Hey everyone! I’ve been diving into the world of retro AV hookups and could use some help piecing everything together. It’s been a challenge finding all the info in one spot! So, what I’m discovering is it’s usually a trade-off: you can either get great fidelity with low lag, or have everything connected at once, but not necessarily both. A dream setup would be something like a Retrotink Ultra with 20 inputs, but sadly, that doesn’t exist.
I’ve heard some modern AV receivers feature a “passthrough mode” that sends the signal directly to the TV without processing it, but I’m getting mixed reviews on how effective this is with HDTVs. Some users swear by it, while others say it doesn’t actually work and that even if it did, the TV’s still going to do its own processing, adding lag. From what I gather, older AV receivers only do passthrough but miss out on HDMI inputs. I’ve also seen that certain TVs have a “game mode” setting to reduce processing lag—still trying to clarify how well that works.
I’m thinking an AV switch might be better for hooking up multiple retro consoles all at once since they generally don’t process the signal. I’ve seen a few options, like the RCA VH911 or JVC JX S700, which seem fine for older CRT TVs. But what about an HDTV? Is there an AV receiver that can effectively passthrough RCA/composite/S-video signals to an HDTV? Or do we need high-end processors like OSSC, RetroTink, or Framemeister to ensure top image quality? These processors can give CRT-quality visuals from retro sources, which is pretty crucial for serious gaming. I’m really hoping to avoid hooking everything up separately or using a bulky CRT!
4 Answers
If you’re open to investing a bit, I’d recommend checking out the Scalable Video Switch (SVS) by Arthrimus along with the RetroTINK 4K Pro. The SVS is modular, meaning you can add inputs for each console and connect it to the RetroTINK 4K seamlessly. Just so you know, their pre-orders are limited, so keep an eye on that.
Yeah, the SVS looks too good to be true. Be careful with the pricing—it seems like it’s going to be way more than the initial look! Plus, I heard Retrotink might be hard to get in the US soon.
I’ve done some tests on older Denon AVRs, and when their video processing features are off, they really pass the HDMI signals through well, though only up to 1080p/60Hz. But when the processing is on, that’s where the lag kicks in. Just a heads-up—generic HDMI switches don’t add lag either.
I think a good combo is using a switch with a quality scaler, or even sticking with a CRT if that’s an option. The SVS switch lets you build it out as you go, but make sure you’re prepared for some assembling. You might also want to consider switches like GComp or GScart, though keep in mind they might limit you to specific input types.
True, but with those kind of switches, you’re kind of locked into whatever input you start with. Plus, some cables can be way more expensive! How’s that Extron working for you? I heard you have to mess around with adapters.
Exactly! The Extron Crosspoint is good, but watch out for switching to HDMI; those adapters can add up!
The RetroTINK 4K Pro sounds awesome, but the SVS’s pricing seems way off sometimes! Some users have posted about significantly higher prices than expected, so make sure you understand the final costs before diving in.