Opinions on the Retrotink 2x

[666nyan666]

I've recently been obsessed with playing and collecting games for my PS2. Along the way I've probably watched far too many videos online about getting the best picture quality out of the console when plugged into an HDTV, but none seem to answer my question: I have HDretrovision's component cables but I've been incredibly curious about what the Retrotink 2x line doubler could do to enhance my gaming experience.

The framemeister and OSSC are far too expensive for me, especially since the PS2 is the only console I regularly game on that uses analog video output. I know that the Retrotink doesnt accept 480p but since there's only maybe two PS2 games I'd want to play that offer that feature I'm not too concerned.

TL;DR: Is the Retrotink would integrating into my set up? Or I am better off spending that money on more games?

 

[enarky]

If you already use component cables the Retrotink will bring nothing to the table, except worse picture. It's for composite and S-Video sources as input, which are way worse than component. If you don't want to spend money for an OSSC (which I highly recommend!) you're better off plugging your component cables into your TV directly.

I just checked prices, unless I couldn't find cheaper Retrotink sources the OSSC doesn't cost that much more than a Retrotink nowadays, anyways. You can get a complete OSSC for ~110 EUR on Aliexpress, Retrotink goes for 85 EUR.

 

[666nyan666]

If you already use component cables the Retrotink will bring nothing to the table, except worse picture. It's for composite and S-Video sources as input, which are way worse than component. If you don't want to spend money for an OSSC (which I highly recommend!) you're better off plugging your component cables into your TV directly.

I just checked prices, unless I couldn't find cheaper Retrotink sources the OSSC doesn't cost that much more than a Retrotink nowadays, anyways. You can get a complete OSSC for ~110 EUR on Aliexpress, Retrotink goes for 85 EUR.

Is there a noticable improvement when using the OSSC vs high end component cables?

 

[enarky]

Is there a noticable improvement when using the OSSC vs high end component cables?

If the game you're playing supports 240p or 480p the OSSC can integer scale the output and you'll get a super sharp picture in optimized modes. If input is interlaced you won't notice much difference.

TBH, the biggest improvement is with PS1/N64 gen of consoles and before. With those you'll get an image that's nearly as good and sharp as emulation on PC. I personally like that a lot, but a lot of people don't, so YMMV.

 

[RMZK]

If you already use component cables the Retrotink will bring nothing to the table, except worse picture. It's for composite and S-Video sources as input, which are way worse than component. If you don't want to spend money for an OSSC (which I highly recommend!) you're better off plugging your component cables into your TV directly.

I just checked prices, unless I couldn't find cheaper Retrotink sources the OSSC doesn't cost that much more than a Retrotink nowadays, anyways. You can get a complete OSSC for ~110 EUR on Aliexpress, Retrotink goes for 85 EUR.

Allow me to correct you my friend. The R2X indeed supports YpBpR Component video, in fact the PS2 is one of the best consoles to use with it. The vast majority of PS2 games run at 480i so if you connect your console directly to an HDTV through component cables you'll experience a noticeable amount of input lag.
Using the R2X with a PS2 you can get a lagless 480p image that's been deinterlaced and additionally you can turn on the smoothing to reduce the interlace flickering even more.

I've run some tests and I'm pretty happy with the R2X as an Entry level solution and a companion to my OSSC.
Of course if you have the money for an OSSC go for it but I would not recommend chinese clones.



Here are my results. In the first video look at how the raw 480i signal through the OSSC looks flickery



And using the R2X smooth mode in tandem with the OSSC you can achieve an almost 480p look

 

[enarky]

Allow me to correct you my friend. The R2X indeed supports YpBpR Component video, in fact the PS2 is one of the best consoles to use with it.

Huh, really? I guess you'll learn something new every day, genuinely didn't know it accepts component signal. In that case I take back everything I said about the retrotink and component.

Personally I wouldn't buy one of the clones, either, got mine from videogameperfection. But people complain about the price and these exist, so there's that.

 

[666nyan666]

Allow me to correct you my friend. The R2X indeed supports YpBpR Component video, in fact the PS2 is one of the best consoles to use with it. The vast majority of PS2 games run at 480i so if you connect your console directly to an HDTV through component cables you'll experience a noticeable amount of input lag.
Using the R2X with a PS2 you can get a lagless 480p image that's been deinterlaced and additionally you can turn on the smoothing to reduce the interlace flickering even more.

I've run some tests and I'm pretty happy with the R2X as an Entry level solution and a companion to my OSSC.
Of course if you have the money for an OSSC go for it but I would not recommend chinese clones.



Here are my results. In the first video look at how the raw 480i signal through the OSSC looks flickery



And using the R2X smooth mode in tandem with the OSSC you can achieve an almost 480p look

Damn! That second video looks great!

You own an OSSC as well, and it seems like you prefer it over the Retrotink eh? Is it capable of producing similar results to that second video?

 

[RMZK]

I mostly use emulation for an

Damn! That second video looks great!

You own an OSSC as well, and it seems like you prefer it over the Retrotink eh? Is it capable of producing similar results to that second video?

The OSSC will get you the cleanest picture of any console, that also means that if you got a noisy console or crappy cables the noise and artifacts will be exagerated. The R2X manages to mask those things to some extent due to its smoothing filter and 480p being a little blurry when scaled by HDTVs

 

[666nyan666]

The OSSC will get you the cleanest picture of any console, that also means that if you got a noisy console or crappy cables the noise and artifacts will be exagerated. The R2X manages to mask those things to some extent due to its smoothing filter and 480p being a little blurry when scaled by HDTVs

Understood. Think I might bite the bullet and go with the OSSC. Between MLIG's reviews and the landslide vote it's getting in this thread, i'm sold.

 

[MrCokeacola]

I love my retrotin2X use it with high quality S-Video cables with the N64, Gamecube, PS2 and Dreamcast. Now sure I could be using better options but when I factored in price, compatibility and ease of use I went with the retrotink.