I think a lot of the N64 demand also comes from the fact that the console had a lot of acclaimed classic titles that are now in "licensing hell", meaning they have a slim to none chance of getting re-released. Goldeneye 007 The WWF games Rare's games (at least outside of Xbox)
The sad part of videogame is that good license games are likely never to be re-release or remake unless there's money to make with them. Older WWF wrestling games had little chance of ever been remake but hey sometimes there may be an exception. The first two Tony Hawk games are getting remastered so I hope companies like 2K see this as something to keep in mind.
This is amazing information. I just snagged the Eon/mClassic and I’m super excited to not have to pull apart my 64 and try to mod it. I’m not a huge audiovisual snob so I think that I will be quite happy with the plug and play option. Thanks for the in depth info!!
Instead of 480p, try setting it to 720p with the mclassic. Since it's a 3x scale the image might turn out better even if the signal is being blown up a bit more.
So another, and probably better solution occurred to me that should give you the double buffering of the Super64+Mclassic with the improved colors of the HDMI mod. Since you have an RGB modded N64, you could run the RGB signal to a retrotink 2x using HD-retrovision Snes component cables. the retrotink will output it at 480p and apply it's own buffering and the Mclassic will do it's magic from there. since it's RGB the colors should be the best you can get going the analogue route. I don't know exactly how well the retrotink's buffering compares to the Super's since I don't own both, but it's worth a shot. could be a cool short update video on this subject if you ever have the time for it.
The N64 is in a weird spot with the mClassic, where sometimes it works well, and sometimes it doesn't. It's one of those things where it could be used in a case-by-case basis with the UltraHDMI. But it won't make every game look amazing. It's interesting to apply it to games that have Anti-aliasing disabled with gameshark codes, I think that's the N64 noise you're referring to. Fun fact, Quake is the one N64 game that'll natively let you disable Anti-aliasing in the options.
Unmodded N64 with Super 64 smoothing on with mClassic is the best way to play N64 currently imo. Better than UltraHDMI just on the smoother anti-aliasing alone. Also is plug-n-play with no modding required. Great video! EDIT: Oh, and also a Brawler64 controller is a must!!!
Can not agree. You get in same price range with a pre-modded rgb n64 with deblur combined with rad2x. A rgb n64 with deblur around $130 + rad2x $62 = ($192) We say $40 for a regular n64 with a game and a controller + super 64 $150 = ($190) I would go with modded one...
I just bought this setup. $270 for Super64 + mClassic 😬. The Super64 plugs in to the N64 then the mClassic to the Super64 so you don't need any other converter. The mClassic has the HDMI out behind it.
@@AndJusticeForAll1988 I just purchased both and have connected both together and get only a black screen going into my 1080p tv. What am i doing wrong?? I have tripple checked source direction
Could you just imagine how much money Nintendo would make, if they re-release an N64 with all the hardware acceleration built in. Not a mini; but actually allowing you to use your cartridges.
That's installation price right ? Not Including the Hdmi kit ...because I've seen pre made ultra hdmi n64 going for the low $1,000 lol & it use to be $500
An Ocarina of Time and Quest 64 HD remake would had been fantastic assuming it's a faithful remake like Trials of Mana and not a quick cash in like the Secret of Mana remake.
That's the one thing that Adam didn't mention. (Its an HDMI product so I'm not calling him out.) But my N64 with an RGB Mod and the HD Retrovision SNES cables looks fantastic on an analog display.
@@BarnyardCasanova I will always think the best way to play these games is on a CRT. Alot of the times I cant even see any difference in the picture quality until he zooms up real close. So I just question sometimes if these options are worth it. If you want to play these older systems with the "best" visuals possible, just use a emulator.
Ultra HDMI running with scan lines enabled helps hide the jaggies and makes image look sharper. Since the games were designed in an age with predominately scan line TV's it could explain the game designers not being too worried about jaggies. I know some people don't like scan lines but if you think about it thats being truest to the original game play experience.
You may want to check out My Life In Gaming if you want a more in depth look at getting the best image out of your retro systems. Here's a vid of their on getting the best image out of N64 th-cam.com/video/qpy1M6v2_MI/w-d-xo.html
Relationships aside, I think one of the biggest issues with getting a N64 mini is emulating the N64 hardware. My understanding is that the N64 architecture is incredibly hard to emulate. This is why games like Majora's Mask had the audio issues on the Gamecube port. I also think this is why you don't see a big N64 emulator scene.
I don't normally like using software emulation, but the N64 is a system which I'll break that rule for. It almost needs upscaled textures in order to look halfway decent on a modern display. Or better yet stick with a nice high end CRT. That's where a real N64 system truly belongs.
@@AdamKoralik Oh wow, I never thought I'd be the one educating you on the N64 but here goes. The N64 has a forced anti-aliasing on the hardware level and is the primary cause for the N64 being so blurry. I can understand anti-aliasing the 480i and 576i content, but what idiot thought it was a good idea to anti-alias visuals with resolutions as low as 240p and 288p?! The UltraHDMI and even newer RGB boards have a DeBlur option, which uses algorithms to undo the secondary anti-aliasing. GameShark codes can also be used to turn off the primary anti-aliasing. I fear all the mCable is doing in your case is adding more anti-aliasing on top of an already heavily anti-aliased image.
@@WhiteJarrah Yes. The N64 outputs a 640px line for 320x240 resolution games, interpolating in-between pixels that reduce the distinction between them. The GameShark patches, on the other hand, remove hardware anti-aliasing that works across multiple lines to hide jaggies and stair-stepped diagonals. Being aware of Adam's preferences, I don't think Adam would like the more pixelated look though it does bring it to Saturn/PlayStation level. There is one more mind of blur though: Texture filtering. Normally it's a good thing but not with the super-low resolution textures developers used to fit their game on small cartridges. Having hardware texture filtering ended up letting devs lower texture resolutions even further when cutting corners to fit their game on a cart! Texture filtering currently requires an emulator to turn off but you may not want to since you will see a pixelated texture blown up WAY bigger than it ever should be. You can kinda see the pixels through the filtering in the text on the side of the Great Fox in Star Fox 64.
Another great video Adam! I know you’ve prolly answered this question a lot, but is there a distinct difference between using the mClassic versus the regular mCable?
Basically three that I know of. They updated their algorithms to do...stuff? They support 1440p now, and they added that toggle that lets you turn it on, off, and force 4:3 mode for retro games.
Unfortunately the only real solution for people who are wanting to make a drastic improvement is to increase the render resolution in an emulator, but that's not going to scratch that original hardware itch
@@swungsolid It's up to a number of things and what game you want to play and your specs. Switch, PS3, and Wii U have quite well developed emus and certain current games are a better experience in an emulator right now. For most people, probably gamecube and before is a good rule of thumb as compatibility is very high
@@RikkiSan1 yes. By the same people who came up with citra. Ultimately the switch is well known existing hardware running a mash up of elements of Android and modified 3DS code that were already pretty well understood. A large portion of the library is bootable with simpler games playing quite well
Tried 2 different N64 emus on the original Wii and both were hit or miss; would run Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 smoothly but games like Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, their framerate would cough and sputter, rendering them virtually unplayable.
The rgb mod I have in my n64 is the one from tim worthington with deblur. Going through my framemeister and also to my pvm, the colors are way better than that one you have for early model n64s. I would make the argument for that rgb mod if the super 64 had a sort of pro version compatible with rgb since the current version only taps into s-video and then the m-classic. That way you get the enhanced color with rgb and clearer video with deblur from a native 240p signal, give it the smoothing effect of this super 64 pro, then have the mcable upscale it. If I'm picturing this correctly, it could give your ultra hdmi idea a run for its money.
Hey Adam, it's funny that you should post this video now as over the last couple of months I have unintentionally come into possession of all 3 of these products (long story) and have been playing the exact same mix and match game. Sadly, I think I've decided that best combination varies on a game-by-game basis, for example: while the Super64 in "Slick" mode is a nice touch for games like Mario 64, I've found that games like Rogue Squadron are almost unplayable w/o the Ultra HDMI (the canyon walls of the ATAT construction site level are pitch black with the Super64). After messing around with the settings I've found this to be due to not just the Ultra HDMI's Gamma Boost option, but also having the RGB Range set to Full. Are you using the mClassic in the "Retro" mode with the N64? I'm on the fence with that setting and this console but I flat out hate it when paired with my Wii. BTW, that console run through a $20 Sewell HDMI adapter and the mClassic in Standard mode has given new life to my Wii/Gamecube collection; by far my favorite thing to pair the mClassic with! Try it.
For my 3d consoles that are not 4k I have them go to an hdmi switcher then to a darbee dvp-5000s and then an mclassic. The darbee adds essentially antistropic filtering and the mclassic adds antiailising and upscaling. Its the closest console games will get to having pc settings that make games look better. Its also useful for making movies look better too.
I have both and a UHDMi 64. I was a bit disapointed with the MClassic. It could have been the games I tried it with and I did use in 1080. I will go back and do 480 and mabye have a better opinion of it. The Darbee adds perceived 3D depth and its effects are definately more noticable then the MClassic but with the N64 its still won't give you the full effects it does in movies just due to the textures but is definately a worthy addition to a UHDMi setup..
@@audiogear474 The mclassic does work better when the video source is near or at its native resolution. When playing my Wii games on Wii U at set to 1080p the mclassic really cant do any video processing because the image is already at 1080p, however when I set it to 480p and allowed the mclassic to do the upscaling it did a far better job than the Wii U's video processor. The same thing was true when my PS3 was set to 720p instead of 1080p. I feel 1080p is just to demanding for the ps3. When playing games setting it 720p allows for a better frame rates since its less demanding and it allows the mclassic to upscale to 1080p. Also most games on PS3 are 720p only. Only slight inconvenience to this having to switch resolution back and forth to watch blurays in 1080p or play Wii U games and then switch it back.
Adam, THANK YOU so much for this review. I love your no-nonsense honest reviews. I have been using the Super64 and mClassic for quite a few months now with the stock N64 and I have been considering bidding on Ebay for UltraHDMI modded consoles, but during these quarantine times, they are bidding for upwards of 700-1,300$. You just saved my ass. I would have noticed this on my own, and been pissed.
Seems like the M classic with Super 64 at a much lower price point seems better than spending all the money on the Ultra HDMI mod. And then you can use your Mclassic on other consoles as well.
Nice to see a major reviewer actually acknowledge the flaws of the ultrahdmi and the current superiority of EON Super64 plus mclassic. That has been my go-to for some time now, but I picked up the n64digital and it is an interesting alternative. With it set to 480p output, deblur off, interpolation set to "softer", the mclassic is able to upscale it almost as smooth as the EON (but not quite as well) but with better colors and sound, no random artifacts from the inferior S-video signal of the EON, and a more reliable signal (always works right away with n64digital, i have to turn my n64 on and off a few times to get my super64 to oputput a signal). The eon is certainly much cheaper than the n64digital, but if budget is no concern it is nice having the options for sharp pixels on certain text heavy games, and scanline options for certain games that look better with them.
I personally like the ultra HDMI native 1080P and i mostly grew up with composite but the ultra and rgb looks awesome but i see where going with this and i can agree though the n64 was my childhood in a box i can agree that takeing out those lines is the way to go since we only had Limited technology back in the 90s
Another good comparison to include would be an rgb modded n64 using hd retrovision cables on a sony trinitron crt, like a 27fv310 that I have hooked up. This is if you like scanlines, which I think you hate. Ultrahdmi 480p to mclassic looks best to me, but I think hd retrovision crt setup is a close 2nd place compared to super64.
The worst thing is, we struggle a lot to bring those old wonderful consoles to modern setups, with average results, while a PC emulator makes these games look really incredible. I think the Ultra HDMI is the first step needed to get close to emulator image, because is outputting the signal straight out of the gpu with no loss. For the Snes, I have a combo of Retrotink (s-video from snes) and mClassic, the result is excelent, for Snes, I don't have to look any further for image improvement. N64 is the most difficult one.
Theres actually another way on the horizon which I think may be a match for the ultra hdmi which is an rgb de blur n64 combined with the rad 2x cable (the guys that made the retro tink) then running this through the m classic I've not tried it yet though but I think it will be an upgrade on the super 64 although obviously not as plug and play
That's really no different than the current RGB mods with DeBlur, RetroTink 2X, and HD Retrovision cables. Besides, DeBlur only applies to 240p, and UltraHDMI already had flawless 240p. Analog can't improve that, unfortunately. That said, I do prefer analog RGB for 480i N64 games.
I wonder how the upcoming RAD2X cable will compare to this and if it's better with the mClassic attached to RAD2X or not. I guess we'll have to wait and see if it will be any better than the E.O.N Super 64.
Theres a few HD patches out for some N64 zelda ocarina of time running with a HD in 4k is absolutely amazing. Made to obviously run on a certain emulator.
and upon watching further...I think we've all learned at this point it's best to have an HDMI-modified console at 480p as you pointed out in the DC HDMI video.
Very lucky to have an ultra hdmi modded n64 and I like it a lot . It’s simple and easy and can be configured with an easy to use on screen menu . There’s a lot of options and lots of good options on the way for anyone that wants to have one of these modded consoles at an affordable price .
This idea works the same IMO on the WiiU VC. Set the WiiU to 480p and play an N64 VC while using HDMI and the mClassic. It brightens the image and it’s a nice smooth soft image that looks similar to this. I think the HDMI N64 mods make the games look more like 1080i. The pixels are too sharp for me and the only thing going for it aside from scaling is the color vibrancy. Since this video, I think they’ve added smoothing but it’s not quite the same. It’s like a smeared smoothing.
What about getting the Ultra HDMI conversion and then adding the Super64? Wouldnt that give you the best of both worlds; crisp, colorful picture paired with the Super64's buffering to smooth out the lines and edges?
@@AdamKoralik Ah yeah that's right, the Super 64 fits in the N64 connectors slot, not into an HDMI port, good point. How about the Mclassic paired with the Ultra 64 mod? Probably wouldnt make much difference, if any since the Ultra 64 mod cleans the image up so much by itself
The real problem with upscaling the N64 are the games. Textures are always blurry due to cache limits, and most games run with obnoxious, smeary AA because it looked modern at the time. To get a glimpse of what the UltraHDMI can do, try the Flappy Bird homebrew ROM with sharp pixels and VIDeblur enabled. The result is literally pixel perfect, not even a hint of blur or artifacting.
Interesting thing about mClassic paired with another smoothing effect (Super64 or Retrotink), the results are kind of subjectively better or worse depending on the game. The mClassic is fantastic for the GameCube, Xbox, and PS2, but for the N64, it’s limited a bit by the lower original resolution. The upscaling and smooth from another definitely helps, but ultimately things with look fantastic with the mClassic, but only for objects with sufficient resolution (larger on screen / close to the camera). Small objects in the distance will look blurry, sometimes blurry enough that it looks strange next to the large objects. For example, let’s say you can see a character’s pupils on an N64 game when they are close to the camera. When the character is far away enough, you will not be able to see the pupils due to the low resolution. No amount of smoothing can add those pupils back. For me, I stick with the Super64 and Retrotink smoothing and I turn the mClassic on and off depending on the game for the N64. If the details in distant objects is important for the game, I keep the mClassic off.
Honestly, and this is coming from a big N64 guy and console collector so it hurts to say this...I honestly think emulation is the best route to go with the N64. I have both N64 VC games on my Wii and Project 64 and both look WAY better (even more so with the latter).
Got a ODV-GBS-C. Will test it out one day with my SCART cable + mClassic when I RGB mod my N64. BTW, you want to get a 2k HDMI EDID emulator to get 1440p upscaling from the mclassic.
I love the N64. My childhood. I'm waiting for you to tell me how to get the best video quality for the PlayStation 2. Since I play most of my classic games on that. That would be helpful. Thank you
@@retrosoul8770 I can't transfer my saves or put my PS2 memory on a PS3. I just want to use my PS2 system only on a HDTV. I need to know what cables to use. I think maybe component.
You may have misunderstood my text. I meant use an original Ps2 with Ps3 component cables. They work with both Ps2 and 3 on a CRT TV or an HDTV due to the same connection. Crt will look a hell of alot better though.
@@retrosoul8770 oh one more question I forgot to ask. Does any ps3 component cables work on both PS2 fat & slim or just a specific model. I will greatly appreciate it.
In my opinion if you’re really on a low budget. Can’t afford the rgb or ultra hdmi mod. Best bet possible would probably be the super 64 and mclassic together.
You forgot to mention N64+retrotink+S-Video cable. That's essentially what the EON64 does but cheaper and with the retrotink can be used on multiple consoles. Think it would it be possible to add the Mclassic to the end of the retrotink?
Love the videos Adam and the work you have compiled. 2 questions 1)There are a few games that run at 480i, Rogue Squadron being one of them. I have both UltraHDMI/mClassic and have experienced a terrible combing effect (presumably due to interlacing associated with 480i) when viewing objects in motion. When NOT in motion, objections look incredible. I forget I am even looking at N64 at that point, almost as if it was emulated. What was your experience for games like this using the Super 64? Did you find any way to eliminate the "combing"? 2) UltraHDMI has A TON of setting to be tinkered with. What did you find to be the best "combination" when experimenting with the UltraHDMI and the mClassic? I have been running around in circles trying to hone it in. Thanks for the videos and keep up the great work!
Apparently I missed out on the deblur feature, which is my bad. As for the Super 64, I found it had certain compatibility issues with those resolution changes. Specifically RE2.
@@AdamKoralik Deblur feature? I assume that is the VI De-blur? Does that setting do the same thing as the Super 64? The UltraHDMI mod can be a bit intimating. I feel like there is a sweet spot with the various settings that I need to find.
I have seen the super 64 with Mclassic running right next to the HDMI modified N64 on the same tv. In my opinion, the super 64 plus Mclassic looks better. This is the option I am now using. And I am very happy with it.
The M Cable & the M classic device both are a combined and unique weapon for retro gaming ¿how is that? EASY: The source HDMI Cable connect it into the MClassic device and then hook it up into the EON N64 HDMI Adapter while the other HDMI with the M Chip that requires USB Connection plugg it into the TV and you have a big juice of great quality.
I wish you waited and showed off RGB and the Rad2x with it's smoothing option. That way you could do RGB, smoothing, and mclassic if you wanted to. The Rad2x should be shipped out in about a week and is from Mike Chi, the maker of the retrotink 2x. That has the potential to be incredible.
Thank you for this. I'd like to see someone do a test to see what a N64 looks like when they use a RGB Modded N64 to HD Retrovision Cables to RetroTink 2x Pro to an mClassic. It's a lot of steps but I think it might end up being the Frankenstein N64 that works the best.
Man, I'd so love to do this mod but the kit is kind of expensive and the consoles aren't getting cheaper either... I'd trust myself with soldering to the chip but I'm really scared of that ZIF-style ribbon cable. ;D Peace! ✌️
@Adam Koralik Hi Adam, would you recommend a Retrotink 2X + MClassic combination with a Nintendo Wii using component a/v cables? I already know the RT2X doesn't support 480p input but I can just manually lower the resolution to 480i through the console. Afterwards, I upscale/double line that 480i to 480p with the RT2X and then using an MClassic, upscale that to 1080p. Let me know your thoughts. Btw, I'm aware that there are probably better options out there for the Wii but I just want to know if this would also be a good solution as I plan on getting these for the N64 and other consoles as well.
@@AdamKoralik Hey, thanks for the response, sorry for the little delay in my reply. Yes, you're right. I know the Wii U is the way to go for best picture quality on the Wii. I just think considering the Wii has BC with the GameCube library, it'd be more convenient for those who want the best picture and want to play both of those libraries on one system. Maybe my option I suggested could be the best one can do in this situation. While this is not the cheapest option, it's definitely more affordable than some more expensive alternatives out there. Just my 2 cents on how I look at it.
Im sure you could find a component to hdmi converter online that doesn't actually upscale the image and retains its 480p resolution while not adding input lag
@@ians_parks You do have a point. My concern would be finding a quality choice for one of those that's actually reliable. In addition, most of them by reputation tend to overheat frequently or randomly cut off the signal during gameplay regardless if they upscale or not. At least with the MClassic, it seems to be much more efficient and sophisticated device than those products which seem to be cheaper by design. Plus, the Mclassic does improve picture quality even further and properly upscales it to HD with no notable flaws. It's not the cheapest option, but it sure looks to be the best bang for your buck.
@@emanuelysantiago4211 No i meant using one of those with the mclassic in place of the retrotink2x since the retrotink2x doesnt support 480p content. Trust me i know all about the mclassic 😆
Do you need the mclassic cable to pair with the super 64 and mclassic or can you just use any hdmi cable with that setup? I have a Sony Bravia OLED 4k TV. I currently have the eon super 64 and am going to buy the mclassic just wanted to make sure before I order. Thanks.
Personally I love the pixely look that the ULTRA HDMI can have with the blur off. Can't wait to get my own. Sucks that they are so hard to find and so expensive.
Good luck in your search. Hopefully the new version isn't too far from production, trying to find a kit was hard enough when the market wasn't controlled entirely by scalpers. I ended up buying mine from an Australian store (I'm from Europe) because they took pre-orders at the time, surprisingly it didn't even cost a whole lot extra in the end.
@@AdamKoralik thank you. I just bought both the eon and the mclassic. You cannot find ultra hdmi anymore and neither can you find the pixelfx except on ebay for 400 dollars. I'll be content with this version. Before I forget, what about the smoothing mode on the eon? Did you have that enabled? Thank you so much for your help. This video has been invaluable.
I just bought the super eon . although there’s an improvement it’s small , It does provide a better image on my flat screen over composite . Im on the fence about adding the mclassic although I could use that with other consoles .
Great review! I’m using the rad2x instead of the super 64. and then also using the mclassic. I love this combination. Never thought that in my opinion the hdmi mod looks so pixelated. And that’s not the focus for a n64. Smoother is better than sharper pixels I think.
@@BuyandSellwithBill The EON super 64 essentially is essentially the same set up as the rad2x but inside different housing, one that is plug and play, without the extra power source required. They both do the same thing.
now that the RetroTINK2x Pro Multiformat is here. would using that with RGB via their RGB to COMP converter and adding in the mclassic be the best? That way you get RGB with better scaling for that generation of gaming along with the smoothing of the mClassic. Might be worth trying out. It is a lot of crap to put together though.
Dude, this was WWAAAAYYYY more informative than anything else I have watched on these mods. Thanks for taking the time to put this video together.
I think a lot of the N64 demand also comes from the fact that the console had a lot of acclaimed classic titles that are now in "licensing hell", meaning they have a slim to none chance of getting re-released.
Goldeneye 007
The WWF games
Rare's games (at least outside of Xbox)
The sad part of videogame is that good license games are likely never to be re-release or remake unless there's money to make with them. Older WWF wrestling games had little chance of ever been remake but hey sometimes there may be an exception. The first two Tony Hawk games are getting remastered so I hope companies like 2K see this as something to keep in mind.
You got what you wished for, GoldenEye re-released. *Monkey's paw finger curls in*
This is amazing information. I just snagged the Eon/mClassic and I’m super excited to not have to pull apart my 64 and try to mod it. I’m not a huge audiovisual snob so I think that I will be quite happy with the plug and play option. Thanks for the in depth info!!
Nintendo just needs to pump out a Super Nintendo 64 that plays original 64 games along with high res remakes of a few titles.
Great Video, I’m currently using a Super 64 with a Mclassic and love it. Really smooths it out.
I really like that blue N64.
Instead of 480p, try setting it to 720p with the mclassic. Since it's a 3x scale the image might turn out better even if the signal is being blown up a bit more.
Interesting idea.
So another, and probably better solution occurred to me that should give you the double buffering of the Super64+Mclassic with the improved colors of the HDMI mod. Since you have an RGB modded N64, you could run the RGB signal to a retrotink 2x using HD-retrovision Snes component cables. the retrotink will output it at 480p and apply it's own buffering and the Mclassic will do it's magic from there. since it's RGB the colors should be the best you can get going the analogue route. I don't know exactly how well the retrotink's buffering compares to the Super's since I don't own both, but it's worth a shot. could be a cool short update video on this subject if you ever have the time for it.
The N64 is in a weird spot with the mClassic, where sometimes it works well, and sometimes it doesn't. It's one of those things where it could be used in a case-by-case basis with the UltraHDMI. But it won't make every game look amazing. It's interesting to apply it to games that have Anti-aliasing disabled with gameshark codes, I think that's the N64 noise you're referring to.
Fun fact, Quake is the one N64 game that'll natively let you disable Anti-aliasing in the options.
Unmodded N64 with Super 64 smoothing on with mClassic is the best way to play N64 currently imo. Better than UltraHDMI just on the smoother anti-aliasing alone. Also is plug-n-play with no modding required. Great video! EDIT: Oh, and also a Brawler64 controller is a must!!!
Can not agree.
You get in same price range with a pre-modded rgb n64 with deblur combined with rad2x.
A rgb n64 with deblur around $130 + rad2x $62 = ($192)
We say $40 for a regular n64 with a game and a controller + super 64 $150 = ($190)
I would go with modded one...
My experience on HDTV:
Stock N64 = looks like crap
N64 + mClassic = better but still crap
N64 + Super64 w/ slick mode = looks a lot better
N64 + mClassic + Super64 w/ slick mode = OMG!!
How did you do the N64 + mClassic considering the N64 doesn't have HDMI out?
@@Spaghettaboutit composite to hdmi converter. It's like $10 at Walmart.
I just bought this setup. $270 for Super64 + mClassic 😬. The Super64 plugs in to the N64 then the mClassic to the Super64 so you don't need any other converter. The mClassic has the HDMI out behind it.
I have the Super 64, so you would say the mClassic is worth it and has that much of a noticeable difference?
@@AndJusticeForAll1988 I just purchased both and have connected both together and get only a black screen going into my 1080p tv. What am i doing wrong?? I have tripple checked source direction
Adam, this is very helpful. I got my first N64 at PRGE this past weekend. Keep up the good work.
Could you just imagine how much money Nintendo would make, if they re-release an N64 with all the hardware acceleration built in. Not a mini; but actually allowing you to use your cartridges.
Interesting idea and it would be super cool
These videos are always amazing - and never a stone left unturned in the visual comparison elements.
I coordinate the UltraHDMI group-buy so you can basically get it at wholesale cost ($130). Submitting the round 7 order soon.
That's installation price right ? Not Including the Hdmi kit ...because I've seen pre made ultra hdmi n64 going for the low $1,000 lol & it use to be $500
O R $130 is roughly the wholesale price of the kit. Participants can get an install discount if they want me to do it ($50).
I could use one
Thanks for the video Adam! I appreciate all your videos. They are excellent!
Thanks for the video. I always really enjoy the ones you do on improving video quality.
I love your channel. It’s everything I wanted as a kid. Keep fighting the good fight!
I really like the new mClassic. It's the quickest solution for 1080p video from older consoles.
Great deductive journalism as usual great video, long time fan 👍
They just need to remaster every single N64 game ever for the Switch 🤔😂
Or make Dock adapters for backward compatibility.
An Ocarina of Time and Quest 64 HD remake would had been fantastic assuming it's a faithful remake like Trials of Mana and not a quick cash in like the Secret of Mana remake.
Can't wait fora madden 1998 HD 😂
2 more days :)
Not gonna happen because of licensing and rights issues. Especially with Goldeneye and the non nintendo Rareware original games
You could disable the VI de-blur feature if you want to reduce jaggies a bit. I actually prefer sharp pixels.
I still play my N64 on a 32 inch CRT TV with composite and personally that looks great to me. I can see where these options are necessary on new TV's.
That's the one thing that Adam didn't mention. (Its an HDMI product so I'm not calling him out.) But my N64 with an RGB Mod and the HD Retrovision SNES cables looks fantastic on an analog display.
@@BarnyardCasanova I will always think the best way to play these games is on a CRT. Alot of the times I cant even see any difference in the picture quality until he zooms up real close. So I just question sometimes if these options are worth it. If you want to play these older systems with the "best" visuals possible, just use a emulator.
Ultra HDMI running with scan lines enabled helps hide the jaggies and makes image look sharper. Since the games were designed in an age with predominately scan line TV's it could explain the game designers not being too worried about jaggies. I know some people don't like scan lines but if you think about it thats being truest to the original game play experience.
I've discovered so much retro gaming tech through you, and it's content like this that makes me feel like a kid again. Thank you for being awesome.
You may want to check out My Life In Gaming if you want a more in depth look at getting the best image out of your retro systems. Here's a vid of their on getting the best image out of N64 th-cam.com/video/qpy1M6v2_MI/w-d-xo.html
Amazing job at really looking at these two options as these are the top two options as of today. Great work man!
This video is probably the best one to help people figure out the best quality setup. Probably going to go the route of the super64 plus the mclassic
Cool video man I've been waiting for a review like this I agree for the cost the Ultrahdmi needs a smooth mode like the super64.
Nintendo just needs to make a n64 mini. For a perfect HD emulation
I'd love to see it happen, but I agree with those that say Nintendo would have to work out a deal with Microsoft to get Rare's games on the system.
@@robd9921 Microsoft and Nintendo have been playing nice, so hopefully it works out!
Relationships aside, I think one of the biggest issues with getting a N64 mini is emulating the N64 hardware. My understanding is that the N64 architecture is incredibly hard to emulate. This is why games like Majora's Mask had the audio issues on the Gamecube port. I also think this is why you don't see a big N64 emulator scene.
I don't normally like using software emulation, but the N64 is a system which I'll break that rule for. It almost needs upscaled textures in order to look halfway decent on a modern display. Or better yet stick with a nice high end CRT. That's where a real N64 system truly belongs.
I love how you heart essentially every comment X3
Jay Boogie yeah haha
No mention of the UltraHDMI's DeBlur feature?
Yeah this is a pretty big feature. Maybe Adam is unaware of it?
I was unaware of it. : Cries. :
@@AdamKoralik Oh wow, I never thought I'd be the one educating you on the N64 but here goes. The N64 has a forced anti-aliasing on the hardware level and is the primary cause for the N64 being so blurry. I can understand anti-aliasing the 480i and 576i content, but what idiot thought it was a good idea to anti-alias visuals with resolutions as low as 240p and 288p?! The UltraHDMI and even newer RGB boards have a DeBlur option, which uses algorithms to undo the secondary anti-aliasing. GameShark codes can also be used to turn off the primary anti-aliasing. I fear all the mCable is doing in your case is adding more anti-aliasing on top of an already heavily anti-aliased image.
@@WhiteJarrah Yes. The N64 outputs a 640px line for 320x240 resolution games, interpolating in-between pixels that reduce the distinction between them. The GameShark patches, on the other hand, remove hardware anti-aliasing that works across multiple lines to hide jaggies and stair-stepped diagonals. Being aware of Adam's preferences, I don't think Adam would like the more pixelated look though it does bring it to Saturn/PlayStation level. There is one more mind of blur though: Texture filtering. Normally it's a good thing but not with the super-low resolution textures developers used to fit their game on small cartridges. Having hardware texture filtering ended up letting devs lower texture resolutions even further when cutting corners to fit their game on a cart! Texture filtering currently requires an emulator to turn off but you may not want to since you will see a pixelated texture blown up WAY bigger than it ever should be. You can kinda see the pixels through the filtering in the text on the side of the Great Fox in Star Fox 64.
S-video with my Sony Trinitron CRT is still the best by far.
Sony Triton was the best Tv ar that time !
Another great video Adam! I know you’ve prolly answered this question a lot, but is there a distinct difference between using the mClassic versus the regular mCable?
Basically three that I know of. They updated their algorithms to do...stuff? They support 1440p now, and they added that toggle that lets you turn it on, off, and force 4:3 mode for retro games.
Unfortunately the only real solution for people who are wanting to make a drastic improvement is to increase the render resolution in an emulator, but that's not going to scratch that original hardware itch
Kyle is there good n64 software emulators? I mean at what point do we give up original hardware altogether and seek out emulation for all of it
@@swungsolid It's up to a number of things and what game you want to play and your specs. Switch, PS3, and Wii U have quite well developed emus and certain current games are a better experience in an emulator right now. For most people, probably gamecube and before is a good rule of thumb as compatibility is very high
@@oneeyedlittleman wait the switch has an emulator?
@@RikkiSan1 yes. By the same people who came up with citra. Ultimately the switch is well known existing hardware running a mash up of elements of Android and modified 3DS code that were already pretty well understood. A large portion of the library is bootable with simpler games playing quite well
Tried 2 different N64 emus on the original Wii and both were hit or miss; would run Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 smoothly but games like Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, their framerate would cough and sputter, rendering them virtually unplayable.
Love your videos brother 👊 keep up the great work;)
“Damn! I was hopping this mod will make my ocarina of time looks like 3DS version!!!”.... sarcasm mode activated lol XD
3DS version looks awesome, so glad I played it.
An awesome video as always Adam. 😁
Cheers! 🍻
The rgb mod I have in my n64 is the one from tim worthington with deblur. Going through my framemeister and also to my pvm, the colors are way better than that one you have for early model n64s. I would make the argument for that rgb mod if the super 64 had a sort of pro version compatible with rgb since the current version only taps into s-video and then the m-classic. That way you get the enhanced color with rgb and clearer video with deblur from a native 240p signal, give it the smoothing effect of this super 64 pro, then have the mcable upscale it. If I'm picturing this correctly, it could give your ultra hdmi idea a run for its money.
The rad2x and retrotink SCART have nice smoothing filters. Not quite the same but it's a good effect. Those can work with the Tim Worthington mod.
Hey Adam, it's funny that you should post this video now as over the last couple of months I have unintentionally come into possession of all 3 of these products (long story) and have been playing the exact same mix and match game. Sadly, I think I've decided that best combination varies on a game-by-game basis, for example: while the Super64 in "Slick" mode is a nice touch for games like Mario 64, I've found that games like Rogue Squadron are almost unplayable w/o the Ultra HDMI (the canyon walls of the ATAT construction site level are pitch black with the Super64). After messing around with the settings I've found this to be due to not just the Ultra HDMI's Gamma Boost option, but also having the RGB Range set to Full. Are you using the mClassic in the "Retro" mode with the N64? I'm on the fence with that setting and this console but I flat out hate it when paired with my Wii. BTW, that console run through a $20 Sewell HDMI adapter and the mClassic in Standard mode has given new life to my Wii/Gamecube collection; by far my favorite thing to pair the mClassic with! Try it.
I really wonder if hooking up a Darbee DVP-5000S after the mClassic would improve the picture.
For my 3d consoles that are not 4k I have them go to an hdmi switcher then to a darbee dvp-5000s and then an mclassic. The darbee adds essentially antistropic filtering and the mclassic adds antiailising and upscaling. Its the closest console games will get to having pc settings that make games look better. Its also useful for making movies look better too.
I have both and a UHDMi 64. I was a bit disapointed with the MClassic. It could have been the games I tried it with and I did use in 1080. I will go back and do 480 and mabye have a better opinion of it. The Darbee adds perceived 3D depth and its effects are definately more noticable then the MClassic but with the N64 its still won't give you the full effects it does in movies just due to the textures but is definately a worthy addition to a UHDMi setup..
@@audiogear474 The mclassic does work better when the video source is near or at its native resolution. When playing my Wii games on Wii U at set to 1080p the mclassic really cant do any video processing because the image is already at 1080p, however when I set it to 480p and allowed the mclassic to do the upscaling it did a far better job than the Wii U's video processor. The same thing was true when my PS3 was set to 720p instead of 1080p. I feel 1080p is just to demanding for the ps3. When playing games setting it 720p allows for a better frame rates since its less demanding and it allows the mclassic to upscale to 1080p. Also most games on PS3 are 720p only. Only slight inconvenience to this having to switch resolution back and forth to watch blurays in 1080p or play Wii U games and then switch it back.
Adam, THANK YOU so much for this review. I love your no-nonsense honest reviews. I have been using the Super64 and mClassic for quite a few months now with the stock N64 and I have been considering bidding on Ebay for UltraHDMI modded consoles, but during these quarantine times, they are bidding for upwards of 700-1,300$. You just saved my ass. I would have noticed this on my own, and been pissed.
Just like they made the SNES, they need to make one for N64 with all the classic games that everyone loves
Seems like the M classic with Super 64 at a much lower price point seems better than spending all the money on the Ultra HDMI mod. And then you can use your Mclassic on other consoles as well.
Thing is Eon is never not going to charge $150 for all their overpriced adapters
Nice to see a major reviewer actually acknowledge the flaws of the ultrahdmi and the current superiority of EON Super64 plus mclassic. That has been my go-to for some time now, but I picked up the n64digital and it is an interesting alternative. With it set to 480p output, deblur off, interpolation set to "softer", the mclassic is able to upscale it almost as smooth as the EON (but not quite as well) but with better colors and sound, no random artifacts from the inferior S-video signal of the EON, and a more reliable signal (always works right away with n64digital, i have to turn my n64 on and off a few times to get my super64 to oputput a signal). The eon is certainly much cheaper than the n64digital, but if budget is no concern it is nice having the options for sharp pixels on certain text heavy games, and scanline options for certain games that look better with them.
Love my ultra hdmi! Had it for well over a year.
Fulthrotle73 what resolution do you run yours?
@@swungsolid 240p
Fulthrotle73 I thought the lowest the ultra hdmi can be set at is 480p?
@@swungsolid i was just playin, i use it at 1080p
Fulthrotle73 do you notice any pixelization? Do you use regular hdmi cord. Mclassic?
I personally like the ultra HDMI native 1080P and i mostly grew up with composite but the ultra and rgb looks awesome but i see where going with this and i can agree though the n64 was my childhood in a box i can agree that takeing out those lines is the way to go since we only had Limited technology back in the 90s
The best explanation in this topic. Thank you!
I thought the whole gimmick with the N64 was that the picture should be smudgy. Enhancing the picture quality would just ruin the graphics.
N64 games are generally 240p (non-interlaced), so the artifacts in Super Mario 64 are not from interlacing.
Is the retro gem 480p with mclassic the same quality as the ultra hdmi 480p with mclassic?
I wasn't able to do a direct comparison, I did do a video on the RetroGem version though.
Does it still work and look great today in 2024? I’m thinking of buying it.
Check out my RetroGem N64 video.
Another good comparison to include would be an rgb modded n64 using hd retrovision cables on a sony trinitron crt, like a 27fv310 that I have hooked up. This is if you like scanlines, which I think you hate. Ultrahdmi 480p to mclassic looks best to me, but I think hd retrovision crt setup is a close 2nd place compared to super64.
The worst thing is, we struggle a lot to bring those old wonderful consoles to modern setups, with average results, while a PC emulator makes these games look really incredible. I think the Ultra HDMI is the first step needed to get close to emulator image, because is outputting the signal straight out of the gpu with no loss. For the Snes, I have a combo of Retrotink (s-video from snes) and mClassic, the result is excelent, for Snes, I don't have to look any further for image improvement. N64 is the most difficult one.
This is such a wonderfully comprehensive video about the Nintendo 64 and all its struggles with HDMI adapters.
Hi Adam would appreciate a ps2 video of mclassic like this. I am currently using pound cable + mclassic
I'd recommend the HD RetroVision component cables plus the RetroTink. The PS2 Pound cables are not good for PS2 games.
Do you know of a place that sells retrotink preassembled? I don't know if I have the skills to assemble. Thanks
@@tombafan CastleMania Games does, I think.
@@AdamKoralik sorry for the delay in response this but castlemania games dont offer pre assembled retrotink anymore I asked them.
To one unfamiliar with the console, the strange shape of the N64 controller is only outdone by the strangeness to get the best video image.
Theres actually another way on the horizon which I think may be a match for the ultra hdmi which is an rgb de blur n64 combined with the rad 2x cable (the guys that made the retro tink) then running this through the m classic I've not tried it yet though but I think it will be an upgrade on the super 64 although obviously not as plug and play
That's really no different than the current RGB mods with DeBlur, RetroTink 2X, and HD Retrovision cables. Besides, DeBlur only applies to 240p, and UltraHDMI already had flawless 240p. Analog can't improve that, unfortunately. That said, I do prefer analog RGB for 480i N64 games.
don't see an analog option ever being better than a true digital option. sorry. it would be close but no cigar. ultra hdmi wins, hands down.
awesome video man. good info.
I wonder how the upcoming RAD2X cable will compare to this and if it's better with the mClassic attached to RAD2X or not. I guess we'll have to wait and see if it will be any better than the E.O.N Super 64.
Theres a few HD patches out for some N64 zelda ocarina of time running with a HD in 4k is absolutely amazing. Made to obviously run on a certain emulator.
It's too bad Nintendo screwed us with the N64 video output. It's still one of my least favorite systems.
and upon watching further...I think we've all learned at this point it's best to have an HDMI-modified console at 480p as you pointed out in the DC HDMI video.
I'm considering getting an HDMI mod done on my N64 for the RetroTink 4k.
Tbh i dont mind the jaggies with the ultra hdmi, id rather have better clarity and colors over smoothed edges.
Very lucky to have an ultra hdmi modded n64 and I like it a lot . It’s simple and easy and can be configured with an easy to use on screen menu . There’s a lot of options and lots of good options on the way for anyone that wants to have one of these modded consoles at an affordable price .
I love your reviews on modern accessories for “retro” consoles. I could listen to you talk for hours.
This idea works the same IMO on the WiiU VC. Set the WiiU to 480p and play an N64 VC while using HDMI and the mClassic. It brightens the image and it’s a nice smooth soft image that looks similar to this. I think the HDMI N64 mods make the games look more like 1080i. The pixels are too sharp for me and the only thing going for it aside from scaling is the color vibrancy. Since this video, I think they’ve added smoothing but it’s not quite the same. It’s like a smeared smoothing.
What about getting the Ultra HDMI conversion and then adding the Super64? Wouldnt that give you the best of both worlds; crisp, colorful picture paired with the Super64's buffering to smooth out the lines and edges?
No way to connect them.
@@AdamKoralik Ah yeah that's right, the Super 64 fits in the N64 connectors slot, not into an HDMI port, good point. How about the Mclassic paired with the Ultra 64 mod? Probably wouldnt make much difference, if any since the Ultra 64 mod cleans the image up so much by itself
Obviously RF is the best output option that's why it wasn't shown.
The real problem with upscaling the N64 are the games. Textures are always blurry due to cache limits, and most games run with obnoxious, smeary AA because it looked modern at the time. To get a glimpse of what the UltraHDMI can do, try the Flappy Bird homebrew ROM with sharp pixels and VIDeblur enabled. The result is literally pixel perfect, not even a hint of blur or artifacting.
Reguardless it’s still pretty cool that we can now play the n64 in hdmi quality I’m hoping that the ps2 gets help that it needs
retrogamerfan
Ps2 has component. Good enough
Love you lots Adam!!!! your awesome! honestyl! video starts at 11:22
...Video starts at 11:22?
Interesting thing about mClassic paired with another smoothing effect (Super64 or Retrotink), the results are kind of subjectively better or worse depending on the game. The mClassic is fantastic for the GameCube, Xbox, and PS2, but for the N64, it’s limited a bit by the lower original resolution. The upscaling and smooth from another definitely helps, but ultimately things with look fantastic with the mClassic, but only for objects with sufficient resolution (larger on screen / close to the camera). Small objects in the distance will look blurry, sometimes blurry enough that it looks strange next to the large objects. For example, let’s say you can see a character’s pupils on an N64 game when they are close to the camera. When the character is far away enough, you will not be able to see the pupils due to the low resolution. No amount of smoothing can add those pupils back. For me, I stick with the Super64 and Retrotink smoothing and I turn the mClassic on and off depending on the game for the N64. If the details in distant objects is important for the game, I keep the mClassic off.
Honestly, and this is coming from a big N64 guy and console collector so it hurts to say this...I honestly think emulation is the best route to go with the N64. I have both N64 VC games on my Wii and Project 64 and both look WAY better (even more so with the latter).
Got a ODV-GBS-C. Will test it out one day with my SCART cable + mClassic when I RGB mod my N64. BTW, you want to get a 2k HDMI EDID emulator to get 1440p upscaling from the mclassic.
Would love HDMI on My N64 would make some of the darker games better to see.
I could feel that pain too, Doom 64 was hard as heck to see on the old N64. At least the newer HD version fix that and killing demons is a breeze now.
I love the N64. My childhood. I'm waiting for you to tell me how to get the best video quality for the PlayStation 2. Since I play most of my classic games on that. That would be helpful. Thank you
CRT TV with Ps3 component cables. Sadly that is the only way for the og Ps2 to look great imo and experience.
@@retrosoul8770 I can't transfer my saves or put my PS2 memory on a PS3. I just want to use my PS2 system only on a HDTV. I need to know what cables to use. I think maybe component.
You may have misunderstood my text. I meant use an original Ps2 with Ps3 component cables. They work with both Ps2 and 3 on a CRT TV or an HDTV due to the same connection. Crt will look a hell of alot better though.
@@retrosoul8770 oh ok thank u so much
@@retrosoul8770 oh one more question I forgot to ask. Does any ps3 component cables work on both PS2 fat & slim or just a specific model. I will greatly appreciate it.
cool video tech talk adam
In my opinion if you’re really on a low budget. Can’t afford the rgb or ultra hdmi mod. Best bet possible would probably be the super 64 and mclassic together.
Just ordered both Super 64 and mClassic, lets see what the F*%$, IN THE WORST CASE RETURN IT IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
If you like the smeared Vaseline look, like Adam seems to, the N64 Digital comes with smoothing options.
Nah, I like stuff to look good. If your eyes interpret smoothing that way, I recommend glasses.
FOOTAGE TIME!
You forgot to mention N64+retrotink+S-Video cable. That's essentially what the EON64 does but cheaper and with the retrotink can be used on multiple consoles. Think it would it be possible to add the Mclassic to the end of the retrotink?
Yes, see my RetroTink videos.
Love the videos Adam and the work you have compiled. 2 questions
1)There are a few games that run at 480i, Rogue Squadron being one of them. I have both UltraHDMI/mClassic and have experienced a terrible combing effect (presumably due to interlacing associated with 480i) when viewing objects in motion. When NOT in motion, objections look incredible. I forget I am even looking at N64 at that point, almost as if it was emulated. What was your experience for games like this using the Super 64? Did you find any way to eliminate the "combing"?
2) UltraHDMI has A TON of setting to be tinkered with. What did you find to be the best "combination" when experimenting with the UltraHDMI and the mClassic? I have been running around in circles trying to hone it in.
Thanks for the videos and keep up the great work!
Apparently I missed out on the deblur feature, which is my bad. As for the Super 64, I found it had certain compatibility issues with those resolution changes. Specifically RE2.
@@AdamKoralik Deblur feature? I assume that is the VI De-blur? Does that setting do the same thing as the Super 64? The UltraHDMI mod can be a bit intimating. I feel like there is a sweet spot with the various settings that I need to find.
Snes games on the other hand can look amazing.
I have seen the super 64 with Mclassic running right next to the HDMI modified N64 on the same tv. In my opinion, the super 64 plus Mclassic looks better. This is the option I am now using. And I am very happy with it.
Despite having the bell pressed, I’m not getting notifications for your channel until late :(
Figures. :/
The M Cable & the M classic device both are a combined and unique weapon for retro gaming ¿how is that? EASY: The source HDMI Cable connect it into the MClassic device and then hook it up into the EON N64 HDMI Adapter while the other HDMI with the M Chip that requires USB Connection plugg it into the TV and you have a big juice of great quality.
I wish you waited and showed off RGB and the Rad2x with it's smoothing option. That way you could do RGB, smoothing, and mclassic if you wanted to. The Rad2x should be shipped out in about a week and is from Mike Chi, the maker of the retrotink 2x. That has the potential to be incredible.
No reason that can't be a future video.
@@AdamKoralik Nice! 😎
Thank you for this. I'd like to see someone do a test to see what a N64 looks like when they use a RGB Modded N64 to HD Retrovision Cables to RetroTink 2x Pro to an mClassic. It's a lot of steps but I think it might end up being the Frankenstein N64 that works the best.
I think that's basically what I did in this video, or the mClassic review.
Hey Adam. How do you make the N64 look the best it can on a Samsung 4k TV which doesn't have any component cables on it?
Did this video not answer that question?
@@AdamKoralik it did I was just wondering if anything changed since you uploaded it but I guess not. Thanks.
@@bushidoblues9302 I think there's another HDMI internal mod option now, but I haven't used it. As I understand it, it's not much different
Man, I'd so love to do this mod but the kit is kind of expensive and the consoles aren't getting cheaper either...
I'd trust myself with soldering to the chip but I'm really scared of that ZIF-style ribbon cable. ;D
Peace! ✌️
@Adam Koralik Hi Adam, would you recommend a Retrotink 2X + MClassic combination with a Nintendo Wii using component a/v cables? I already know the RT2X doesn't support 480p input but I can just manually lower the resolution to 480i through the console. Afterwards, I upscale/double line that 480i to 480p with the RT2X and then using an MClassic, upscale that to 1080p. Let me know your thoughts. Btw, I'm aware that there are probably better options out there for the Wii but I just want to know if this would also be a good solution as I plan on getting these for the N64 and other consoles as well.
Honestly, with the Wii, I just use a Wii U.
@@AdamKoralik Hey, thanks for the response, sorry for the little delay in my reply. Yes, you're right. I know the Wii U is the way to go for best picture quality on the Wii. I just think considering the Wii has BC with the GameCube library, it'd be more convenient for those who want the best picture and want to play both of those libraries on one system. Maybe my option I suggested could be the best one can do in this situation. While this is not the cheapest option, it's definitely more affordable than some more expensive alternatives out there. Just my 2 cents on how I look at it.
Im sure you could find a component to hdmi converter online that doesn't actually upscale the image and retains its 480p resolution while not adding input lag
@@ians_parks You do have a point. My concern would be finding a quality choice for one of those that's actually reliable. In addition, most of them by reputation tend to overheat frequently or randomly cut off the signal during gameplay regardless if they upscale or not. At least with the MClassic, it seems to be much more efficient and sophisticated device than those products which seem to be cheaper by design. Plus, the Mclassic does improve picture quality even further and properly upscales it to HD with no notable flaws. It's not the cheapest option, but it sure looks to be the best bang for your buck.
@@emanuelysantiago4211 No i meant using one of those with the mclassic in place of the retrotink2x since the retrotink2x doesnt support 480p content. Trust me i know all about the mclassic 😆
This kit is as rare as it is expensive! I’d happily pay for one if I could source it!
You haven't joined the group buy?
Emmett Turner no idea how that works mate?
@@retroshane8844 Everyone gets together and orders them from MarshallH/RetroActive essentially at-cost. They are in round 7 now.
Do you need the mclassic cable to pair with the super 64 and mclassic or can you just use any hdmi cable with that setup? I have a Sony Bravia OLED 4k TV. I currently have the eon super 64 and am going to buy the mclassic just wanted to make sure before I order. Thanks.
Any HDMI cable works
Personally I love the pixely look that the ULTRA HDMI can have with the blur off. Can't wait to get my own. Sucks that they are so hard to find and so expensive.
Good luck in your search. Hopefully the new version isn't too far from production, trying to find a kit was hard enough when the market wasn't controlled entirely by scalpers. I ended up buying mine from an Australian store (I'm from Europe) because they took pre-orders at the time, surprisingly it didn't even cost a whole lot extra in the end.
So when you ran the super 64 and mclassic, what mode did you run the mclassic on? Retro? Processing off or processing on?
Retro processing.
@@AdamKoralik thank you. I just bought both the eon and the mclassic. You cannot find ultra hdmi anymore and neither can you find the pixelfx except on ebay for 400 dollars. I'll be content with this version.
Before I forget, what about the smoothing mode on the eon? Did you have that enabled? Thank you so much for your help. This video has been invaluable.
I just bought the super eon . although there’s an improvement it’s small , It does provide a better image on my flat screen over composite . Im on the fence about adding the mclassic although I could use that with other consoles .
Great review! I’m using the rad2x instead of the super 64. and then also using the mclassic. I love this combination. Never thought that in my opinion the hdmi mod looks so pixelated. And that’s not the focus for a n64. Smoother is better than sharper pixels I think.
I’ve seen several people mention the Rad 2x. Where can you get it? I can’t seem to find it online.
@@BuyandSellwithBill The EON super 64 essentially is essentially the same set up as the rad2x but inside different housing, one that is plug and play, without the extra power source required. They both do the same thing.
now that the RetroTINK2x Pro Multiformat
is here. would using that with RGB via their RGB to COMP converter and adding in the mclassic be the best? That way you get RGB with better scaling for that generation of gaming along with the smoothing of the mClassic. Might be worth trying out. It is a lot of crap to put together though.
Once I have the Pro M I'll test that.