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NEC PC-Engine/SuperGrafx => PC Engine/SuperGrafx Discussion => Topic started by: juggernaut on July 08, 2007, 02:10:11 AM

Title: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: juggernaut on July 08, 2007, 02:10:11 AM
One of my friends is in Japan at the moment. I have asked him to find me a nice complete RX, if the price is right. He mailed me back with prices of the PCE consoles. All boxed. Since the japanese tend to re-seal their consoles, he could not confirm if the packages included styrofoam, instructions etc.

Duo-RX : $265
DUO-R : $165
DUO : $91 (!!!)

Now im just wondering why the heck, DUO is so cheap compared to the RX.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: FM-77 on July 08, 2007, 02:12:18 AM
Because everybody wants the latest and greatest! The Duo is old and ugly (and features hardware problems), whereas the RX is exotic and rare. Nobody bought the RX back then since it was identical to the Duo-R, and it was too late in the PCE's life cycle.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 08, 2007, 02:30:28 AM
I've noticed it go the other way around on ebay lately. I was confused actually.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: FM-77 on July 08, 2007, 02:46:44 AM
That's not true. The American Duo is generally more expensive as it was the only model to get released there. The Japanese Duo is the cheapest model of them all.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Tatsujin on July 08, 2007, 02:52:45 AM
NEVER seen a complete/boxed DUO for below the US$150 recently (means the last two years)!! there's somethiung wrong.

the DUO normally is slightly below the DUO-R. the RX can reach the US$300 mark, if complete/mint!!
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: juggernaut on July 08, 2007, 03:26:43 AM
I really thought the Duo (JP/US) was the icing on the cake for cd lovers. The american Duo on the other hand is expensive, true. Despite their hardware issues, people seem to prefer the black model, and that confuses me. It has to be a matter of taste, i guess.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 08, 2007, 03:34:12 AM
within the past month I've seen reputable japanese ebay vendors selling pcengine duos for more than pcengine duo-rs and rxs. I didn't mean the american one, haha.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: juggernaut on July 08, 2007, 03:44:52 AM
Dream Stars have this on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-ENGINE-DUO-SYSTEM-pc-engine-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ300083867077QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4315QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
Expensive? Perhaps. Personally i would go all the way, and grab this baby instead:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-ENGINE-DUO-RX-SYSTEM-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ300123001812QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4315QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Black Tiger on July 08, 2007, 04:53:36 AM
I've always been able to find Duo RX's for about the same price as R's, which is why I bought a boxed RX.

I believe that their 'potential' prices are based on rarity. Since the PCE Duo sold well for years, before being replaced with the Duo R which didn't get to sell for as long before being replaced with the RX which came near the end of the PCE's lifespan.

And of course, the Turbo Duo is rarest of all. But really, completest North American collectors like to collect U.S. consoles and there aren't as many who go crazy for imports. They're also usually more misinformed about non-mainstream stuff like Turbo and are driven solely on perceived rarezness when driving up prices for stuff like Dynastic Hero, Super Airzonk and Bonk 3.

And even the few who actually intended on fooling themselves that they may one day actually accidentally play some games, their ignorance of the console as a whole leads them to buy a U.S. system so they don't have to deal with figuring out how to operate some strange foreign machine.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 08, 2007, 12:36:47 PM
I just enjoy playing, not collecting. but all collectors of Turbo/pce have my respect. I would play whatever duo worked us or japan.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Joe Redifer on July 08, 2007, 01:01:37 PM
How is the RX controller?  It looks awesome.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Tatsujin on July 08, 2007, 01:20:55 PM
It looks awesome.
and plays awful.

basically it's the same as for the PC-FX (exept for the different connector).
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Keranu on July 08, 2007, 01:34:08 PM
I disagree with Tatsujin and think it's a very good controller. My main complaint is that the buttons aren't nice American concave style like the Avenue Pad 6.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: MrFulci on July 08, 2007, 02:43:41 PM
The Black Duo is nice. I have the US version, it's not presented me with any issues.

The Black Duo has a headphone-out jack, and volume wheel for that jack, the R and RX lack that.

Most of the complaints I've read concerning malfunctioning sound on Duo's, seems to involve the Black Duo's. I've not read quite so much abotu similar issues with the white systems (R's). Either, this is due to more of the regular Duo's being out there (And that they are a bit older), or that somethign was changed with the R's.

I've read that the R's use the same board, etc that the regular Duo uses, however, it lacks the headphone jack.

Parts may have changed with the Duo-R's. Perhaps, they used better quality parts in some areas.


In general, I've read more folsk having issues with the regular Duo, as opposed to the R and RX
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 08, 2007, 04:18:08 PM
do you guys think that the rx pad is better that the hori one? I've been looking for both, but results have unfortunately come up dry.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Black Tiger on July 08, 2007, 04:33:02 PM
I disagree with Tatsujin and think it's a very good controller. My main complaint is that the buttons aren't nice American concave style like the Avenue Pad 6.


I disagree with Keranu and think its not a very good controller. The d-pad is the main culprit, its pretty hard to street fight with. The buttons aren't as nice as regular PCE/Turbo pads either, but not as garbage as the d-pad is.  :P
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Tatsujin on July 08, 2007, 04:34:28 PM
I disagree with Tatsujin and think it's a very good controller. My main complaint is that the buttons aren't nice American concave style like the Avenue Pad 6.

yeah..but i really hate its shape, it's too clumsey. and the d-cross isn't by far that good as those from the ancient controllers.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: nat on July 08, 2007, 05:10:09 PM
I'll add my opinion, since everyone else is. :P My experience is only with the PC-FX controller, although I understand it's identical to the Duo-RX controller.

My feelings lie somewhere in between; I feel the controller is neither spectacular nor crap.

Contrary to Tatsujin, I think it feels very comfortable hold and this is it's biggest advantage. The six buttons feel fine not being concave. But like Mr. Tiger, I believe the biggest issue is with the D-pad which just doesn't feel quite right somehow. Not something that makes you want to commit suicide, like the D-pad on the "Battle Pad", but not warm and squishy like... well, nevermind.

The NEC Avenue 6 button pad is a better controller, all around.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Black Tiger on July 08, 2007, 06:20:03 PM
I'll add my opinion, since everyone else is. :P My experience is only with the PC-FX controller, although I understand it's identical to the Duo-RX controller.

My feelings lie somewhere in between; I feel the controller is neither spectacular nor crap.

Contrary to Tatsujin, I think it feels very comfortable hold and this is it's biggest advantage. The six buttons feel fine not being concave. But like Mr. Tiger, I believe the biggest issue is with the D-pad which just doesn't feel quite right somehow. Not something that makes you want to commit suicide, like the D-pad on the "Battle Pad", but not warm and squishy like... well, nevermind.

The NEC Avenue 6 button pad is a better controller, all around.

Its most noticible when you try playing a PC Engine game with a regular or Ave pad and then switch to the RX pad.

The FX pad seems fine because its pretty much all anybody has for PC-FX.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 08, 2007, 08:25:59 PM
what do you guys think about the hori commander?
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: WoodyXP on July 08, 2007, 09:53:39 PM

It's a great pad.. if I had smaller hands I'd prefer it to my RX pad.  It has a thin and rigid
feel to it... kinda like an Ave. 6.  That's my only knock on it.  If you want a Hori controller
for your PCE you should get a Fighting stick.  That's my fave.


what do you guys think about the hori commander?
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 08, 2007, 10:08:54 PM
cool, thanx for the review man. Whenever I play my buddy with my avenue 6 pads, he complains about them. I think he is just mad cuz I really beat his ass on sf2, lmao, so he blames the controller. I'm open to trying the other 6 button pads and joysticks, if I ever find any for sale that is, haha.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Tatsujin on July 09, 2007, 12:57:35 AM
what do you guys think about the hori commander?

the problem was, i always ripped against those turboswitches which where placed to near to the d-pad. especially when playing SFII'.
beside of that, a fabulous pad!!
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: spenoza on July 10, 2007, 09:12:31 AM
OK, I used to have an old TG-16 + CD-ROM system so I never did go all nuts over the Duo. What were these hardware problems the Duo was notorious for? Also, how does a PC-Engine + CD-ROM + Super System compare to a Duo quality-wise?
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Keranu on July 10, 2007, 10:12:45 AM
I don't know why you guys are dissin' on the RX pad's d-pad because I thought it was better than the Avenue Pad 6's myself. Not the best d-pad (I think the Neo Geo Pocket's click stick is the ultimate for fighting games), but decent. Avenue Pad 6 looks really awesome, but I was pretty unimpressed with it when I finally got one.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Joe Redifer on July 10, 2007, 12:27:26 PM
'spenoza, The TG+CD-ROM will offer identical performance to the Duo from everything I have seen, that is if you have the proper System Cards.  The loading times are the same or at least seem to be.  Sometimes my TG-16 + CD will "forget" to load and just sit there during a game.  A very slight bump to the TG-16 will cause it to reseek (don't open the lid on the TG CD-ROM!).  Not sure if the Duo ever "forgets".  Many Duos have bad capacitors in the audio lines for sound produced by the CD player, and when those capacitors go bad, the CD audio dies.  The TG-16+CD does not do this because each unit was injected with an extra dose of "awesome" before leaving the plant.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 10, 2007, 03:14:03 PM
My turbo grafx cd takes 20 minutes to warm up before loading dracula x  and my duo's audio is blown out  :x
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: nodtveidt on July 10, 2007, 03:43:01 PM
'spenoza, The TG+CD-ROM will offer identical performance to the Duo from everything I have seen, that is if you have the proper System Cards.  The loading times are the same or at least seem to be.  Sometimes my TG-16 + CD will "forget" to load and just sit there during a game.  A very slight bump to the TG-16 will cause it to reseek (don't open the lid on the TG CD-ROM!).  Not sure if the Duo ever "forgets".  Many Duos have bad capacitors in the audio lines for sound produced by the CD player, and when those capacitors go bad, the CD audio dies.  The TG-16+CD does not do this because each unit was injected with an extra dose of "awesome" before leaving the plant.
We've been over the load time discussion a few times on this forum. The Duo models are slightly faster for loading because the laser assembly can move about quicker. Also, the Duo *can* "forget"...the one I had back in the day once completely froze up while loading the last boss fight in Riot Zone. But that was the only real problem I ever had with it...I didn't own it long enough for it to start developing sound problems. All Duos should get a laser replacement though. :)
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: nat on July 10, 2007, 04:31:01 PM
My turbo grafx cd takes 20 minutes to warm up

What, like an old Chrysler?

You have to start 'er up in the morning and let it idle in the driveway for 20 minutes before taking it for a spin (play a game)? That's pretty goofy if you ask me.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: TR0N on July 10, 2007, 05:28:47 PM
Dream Stars have this on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-ENGINE-DUO-SYSTEM-pc-engine-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ300083867077QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4315QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
Expensive? Perhaps. Personally i would go all the way, and grab this baby instead:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PC-ENGINE-DUO-RX-SYSTEM-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ300123001812QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4315QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

This thread has explained the reason for the prices in duos.

Still to me a duo-r or rx is your best bet to get one that works.

Btw dreamstarsjapan is a top notch seller that's where i got my duo-r at.

The seller isn't cheap, but the service is great and you get what you pay for  8)
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 10, 2007, 08:46:15 PM
My turbo grafx cd takes 20 minutes to warm up

What, like an old Chrysler?

You have to start 'er up in the morning and let it idle in the driveway for 20 minutes before taking it for a spin (play a game)? That's pretty goofy if you ask me.

haha, ya its just like that. It never used to be. One day after I hadn't played it in awhile, I started it up to play dracula x that had just come in the mail and I was like;"wtf?" I don't know what happened to it.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: nat on July 11, 2007, 03:31:55 AM
I'm genuinely interested -- what's involved in the "warm-up" process?
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: spenoza on July 11, 2007, 01:19:20 PM
Has anyone tried replacing the capacitors in the audio system in the Duo early on, to prevent audio death?
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 11, 2007, 03:54:14 PM
I'm genuinely interested -- what's involved in the "warm-up" process?

well, you turn it on, push start so it says loading, then you come back in twenty minutes and hope the game has loaded.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: MrFulci on July 11, 2007, 03:57:26 PM
I had an issue with my TG-CD add-on for the TG-16. It would work for a while, though after an hour or so, it would take a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time to load. I'd have to save my game, let it rest, and hope when I returned it would play fine.

This sucked a lot on Cosmic Fantasy 2, as I had to wait 2 min or so for the battle to load, and exit.

I think the laser became weak. Still not to sure, as it happened sporadically. I sold the system a while ago.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 11, 2007, 04:03:01 PM
I thought about selling it, but I didn't want to rip anyone off, haha. I'd hate to get my hopes up only to recieve a dud in the mail.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: MrFulci on July 11, 2007, 04:42:51 PM
You don't have to rip someone off to sell it. Just be direct in your description. You won't receive as much $$ for it, however I'm certain you'd find a buyer!

Then again, you mentioned your Duo has bad audio. Slow loading may be the lesser of the 2 flaws.
Title: Re: Why such a big price difference in PCE consoles?
Post by: Turbo D on July 11, 2007, 09:09:26 PM
I had been playing my duo all day long for 3 days with ys book 1 & 2. I believe I was almost through book 2 when I heard a loud distortion scrambling sound. I was like;"wtf?" and then there was no sound. I can hear a very slight sound from headphones if I turn the volume on the headphone port all the way up, but nothing from the t.v. I've been planning on doing the fix, but haven't had time yet. Maybe next week.