The Ultimate Retro Gaming Upgrade | RetroTink 4K Review

In this episode, we test out and review the RetroTINK 4Kvideo upscaler, designed to improve the look of component, composite, s-video, VGA, RGB SCART, and HDMI inputs to see if it is the ultimate retro gaming upgrade.Show more

Order a RetroTINK 4k At https://www.retrotink.com/product-page/retrotink-4k

To say I have been a huge fan of the RetroTINK line of products since I first tried the RetroTINK 2x would be an understatement. It took what I loved about my original retro systems, things like the Super Nintendo, Famicom Disk System, and N64, and line multiplied them to 480p and gave me an HDMI output. I loved the results and didn't think that they could get any better. And then they did with the RetroTINK 2X Pro, Multi-Format, and eventually the RetroTINK 5X. Never one to rest on his laurels, Mike Chi from RetroTINK has been hard at work to improve upon even the excellent 5X. The results? The RetroTINK 4K. Let's take a closer look at this magical machine.

Out of the box, you get the RetroTINK 4K, a standard-size SD card, a USB SD card adapter, and a remote control. The remote is a nice improvement over the original RetroTINK 5X remote, and my understanding is this is the remote that the 5X will be coming with moving forward as well. It features input, output, profile, and resolution buttons on the face just to name a few. It needs two AAA batteries, not included, but overall this is a very nice addition to the platform.

Slightly larger than the RetroTINK 5X by about 20% I would say, one of the things that I did was 3D print out a vertical stand from Todd at RetroFrog. He actually had me help him with some of the early prototyping and I provided him feedback on tweaks before he actually got a RetroTINK 4K of his own. This is a very well-designed base and will definitely help keep your setup cleaner and neater.

I went back and forth and how I wanted to connect my systems to the 4K. I could disconnect my RetroTINK 5X and put the inputs into the 4K and call it a day. If I did that I would have to go through my HDMI switcher, and at that point I wouldn't have 4K, 60Hz output. The more I thought about it, I decided to connect the RetroTINK 4K to the output of my HDMI switcher and leave my RetroTINK 5X in place. This way I didn't have to redo a bunch of profiles from the 5X on the 4K, and also ended up gaining extra inputs if I ever needed them on the 4K.

When it came time to test, I threw just about every system I own at this thing. From component, composite, and HDMI. The only thing I didn't test was S-Video and that's because I don't have any S-Video connections currently for anything. I did however even test RGB SCART coming out of the Sega Master System, JVC X'EYE, Super Famicom Jr, and the Dreamcast thanks to the Bahar Bros Mamba RGB SCART cable. It handled each and every one of these connections beautifully.

When I got into more recent systems, systems that natively output HDMI, I really noticed a huge difference. For me, the RetroTINK 5X does such an amazing job that for day-to-day gameplay that's still probably going to be my device of choice. But playing games through the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and the Nintendo Switch upscaled to 4K made these systems absolutely come to life for me. I loved how bright and vibrant all the colors were, the depth of field in the images, and the overall quality of the results that I got. I think that's where this makes the biggest difference for me, the old systems definitely look great, but the newer ones get that extra punch of quality that really sets them apart.

Why it RoX:
- Beautiful video quality
- So many inputs!
- Wonderful upgrade for the remote control
- Firmware upgradable, and for free
- On-board profiles for different systems
- Can be used in conjunction with other scalers

What could be improved:
- Preloaded profiles not compatible with HDMI input
- Expensive
- My RetroTINK 4K door is very loose

Should you buy one?
I don't say this lightly, the RetroTINK 4K is a definite investment. If your goal is to get the best image quality possible on a modern, flat-panel display, this is the way to go. It allows you to utilize original hardware and generate visuals that were previously unthinkable. There's only so much you can do with certain signal types, I'm looking at you composite video, but it has an impact and improves every signal that goes through it. The fact that you now have an HDMI input expands the reach even further to even newer systems. It's an expensive investment, sure, but if it's in your budget you won't find a better performer on the market.

#RetroTink #VideoGames #4K #Nintendo #Sega #Xbox #HDMI #RetroTInk4k

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