Sega Mega Drive, Saturn & Dreamcast Cables: A Complete Australian Guide

Sega's consoles are some of the most rewarding retro systems to own in 2026 — but they're also where we see the most cable mix-ups. The Mega Drive alone shipped in three revisions with two incompatible AV ports, and Sega changed connectors again for the Saturn. This guide walks through exactly which cable each Sega console needs, and how to tell which model you actually have before you order.

Not sure which one you have? The Cable Finder walks you through it in four taps.

First: which Mega Drive do you have?

This is the single most common mistake, so it's worth thirty seconds to check. Look at the shape of your console:

Mega Drive 1 (1990) is the larger console with the round cartridge surround and, on most models, a volume slider and headphone jack on the front edge. Its AV output is a round 5-pin DIN socket — about the size of an old keyboard plug.

Mega Drive 2 and 3 are the smaller, slimmer consoles. Their AV output is a much smaller 9-pin mini-DIN socket. The two ports look similar at a glance but are completely incompatible — a Mega Drive 1 cable will not fit a Mega Drive 2, and vice versa.

If you have the Genesis naming (imported consoles), the same rule applies: Genesis 1 matches the Mega Drive 1 cable, Genesis 2 and 3 match the Mega Drive 2 cable.

Mega Drive 1, Genesis 1 & Master System

The Mega Drive 1, Genesis 1 and the original Master System all share the same 5-pin DIN AV port, so one cable covers all three consoles. It runs from the DIN socket to two RCA plugs — yellow for composite video and white for audio — and works with both Australian and imported units.

Mega Drive 2 & 3, Genesis 2 & 3, 32X and Nomad

The smaller consoles use the 9-pin mini-DIN port and output stereo audio, so the Mega Drive 2 & 3 AV cable splits into three RCA plugs: yellow for video, red and white for stereo sound. The same port appears on the Sega 32X and the handheld Nomad, so this cable covers those too.

If your console gets heavy use, or you've had thin flat leads fail before, there's also a heavy-duty version with a thicker round cable and the same 9-pin fitting.

Sega Saturn

The Saturn moved to a 10-pin Multi-AV output. The Saturn AV cable carries composite video plus stereo audio and fits every Saturn revision — Model 1 and Model 2, PAL and NTSC alike.

For mains power, Australian Saturns use a standard figure-8 style lead — the same AU power cable fits both the Saturn and the Dreamcast, so one spare covers both consoles.

Sega Dreamcast

The Dreamcast keeps things simple on the power side: a detachable IEC C7 “figure 8” mains lead with a standard AU 2-pin plug. If yours has gone missing — they're the most commonly lost part of any Dreamcast setup — a direct replacement plugs straight in with no power brick required.

Connecting Sega consoles to a modern TV

All the cables above end in RCA plugs. If your TV still has the coloured composite inputs, you're done — plug in and play. If it's a newer HDMI-only panel, have a read of our guide to connecting retro consoles to a modern TV, which covers RCA-to-HDMI converters and upscalers that pair well with Sega hardware.

Shop Sega Cables at Console Mate

Every cable above is in stock in Australia with same-day dispatch before 2pm AEST, a 12-month warranty and 30-day returns. Browse the full Sega Systems range here — and if you're not sure which model you have, send us a photo of the back of your console via the contact page and we'll match the right cable before you order.