1980’s to 2000’s Arcades and Video Games have one point in common; they all use a CRT as their primary display. Most of them output their video signals directly in RGB + sync at 15KHz, like the Jamma and MVS standards.

Those CRT are becomming less and less common these days, replaced by LCD TVs and monitors that can be purchased at low prices with excellent quality. Nevertheless, the RGB + sync signal cannot be connected directly to these new TVs. Retronic Design’s new adapter is there to answer this need by converting theses primitive signals to components (YPbPr). With this adapter connected in between an Arcade board and an LCD TV, you can easily replace any CRT.

Classic Arcade and Video Games use 15KHz horizontal sync video output. This corresponds to today’s standard 480i. But there is also a common but not-so-well known mode called the 240p. This mode do not have odd and even line scanning. It uses the video standard in full 60 fps instead of 30 fps. It permits sprite “transparency” and induce a blank scanline pattern that charaterize most Arcade games. New LCD TVs are not equally supporting this 240p mode. But for those that supports it, a replacement can be operated in your old cabinet.

This adapter does not resize the original image like most competitive solutions does. It only operate a color space conversion and integrate the composite sync to the Y (green) signal. The best resizing/reformatting device to keep original image quality and effects is integrated in your LCD TV. Analog to digital conversion should only be done once; inside your TV.

Note that 240p and 480i are NTSC video modes. PAL/SECAM have their equivalent 288p and 576i modes, also compatible with this adapter.

Universal RGBS to Components adapter is currently sold on our website at 49,99$ CAD + shipping.