SONY PVM-1354Q as Test Bench Monitor - 5 Stars!!

mrbill08

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I got tired of repairing and wrestling with the unreliable commodore 1084s 13" monitors. After a bit of research, I settled on a Sony PVM-1354Q studio quality 13" .25mm dot pitch trinitron tube monitor. Found one on ebay for about $75 including shipping so I pulled the trigger. This baby does everything I want and more - supports 15.75kHZ RGB input just like the 1084 but a whole lot more - has separate inputs for NTSC (you can watch cable on it when not repairing a board) and PAL, and full on screen menu adjustments for color temperature, on screen display, etc. , - has an amplified audio input to boot. It has a beautiful clear and bright picture. No more 1084s for me!! I immediately went out and bought another one on ebay. You can also underscan the image and other great features, too many to mention here. After much frustration, my search for a reliable bench monitor is over. The RGB input is with BNC connectors. I bought a couple of Apple monitor cables that go from individual RGBS BNCs to a 9 pin D sub with standard CGA pinout on ebay for 2 bucks each.

It is enclosed in a nice case so no worries about dropping anything in it or shock hazards. You can put stuff on top of it.

I have used it for over 3 weeks now to repair PACMANs, a couple of JAMMA boards, a couple of Galaxians, a Konami Track and Field, and a couple of Gottlieb titles (using the simple sync combiner circuit that is well published) and no sync issues at all.

Check it out if you are looking for a test monitor for your bench.

Bill
 
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Nice :)

I have one of those and the smaller version of it that I use for working on old game consoles. Nice to know they'll work in a pinch if my 9" test monitor ever gives up the ghost.

I was planning on using it as a dedicated bench monitor with my Kurz Kasch unit for repairing old old game boards once the new shop is built.

RJ
 
Does this also support VGA (maybe via the BNC connectors)? Looking for a monitor I can use to test console systems, arcade boards and computers.
 
Can't agree more. I have the 14" version of that same monitor. Has the RGB BNC inputs on the back and looks awesome.

Works wonderfully for RGB modded consoles too, My Genesis looks incredible.
 
Not that I know of... doesn't mean there aren't any though.
 
If you go with one of those monitors I have some composite to RGB converter boards here that came from various laser disc games you could use with that monitor to support composite.

RJ
 
I've been using one of the $40 arcade CGA/VGA converters plugged into a VGA LCD monitor for a make-shift JAMMA testing setup. Works well, only takes a few minutes to set up (will be even faster once I get adapter cables built instead of just using test clips for everything). It's also nice because it doesn't take a bunch of room on the bench.

I'm considering mounting the converter to the back of the LCD monitor on the VESA mounts just to keep it out of the way. It'll also become a "permanent" part of the monitor that way. Right now it just flops around on the bench.
 
Might end up doing that if I can't find one of those NECs. Got a feeling they don't show up often...
 
I just picked up one of these monitors. What BNC / RBG cables do I need to have as a test bench monitor?
 
I didn't look at the date of the first post and was shocked he found one for $75 shipped.

Not anymore!

Can't answer your question, but that's a necro-bump for sure. 13 years ago!
 
I've been using a 1084 monitor for years now. Every few years it starts to whine and I have to open it up and resolder the flyback. I was about to comment on how extra it is to use a high quality PVM for a tester monitor, but then I remembered I use a Neo Geo AES joystick as my main testing stick lol.

I have actually heard that PVMs aren't great for arcade repair because the sync range isn't great.
 
I've been using a 1084 monitor for years now. Every few years it starts to whine and I have to open it up and resolder the flyback. I was about to comment on how extra it is to use a high quality PVM for a tester monitor, but then I remembered I use a Neo Geo AES joystick as my main testing stick lol.

I have actually heard that PVMs aren't great for arcade repair because the sync range isn't great.

The PVM SYNC range is great! It's 15.734 kHz. :ROFLMAO:

They are studio monitors designed for standard definition TV. That means they expect HSYNC to come in real close to 15.734 kHz. They are somewhat forgiving there....I know that one of mine will sync down to 15.700 kHz. But they won't sync to other higher frequencies like 17 Khz, or 25 kHz, or 31 kHz. Because they aren't supposed to.
 
I've been using a 1084 monitor for years now. Every few years it starts to whine and I have to open it up and resolder the flyback. I was about to comment on how extra it is to use a high quality PVM for a tester monitor, but then I remembered I use a Neo Geo AES joystick as my main testing stick lol.

I have actually heard that PVMs aren't great for arcade repair because the sync range isn't great.

They don't like Nintendo.
 
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