I can't speak for the PC Engine, but as for the Sega Genesis: it's not just producing simple waveforms. At that point in history we're talking full 4-operator F

I can't speak for the PC Engine, but as for the Sega Genesis: it's not just producing simple waveforms. At that point in history we're talking full 4-operator FM synthesis and PCM audio. Different revisions of the system had different implementations of the YM2612 (some as discrete components, some integrated into SoCs) and they produced dramatically different output. Comparison videos are available on YouTube: [1], [2], [3], [4] and elsewhere. The differences can be very obvious, even with YT compression through low-quality speakers and without an audiophile's ear. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjCOlnGpi1g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjCOlnGpi1g [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-KsaGBUVz4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-KsaGBUVz4 [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtXGk8EGHR4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtXGk8EGHR4 [4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiu8wDLV_9g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiu8wDLV_9g