PCEngine-FX.com

Hello everyone I'm new here to this amazing site and was just wondering If any of you could help me out with this .. I already own a Turbografx 16 and 2 Turbografx 16 expresses .. Ive been trying to get my hands on a Us Duo but I have had no luck finding one for a reasonable price online .. After doing some research I found out I could get a newer version of the Duo from Japan and just do a region mod myself .. So my question is, would a Duo-r be better to buy over the older Us duo ??? I'm looking for longevity and not so much rarity in the console I decide to buy ...

A region modded Japanese Duo or Duo R would be the cheapest way to go to play all the NEC games...

Thanks for the reply .. I read that the Tg 16 cd breaks down quite a bit plus you also need a system 3.0 card to play the better games so that's out of the question .. And I also read the first gen Duo's also have problems breaking down on people quite often .. But what I was wondering was, is the Duo-r a better made console over the Us first gen Duo ???

There are mixed feelings on which is better, but I prefer the black PCE Duo/Turbo Duo.  A simple cap change fixes most issues.

I know from reading the repair threads here that 1st gen Duos do seem to have cap problems, but that's a relatively simple/inexpensive fix if you can find one for a good price.

As far as the TGCD, not sure it totally deserves a rep for breaking down, but I may just be lucky that mine has logged probably 1000s of hours and been running since 1990.

personally, I haven't seen much of a difference between a Duo and a Duo-r/-rx
I'd say to just go with the one you like the looks of better, and if it's a regular duo, make sure the caps are replaced, or get them replaced.
I went with the Duo-R myself, as i just like the looks of that system, and i got a hell of a deal on mine.

Depending on the price of a US Turbo grafx it may not be much more to have it region modded to use the much cheaper 3.0 JP super CD card.

The OG Duo looks the best! What a sexy beast! The DUOR is a solid system but looks kind of like a 90's Ford sedan to me.

I had to think about that comment for a bit. So if the duo-r is a 90s sedan with its curves then the original duo must be an 80s muscle car since it's more blocky(84 mustang)?

Quote from: Keith Courage on 10/30/2012, 01:12 AMI had to think about that comment for a bit. So if the duo-r is a 90s sedan with its curves then the original duo must be an 80s muscle car since it's more blocky(84 mustang)?

Nah, more late 60's style.  :)

hmm, that might be why i like the Duo-R...
I've always been more about the nice luxury cars, rather than the manly manly muscle cars.
that said, the OG duo is a nice machine, i just prefer the R.

I don't mind the curves on the Duo-R, I think they look nice. If they made the R's in black that would be cool too.

TG16+Turbo-CD:It's flaw gears in the cd-rom can break and need to be replaced,btw keith and chop5 do offer a fix for it.

PCE/Turbo Duo:It's flaw sound issue from worn out capacitor's which needed to be replaced.

Duo-R&RX:It's flaw none that i know and the most reliable model out there.

Still what pce you want is up to to you nec.game.head.My current setup is a duo-r and it runs fine still.Now i have a TG16+Turbo-CD as well but i own one for nostalgia sake,since it was the first console i had by nec.

the black duo with new caps should be as reliable as any later builds.
the later duo uses a cheap composite board (as does the TG16) easily cracked if abused.
the black duo uses a high impact fiberglass board and high impact housing.
the DUO-RX is the same as the -R except for an upgraded CD drive.
when playing a badly scratched disc, or bad CDR the duo laser can get stuck at the outer edge, the -RX cannot.

Quote from: Keith Courage on 10/30/2012, 01:12 AMI had to think about that comment for a bit. So if the duo-r is a 90s sedan with its curves then the original duo must be an 80s muscle car since it's more blocky(84 mustang)?

80's Irocs are cooler!

If you had to compare the black Duo to a car, I'd say its definitely a Grand National or 80s Trans Am

Quote from: Bernie on 10/30/2012, 01:36 AM

Quote from: Keith Courage on 10/30/2012, 01:12 AMI had to think about that comment for a bit. So if the duo-r is a 90s sedan with its curves then the original duo must be an 80s muscle car since it's more blocky(84 mustang)?

Nah, more late 60's style.  :)

I prefer the U.S. TurboDuo better look 60's style :P

i have both and i do like the look of the original duo its a nice looking machine and if its been re-capped its all good.

Quote from: tpivette on 10/30/2012, 03:09 PMIf you had to compare the black Duo to a car, I'd say its definitely a Grand National or 80s Trans Am

ohh i love american muscle cars would give my left arm and testicle for a 69 carmaro or a pontaic firebird

Quote from: thesteve on 10/30/2012, 12:15 PMthe black duo with new caps should be as reliable as any later builds.
the later duo uses a cheap composite board (as does the TG16) easily cracked if abused.
the black duo uses a high impact fiberglass board and high impact housing.
the DUO-RX is the same as the -R except for an upgraded CD drive.
when playing a badly scratched disc, or bad CDR the duo laser can get stuck at the outer edge, the -RX cannot.

Nice breakdown!  I've never seen the pros and cons so concisely stated.

I'm glad I've got a Duo-RX though, it's served me admirably so far.

Quote from: guest on 10/30/2012, 05:36 PM

Quote from: thesteve on 10/30/2012, 12:15 PMthe black duo with new caps should be as reliable as any later builds.
the later duo uses a cheap composite board (as does the TG16) easily cracked if abused.
the black duo uses a high impact fiberglass board and high impact housing.
the DUO-RX is the same as the -R except for an upgraded CD drive.
when playing a badly scratched disc, or bad CDR the duo laser can get stuck at the outer edge, the -RX cannot.

Nice breakdown!  I've never seen the pros and cons so concisely stated.

Yeah, this should be reposted and stickied. People have been asking about this once a week. The only thing I would add is that CD-ROM's also handle CD-Rs fairly well, better than black Duo's. (Of course, anyone who wants to play CD-Rs should just get a USB controller or a modded XBOX, rather than wearing out lenses, replacing them, and stripping screws in rare, original hardware.)

Quote from: thesteve on 10/30/2012, 12:15 PMthe black duo with new caps should be as reliable as any later builds.
the later duo uses a cheap composite board (as does the TG16) easily cracked if abused.
the black duo uses a high impact fiberglass board and high impact housing.
the DUO-RX is the same as the -R except for an upgraded CD drive.
when playing a badly scratched disc, or bad CDR the duo laser can get stuck at the outer edge, the -RX cannot.

What is upgraded on the RX cd drive?  I thought it was always stated that the only difference was the controller, and cosmetic (color, logo, etc)...

the large gear that moves the laser has had a clutch added, so it can slip if the motor attempts to drive the sled through a wall.

a good laser on a black duo has no issues with CDR's

Quote from: fraggore on 10/30/2012, 05:30 PM

Quote from: tpivette on 10/30/2012, 03:09 PMIf you had to compare the black Duo to a car, I'd say its definitely a Grand National or 80s Trans Am

ohh i love american muscle cars would give my left arm and testicle for a 69 carmaro or a pontaic firebird

I do like American muscle cars but the Duo no doubt has Japanese roots.  I'd compare it to a Honda NSX: both made in Japan in the same era and both have a exotic style/design.    

Here's a funny similarity to the Duo: The NSX also suffers from defective/leaky caps in the climate control unit.

Wow I got more responses then I thought I would .. You guys all helped me out quite a bit on giving me all the specs, and the differences on each gen Duo .. Now I most definitely know what I'm going to buy, an original black Jp Duo pre modded from a person on this site for a good price .. Buy a couple of Obey chips from another dude on this site, and hunt down a sexy Duo-Rx in the box complete and install the mod chip myself .. The beastly black duo will be in my living room for all my buddies to enjoy with me, and the white sexy bitch of a Duo-Rx will be in my bedroom just for myself to use !!! I had a great time reading all your post on the likes and preferences of each one's taste on all the kick ass Duo's that were ever made ..
                                            THANK YOU GUYS ALL SO MUCH !!!

Glad we could help.  :)

Quote from: Nec.Game.head on 10/31/2012, 12:35 PMWow I got more responses then I thought I would .. You guys all helped me out quite a bit on giving me all the specs, and the differences on each gen Duo .. Now I most definitely know what I'm going to buy, an original black Jp Duo pre modded from a person on this site for a good price .. Buy a couple of Obey chips from another dude on this site, and hunt down a sexy Duo-Rx in the box complete and install the mod chip myself .. The beastly black duo will be in my living room for all my buddies to enjoy with me, and the white sexy bitch of a Duo-Rx will be in my bedroom just for myself to use !!! I had a great time reading all your post on the likes and preferences of each one's taste on all the kick ass Duo's that were ever made ..
                                            THANK YOU GUYS ALL SO MUCH !!! 

You're welcome on the advice here.

I had no idea there was a difference in Duo R and RX lasers. Thanks, Professor Steve!

the laser is the same, its an upgrade to the same mech (interchangeable)