The Best HDMI Adapters For Retro Gaming?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
- We review a variety of the Kaico HDMI adapters to see if they're still worth buying in 2023. There's a lot of extremely high quality upscalers on the market nowadays which can breathe new life into your retro consoles, making them look better than ever. But with this quality also comes a high price tag.
However, Kaico are offering much more budget friendly HDMI adapters for your classic consoles but the question is, are any of them actually good?
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Dreamcast: geni.us/Y1K44
Nintendo Wii: geni.us/6J1Ki
Playstation 1: geni.us/zX3cLAl
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TIMECODES
00:00 - Introduction
01:17 - How Do They Work?
01:51 - N64 Quality Comparison
02:42 - Dreamcast Quality Comparison
04:39 - GameCube Quality Comparison
06:30 - Wii Quality Comparison
07:26 - Overall Thoughts
09:24 - Conclusion
#retrogaming #retrogames #retrogamer - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
I take this as interesting info bits for the case my TV ever dies.
It's a 2008 HD-Ready 32" Toshiba Regza which doesn't even have a digital tuner let alone CEC support meaning it's a really early HDTV but on the flip side I have VGA and component inputs, making it perfect for both the Wii and Dreamcast.
I hope this TV still lives for a long time especially since I hate unnecessary e-waste but knowing what's available for alternatives is always handy.
You’re using the composite port for the GameCube (N64 converter), the GameCube HDMI converter uses the DVI port which significantly improves the picture quality
i'm so glad my crt still works lol
thx for the video !!
Retrotink and hyperkin hdmi adaptors are what I use and been happy with. Works for snes and higher. Nothing can make nes look good on a modern TV but the switch has the majority of games people would want to play. Emulation for what's not.
Absolutely love my KAICO Dreamcast Dingly-dongle-Thingy :D Also thanks to your video! Thank you so much! I also have it hooked to retrotink4k and the video is stellar! :D
I recently hooked up my boxed Sega Dreamcast via standard composite cables and couldn’t believe how good it looked on my newer LCD. So yeah they’d have to make this adapter 100% compatible to be a potential buy
You can buy a $20 DC to HDMI adapter, but something about the resolution means it's not a one to one output device :(
I wouldn't be surprised if these were comparable or even copies of existing noname hdmi adapters. I personally love piggybacking an MClassic on top for additional upscaling and anti-aliasing for consoles like PS2 and Wii. Any more $ and I'd just rather emulate.
I wonder how these compare to the Hyperkin HDMI cables. I have the Hyperkin one for the Wii, and I honestly never noticed any dark or washed colors on the video.
No idea why you'd buy a converter, when you can get a RAD2X upscaler for £60 (the Nintendo one supports SNES, GC & N64)
It’s cuz he’s the retrodoodoo
You’d need to modify the N64 to RGB tho
As one said, the RAD2X (in the case of Nintendo 64) needs the console to be modified with the RGB mod and not many people will spend too much money between the RGB mod, installation and cable, instead, the Kaiko cable takes advantage of the S-Video output to get the best resolution
So it's a better option if you have an unmodified console
I had the dreamcast one and it was good, but I must have lost it. Clicked the link to get another one, but it looks like it's no longer available?
You'll always be my little Rob from Pixel Persuit! I've tried these dongle type hdmi adapters (not this brand) and for me nothing beats component or s-video into scart adapter for playing my PS1 and PS2 games. Because they make the image so dark and lacking in detail, games like resident evil are unplayable with these dongles because you miss the details of anything in a dark corner and dark textures are non existent
There's actually a version for the Gamecube that uses the Digital OUT port instead of the Analog out. That one is made specifically for SFC and N64.
Not a single lag test?
I have a Kaico adapter for my PS2. It works very well and I can use GSM to force games to display at 480p and higher with little to no issues (although some games don't work or look right when you try this. I had to get experimental and find a resolution that works best for each game I have). At least I can play Fist of the North Star in 1080i and it looks amazing.
The Gamecube adapter is pretty bad and I opted for the Retrobit Prism. That one is leaps and bounds better and is still a pretty good value at ~$80, definitely better value than doing an OSSC with SCART, Framemeister or the GCHD.
The only ones I would stay away from are the HDMI adapters from Hyperkin. Those ones are hot trash and don't do proper up-scaling or tap into RGB signals.
Most kaico adaptors only upscale s-video signals or composite.
You need a better quality cable that actually upscales RGB.
I'd recommend the RAD2X (co-made by retrotink) or any other retrotink product.
Ossc are also good
2:09 black crush. Look at the less visible bricks in the triangle part in the background 👀
3:43 The PAL version of Resident Evil: Code Veronica can be patched to work on VGA, assuming your dreamcast is a model that can play backups or has GDEMU. In the NTSC-U region it works right out of the box.
Got one for my OG XBOX it works just fine for an oldster like me. Happy days :-)
I bought a modded Wii & PS2 this year & I ended going with HDMI Adapters made specifically for each console, before that I was just using a regular AV HDMI converter & the difference was astounding when I finally made the change!
Which ones did you buy? Thanks
@@TonyContiniProductions
PS2 To HDMI Converter
&
Wii2HDMI Converter
Are the ones I got for my consoles & it looks fantastic on my tv!
Just type those in & they should pop right up
Going to get one for my dreamcast.
The Game Cube converter may need additional power, the way the PS1 does with other converters like the Rad2x.
which is the best wii hdmi adapter with upscale ?
This is clearly a case of Kaico being set up as Full Range RGB.
You should be able to change it to Limited Range, which is what most TVs are compatible with.
Monitors will mostly be Full Range but also some will support Limited.
I have this Kaiko adapter for og xbox. £35 UK price. It works but produces a noticeable amount of picture noise/interference.
Is it full funtionaly with AUDIO ? with Wii
There are 2 kaico hdmi adapters for GameCube 1 that goes into the av slot and one that goes into the component slot. The Best one for GameCube would be to get the kaico adapter that plugs into the GameCube’s component slot.
Wait you didnt try the built in Smoothing option? Or did you shoot everything with smoothing turned on? Didnt seem so.
The smoothing should be huge for the N64.
You.... you did read the manual... right ? xD
I tried the Kaico adapter for analog to HDMI and I saw the same darkness. I returned it. If you want a better adapter that is cheap, go with the Mayflash. The best would be the Electron Shepard but you're looking at around $50. Avoid any that upscale to 1080p. I put an HDMI mod in my Wii. Electron Shepard's AVE-HDMI and it is AWESOME! I plan to do more. Its not easy. If you really want the best out of the GameCube, get a DOL-001 w/ digital A/V out. Try to make sure it has an SP2 port. I have a DOL-001 that does not have this. With the SP2 you can run games off an SDCard and using Swiss get the best video and widescreen hacks. F-Zero GX looks AMAZING! With a GameCube with digital A/V port, you will want a Carby, Retro Prisim, or other Digital A/V to HDMI. These will run you about $80 but you are getting straight digital out to HDMI, no analog to digital conversion. BTW, HDMI mods for the GameCube are only worth it if you like the idea of plugging an HDMI cable directly in the GC, its not worth it. As an owner of an HDMI modded GameCube (done myself) and a Kaico Labs Digital A/V to HDMI adapter, there is no difference in functionality. The nice thing with the adapters is that they have IR remotes to adjust the GCVideo settings. With the HDMI mod, you're stuck with the GameCube controller. The adapters also work using the GC controller if you lose the remote.
The Dream cast looks amazing and the GameCube can produce 480p with the digital out port
Image quality looks better, but not even a mention anywhere in the video or comments about input lag; I've heard that these types of dongles still allow a full frame of input lag coming from the original cables whereas the more expensive models (like retrotink for example) actually reduce that lag.
Yeah that was probably a bit of a mistake on my part. The reason I didn't mention lag is because I didn't notice any at all and I'm normally pretty sensitive to that sort of thing. In terms of testing lag, I don't really have a great setup to do that beyond pointing the camera at the TV and pressing a button and showing the amount of lag in slow motion I suppose, but that's probably not the most scientific way to do it haha!
- Rob
What about input lag?
Insane Hanover bars on the composite connection. Not sure how you managed to decode it so poorly! Makes for a poor comparison to the IP theft company Kaico
Is there a particular section where this is really apparent? I always try to make sure that the footage I'm getting is as accurate as possible! If you're referring to the Super Mario Sunshine Kaico gameplay, then that's just what it looked like through the adapter.
- Rob
@@RetroDodo He's talking about the F-zero GX composite footage. Not sure how you missed that to be honest.
Ive used generic console upscalers and honestly, they're fine most of the time.
the image is too dark
aren't u a ray of positive sunshine, Baldie?! great video as always, thank you.
I've seen reviews of their Sega Saturn Linedoubler and it's absolute *ARSE.* It's a shame since there's no cheap way of getting a clean picture from your Saturn at the moment.
Great video, but was disappointed that a PAL Gamecube was used.
For the GameCube I don't understand why you didn't use their digital to HDMI adapter?
Instead you're using the crappy one that converts analog to HDMI. It makes no sense to me, even more so since the PAL GameCube has no s-video output.
Also even so the GC uses the same AV port as the SNES/N64, the pins are wired differently, so it's normal that the picture will be dark and awful.
I'm sorry to say this but your test is flawed.
Yeah this video seems kinda uninformed.
The PAL GameCube actually has RGB on its analog port, so you’d be better off getting a cable that takes advantage of it if you’re using that output.
I would have been interested in the Xbox with the adapter.
I tried 4 different hdmi to component adapters and couldnt get 540p output from my retrotink 5x to work with any of them on ny sony crt.
What model is your Sony CRT?
I think the GameCube's issue is you're using an adapter not designed specifically for it. The GameCube outputs video at 640x480, all the while the SNES and N64 most often output at 320x240. Since you don't seem to have any Expansion Pak games, 640x480 wasn't going to happen on the N64.
The N64 can output 480i as well. Not all games support it.
Use the "BlueRetro" for N64, the dongle will allow you to use your modded controller into the N64.
Just an FYI, Kaico as a company clones a lot of products and are therefor able to offer lower prices. I'd avoid them just for that reason alone to be honest.
A lot of the brands they post make clones
Kaico is not a clone company, they, like other companies buy the very same product from China and put their own branding on it. :) kaico, bitfunx, hdtv converter etc. It's the same product. just differnt logos.
Other videos have shown that the GameCube output from the Wii is nowhere near the quality as native from a real gamecube. There is a direct comparison another TH-camr has done I’ll try to update this comment with it.
For gamecube you should use a Carby hdmi adapter. The kaico one sucks. Also get an mClassic. Surprised you didn't even mention either of these honestly......
I actually had a DC VGA adapter and used it to put my PC away and play in the monitor 😂
Also not to mention the framemeister isn’t even in production anymore
I own one of these for the PS2 and I'm not that impressed. The picture is too dark and it broke after around a year.
I've also got one for the Wii and, while it's not bad, I don't use it anymore. There is no reason not to play these games on the Wii U through HDMI. That's just superior. And basically it's also possible to use a CFW for the Wii U and run GC games from an HDD through the internal Wii mode.
pretty much Kaico is ass then, looks darker and blurrier in almost everything but dreamcast
If they could only make one for the Atari Jaguar...
OOOOOO Very nice
To answer the title, Retrotink 5x. Until the Retrotink 4K is out, there's nothing as good.
Outside the price range of this video, but otherwise a great product.
wtf that Gamecube footage CANT be from the official Kaico adapter!! it looks MUCH better elsewhere
have you the Homebrew "SWISS" installed? but even without, should look MUUUCH better
Other footage comparisons you've seen could be from one of their GameCube specific adapters. The one I tested in this video seems to be primarily for the N64 and SNES.
Also I don't yet have SWISS installed, but that's definitely something I'm going to do in the future!
- Rob
👍👍
6:54 the difference is NOT slightly wtf !? do you have like, EYES ?
HAYTCH! …..dmi
Kaico is scum. Don’t trust cloners who are making a quick buck from someone’s work. You should edit the video description to mention they are guilty of stealing