The smoothing filter on this device is definitely one of the more subtle and better ones that I have already seen. There's not as much "blob" going on and instead just rounds out jagged lines. It almost works more as an AA filter than a smoothing one i feel
wow... thank you so much man! I ordered one of these from Amazon based on your recommendation.... and wow, it has surpassed my expectations. Thanks for making this video..... now I don't have to lug my 36 inch tube monstrosity into the nerd room of my new house when I move in next month. I'll keep my little 19 incher for duck hunt.... but everything else will be on a flatscreen with this wonderful gadget. Again, I'm blown away by the performance of the retrotink 2x-pro.... well worth the price of admission.
What a time to be alive I Can’t believe there’s So many ways to hook up a retro computer to a modern TV it may be Expensive but if you can afford it it’s a great way You can finally play an Amiga without modding it and every other console you own! 🤘
I just took my PS2 and Wii out of storage after getting a new 55 inch tv. I wanted to see how they looked on a big screen but had no idea I needed an upscaler to correct the resolution. I thought there was something wrong with my tv as all the games looked blurry. So after some searching around I come to find out modern tv's don't output resolutions that are designed for older systems. This video couldn't have come at a better time. I've been shopping around for an upscaler. I just don't know which one to get. I've seen a lot that don't work best. Any suggestions?
Killa Watt a lot of people prefer the OSSC, personally I’m happy with the framemeister. Keep in mind that devices like the retrotink, which I also have, and the OSSC are actually line multipliers which are something different. The framemeister is the only true upscaler of that bunch. Decide if you want a true upscaler or if you are happy with a line multipler and go from there.
@@pungisotu what's the difference between the two in terms of price? Because if OSSC is around the same price as the Framemeister wouldn't it be best just to get the Framemeister? I'm completely ignorant on this topic so I appreciate you taking the time to explain it.
@Killa Watt I don't know the exact cost off the top, but OSSC is in the $200+ range and the Framemeister is over $300 easy, sometimes as high as $400. Bear in mind that while I personally prefer the Framemeister, a lot of people seem to think the OSSC is the better product. For me, I've found that the OSSC picture is much too bright for my liking and the line doubling caused some odd artifacts. Your tv may not have that issue. It also has had trouble with NES and SNES and those are my favorite systems, so there is that. My life in gaming has a good video about the OSSC if you want to get a good overview. Another thing I like about the Framemeister is PAL systems’ odd resolutions can be converted and upscaled. Most HDTVs won't display 576i or 288p. Most people don't care about that though.
Stop Buying China's Junk! Funny I was looking to buy that tv, was debating between it and a Samsung Q60R or Q70R, main issue being it lacks ports and how would i manage to solve the missing rca etc to play my wii or any future old devices I might buy, right now I have a switch and my brother has a ps4 and we have a wii and idk what tv is best in that situation, I want to eventually get all the retro things I can but since I don’t have them yet, to build such a collection, idk if it matters, things will change and update as time goes and maybe things will release remakes of old stuff, so I’m not sure at all what tv to get nor if I should bother setting up complicated cords adapters etc and such. What do you suggest? Should I risk the Qled tv or should I get the UHD tv because the ports are better to use my wii etc. ? I could use a computer to emulate too I guess so do I even need to worry about having a awesome screen then.... ?
@Stop Buying China's Junk! not sure if I am what you call a pixel snob? I only know my eyes have issues, both with light and motion so if a image is blurry it's harder to see it especially while moving. So better visually is better so I can see and play properly. So to soem extent color and shape crispness matters. If I can see it that's what I care about. My brain cant manage anythign moving too quickly it's a giant blur, and words can move in and out of focus so its similar to that frustrating effect. Even in the best quality graphics it happens when I play certain things. So idk. Is that a pixel thing then? I really wanted to get a really good TV so if I get a QLED and it doesnt support the ports and I jsut use adaptors is it worth it? Or is it better I get the ru7100? It's not as good as a QLED and it doesnt have free sync, which might be handy in the future for me. Since I want to play games from all times each isnt jsut retro but the current and new things both on my switch and a gaming pc I plan to hook to my tv in some strange fashion (so if an play games while laying in my bed and have a large tv screen across the room and still see it. I prefer my bed to a charge desk situation way more comfy and feet up)
@Stop Buying China's Junk! so if that's the case will hdmi to rca adapter quality matter? And how do I know the quality is good for anything? I dont want to waste moneyand time by doing trial and error methods.
Well... No. The Hyperkin HDMI adaptor that I on my N64 uses the S-Video out (WHY didn't Nintendo include RGB out????), and it's a great improvement over standard RF and Composite..... and as it's around 8 feet away from me, I can't smell it either! ;-)
@@ucfjtm I'd rather go the Tim Worthington RGB board, problem is most of us have to pay a modder to do it for us (roughly $100). I plan on having my N64 modded once Tim boards are back in stock. Total price around $140.
These are the videos I love to see from MJR. He gives an honest opinion, and shows the evidence for people to make their own-informed decision. Nothing but class and professionalism. He really does rock!
@@mikewalmsley5324 you would need to mod your 64 for that. I personally stick to S-video thru a CRT. On my 4ktv I use S-video going into this retrotink-pro and into an mClassic. It's a nice combination imo.
@@mikewalmsley5324 Honestly, RGB from N64 isn't enough of a difference above S-video on a CRT to recommend getting a mod for, in my humble opinion. But it's not a super expensive mod, unlike the ultra HDMI.
They recently released a new model that supports 480p input (2X Pro-M). I jumped on it right away because it sounds like it may be a limited time release. It's the same price as the other model, but does have some other minor differences apparently, like a different filtering method and seems to handle composite signals better according to the site. I was actually holding out for the Retrotink Mini that doesn't have component or scan line generator because it is going to be $70. I figured if the pro didn't support 480p input I really didn't need component inputs and I would likely never use the scan lines.
I had some issues capturing SNES gameplay with the RAD2X (powered by RetroTINK) on my Hauppauge HD PVR Rocket. I've been told it's the same with previous versions of Elgato (don't know exactly why). I'd love to know if that's corrected on the 2x-Pro. Thanks for the review!
Great review, I like how you show how various styles of 2D/3D are being handled by the upscaler. Also 5:18 You basikuri went Japanese there for a second 😂
I have the first version and I find it almost useless for anything that outputs anything higher than 240p. One of the major drawbacks for me is this doesn't have 480p (or higher) passthrough, so it can't handle the higher resolutions if you wanted to connect a component out system to a TV that doesn't have component inputs.
When it comes to anything higher than 480i/p I use an OSSC since it can support more options like 720p on the Xbox and 480p on PS2 and I have the classic retrotink and it doesn't support 480p but it supports 480i
@@Anthonyelmio2 How do you use the OSSC when changing inputs? Do you have to program it yourself or are there simple buttons or don't need to press or program anything?
Well the fact that they went to a full size HDMI and also made those input selecting buttons more easily accessible is enough I think to make this worth the $130. The "Smooth" option definitely improves the visuals. It's basically a 2x or 4x anti-aliasing from what I can tell. This is very important for digital TVs that we have with our modern HDTVs and 4K TVs as opposed to CRT TVs that were analog. It's good that there's very little input lag.
I agree with what you’re saying here. The smooth mode on the retrotink is more of personal preference. Some people like the smoothed look on 2d games, some people stick with the raw pixels.
THANK YOU for showing it on the C64 and Amiga...soon as i saw intro and you showing consoles i thought uh oh...wont show it on my beloved machines but you did. Cheers.
@@fyyfu If you got the money for the 4k then go for it, but honestly the 5x is more than fine. The 4k is more of a luxury scaler. The 5x can still scale 480p content up to 1440p using component cables.
This is the ONLY device out there that you can use on your entire retro library. If you've got a big collection spanning multiple console gens from the 80's/90's/early 2000's it can get pretty expensive having to buy questionable cables for every individual device or modding old consoles which can get even more expensive. This is a one stop solution that will cover 20+ years of devices that just works on the shit you already own. I'd say for 99-130 bucks (depending on which version you get) the retrotink justifies it's price more then any other cable or mod out there for the less wealthy or less enthusiast retro gamer.
At 130 that price point is a little too high you can find an ossc for that price if you look and it offers so much more 80-90 would be the price point for this imo
Alex Woywood if you are buying hd retrovision cables they are actually more expensive then scart cables and this thing doesn’t support Scart the ossc supports component so you can use your component cables on the ossc too
What a coincidence. I just took my Wii and playstation 2 out of storage and have been shopping around for an upscaler. Thx for the video MetalJesus. Couldn't have been more perfect timing.
Just be aware it doesnt support 480p before purchasing. You'll have to default to 480i passthrough or 480i bob deinterlaced to 480p. For the ps2 this isnt that big of an issue cause most games arent 480p but for the wii this may bother you.
@@-KillaWatt- The retrotink2x is a great device just be aware of what it does and doesnt support. Its best used with older 240p systems. For systems like the wii, xbox etc you may look for alternative means to get a better image.
Still no 480p passthrough and way less features than OSSC but around the same price. Only reason you'd want one is if you only ever play systems with S-Video or composite only. Anything else you'd want an OSSC for. Now that the Koryuu Transcoder has also been released this doesn't make sense as a companion device for the OSSC either.
It actually might make sense for the OSSC Pro since it will have hdmi input. I assume you will be able to take the HDMI signal directly from the retrotink without having to use an hdmi->vga adapter. It would be interesting to see some side-by-side comparisons between the Koryuu and Retrotink at that point.
So the Retrotink 2x and Retrotink 2x-Pro were designed by a man named Mike Chi. He's a creator and a one man operation who's has had his designs stolen by China. When folks like Mike do passion projects like this and share it with the community, we all benefit from his innovation and creativity. When people who appreciate his work promote him and his work and buy his products directly from him and the approved vendors, you keep him making the devices we love. So for anyone who didn't know, again... this was a design by Mike Chi and if you are a retro gamer who likes to game on your HD television, this is the guy that made it so you didn't have to buy a $200 OSSC or a $600 Framemeister. Keep him in business by support HIM.
Really excellent review. I already own the original RetroTINK and RGB2COMP so I was on the fence about the Pro. It's a great device but for the price I decided to get an OSSC instead, and I use my original TINK in passthrough mode to connect composite and s-video consoles. I'd definitely recommend the RetroTINK to anyone looking for plug and play solution that works in 90% of cases.
@@WizardBallz I bought mine from here: videogameperfection.com/products/open-source-scan-converter/ It's very good, no complaints here. I don't know about the cheaper options on Amazon.
I played Burnout Revenge on my 360 love that game. I'm still on the fence about this product. I still haven't watched a video where component is used on PS2. I guess I'd use this for my Dreamcast too. Dont know if I should go for this or the original.
I’m using the Hyperkin HDMI adapter for my SNES and N64. I really wish I could see the retrotink side by side in person to compare. I cant seem to find the original for sale online though
Wow mine has just arrived and I’m shocked at how great the picture is on my n64, feeding s-video in and with smoothing mode turned on it looks incredible. Also going to test component on my ps2 but already mega impressed.
Mine came today and that was the first thing I noticed, with smooth on through svideo n64 looked so much better. My N64 has sat since I bought it cause it looked so bad through composite. directly in to the tv.
Metal Jesus, your analysis is awesome and easily comprehendable. Easily the best on youtube in my opinion. Thanks for all the advice and tips in retro gaming. You rock!
@@Bababaaaa Yeah considering its a "pro". Im not trying to knock it too much because its great for pre Xbox Original consoles. But it would be nice if it could handle the higher resolutions that the orginal Xbox supports. That would be "pro". But again, its great at what it does
IIRC, Mike Chi mentioned its a limitation of the chip they're using in the 2x line. Mike has said on his website they're working on a separate product for 480p devices for release later in the year.
No 480p INPUT. If you’re device is already outputting 480p, then you probably don’t need this device, I feel anyways. I am absolutely lucky and blessed in that I have a GameCube component cable adapter (official, from ages ago, and yes I know how much they are now) and on regular HDTVs it’s damn near perfect, it’s basically as close to HDMI level quality video in terms of clarity and it being a pure digital signal you are going to get with analog cables. It’s amazing. That being said, not having 480p IN, is not a deal breaker as the main appeal of this for ME, and many others is being able to hook up sub 480 devices and output to HDMI that never had anything close to 480 to begin with.
It's meant for devices that output either 240p (which a lot of modern TVs won't recognize even if they have the component ports for it) or 480i (which would look awful without a good deinterlacer like this). Using a 480p upscaler for an already 480p signal would be pointless, and as mentioned in the video, there are inexpensive devices to convert to HDMI if that's all that's needed.
I was gonna try the Eon HDMI for n64 but I feel like for the price I might as well get this since it supports more than one console. Also I couldn't find the Eon anywhere new without a HUGE price hike.
I'll be buying one of these very soon to play Play Station and N64 on my HDTV. I'm not a big fan of artificial scan lines in retro games unless the game needs it. Great video Jason.
Love your videos! It was so amazing to see the Amiga on your channel. I loved it as a kid and the graphics are so iconic and unique! Good work! When I win the lottery I’ll come round yeah and buy you some beers and we’ll play some games, right? Yeah we cool,... peace out!
finding something for n64 and dreamcast is my goal. Im a amateur at soldering and the HDMI/rgb mods are above me. I can desolder and solder resistors and batteries all day, but soldering onto circuits and chips directly I dont have the solder iron tip or skill for that. So this device looks amazing for the late 90s 3D gaming. It's probably the best smoothing ive seen and the scanlines look tastefully done.
There's a lot to that- the bigger screens of today exposes the relatively low resolution, and crt did a much better job with refresh/lag/motion blur etc
It's the signal. Classic game consoles, especially early 3d consoles, just aren't designed for modern TVs. Their signals dont interact with modern TVs designs correctly since they were designed to look as great as possible on a CRT, the only tv around at the time. It sucks. I'm tired of it blurring and pixelating my n64 games that when I have hooked up to my CRT, look as smooth as butter,
Your transitional editing is ON FIRE lately. It is absolutely incredible how seamless and clean the smoothing comparisons were done with that sliding black bar effect. Totally rad. I love these kinds of videos. I just got the avermedia component to hdmi adapter. Haven't tested it yet, but if it doesn't work out, this new retrotink would be a great second output option.
Great video, however I am still a bit confused with this device as I was with the previous version, how would you compare it to say a pound cable when using it for the SNES, Xbox etc? Will the retrotink do a better job or are the pound cables better/equal/or worse in output quality?
This is why I love my modded Wii U. It can play all the retro systems you want in hd. You can use retro controllers on it if you want. Nes and snes mini controllers. And it can play breath of the wild. One machine that can do almost everything and saves you the hassle and shelf space. If you then get the ps3 that has backward compatibility with ps1 and ps2 then you are good there since Wii U ps emulation is bad. Then with an Xbox one you can get a lot of the Xbox originals. So with 3 machines you can do everything practically for retro games.
Huge deal? Considering the thing is one of the few all in one options that is both affordable and doesn't require any futzing around to get working I'd hardly say it's a deal breaker. This still works on like 20+ years of retro consoles.
I wonder if I can run this through an old switch box with six inputs to one output to the television. Gamecube, PS2, Saturn, Neo Geo, N64 and a JVC EXEYE. Maybe it'll work with the one output going into the device and then the TV, all systems composite, S-Video on the Saturn.
I would honestly liked to have a comparison between other upscalers (OSSC or framemeister) as that's the comparison most people are looking for when they're deciding on which upscaler to buy. Also a comparison without to see what difference it makes.
Thanks man, you answered a lot of my questions. Im surprised you dont have the S-video cable for your PS1. I found a new one from the UK for $30 shipped. Keep up the good content sir.
People are missing the point of this. Modern TVs already support 480p This product isn't really an upscaler, it's a line doubler. It's not trying to make the signal look better, it's just making it so it works on a modern TV but also have zero lag while doing so, unlike upscalers that unavoidably introduce lag. Like this is not gonna make your NES look pixel perfect, it just sends the basic signal to the TV except the TV can now actually display it, but it's gonna still be the basic old signal that everybody used to use. But you won't get lag. So you can avoid having to buy a CRT, and you can use your huge modern TV instead of having to have two TVs in the same room next to each other and constantly have to move your seat back and forward depending on what game you wanna play
I just emailed Mike Chi to ask about the comb switch on the composite signal. He told me that the comb switch does effect the s-video’s composite as well as the green composite port but the difference is not as much. He also said that only one console must be plugged into the retrotink 2X pro at a time. That sucks!! I would need to unplug my consoles every time I want to change playing systems. I was hoping to leave my NES in the s-video with a plug adapter and also have my SNES in the component inputs with an HD Retrovision cable. Check Mike Chi’s manual. He says the device will output a poor signal or no signal at all.
Not for people who have composite/svideo only consoles and do not want to mod or have the money to mod them. OSSC is pretty great, but it's never been the target for the non-enthusiast crowd. At least the OSSC Pro will have an svideo/composite adapter for those who need it. Then it will be an all-in-on solution for just about everyone.
@@amerikaOnFire The OSSC Pro will be the be all end all of the upscaler and converter world, and it will do so at an acceptable price. This thing here doesn't even do RGB and it costs even more than the OSSC.
@@olacola15 I am aware of what the OSSC is and what the OSSC Pro is supposed to do. I also own an RetroTink 2x (non-pro) so I know it quite well too. The price for the OSSC Pro is unknown but it will be higher than the OSSC by a solid amount. You will also have to add on the cost of the addon for composite/svideo support. There is also the fact that the product is vaporware right now and is only announced but no firm release date for hardware and the whole project isn't even open sourced yet for anybody in the DIY community. And the only OSSC's that are cheaper than the retrotink 2x is the AliExpress ones that may or may not have quality issues and can be a big gamble. And that doesn't even matter because the current OSSC doesn't even support composite/svideo which is what the retrotink is primarily created to support (and it also supports component). ALSO it does support RGB systems just fine if you get an RGB to component converter. I use one from ShinyBow and MikeChi also has converters he sells both ways: Component to RGB and RGB to Component.
I appreciate the information I bought the pound cable and the rad 2x for PlayStation 2 and the picture is almost identical. Immediately sent the rad2x back. Wish I had done the same with the pound cable but I'm now going to look into this ossc as you speak of...
Hi MetalJesus, Just want to let you know for your original xbox setup where you use retrotank2x-pro with component cable, even if you enabled the 480p, 720p and/or 1080i, the image displayed on your TV would still be locked to 480i. I have the classic retrotink and it's the same result, because like you said for psp output, retrotank doesn't work for 480p. So for using a component cable on an original xbox, it's still best to use a component-to-HDMI adapter and pass it through a mClassic for the upscaling and smoothing effect to round off the sharp edges. Maybe you know this already, but seeing you using a component cable on a OG xbox was concerning, so I thought I wrote this in the comment to let you know. Of course, correct me if i'm wrong, because I'm also learning. Thanks.
You should have tried an S-Video cable with the C128! They were not available back in the day, but you can get one now and It plugs into the 7 pin video output port. I have one and use it with a cheap S-Video to VGA adapter and it mostly works, but I get some bad rainbow effects on screens with bright borders.
The Commodore 64 outputs S-Video. I think it was the first device to do so but it wasn't called S-Video at the time. You need a custom cable but they're not expensive. Retro Cables UK sells them.
I like the intro with the smoke coming out of the skull's eyes! One problem though, we have bone behind in the eye sockets now thanks to the Mandela Effect!
Hey I just ordered Retro Tink 2x classic from Switzerland to Germany a few days ago before the official announcement for the RT2X pro sale came out What are your thoughts about this? Is it worth it to re-sell the classic and buy a pro instead as soon as it arrives or should I stay with it as long as it'd satisfy my needs? I considered getting myself a 2x classic clone from Bitfunx since someone is selling it over here, don't get me wrong I like to support original stuff beeing made but this clone has those shell and button improvements On the other hand maybe I try to figure out in making a custom shell myself that might fit, Nice Video though Greetings Chris
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
The regular HDMI port and enclosure sold me, not gonna lie.
It's definitely an update that makes me consider getting this when I wasn't considering the original.
Agree with that 100%
You can literally buy an upscale on ebay for $8. This is way overpriced. You are paying for the name
@@ThePeacePlant I've had horrible luck with cheapo adapters, lol.
@@ThePeacePlant You cant buy a lagless linedoubler for $8 lol. Do your research
The smoothing filter on this device is definitely one of the more subtle and better ones that I have already seen. There's not as much "blob" going on and instead just rounds out jagged lines. It almost works more as an AA filter than a smoothing one i feel
"This is what Bruce Lee should look like" cracked me up for some reason. 😂 Never knew he was a tiny pixelated man!
Somehow his facial expression unveils the man's identity...
You got it all wrong, he was actually reincarnated as a pixelated man!
You are correct
wow... thank you so much man! I ordered one of these from Amazon based on your recommendation.... and wow, it has surpassed my expectations. Thanks for making this video..... now I don't have to lug my 36 inch tube monstrosity into the nerd room of my new house when I move in next month. I'll keep my little 19 incher for duck hunt.... but everything else will be on a flatscreen with this wonderful gadget. Again, I'm blown away by the performance of the retrotink 2x-pro.... well worth the price of admission.
Man, you went above and beyond in this video. Very impressive.
Thanks! It was a ton of work capturing all this footage...but worth it in the end I think.
What a time to be alive I Can’t believe there’s So many ways to hook up a retro computer to a modern TV it may be Expensive but if you can afford it it’s a great way You can finally play an Amiga without modding it and every other console you own! 🤘
I just took my PS2 and Wii out of storage after getting a new 55 inch tv. I wanted to see how they looked on a big screen but had no idea I needed an upscaler to correct the resolution. I thought there was something wrong with my tv as all the games looked blurry. So after some searching around I come to find out modern tv's don't output resolutions that are designed for older systems. This video couldn't have come at a better time. I've been shopping around for an upscaler. I just don't know which one to get. I've seen a lot that don't work best. Any suggestions?
Killa Watt a lot of people prefer the OSSC, personally I’m happy with the framemeister. Keep in mind that devices like the retrotink, which I also have, and the OSSC are actually line multipliers which are something different. The framemeister is the only true upscaler of that bunch. Decide if you want a true upscaler or if you are happy with a line multipler and go from there.
@@pungisotu what's the difference between the two in terms of price? Because if OSSC is around the same price as the Framemeister wouldn't it be best just to get the Framemeister? I'm completely ignorant on this topic so I appreciate you taking the time to explain it.
@Killa Watt I don't know the exact cost off the top, but OSSC is in the $200+ range and the Framemeister is over $300 easy, sometimes as high as $400. Bear in mind that while I personally prefer the Framemeister, a lot of people seem to think the OSSC is the better product. For me, I've found that the OSSC picture is much too bright for my liking and the line doubling caused some odd artifacts. Your tv may not have that issue. It also has had trouble with NES and SNES and those are my favorite systems, so there is that. My life in gaming has a good video about the OSSC if you want to get a good overview. Another thing I like about the Framemeister is PAL systems’ odd resolutions can be converted and upscaled. Most HDTVs won't display 576i or 288p. Most people don't care about that though.
@@pungisotu I'm beginning to think it maybe just better to find an old tube tv with AV and RF input.
Okay... 30 seconds in and I LOVE the new intro! Awesome work. Keep up the great content.
Some electronics company need to create a flat screen TV “with CRT tech that works with all legacy content and tech “... lol. I wish.
Stop Buying China's Junk! Funny I was looking to buy that tv, was debating between it and a Samsung Q60R or Q70R, main issue being it lacks ports and how would i manage to solve the missing rca etc to play my wii or any future old devices I might buy, right now I have a switch and my brother has a ps4 and we have a wii and idk what tv is best in that situation, I want to eventually get all the retro things I can but since I don’t have them yet, to build such a collection, idk if it matters, things will change and update as time goes and maybe things will release remakes of old stuff, so I’m not sure at all what tv to get nor if I should bother setting up complicated cords adapters etc and such. What do you suggest? Should I risk the Qled tv or should I get the UHD tv because the ports are better to use my wii etc. ? I could use a computer to emulate too I guess so do I even need to worry about having a awesome screen then.... ?
@Stop Buying China's Junk! not sure if I am what you call a pixel snob? I only know my eyes have issues, both with light and motion so if a image is blurry it's harder to see it especially while moving. So better visually is better so I can see and play properly. So to soem extent color and shape crispness matters. If I can see it that's what I care about. My brain cant manage anythign moving too quickly it's a giant blur, and words can move in and out of focus so its similar to that frustrating effect. Even in the best quality graphics it happens when I play certain things. So idk. Is that a pixel thing then? I really wanted to get a really good TV so if I get a QLED and it doesnt support the ports and I jsut use adaptors is it worth it? Or is it better I get the ru7100? It's not as good as a QLED and it doesnt have free sync, which might be handy in the future for me. Since I want to play games from all times each isnt jsut retro but the current and new things both on my switch and a gaming pc I plan to hook to my tv in some strange fashion (so if an play games while laying in my bed and have a large tv screen across the room and still see it. I prefer my bed to a charge desk situation way more comfy and feet up)
@Stop Buying China's Junk! so if that's the case will hdmi to rca adapter quality matter? And how do I know the quality is good for anything? I dont want to waste moneyand time by doing trial and error methods.
Bro. Been a fan for a while. Love how honest your content is
Tip: There's a hidden extra life on Streets of Rage 2 at the beginning of the game, hidden at the bottom on the left hand side of the screen
Thank you for the in-depth review. This is super helpful for me ❤️
Also: don't waste money on the Hyperkin hdmi cables, they stink!
Well... No. The Hyperkin HDMI adaptor that I on my N64 uses the S-Video out (WHY didn't Nintendo include RGB out????), and it's a great improvement over standard RF and Composite..... and as it's around 8 feet away from me, I can't smell it either! ;-)
Pound hd link cables work fantastically for me.
Hyperkin, pound, level hike = shit
@@stevesstuff1450 $30 RGB board by Voultar and $62 HD Retrovision SNES component cables will give you component out on an N64..
@@ucfjtm I'd rather go the Tim Worthington RGB board, problem is most of us have to pay a modder to do it for us (roughly $100). I plan on having my N64 modded once Tim boards are back in stock. Total price around $140.
Smooth looks like the one I'd use
I like it rough
I'm from Hong Kong, really love your video!!
These are the videos I love to see from MJR. He gives an honest opinion, and shows the evidence for people to make their own-informed decision. Nothing but class and professionalism. He really does rock!
Great job trying to suck him off for a heart, you failed!
I haven't used it but I feel like everyone is undervaluing the fact that this works with every old console, not just one.
Everything that is not outputting 480p or above;)
@@marconius1341 Very true! But How many consoles output to 480p and don't already have an HD cable option? It's like 2, right?
@@GGRC I would say gamecube, ps2, og Xbox and Dreamcast. Basically the consoles that originally had component cable options except the Dreamcast.
@@marconius1341 actually no the ps2 did 480i with the option to output 480p when pressing triangle and Cross, on game start, but only some games
@@marconius1341 for them there is the mmmm mm multi format one 😀
you deserve 1mil subs dude keep it going love the videos!
Very kind of you to say. Thanks :)
S-Video or Component on my CRT is good enough for me and imo looks best and plays best.
nothing beats a 27" Trinitron with component
@@RideRedRacer good call
RideRedRacer that’s what I have currently for snes and genesis. Do you know if you can do component with n64 or just s-video
@@mikewalmsley5324 you would need to mod your 64 for that. I personally stick to S-video thru a CRT. On my 4ktv I use S-video going into this retrotink-pro and into an mClassic. It's a nice combination imo.
@@mikewalmsley5324 Honestly, RGB from N64 isn't enough of a difference above S-video on a CRT to recommend getting a mod for, in my humble opinion. But it's not a super expensive mod, unlike the ultra HDMI.
If you want 480p input (like on the psp in this video) retrotink has the 2X-Multiformat that does that
I wish you would have used OEM cables because it’s hard to tell what improvement is actually from the retro tink as opposed to your cables
They recently released a new model that supports 480p input (2X Pro-M). I jumped on it right away because it sounds like it may be a limited time release. It's the same price as the other model, but does have some other minor differences apparently, like a different filtering method and seems to handle composite signals better according to the site.
I was actually holding out for the Retrotink Mini that doesn't have component or scan line generator because it is going to be $70. I figured if the pro didn't support 480p input I really didn't need component inputs and I would likely never use the scan lines.
Super helpful to know about the 2X Pro-M! I have an N64, PS2, and XBox, so it seems to make the most sense to go for that one.
I had some issues capturing SNES gameplay with the RAD2X (powered by RetroTINK) on my Hauppauge HD PVR Rocket. I've been told it's the same with previous versions of Elgato (don't know exactly why). I'd love to know if that's corrected on the 2x-Pro. Thanks for the review!
Still no 480p signal, it seems...
Great review, I like how you show how various styles of 2D/3D are being handled by the upscaler. Also 5:18 You basikuri went Japanese there for a second 😂
How well does this work with the PS2 and it's various hook-ups with ps1 games on it too?
I have the first version and I find it almost useless for anything that outputs anything higher than 240p. One of the major drawbacks for me is this doesn't have 480p (or higher) passthrough, so it can't handle the higher resolutions if you wanted to connect a component out system to a TV that doesn't have component inputs.
@@retr0type works great with 480i too
When it comes to anything higher than 480i/p I use an OSSC since it can support more options like 720p on the Xbox and 480p on PS2 and I have the classic retrotink and it doesn't support 480p but it supports 480i
@@Anthonyelmio2 How do you use the OSSC when changing inputs? Do you have to program it yourself or are there simple buttons or don't need to press or program anything?
@@retr0type Thank you for the info. saved me 130$ , I collect ps1 and ps2 and dreamcast, thats why i asked.
Well the fact that they went to a full size HDMI and also made those input selecting buttons more easily accessible is enough I think to make this worth the $130.
The "Smooth" option definitely improves the visuals.
It's basically a 2x or 4x anti-aliasing from what I can tell.
This is very important for digital TVs that we have with our modern HDTVs and 4K TVs as opposed to CRT TVs that were analog.
It's good that there's very little input lag.
I agree with what you’re saying here. The smooth mode on the retrotink is more of personal preference. Some people like the smoothed look on 2d games, some people stick with the raw pixels.
THANK YOU for showing it on the C64 and Amiga...soon as i saw intro and you showing consoles i thought uh oh...wont show it on my beloved machines but you did. Cheers.
Don’t output composite video from the Amiga. Go straight from RGB!
Does this mean that (08:35) that a GameCube with OEM Component Cables would not work with the RetroTink 2x Pro?
It won't accept 480p inputs so no it won't work.
@@ians_parksthanks! Will probably go for the 4k one if that's the case.
@@fyyfu If you got the money for the 4k then go for it, but honestly the 5x is more than fine. The 4k is more of a luxury scaler. The 5x can still scale 480p content up to 1440p using component cables.
I love your content!
I have the previous version, and now I want the new one! Great products!
This is the ONLY device out there that you can use on your entire retro library. If you've got a big collection spanning multiple console gens from the 80's/90's/early 2000's it can get pretty expensive having to buy questionable cables for every individual device or modding old consoles which can get even more expensive. This is a one stop solution that will cover 20+ years of devices that just works on the shit you already own.
I'd say for 99-130 bucks (depending on which version you get) the retrotink justifies it's price more then any other cable or mod out there for the less wealthy or less enthusiast retro gamer.
Nice to see San Fran Rush get a mention. Miss that game
The N64 had a LOT of really fun arcade racing games
At 130 that price point is a little too high you can find an ossc for that price if you look and it offers so much more 80-90 would be the price point for this imo
You gotta factor in the price of getting RGB cables for all your consoles AND the OSSC wont work with a stock N64 which is a dealbreaker for me.
Alex Woywood you need cables for the tink as well plus if you have an old model N64 there is a simple rgb mod available
Cables that most people already have and are much cheaper. (For the tink)
Alex Woywood if you are buying hd retrovision cables they are actually more expensive then scart cables and this thing doesn’t support Scart the ossc supports component so you can use your component cables on the ossc too
Most people already have composite cables and those don't work on the OSSC. So you don't have to buy any cables at all for the tink.
What a coincidence. I just took my Wii and playstation 2 out of storage and have been shopping around for an upscaler. Thx for the video MetalJesus. Couldn't have been more perfect timing.
Just be aware it doesnt support 480p before purchasing. You'll have to default to 480i passthrough or 480i bob deinterlaced to 480p. For the ps2 this isnt that big of an issue cause most games arent 480p but for the wii this may bother you.
@@ians_parks I've read a few comments and found this isn't probably the best upscaler to buy. Any suggestions?
@@-KillaWatt- The retrotink2x is a great device just be aware of what it does and doesnt support. Its best used with older 240p systems. For systems like the wii, xbox etc you may look for alternative means to get a better image.
Still no 480p passthrough and way less features than OSSC but around the same price.
Only reason you'd want one is if you only ever play systems with S-Video or composite only. Anything else you'd want an OSSC for.
Now that the Koryuu Transcoder has also been released this doesn't make sense as a companion device for the OSSC either.
It actually might make sense for the OSSC Pro since it will have hdmi input. I assume you will be able to take the HDMI signal directly from the retrotink without having to use an hdmi->vga adapter. It would be interesting to see some side-by-side comparisons between the Koryuu and Retrotink at that point.
So this won't do anything for a Wii that is already outputting 480i/480p?
Been thinking of getting one of these, thanks for the informative review!
So the Retrotink 2x and Retrotink 2x-Pro were designed by a man named Mike Chi. He's a creator and a one man operation who's has had his designs stolen by China. When folks like Mike do passion projects like this and share it with the community, we all benefit from his innovation and creativity. When people who appreciate his work promote him and his work and buy his products directly from him and the approved vendors, you keep him making the devices we love. So for anyone who didn't know, again... this was a design by Mike Chi and if you are a retro gamer who likes to game on your HD television, this is the guy that made it so you didn't have to buy a $200 OSSC or a $600 Framemeister. Keep him in business by support HIM.
👏👏👏
Thanks for letting us know. How do I buy one directly from him or one of his verified retailers?
Cringe😅😂
Really excellent review. I already own the original RetroTINK and RGB2COMP so I was on the fence about the Pro. It's a great device but for the price I decided to get an OSSC instead, and I use my original TINK in passthrough mode to connect composite and s-video consoles. I'd definitely recommend the RetroTINK to anyone looking for plug and play solution that works in 90% of cases.
whats a good ossc to get ? i see so many on amazon are they any good ?
@@WizardBallz I bought mine from here: videogameperfection.com/products/open-source-scan-converter/
It's very good, no complaints here. I don't know about the cheaper options on Amazon.
Just bought one. Can't wait to try it out on my av modded toploader nes! :D
Just got one. Thanks for the review!
I played Burnout Revenge on my 360 love that game. I'm still on the fence about this product. I still haven't watched a video where component is used on PS2. I guess I'd use this for my Dreamcast too. Dont know if I should go for this or the original.
Mainly what I wanna see ps2 game play using it
2 Time Garza same bro
If I didn't already have the original, I'd definitely get the pro.
I was about to buy de levelhike for ps2 but now i think i will go for this. Thanks from Peru brother 🤘🏻💥
Must say this new version looks much better. Seems to be well worth the money.
I’m using the Hyperkin HDMI adapter for my SNES and N64. I really wish I could see the retrotink side by side in person to compare. I cant seem to find the original for sale online though
Watch his previous video comparing the retrotink2x, eon super 64, ultra hdmi, and hyperkin cable.
Ian Cowell it helps some, but with RUclips compression, it really makes it difficult to gauge properly
Wow mine has just arrived and I’m shocked at how great the picture is on my n64, feeding s-video in and with smoothing mode turned on it looks incredible. Also going to test component on my ps2 but already mega impressed.
Mine came today and that was the first thing I noticed, with smooth on through svideo n64 looked so much better. My N64 has sat since I bought it cause it looked so bad through composite. directly in to the tv.
Metal Jesus, your analysis is awesome and easily comprehendable. Easily the best on youtube in my opinion. Thanks for all the advice and tips in retro gaming. You rock!
I like the device. I wouldn't use the smoothing on games like NES, SNES, SMS etc. I like for them to look pixelated. 👍😁
Bruce Lee was my first C64 back in the 80s. Loved it.
Smooth mode FTW
Dropped in to give a like because you had the price in the title👍THANK YOU SIR👍
The price isn't in the thumbnail,... It's in the title.
@@franco7064 Title got it thanks sir👍
@@amdcolon1 No prob.
No 480p? What were they thinking?!?
Yeah I was interested in this but no 480p is a deal breaker.
@@Bababaaaa Yeah considering its a "pro". Im not trying to knock it too much because its great for pre Xbox Original consoles. But it would be nice if it could handle the higher resolutions that the orginal Xbox supports. That would be "pro". But again, its great at what it does
IIRC, Mike Chi mentioned its a limitation of the chip they're using in the 2x line. Mike has said on his website they're working on a separate product for 480p devices for release later in the year.
No 480p INPUT. If you’re device is already outputting 480p, then you probably don’t need this device, I feel anyways. I am absolutely lucky and blessed in that I have a GameCube component cable adapter (official, from ages ago, and yes I know how much they are now) and on regular HDTVs it’s damn near perfect, it’s basically as close to HDMI level quality video in terms of clarity and it being a pure digital signal you are going to get with analog cables. It’s amazing. That being said, not having 480p IN, is not a deal breaker as the main appeal of this for ME, and many others is being able to hook up sub 480 devices and output to HDMI that never had anything close to 480 to begin with.
It's meant for devices that output either 240p (which a lot of modern TVs won't recognize even if they have the component ports for it) or 480i (which would look awful without a good deinterlacer like this). Using a 480p upscaler for an already 480p signal would be pointless, and as mentioned in the video, there are inexpensive devices to convert to HDMI if that's all that's needed.
been watching your videos for a few years now and i just subscribed to your channel
This is a good day. Thanks! 😍
@@MetalJesusRocks keep up the good work
I was gonna try the Eon HDMI for n64 but I feel like for the price I might as well get this since it supports more than one console. Also I couldn't find the Eon anywhere new without a HUGE price hike.
How was your experience with this Adapter final thoughts? Hope you get too see this comment and see your review
Will you please do a full review and test of the RetroTINK-5X Pro soon?
I'll be buying one of these very soon to play Play Station and N64 on my HDTV. I'm not a big fan of artificial scan lines in retro games unless the game needs it. Great video Jason.
Who's John?
MJR is Jason as far as I know xD
@@overlordalfredo had a brain fart.lol.
The quality of your content never fails!
"Burnout 3"
*Proceeds to show footage of burnout revenge*
Yep! I misspoke. Doh!
MetalJesusRocks Ya can’t fool me when it comes to Burnout, mang.
Love your videos! It was so amazing to see the Amiga on your channel. I loved it as a kid and the graphics are so iconic and unique! Good work! When I win the lottery I’ll come round yeah and buy you some beers and we’ll play some games, right? Yeah we cool,... peace out!
Should do more big box pc game videos
finding something for n64 and dreamcast is my goal. Im a amateur at soldering and the HDMI/rgb mods are above me. I can desolder and solder resistors and batteries all day, but soldering onto circuits and chips directly I dont have the solder iron tip or skill for that. So this device looks amazing for the late 90s 3D gaming. It's probably the best smoothing ive seen and the scanlines look tastefully done.
My biggest gripe is that I remember n64 looking amazing back in the day. But it looks like crap on new modern big screen tvs.
There's a lot to that- the bigger screens of today exposes the relatively low resolution, and crt did a much better job with refresh/lag/motion blur etc
It's the signal. Classic game consoles, especially early 3d consoles, just aren't designed for modern TVs. Their signals dont interact with modern TVs designs correctly since they were designed to look as great as possible on a CRT, the only tv around at the time. It sucks. I'm tired of it blurring and pixelating my n64 games that when I have hooked up to my CRT, look as smooth as butter,
That's because you seen it on a crt
Idk if you know this but the CDX supports RGB video so that means the HD Retrovision component cable for the Genesis will work on the CDX
Says he plays Burnout 3, shows footage of Burnout Revenge.
how dare him
DOH! Yep... I misspoke LOL
@@JetSetTyler he
@@franco7064 thanks dad
@@JetSetTyler no prob... Son... But remember.. I love you
Your transitional editing is ON FIRE lately. It is absolutely incredible how seamless and clean the smoothing comparisons were done with that sliding black bar effect. Totally rad. I love these kinds of videos. I just got the avermedia component to hdmi adapter. Haven't tested it yet, but if it doesn't work out, this new retrotink would be a great second output option.
I only like Smooth on 3D games
If nothing else, it definitely improves the weird near-unreadable font Nintendo chose for some of the N64 Mario games.
Great video, however I am still a bit confused with this device as I was with the previous version, how would you compare it to say a pound cable when using it for the SNES, Xbox etc? Will the retrotink do a better job or are the pound cables better/equal/or worse in output quality?
The retrotink2x wont add input lag or fuck up the color and brightness of your image like every hyperkin/pound/level hike cable out there.
lovely content
This is why I love my modded Wii U. It can play all the retro systems you want in hd. You can use retro controllers on it if you want. Nes and snes mini controllers. And it can play breath of the wild. One machine that can do almost everything and saves you the hassle and shelf space. If you then get the ps3 that has backward compatibility with ps1 and ps2 then you are good there since Wii U ps emulation is bad. Then with an Xbox one you can get a lot of the Xbox originals. So with 3 machines you can do everything practically for retro games.
I modded my wii but I need to mod my wii u. Also has 3ds
dutchkel yeah you need to. But if your modded Wii is connected via component then it will also work good.
No 480p input is a HUGE deal that needs to be front and center. Idk how they thought that was ok. Smh
The hole point of the product is to turn retro systems to 480.. why would they make it so it can take 480?
@@noahhowellstone1264 Consoles that output 480p such as the wii and ps2 that don't have hdmi would be my guess.
I think it is designed for consoles like snes en Sega megadrive in combination with component cables instead of rgb-scart.
Huge deal? Considering the thing is one of the few all in one options that is both affordable and doesn't require any futzing around to get working I'd hardly say it's a deal breaker. This still works on like 20+ years of retro consoles.
@@devilmikey00 but would you buy it if you already have an ossc or framemeister with rgb cables.
I wonder if I can run this through an old switch box with six inputs to one output to the television. Gamecube, PS2, Saturn, Neo Geo, N64 and a JVC EXEYE. Maybe it'll work with the one output going into the device and then the TV, all systems composite, S-Video on the Saturn.
yes, but GC wouldn't be an ideal match for this.
The Wii on component is sweet can afford the dreamcast cable I'm saving up
Doesn't support progressive scan on Wii though
@@falseicon just reg wii component wires makes a huge difference the av is soooooo blurry
After purchasing this, I must say it’s an essential piece of equipment for vintage gaming.
I would honestly liked to have a comparison between other upscalers (OSSC or framemeister) as that's the comparison most people are looking for when they're deciding on which upscaler to buy. Also a comparison without to see what difference it makes.
Hey Metal Jesus I love your videos
Significantly darker with scanlines. Maybe a firmware update can brighten it
This is by design... one of 2 lines is black so it is half as bright.
Thanks man, you answered a lot of my questions. Im surprised you dont have the S-video cable for your PS1. I found a new one from the UK for $30 shipped. Keep up the good content sir.
Recap the C64, the darkness is a voltage drop.
Hey man! Thanks for the videos. I have really enjoyed going through all of your content. Keep up the great work!
No 480p? Lame.
The chip used for the retrotink2x line of devices doesnt support 480p sadly. If you need 480p support consider getting an ossc
People are missing the point of this. Modern TVs already support 480p
This product isn't really an upscaler, it's a line doubler. It's not trying to make the signal look better, it's just making it so it works on a modern TV but also have zero lag while doing so, unlike upscalers that unavoidably introduce lag. Like this is not gonna make your NES look pixel perfect, it just sends the basic signal to the TV except the TV can now actually display it, but it's gonna still be the basic old signal that everybody used to use. But you won't get lag. So you can avoid having to buy a CRT, and you can use your huge modern TV instead of having to have two TVs in the same room next to each other and constantly have to move your seat back and forward depending on what game you wanna play
Framister or OSSC will have you covered.
I just emailed Mike Chi to ask about the comb switch on the composite signal. He told me that the comb switch does effect the s-video’s composite as well as the green composite port but the difference is not as much. He also said that only one console must be plugged into the retrotink 2X pro at a time. That sucks!! I would need to unplug my consoles every time I want to change playing systems. I was hoping to leave my NES in the s-video with a plug adapter and also have my SNES in the component inputs with an HD Retrovision cable. Check Mike Chi’s manual. He says the device will output a poor signal or no signal at all.
9:06 Burnout *Revenge*)
DOH! Yep. Mispoke LOL
U can't always remember everything) It's just sad that they STILL didn't make B3 backward compatible..
Metal Jesus definitely Rocked this video. Nice production work Man. Those side by side comparisons are really helpful. 🏆 🥇
And they are pretty fun to capture the footage too! It's a lot of work, but I enjoy doing it.
I don't think smoothing looks all that great on the 2D games, but it acts as a good means of anti-aliasing the early 3D stuff.
Don't you have the Genesis HD-Retrovision component cable for Genesis?
I know. It needs some love. Composite is so painful
The OSSC is a much better deal, especially when the OSSC Pro is just around the corner.
Not for people who have composite/svideo only consoles and do not want to mod or have the money to mod them. OSSC is pretty great, but it's never been the target for the non-enthusiast crowd. At least the OSSC Pro will have an svideo/composite adapter for those who need it. Then it will be an all-in-on solution for just about everyone.
@@amerikaOnFire The OSSC Pro will be the be all end all of the upscaler and converter world, and it will do so at an acceptable price. This thing here doesn't even do RGB and it costs even more than the OSSC.
@@olacola15 I am aware of what the OSSC is and what the OSSC Pro is supposed to do. I also own an RetroTink 2x (non-pro) so I know it quite well too. The price for the OSSC Pro is unknown but it will be higher than the OSSC by a solid amount. You will also have to add on the cost of the addon for composite/svideo support. There is also the fact that the product is vaporware right now and is only announced but no firm release date for hardware and the whole project isn't even open sourced yet for anybody in the DIY community. And the only OSSC's that are cheaper than the retrotink 2x is the AliExpress ones that may or may not have quality issues and can be a big gamble. And that doesn't even matter because the current OSSC doesn't even support composite/svideo which is what the retrotink is primarily created to support (and it also supports component). ALSO it does support RGB systems just fine if you get an RGB to component converter. I use one from ShinyBow and MikeChi also has converters he sells both ways: Component to RGB and RGB to Component.
I appreciate the information I bought the pound cable and the rad 2x for PlayStation 2 and the picture is almost identical. Immediately sent the rad2x back. Wish I had done the same with the pound cable but I'm now going to look into this ossc as you speak of...
Hi MetalJesus, Just want to let you know for your original xbox setup where you use retrotank2x-pro with component cable, even if you enabled the 480p, 720p and/or 1080i, the image displayed on your TV would still be locked to 480i. I have the classic retrotink and it's the same result, because like you said for psp output, retrotank doesn't work for 480p. So for using a component cable on an original xbox, it's still best to use a component-to-HDMI adapter and pass it through a mClassic for the upscaling and smoothing effect to round off the sharp edges. Maybe you know this already, but seeing you using a component cable on a OG xbox was concerning, so I thought I wrote this in the comment to let you know. Of course, correct me if i'm wrong, because I'm also learning. Thanks.
You should have tried an S-Video cable with the C128! They were not available back in the day, but you can get one now and It plugs into the 7 pin video output port. I have one and use it with a cheap S-Video to VGA adapter and it mostly works, but I get some bad rainbow effects on screens with bright borders.
Yup loving mine
The Commodore 64 outputs S-Video. I think it was the first device to do so but it wasn't called S-Video at the time. You need a custom cable but they're not expensive. Retro Cables UK sells them.
I like the intro with the smoke coming out of the skull's eyes! One problem though, we have bone behind in the eye sockets now thanks to the Mandela Effect!
You could probably fix that darkening on the C64 with some new capacitors. I'm wondering if my Wii is having that issue.
Maybe I’m too late and you won’t see this but will you please review the 2x mini?
Dilemma!
Should I get a 2x Pro M or Ossc?
I have 240p oldies and also 480p.
Scart rgb and component...
Help!
The scan line filter looks pretty decent, it looks kind of blown out without them. LCD TVs are overly bright for retro games imo
I love this thing. There was a firmware update that helped with the scan lines that cleaned them up a bit.
Have you tried Beetle Adventure Racing for the N64? Great game
Good stuff man, thanks for the video. Much appreciated.
Thanks for the video! Didn't know about the PSP one.
Hey
I just ordered Retro Tink 2x classic from Switzerland to Germany a few days ago before the official announcement for the RT2X pro sale came out
What are your thoughts about this?
Is it worth it to re-sell the classic and buy a pro instead as soon as it arrives or should I stay with it as long as it'd satisfy my needs?
I considered getting myself a 2x classic clone from Bitfunx since someone is selling it over here, don't get me wrong I like to support original stuff beeing made but this clone has those shell and button improvements
On the other hand maybe I try to figure out in making a custom shell myself that might fit,
Nice Video though
Greetings
Chris
Smooth with RetroTINK2X looks way better than UltraHDMI! I'm sold.
with an RGB mod especially.