RetroTink 5x - The Ultimate Way To Play Retro Games on Modern TVs?

In this episode, we test out the RetroTink 5X upscaler on a variety of different retro cartridge & disk-based systems.Show more

While the more conventional way to play retro video games is on a CRT television, my goal since getting back into retro games has been to hook everything up to my modern flat panel television. I know that may not be the most authentic or popular approach, but it's the way I enjoy playing. As such, over the years I have added a number of different devices to my arsenal to try to achieve this. The first product I tried was the OSSC, or the open source scan line converter. While it worked terrifically with my Sega systems, I ran into many issues owing to the timing and other programming of the OSSC when it came to using my Super Nintendo, Super Famicom, or N64. As such, for the last 2 years I have used RetroTink products for my Nintendo systems. While these provided two times line multiplication, it left me wanting a little bit more. That's where the latest from RetroTink comes in, the RetroTink 5X, design to go head to head with devices such as the OSSC and the FrameMeister

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
3:46 - Doki Doki Panic (Famicom Disk System)
6:39 - Popeye (Famicom)
8:26 - Double Dragon (Master System)
8:40 - Altered Beast w/Scanline Test (Master System)
9:07 - Sonic 2 (Genesis/JVC X'EYE)
9:31 - Super Metroid Composite/Component/SCART Comparison (Super Famicom)
10:10 - F-Zero X Composite/Component/S-Video/SCART (Nintendo 64)
10:42 - Rogue Leader Rogue Squadron 2 Composite/S-Video/Component/HDMI (GameCube)
11:32 - Earthworm Jim (Genesis/JVC X'EYE)
13:11 - Bonk's Adventure (TurboGrafx 16)
15:36 - Halo (Original XBox)
17:29 - Ratchet & Clank (PlayStation 2)
19:27 - Mario Galaxy (Wii)
24:03 - Initial Impressions
26:50 - Final Thoughts

One of the biggest weaknesses on the OSSC is that it does not accept composite video inputs at all. For this reason I started up my tests with composite video inputs from my Sharp Famicom Turbo Twin, one of my favorite systems in my collection. It plays both Famicom cartridges and Famicom Disc System Games. One weird issue that I ran into was the fact that there was overscan on the left hand side of the screen that I could never get rid of, regardless of the settings on the RetroTink 5x. It wasn't game breaking, but it was annoying. On the OSSC I could apply a vertical mask to cover that, but the RetroTink 5x does not have that feature.

Next I moved over to Sega systems, a weakness of the original RetroTink 2x. From the Master System to the Sega Genesis/JVC X'EYE, the RetroTink 5x worked nearly flawlessly. I say nearly because much like on the Famicom, The Genesis games had overscan at the bottom of the screen. Again, the OSSC offers a horizontal mask that I could hide this from being displayed. The RetroTink 5x does not have this feature.

From here I moved on to other systems, comparing component, composite, RGB SCART, and S video signals. They all looked wonderful, and as one would expect the better quality input signal you had the better quality the output was. Comparing the component video cables for the GameCube to a retro-bit prism HDMI adapter, the prism definitely looks better, at least to me, but the component video cables do look darn good.

Why it RoX:
- Does everything the prior RetroTink lineup did and more
- Works with all systems that I've tested
- Plug and play operation
- Inputs for component, composite, s-video, and RGB SCART
- Adjustable scan lines
- Pre-programmed profiles for specific systems
- Firmware updatable
- Compatible with common capture cards

What could be improved:
- Expensive!
- No onboard display
- Visible overscan with some inputs
- S-Video does not work on SCART to composite video adapter
- Micro USB and not USB-C for power

Should you buy one?
This is the $300 question, isn't it? I will be blunt about this, the RetroTink 5X provides the best picture quality and best compatibility out of any product in the RetroTink line. It combines everything those other units do and takes it to the next level. However, I don't know that I would classify it as a $300 improvement to the video quality of my RetroTink Pro. Is it better looking? Yes. But the RetroTink Pro also looks darn good. I would say if you have any of the prior RetroTink products, except for the mini, I would not be in a rush to buy this. You already have an excellent solution. But if you are looking for the ultimate ease of use upscaler, the RetroTink 5x is about the most user friendly unit you will find.

#RetroTink #RetroGames #Review

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work is not an infringement of copyright.
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)