Affordable solution for VGA inputs into a receiver?

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by delux247

Hey all,

I'm planning on purchasing an Onkyo 606 in the very near future, but do have one question about inputs.

I currently use a VGA cord to get 480P out of my Sega Dreamcast. My Sony SXRD has a VGA port, so it works out great. But now that I'm upgrading to a receiver, what do I do with my VGA? My composite, S-Video and HDMI ports on the 606 will already be filled up with other goodies in my home theater, leaving me with one extra component port. I already experimented with a VGA to Component cord, but it worked very poorly, leaving my screen filled with black bands while the Dreamcast was on. Obviously, the signal wasn't properly converted in the process.

I have seen transcoders available on the net that suit my needs, but they range anywhere from $100 for the cheapest solution and all the way up to $500, and that's a little overkill for getting my Dreamcast to play via component.

So my question is, does anybody know of a way to go from VGA to component without spending more than say, $50? Any help is much appreciated.

There's no reason to change your current setup with the Dreamcast. I have my Dreamcast hooked up to my Sony SXRD via the VGA port, just as you do, and that won't change with a new receiver. Just keep that, and run your Dreamcast stereo cables to the audio inputs on your new receiver. Are you using a Dreamcast VGA box, which connects to the Dreamcast and by another VGA cable to the TV, or are you using a Dreamcast VGA cable, which goes directly from the Dreamcast to the box. If you're using a Dreamcast VGA box, then there are Stereo output jacks on it. Simply hook a cable between the stereo output and your new receiver input jacks, and you'll be set.

Why do you feel the need to change that? Any change through use of an adapter, or the Dreamcast S video cable will give you a worse picture. You'll just have to change video inputs manually when using Dreamcast, because the VGA cable won't go through the receiver for video switching. If you want to make it easier on yourself, get a Harmony remote which will do all the switching for you at the push of a button.

Don't change how you have the Dreamcast set up. You've got it right, even with a new receiver.