RetroTink-ering

Taylor and I have recommitted to the retro-gaming/retro-computing streams in 2026 because they’re just so much fun, and this one did not disappoint. We do recognize out of the gate this stream has nothing to do with hosting and it’s also ridiculously niche. That said, there is something super fun in geeking out over how to ensure your emulation gaming system (or even the real console) looks as much like an old CRT as it can when running on a modern monitor. And, in short, that’s exactly what this stream was all about.

The more involved discussion gets into how the RetroTink line of products are designed specifically for this rarified niche of old school gaming nerds. I have the good fortune of being surrounded by old school CRT machines (I probably have more than 30 if you count my collection of video games), but the reality is they can be a lot of overhead. They’re  bulky, heavy, and simply less and less a reality. Getting these machines can be tough now and will one day soon be a near-on impossibility unless you have a ton of luck, CRT knowledge, and/or money.

Speaking of CRTs – the next bav-o-rama will feature a JVC 27″ as we prepare for a Tetris event

As a result, finding ways to make the more recent TVs mirror the experience of what these games looked like on the devices they were designed for is important given the games look like total crap on upscaled 4K screens. So, in essence, the RetroTink is a programmable scaler that can reproduce era-appropriate displays for specific consoles to get as close to the original look and feel as possible. For someone playing Madden 2001 on the Playstation for nearly a year now, this becomes very important.

RetroTink website

RetroTink is essentially the Cadillac of old school game scalers, and was designed by Mike Chi, who is both an electrical engineer and old school gamer who is obsessed with making his childhood gaming experience come alive in the world of modern tech. These are the people who make life wonderful for the rest of us. I mean he named the project after his pet rabbit, need I say more?

The actual stream leads to us comparing the RetroTink 5X Pro (the version I bought) with Taylor’s RetroTink 4K CE —which was pretty impressive. Thanks to relative streaming chops, we got an up close and personal look at the scan lines for these old school games to understand the real difference. Also, the 4k CE model provides templates that mimic the display of specific TVs, such as JVC or Sony CRTs from back in the day—pretty amazing.  It was a fun stream and I learned a lot more about my RetroTink, which was the reason we did it. This conversation helped me appreciate how powerful this little tool is that much more, so thanks for all the insights and joy Taylor.