Retro-bit Prism Component Cables for GameCube: RetroTINK 2X Pro, 2X Pro M, and 5X Pro Game Play

Sometimes dreams do come true: Retro-bit just released brand new shielded component cables for GameCube! Let's see how it performs with the RetroTINK 2X Pro, 2X Pro Multiformat, and 5X Pro using these new cables. We'll compare game play between the different devices on different output modes from the consoles, from interlaced mode to progressive scan mode!

Update: The overall darker nature of color is something that many others have noted, along with an overall lack of clarity. I’ve found these to be decent overall, definitely functional, but not totally complete. My excitement over the possibility of getting component cables for the original hardware had me overflowing with anticipation, but also blinded me to some of the downsides. I still won’t go so far as to say these cables are “bad,” but for the price, the CARBY or Wii with Component are a better deal for similar or even better performance (comparisons coming soon).

Update: It was communicated to me via a helpful comment that the Audio has been reported to be reversed in these cables. after testing, I can confirm that the cables I have indeed have their Channels Swapped! Very odd. Easy to fix, but very weird that a mistake like that would’ve happened. Definitely a bummer, especially given the asking price of the product…but hey…uhh, insert positive thing here.

*On a TV, this capture footage is reflective of what it looks like when the content is 16:9 on a Modern Screen. This is due to a mistake with the capture, caused by a combination of my inexperience and this HDMI Matrix Switch I was using at this time (not anymore). For anyone who enjoys a more full screen effect, this video has the benefit of showing what it would look like if you connected RetroTINK Devices and left the TV's settings to 16:9 (at least for my 2018 Samsung, it doesn't switch to 4:3 Automatically or attempts to preserve the 4:3 input). The other reason I did nt realize this sooner is a lot of the retro gaming I had been doing in the years leading up to me creating this channel was on my Wii, set to 16:9 output, 4:3 was like a hidden memory. Just wanted to fully explain it all here. Thanks for reading if you've made it this far!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
2:50 Looking at the Cables
04:57 Demos for 2X Pro, 2X Pro M, and 5X Pro
07:29 2X Pro Composite vs 2X Pro Component
08:18 2X Pro Component vs 2X Pro Multiformat Progressive Scan
09:08 2X Pro Multiformat Progressive Scan vs 5X Pro
09:59 2X Pro Composite vs 2X Pro Multiformat Progressive Scan
11:10 2X Pro Multiformat Progressive Scan vs 5X Pro
12:30 Conclusion with additional demos

*Important Call-Out: YouTube's compression does take away a lot of detail that is seen in person that devices like RetroTINK, RAD2X, CARBY, and more output. Bear that in mind with any content containing capture footage from those devices. My commentary and opinions come from the Raw Capture Files and what it looks like on my TV, I can't account for what details are lost to compression until after the video is uploaded.

This video is not sponsored nor endorsed by any of the featured brands -

*My GameCube is connected to my Extron Switch via the new Prism Cables, then from there my Extron has multiple outputs that use HD Retrovision Male to Male Component Cables, keeping the same spec of cable for the whole pathway. When doing Composite Demos for this video, the HD Retrovision Cable for my 2X Pro was removed to use a standard composite cable.

*Games can output 480p, 525, or 576p when in Progressive Scan Mode, demo shows 480p Card, but some content may actually be up to 576p output.

*A comment made me realize I had described something in a way that was confusing. I said the color “pops” when switching over to Component Cables on the 2X Pro. I put the demo footage together before I film myself to ensure what I say is accurate, but despite that I still misspoke. When using Component Cables vs Composite on the 2X Pro and Pro M, the color has an overall darker flavor when viewing side by side. The 5X Pro’s color performance is closer to the original composite performance, albeit with increased clarity and overall quality.

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