Gemini:
When connecting a PAL Super Nintendo (SNES) to an American (NTSC) television, it is very common to get a washed-out or too-bright image, or sometimes no color at all
. This is due to the fundamental differences in how PAL and NTSC consoles and video cables process and transmit analog color signals.
The technical reason for the washed-out colors
The cause of the washed-out or overly bright image is an impedance mismatch between the console and the cable:
- PAL SNES consoles are designed to work with a cable that has a specific 75-ohm load resistor on the video signal line.
- NTSC SNES consoles and cables do not require or include this resistor, as the impedance is handled differently by the console and TV.
- When you use a standard NTSC cable with a PAL console, the missing resistor causes the video signal’s voltage to be roughly twice the standard level. This overdriven signal results in a bright, washed-out, and desaturated picture on your TV