How to recognise a "Heavy Sixer" Atari 2600 VCS

http://www.retrogamingcollector.com ----------------

Many people are aware of the Atari 2600 Sunnyvale Heavy Sixer, and know that it is worth more than the common Hong Kong built 6 switch woody, but don't know how to tell the difference.
This video shows you how to spot a Heavy Sixer.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Atari
• Heavy Sixer
• Heavy Six
• six switcher
• six switch
• heavy
• six
• switch
• Woddy
• 2600
• VCS
• Hong
• Kong
• Sunnyvale
• Vader

[danielstephenclarke]

Great video thanks, can you tell me if its easy to get replacement power packs for the 'Vader 2600 I know the 7800 is supposedly a swine, from what I can tell the 2600 looks a bit like a headphone jack weirdly..

[SteveBenway]

@danielstephenclarke The Vader uses the same PSU as all other 2600 models, and they're pretty common on ebay. You can also probably use pretty much any multi-purpose PSU that you can pick up in most electrical or DIY type shops, provided you know the correct voltage, amplitude and polarity.

[uzi9millimetuh]

BTW, one point I never see mentioned in regards to sixers is that, at least in my experience, they output somewhat richer, more vibrant color and suffer slightly less RF noise. Nothing mindblowing but definitely noticeable. I've tested a sixer against a Vader, a Jr, and a Coleco Gemini running duplicate carts and going back and forth with an RF switchbox and I could swear the display looked better on the sixer. Am I alone in this? I'm guessing the cheaper parts of the later models are to blame.

[SteveBenway]

@uzi9millimetuh I've never done a direct comparison, so can't comment. I should probably try it sometime though, just out of curiosity.

[uzi9millimetuh]

Certain Atari games fit too tightly in my heavy sixer (takes some effort to put them in and pull them out), specifically some silver label games like Kangaroo, Jungle Hunt, and Galaxian. Is this a problem only the sixer has, or other models like Vader too?

[SteveBenway]

@uzi9millimetuh Interesting. I just went and tried a load of silver label carts in my heavy sixer and vader, and didn't have a problem with either. I wonder if it's that the metal inner of the slot on your sixer is a little smaller than it should be... being that it's not a moulded object. Or it might be slightly misaligned with the plastic casing or something.

[uzi9millimetuh]

@SteveBenway Please do. I'd be interested to see whether it's true or just my imagination.

[uzi9millimetuh]

@SteveBenway It's odd, because all other carts fit like a glove. I did Google the issue and found a post by someone who also has problems with some carts being too tight in his sixer, though he didn't specify which. Perhaps there were inconsistencies with sixer manufacturing, or with the plastic molds rather, and when the silver label carts were made they ended up being a hair thicker and the issue wasn't taken into consideration.

[SteveBenway]

@rga24yt It's PAL

[rga24yt]

Is that a PAL heavy sixer or NTSC?