Best Twin Famicom model ?

[Famicom.In.My.Blood]

Hello,

I wonder if there is an absolute best Twin Famicom model, among the four which exist : Orange AN-505, Black AN-505, AN-500B and AN-500R.

I know the two AN-505 have "Turbo Buttons" on the controllers in addition, but, except that, there is other difference as reliability, build, or sound quality for instance ?

I don't talk about picture here, because I suppose NESRGB mod put all Famicom/NES models at the same level (perhaps I'm wrong though).

So, for people who have tested several Twin Famicom models, your opinion interest me a lot.

Thanks

[mariosisters]

new here, but daily user of twin famicom.

I have two models: original an-500b and turbo version an-505rd, both nesrgb modded the same way, using the same cables quality for video and sound.
without a doubt, an-500b is the winner for me; of course an-505rd has turbo controllers with longer cables and a led on power button, but the sound seems better on original one (perhaps because cost production have been reduced for later version?), design is cooler (subjective of course) and build looks more premium on an-500b.

also heard stock picture on turbo versions have more jailbars (picture looks the same to me but it's not stock pictures I have), and an-500r (original model, but red one) can have sound problem, so an-500b is the only one with no/less issues.

hope that help in your choice.

[Famicom.In.My.Blood]

Thanks, that helps me a lot !

I already have AN-500B model, so I'm glad to hear you consider it as the best Twin Famicom version.

I also prefer original design's over the turbo one, but the most important to me is picture and sound, so I search the best model for that for each console I have in my retrogaming setup; additional features as turbo buttons or longer cables don't interest me (especially because I play with another controller from the expansion port).

Thanks again

[schnuth]

I have the red one because it's red. I bought it on a trip to Japan in 2007 and it's still working great. It's a great system.

[Famicom.In.My.Blood]

Thanks for your answer.

Yeah, the red model is very cool, and this color was rare at this time for a console.

Twin Famicom is the best way to enjoy NES/FDS/Famicom games IMO, a premium and very reliable all-in-one (just needs an adapter for NES games^^).

[DDCecil]

I own a Black AN-505 (my favorite looking out of the 4) and I really like it. Haven't ever tried one of the original models of the TF, but if it really does sound better, I might have to look into it!

[poodude]

I love the Sharp turbo twin model. I have no issues with audio or video. It's also a great system to RGB mod with all the extra room inside.

[Armageddon64]

I had about ten first models (grey/black), some modded, other not, and I never had a problem.

So, I advise to get this one.

[Famicom.In.My.Blood]

I had about ten first models (grey/black), some modded, other not, and I never had a problem.

So, I advise to get this one.

Happy to know this model is so reliable !

I have this model, and indeed no issue for me too, but it's full recaped/revised by a professional, so I was hoping it will be like that

[Famicom.In.My.Blood]

505-R is the best, IMHO. Its orange and I think different is way cooler.

Yeah, Orange and Red Twin Famicom are very cool !

But, except that, what about reliability ? Some have also reported Turbo models have less good stock picture, and Red basic model could have sound issue (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1U7145k8J5c).

[Famicom.In.My.Blood]

/quote]

I have a 505-r and I use it all the time. Works perfectly. I rarely even use the turbo feature to be honest.

Does your Twin Famicom is RGB modded ?

[Famicom.In.My.Blood]

No, it is not. I am old and I prefer to play them as I did back in the day on my CRT

Play on CRT is the only right way to play Famicom, no matter if it's RGB, Composite, or RF (no, RF is too bad ).

[P]

I think RF is fine (if you have some way to get a picture from Japanese RF), it's what we used back in the day after all.

[Famicom.In.My.Blood]

I think RF is fine (if you have some way to get a picture from Japanese RF), it's what we used back in the day after all.

In my region, what we used back in the day was Composite. It was really the most basic connection possible. So, see RF after that is really something... hard to see !

But I understand of course it can be fine for people who have known it during their childhood.

By the way, natively, Twin Famicom has RF and Composite, that's right ?

[P]

You did? Most TV-sets didn't even have composite inputs when the Famicom were released AFAIK, and even though the NES did come with composite output you would have to buy the cable separately (it's just two male-to-male RCA cables for video and audio though) if your TV did support it.

Our family continued to use RF through both the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, and we didn't even know what composite was until the PS1 and N64 came which did include composite cables by default (and thankfully we had a new and better TV with SCART connectors and stereo speakers to make use of it).

I think RF and composite are both fine for the Famicom/NES, but RGB is a bit too inauthentic to me and it doesn't seem to be totally problem free either, so it's a no-thank-you for me.

RGB is fine and preferred on arcade systems like the VS System, computers like MSX, consoles like SFC, Megadrive, Saturn, PS1, PS2, Dreamcast and other systems that has RGB natively. But even on some of those there are known cases when composite is basically required, especially on the Megadrive as many games uses dithering to simulate transparency, and this effect only works on composite. The SFC also has a very rare case in Hoshi no Kirby 3 that also does this despite the hardware being able to produce real transparency.

I think RGB is semi-inauthentic on the PC-Engine. It does output it natively in the expansion port (although no official peripherals makes any kind of use of it AFAIK), and an RGB option may be nice to have, but I would never sacrifice composite for RGB for many reasons. Besides that games might not be designed for RGB output in mind, there are several hardware features (like the black & white mode) which simply doesn't work with its RGB output due to how the system is made.

By the way, natively, Twin Famicom has RF and Composite, that's right ?

I'm not sure but according to Wikipedia the Twin only has composite video output (RCA), despite Japanese TV-sets with composite being very rare at the time. Also according to Wikipedia an RF-modulator for the Twin was released separately for people with only RF input in their TV.
The AV Famicom can use the same separate RF-modulator as N64 can, but that's for the MULTIOUT port found on those systems which the Twin doesn't have, so the Twin must have its own special RF-modulator. I don't think I've ever seen it.