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Thread: Upscaling questions for my TCL 55"

  1. #1
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    Maruko Tenada

    Default Upscaling questions for my TCL 55"

    I've browsed through this forum, and watched a few videos (including this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHoOKLWIMKU) on getting older systems on HDMI. But still had a few lingering questions.

    Here's what I'm currently working with:
    Retron 3 (Composite and S-Video)
    Wii (with it's standard Composite connector)
    PS2 (with it's standard Composite connector)

    My TV is a TCL 55UP120, 55" 4K - It has HDMI and RCA/Composite input

    For now, I have the 3 systems going into an auto Composite switch

    I've also currently running it through $20 Amazon RCA to HDMI upscaler (1080 or 720, set to 720)

    I've tried a couple combinations, and here are my issues:
    Running the Retron into the RCA ports on the TV (through the switch or not) the image is stretched. This TV offers Auto, Zoomed, Direct, and Stretch as options. Through the RCA ports, they all look stretched to different degrees. Direct looks the least stretched, but seems to be off the bottom of the screen. Auto (which I think is Stretch) puts everything on the screen, but... stretched. Still doesn't look good tho.

    Running things through the HDMI upscaler looks the best, but the image still gets stretched.

    Here's what I'm looking for:
    NOT the best picture... I know it won't be perfect.
    No modding of the systems.
    Not stretched... I'd like to find a solution that pillarboxes the video

    I'm looking to use a switch if possible, since this TV doesn't have a lot of free inputs.

    It looks like a lot of the good scaling solutions (like the OSSC and Framemeister) are working with RGB/component. I'd be willing to get decent component cables for the Wii and PS2, but I'd still need to get that to HDMI. Could I get an S-Video to component for the Retron?

    So, the tl;dr;
    I'd like a solution that allows me to switch between the 3 systems, keeps the 4:3 ratio, and I'm looking for price over picture. OSSC may be an option price-wise, but would be at the top of my budget.

  2. #2
    Great Puma (Level 12) Niku-Sama's Avatar
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    Default

    oh I remember this tv when I worked at hell mart. I was surprised that it had composite but no component.

    speaking of, your better off going component on the Wii and PS2 to a Component to HDMI converter. Component cables are cheap and it wont kill your image quality quite like a composite to HDMI converter will since the component is already a quasi digital signal.

    some thing like this would do the trick
    https://www.amazon.com/Volantech-Com...ponent+to+hdmi

    heres wii component:
    https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-6-F...nt+cable&psc=1

    and ps2 component:
    https://www.amazon.com/Insten-Compat...omponent+cable


    theres also these but I hear that some cause problems and others don't, trial an error sort of thing but worth mentioning:

    PS2:
    https://www.amazon.com/KOBWA-Video-C...omponent+cable
    Wii:
    https://www.amazon.com/PORTHOLIC-Con...hdmi+converter

    my guess is they do the same as the converter above but in one little box thingy

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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Niku-Sama View Post
    oh I remember this tv when I worked at hell mart. I was surprised that it had composite but no component.

    speaking of, your better off going component on the Wii and PS2 to a Component to HDMI converter. Component cables are cheap and it wont kill your image quality quite like a composite to HDMI converter will since the component is already a quasi digital signal.

    some thing like this would do the trick
    https://www.amazon.com/Volantech-Com...ponent+to+hdmi

    heres wii component:
    https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-6-F...nt+cable&psc=1

    and ps2 component:
    https://www.amazon.com/Insten-Compat...omponent+cable
    That's great, thanks.

    Any ideas for the retron 3?

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    Default

    I can vouch for RGB plus Framemeister but the cables are confusing and hard to find

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    Default

    Not the cheapest solution but for the composite and s-video stuff you might have this is what I'm using with my setup...

    I do have my retro consoles modded with composite/s-video as needed.

    I have those systems plugged into one of these:

    https://www.extron.com/product/system7sc

    Got mine loose for about $45 shipped from shopgoodwill over the summer. Bought the remote for it for another $15 shipped from ebay.

    Everything that plugs into that Extron is then upscaled and ouput at VGA or RGBHV. So I use a short VGA cable from it to my OSSC and then HDMI out to my TV. You can set the Extron to output at various resolutions both 4:3 and 16:9. Then using the OSSC I can create profiles to save to it to dial in the systems more as needed.

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