OSSC Worth it?

[DennyDifferent]

Sorry if this is a duplicate thread. I did a search but I couldn't find an already existing OSSC thread.

I've been thinking about picking one of these up for a while. Are they worth the money? Also, does anyone know a reliable source to buy from as I hear there are a lot of fakes. I notice that they're currently out of stock at videogameperfection.com.

 

[Gorf]

They are good if you don’t have a CRT

 

I bought mine from this forum and it’s got a kaico.co.uk sticker on it, looks like this website has stock, it came with a remote which helps toggle through inputs more easily

 

Be warned that you will also end up buying RGB scart cables for all your old consoles

 

[phillv85]

It’s an expensive pursuit as Gorf says. But if you really can’t get a CRT into your setup then it seems to be a solid option a lot of folks are happy with. 

[DennyDifferent]

Yeah, I've already got RGB SCART cables for most of my consoles/Amiga etc. I've been using them through an LCD TV for a while and they look ok... I'd just prefer something that does the job a bit better.

[DennyDifferent]

3 minutes ago, phillv85 said:

It’s an expensive pursuit as Gorf says. But if you really can’t get a CRT into your setup then it seems to be a solid option a lot of folks are happy with. 

 

Unfortunately I don't really have the room for CRT. My plan is to commandeer the play room when the kids are older but by that point CRTs will probably be so rare and expensive that it won't be worth it.

[phillv85]

Totally understandable. They’re also a pain to get TV units deep enough for them as well.

[Colonel Panic]

Not as worth it as a RetroTink 5x but pretty worth it. 

[Shimmyhill]

I’ve bought one recently and have a bit of a love / hate thing with it - for the Megadrive its incredible and gives a frankly stupidly good image on a 4k LCD but for PS1/PS2 the image isnt great due to bob deinterlacing, im also having some issues with my Saturn that may be the console but others are saying the OSSC doesn’t always play nicely with it without messing with the timings lots.

 

Had I not connected the PS2 up to it then I’d say 100% get one but there is part of me tjhingking I should have gone straight for the Retrotink 5x as its much more plug and play and works with the PlayStation / Saturn era consoles much better im told, well over twice the price tho…

 

I bought mine from Amazon but its Kaico branded and have some of their stuff already so was happy to go with them.

[Colonel Panic]

RetroTink deinterlacing, horizontal sampling presets and scanlines modes are all game changers. 

[DennyDifferent]

Wow, the RetroTink is expensive! That may be a bit too rich for my blood, given that I mainly want it for 8/16bit stuff and Amiga. Which reminds me, I need to look into an RGB solution for my CD32, which will probably be an expensive job in itself!

[Afternoon Delight]

There can't really be fakes, the device is open source. 

Manufacturers that are approved by the designer are listed here: ossc wiki

Would 100% make sure you get a remote control with it. 

I think it's a great plug and go device, line triple mode works really well. 

I hear the Retrotink 5x is great as it also does deinterlacing and scaling, but so much money. 

 

[Darwock]

I’m perfectly happy with the OSSC, including PS2 stuff but I mostly do a straight passthrough mode. It solves the problem of not having the required inputs on the TV, and allows me to fix the aspect ratio. Best part for me is by using all three inputs all I have to do is turn on whichever console I want to play and there it is on screen.

 

Also, PSP-Go full screen on the big screen. I’d definitely recommend it. I do have a bit of FOMO for the Retrotink, but I’m happy with OSSC.

[Vimster]

Really wasn't happy with how it displays PS2 even after a bit of messing about. In the end I got a PS2-to-compoent cable and the picture was chunky but generally good. 

 

 

[DennyDifferent]

11 hours ago, Afternoon Delight said:

There can't really be fakes, the device is open source. 

 

Yeah, I guess. But it doesn't mean that the schematic has been followed correctly/well. £110 for one on Amazon here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mcbazel-Component-Source-Converter-Console/dp/B08394VVMD/. Seems like a good price but it's the 1.6 version and I believe there's a newer 1.7 version.

[Shimmyhill]

Just now, DennyDifferent said:

 

Yeah, I guess. But it doesn't mean that the schematic has been followed correctly/well. £110 for one on Amazon here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mcbazel-Component-Source-Converter-Console/dp/B08394VVMD/. Seems like a good price but it's the 1.6 version and I believe there's a newer 1.7 version.

 

I had the choice between that one and the Kaico - I went for the Kaico as know them as a brand and UK support, having seen more stuff since purchasing I think Mcbazel are generally considered good so a decent saving could have been had!

 

I dont think you can actually buy a 1.7 at the moment, only the video game perfection one seemed to be 1.7 when I bought but no stock and no eta of any stock - the pages i signed up to said to not worry and just find a 1.6 in stock!

[Afternoon Delight]

I beleive the v1.7 reduces heat so you can put it in enclosed box, and some other electrical conveniences over the v1.6. Nothing that affects the picture.

[DeciderVT]

Kaico are a shitbag company that tried to rip off Mike Chi, who has put hundreds (if not thousands) of hours into developing his RetroTINK scalers and even more into fantastic aftermarket support.

 

I'm not saying that you have to splash out on a TINK but I wouldn't give Kaico a penny.

[ianinthefuture]

9 hours ago, Darwock said:

I’m perfectly happy with the OSSC, including PS2 stuff but I mostly do a straight passthrough mode. It solves the problem of not having the required inputs on the TV, and allows me to fix the aspect ratio. Best part for me is by using all three inputs all I have to do is turn on whichever console I want to play and there it is on screen.

 

Also, PSP-Go full screen on the big screen. I’d definitely recommend it. I do have a bit of FOMO for the Retrotink, but I’m happy with OSSC.

I agree with these points.

 

PS2 generally looks dogshit. I'm still waiting for the PS2Digital HDMI thing from BlackDog to finally make it bearable, as I have no room for a CRT. OSSC struggles with PS2, but as folks have said it's also about 1/3 the price of a Retrotink 5x.

 

And for PS1 - well, this is the first time I've seen somebody outside of My Life In Gaming recommend a PSP Go for that job. It's what I used to use to record videos. You can get a Go-to-component lead to hook it up to the telly, and it scales the image perfectly so everything looks fantastic. Also you can use a Dualshock 3 with the Go. An excellent solution, I always found.

 

Anyway, OSSC. Had one for years and loved it. Great bit of kit. Only sold it as I'm a wanky twat and have HDMI mods installed in most of my consoles, otherwise I'd still want (and need) one.

[Shimmyhill]

1 hour ago, DeciderVT said:

Kaico are a shitbag company that tried to rip off Mike Chi, who has put hundreds (if not thousands) of hours into developing his RetroTINK scalers and even more into fantastic aftermarket support.

 

I'm not saying that you have to splash out on a TINK but I wouldn't give Kaico a penny.

I’d never seen that before but id assumed all these products are clones and the entire industry for the retro tech is full of clones and reverse engineering - if there isn’t a patent in it then it’s open season in the entire tech industry.

 

Will have to have a proper read but the OSSC and GC HDMI I have are clones from open source devices so went with Kaico rather than an aliexpress clone with nightmare support if ever needed.

[ianinthefuture]

Kaico is rebadged Bitfunx stuff from Aliexpress, btw.

[DeciderVT]

2 minutes ago, Shimmyhill said:

I’d never seen that before but id assumed all these products are clones and the entire industry for the retro tech is full of clones and reverse engineering - if there isn’t a patent in it then it’s open season in the entire tech industry.

 

Will have to have a proper read but the OSSC and GC HDMI I have are clones from open source devices so went with Kaico rather than an aliexpress clone with nightmare support if ever needed.

 

OSSC is indeed open source but I would not support a company that reverse engineers a closed design and attempts to clone the product of a two person operation. Mike Chi has contributed so much (and with more to come) and it'd be a shame if people like him were put off from continuing by having their work stolen.

[Shimmyhill]

1 hour ago, ianinthefuture said:

Kaico is rebadged Bitfunx stuff from Aliexpress, btw.

 

Is it? When I was looking they claimed to build in house rather than buy in a rebadge? Not that I’ve too fussed as its the being able to send back for repair/refund that I was swayed by, I will do pretty much anything to avoid Aliexpress as they are a horror show of a place and friends with experience of trying to get a repair / refund in warranty have had long battles with them and generally given up and there is little to nothing you can do

 

1 hour ago, DeciderVT said:

 

OSSC is indeed open source but I would not support a company that reverse engineers a closed design and attempts to clone the product of a two person operation. Mike Chi has contributed so much (and with more to come) and it'd be a shame if people like him were put off from continuing by having their work stolen.

 

Had I know I probably wouldn’t have but saying that I dont need too much of an excuse to support a local business  upgrade to a Retrotink 5x, just a shame again its the Wild West of importing one and having no real support if anything goes wrong.

[ianinthefuture]

3 hours ago, Shimmyhill said:

 

Is it? When I was looking they claimed to build in house rather than buy in a rebadge? Not that I’ve too fussed as its the being able to send back for repair/refund that I was swayed by, I will do pretty much anything to avoid Aliexpress as they are a horror show of a place and friends with experience of trying to get a repair / refund in warranty have had long battles with them and generally given up and there is little to nothing you can do

They have exactly the same stuff, same functions, same cases, same everything.

[DeciderVT]

5 hours ago, Shimmyhill said:

Had I know I probably wouldn’t have but saying that I dont need too much of an excuse to support a local business  upgrade to a Retrotink 5x, just a shame again its the Wild West of importing one and having no real support if anything goes wrong.

 

No support for the RetroTINK, if you import it? There's a Discord set up for this very purpose.

[Shimmyhill]

10 hours ago, DeciderVT said:

 

No support for the RetroTINK, if you import it? There's a Discord set up for this very purpose.

 

I mean more for faulty hardware / warranty claims - given you have to pay £60 to have it shipped on purchase any faults could leave you very much out of pocket and long delays shipping it back to the US with no consumer rights to cover you in the event of anything going wrong or disputes with the vendor. 

 

On a £400+ purchase that leaves me a little nervous and why I paid more to have a UK based OSSC supplier.

[DeciderVT]

4 hours ago, Shimmyhill said:

 

I mean more for faulty hardware / warranty claims - given you have to pay £60 to have it shipped on purchase any faults could leave you very much out of pocket and long delays shipping it back to the US with no consumer rights to cover you in the event of anything going wrong or disputes with the vendor. 

 

On a £400+ purchase that leaves me a little nervous and why I paid more to have a UK based OSSC supplier.

 

Could've made exactly the same argument against most of the major scalers that have been around since the XRGB series in that case.

[bplus]

For 2d consoles like snes megadrive nes etc yes. It looks great.

 

For 3d like n64, ps1, PS2 no. It's a big fuzzy mess of an image.

 

All of this is just my personal opinion

 

Also note you'll need an rgb modded n64 and nes.

 

I've moved back to emulation for now.

[DeciderVT]

OSSC is still great for consoles or games that don't do resolution switching. The only reason I upgraded to a RetroTINK 5x was because the video dropout when playing games like Silent Hill via an OSSC was annoying and the motion adaptive deinterlacing was a literal game changer.