you will want the briefcase next.
So true.
Title: Re: Briefcase or duo??
Post by: wildfruit on March 30, 2015, 12:40:26 PM
So with many arguments for and against I went with briefcase.
Arrived today but only 5 minutes before I went to work so I haven't had a chance to test it out.
 Its not very yellowed either and the lid is still intact.
Ys 4 got delivered today and in it was the original disc and a cdr. Maybe the previous owner already ripped and patched the iso..ill find out tomorrow .
Oh and how tiny is it!