UNICO 26 inch Arcade Monitor, 4:3 Ratio LCD Gaming Monitor for HDMI/VGA/CGA/EGA Arcade Machine, Easy Install Monitor Arcade Accessories - 26inch

I am very happy there is finally a 4:3 aspect ratio flat screen monitor option for arcade machines in the 25inch or bigger category. This is easily the best option for actual arcade machines to replace CRT monitors with flat screens, for those who do not want to deal with arcade CRT monitors. At least until Unico releases their Pro model next year.Scaling may not be Retrotink5x/OSSC quality, but it is DEFINTIELY better than using a GBS-8200 on a standard PC monitor.Color is good, brightness and contrast is good. Viewing angles are decently good for an LCD, especially for an arcade cabinet where spectators like to watch from different angles.Definitely watch some youtube reviews on this before buying so you know what you are getting, cause there are issues. But despite the criticisms, there are work arounds for them (which Unico says they are fixing).I HIGHLY recommend you pick up one of those $13 CGA to VGA adapters off ebay. That way instead of plugging an arcade JAMMA board's RGBS signal directly into the monitor's RGBS input, you are plugging the signal into the monitor's VGA input. This monitor's VGA input will still read the RGBS 15khz signal, but through the VGA input will properly detect the signal's voltage correctly, and you wont have the contrast issues like many boards are having. This is how I get the monitor to look as good as it is on my Neo Geo.With Mortal Kombat games, the scaling does cut off some of the top and bottom of the screen, and it is not adjustable. But it is not a dealbreaker by any means. Gameplay area still good.Monitor powers up on its own when power is applied with no issues. None of that company logo pop up crap when turning on, which is my biggest beef when going the PC monitor/GBS8200 route (my Street Fighter 2 and MK1 currently dealing with this until I fix my spare CRTs or buy two more of these monitors).I do wish there was some mounting kit options for replacing standard 25 inch wells gardner monitors in Midway cabinets or things like that. But its not a heavy monitor by any means, and easy to buy some wood or metal and screws and rig something up, which is what I ended up doing for my Neo Geo. At a glance and even up close, looks like a factory install.Native resolution is 1204x768 fyi for those who plan on using this on a MAME device, or even as just a standard PC monitor.Unico talked on the 19kfox podcast that not only with the updated pro model that is coming out next year with the better resolution, that they are also going to sell upgraded circuit boards for this monitor here. So I am looking forward to that as well.I still plan on putting a CRT back in my Neo Geo as I prefer that in arcade machines (I'm a CRT purist for arcade hardware), but this Unico is growing on my and the best alternative, and I definitely will keep one of these around as a back up regardless.If I ever get tired of dealing with CRTs, and can't wait a year for the pro model, I'd definitely use these instead.

The media could not be loaded. I am writing a review based on quality and functionality. I want to start off by saying how impressed I was with the fitment with replacing my 27” CRT that came in my Tokyo Drift arcade machines. These monitors will need some fabrication in order to fit properly*. Over all I am quite impressed with the picture quality after spending some time adjusting the settings to mimic the effect of the CRT. These met my expectations for replacing my monitors. Well worth the money if you want to keep the original aspect ratio of the CRT.

To most arcade owners, and LCD swap is a downgrade. I have dozens of machines and some will never, ever get an LCD as long as I can still find tubes. But I have a Global VR Classics machine and the 25" tri-sync in it is absurdly expensive to fix. For the same price I upgraded to the LCD since the output is already VGA in that machine. I just had to make a custom wood frame for the LCD to sit in. Piece of cake. Colors look amazing and I didn't need to adjust a thing. Having the machine in a break room at the office means I don't have to worry about a tube monitor having issues over time. Much more reliable in this situation. Love it!

Right at the bat picture was perfect from all edges. Colors are rich and just right. Happy with the monitor.

So this is a monitor I want to love. As an arcade enthusiast, finally having a 26” 4:3 option in a display should be awesome. And for the specific use of running old 4:3 content that was low res to start with, this thing does the job. But it does it kind of ugly. The panel is a mediocre 1024x768 (maybe). I was able to set it to 1280x960 in windows using an HDMI to VGA adapter, but since this panel was announced, it has been pretty confusing to try and glean what the panel’s REAL native resolution really is. Which leads into point two, I am using the VGA input instead of the HDMI input because the panel has a weird controller that over the HDMI has issues with squishing the image. Online people seem to think the display has a controller board from a 768p television which makes the controller think it’s wide screen even tho it is not. But on the VGA input I had no issues getting a real 4:3 resolution that filled the screen and didn’t look distorted. Obviously, 1024x768 or even 1280x960 look terrible in windows desktop on a 26 inch panel. It works. You can use it if you need to… but you’re not gonna want to daily drive this display for your PC. However, you wouldn’t buy this for a normal desktop, so maybe that doesn’t matter. If you are running older 4:3 content, it looks great for that. The rub is that this is pretty pricey as monitors go. And the monitor is mediocre at best. But it is literally the only larger 4:3 display out there. So when it came to fitting the largest possible display for old arcade games into a cab built for 27” 16:9 displays, this was pretty much the only option, warts and all. And to be fair, for that specific use case, which is the intended audience for this panel, the warts don’t get in the way so much.

This is a great monitor for retro video game crt replacement because it scans CGA,VGA HDMI. Very well in the original 4:3 aspect ratio. However, they don’t always work out of the box- slight pressure on the screen causes monitor to shut off and if you release pressure it turns on again ( and I mean slight). I have purchased about 11 of these and needed to open the back and insulate the boards from the chassis multiple communications with the company said they would ask engineering exactly where it may be shorting out, but finally they replied engineer is too busy. What a joke- luckily I have been able to repair all that were defective but I shouldn’t need to do that. If you’re not a tech, stay away from these!

BEWARE! Do not buy this item! It died after 6 months. We paid close to $400 and they will not give us our money back.

Amazing product, it is the perfect width for the cabinet I have. the screen is clear and perfect, i should have done it years ago!