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NEC PC-Engine/SuperGrafx => PC Engine/SuperGrafx Discussion => Topic started by: Blammo on January 30, 2011, 11:10:46 PM

Title: Differences between Duo and Duo-R?
Post by: Blammo on January 30, 2011, 11:10:46 PM

I'm currently bidding on a nice-looking Japanese Duo-R for my first (and hopefully only, as I don't want to be in the position of needing another...) NEC system. I read in an old Edge Retro compendium that was released back in 2003 that the PC Engine Duo was actually superior to the Duo-R in some way or other, as it had apparently had some cost-cutting applied to it.

I've been unable to find any specific information though. Anyone know what the practical (i.e. apart from the case design) differences are?

Title: Re: Differences between Duo and Duo-R?
Post by: Tatsujin on January 30, 2011, 11:31:18 PM

duo = separate and adjustable earphone output.
duo-r = no separate and adjustable earphone output.

altough over the years, the duo-r has proven to be more reliable regarding sound issues and general breakdowns. but this could be also due to its later release time.

Title: Re: Differences between Duo and Duo-R?
Post by: SignOfZeta on January 31, 2011, 12:07:38 AM

Its a bit thicker, its white, it has no headphone jack, the door lock is gone, the AV port has moved from the side to the back...all of these differences are pretty much meaningless when compared to the fact that original Duos seem to pretty much all have leaking capacitors at this point, and Duo Rs for some reason don't. If you can find a "re-capped" original Duo, that would be OK, but I wouldn't get one unless its been overhauled.

On a side note, remember when a system had to have a headphone jack to be taken seriously? Man, those were the days...

Title: Re: Differences between Duo and Duo-R?
Post by: BlueBMW on January 31, 2011, 03:53:13 AM

I use my Genesis 1 more over the 2 simply because it has a headphones port.

If you find a regular pc engine duo there are still a few of us who do the cap swaps and region mods on them.

Title: Re: Differences between Duo and Duo-R?
Post by: SignOfZeta on January 31, 2011, 04:42:35 AM

When I first had a Genesis I sat in my tiny little Japanese-sized apartment playing Sonic 2 a foot away from from Commodore 1702 with headphones on. Back then I made $5.25 an hour and even a semi-decent home theater systems was $6000+.

People expect more now, it seems, but I had more fun with that old junk then than I do with new shit. When I got my house I chose the smallest room in it to be the game room and packed it so full of 16-bit gear there is barely place to sit. Returning to the womb, I guess.

Title: Re: Differences between Duo and Duo-R?
Post by: esteban on February 01, 2011, 02:58:05 PM

Quote from: SignOfZeta on January 31, 2011, 04:42:35 AM

Returning to the womb, I guess.

Precisely. Cozy little rooms are nice to relax in.

They get cramped when 5 people are playing MotoRoader, though :)

Title: Re: Differences between Duo and Duo-R?
Post by: Tatsujin on February 01, 2011, 03:06:54 PM

I like little rooms over big rooms.