Paweł Koper
American startup RetroBox has unveiled an unusual device that promises to transport users straight back to the heyday of video cassettes and early gaming consoles. Although at first glance it looks like a classic "television with a player" set, beneath the surface lies technology adapted to today's standards.
Digital soul in an analogue body
As reported by Mike Wheatley from the HDTVTest portal, the RetroBox is not your typical CRT television as it appears. The device has been equipped with a modern LCD display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, which, thanks to advanced emulation software, mimics the look of a traditional CRT screen. Users can expect the characteristic "graininess" of the image, scan lines, and a specific atmosphere reminiscent of childhood, while eliminating the drawbacks of old CRTs – heavy weight, flickering, and unreliability.
Connections? A bit new, a bit old
The RetroBox is a real treasure for collectors, offering a wide range of connections:
Older: AV Component inputs, RCA, S-Video, and coaxial ports allow for connection to iconic consoles such as the NES and Sega Genesis.
Newer: The presence of an HDMI port means that we can connect even a PlayStation 5 or a streaming device to this retro monitor, although the image will be displayed in nostalgic 240p or 480i resolution.
Interestingly, the device features a built-in, fully functional VHS player, allowing for a dusting off of old movie collections.
According to the philosophy of the creators, RetroBox is meant to be a “physical” experience. The device does not have a remote, which forces the user to interact directly with the casing. Want to rewind the tape or change the channel? You have to get up from the couch, which further enhances the feeling of realism straight out of the 90s. Currently, the product is available for pre-sale in the American market at a price of 399 dollars. At this moment, RetroBox supports only the NTSC standard (60 Hz), meaning that European tapes in the PAL format will not work properly on it. However, the manufacturer does not rule out creating a version dedicated to the European market if interest in the project is sufficiently large.
Source: HDTVTest.co.uk, https://retrobox.us/
