ModRetro opens preorders for its most exciting M64 add-on yet

ModRetro has revealed the M64 AV Adapter, a new accessory built to connect its FPGA-based M64 console to CRT televisions and analogue monitors. That sounds simple. It isn’t. The M64 normally sends video through HDMI, which works well with modern televisions and monitors. Older displays use very different signal formats, so plugging the console into a CRT takes more than a cheap cable. The M64 AV Adapter handles that conversion and gives users four output choices: composite, component, S-Video and RGBs. It’s available to pre-order for $89.99, with shipping planned before Christmas.

Built for CRT televisions and analogue displays

Nintendo 64 games were designed during the CRT era, and many of them run at low resolutions that modern video equipment doesn’t always handle well. The M64 itself can output digital video at resolutions up to 4K. That makes sense on a current television, but it doesn’t help when you want to connect the console to an older set, a professional video monitor or analogue capture hardware.

The adapter converts the M64’s HDMI signal into formats those devices can understand. It supports NTSC output at 480p, 480i and 240p. PAL users get 576p, 576i and 288p. You can also force the adapter to output 240p or 288p, which should help with displays that work better with a true low-resolution progressive signal. That matters because some converters mistake 240p for 480i. When that happens, movement can look messy, the image can flicker, and fine details may break apart.

Four video formats in one box

The M64 AV Adapter’s main selling point is choice. Composite is the basic option. It’ll work with a wide range of older televisions, although image quality will be limited.

S-Video offers a cleaner picture on displays that support it. Component YPbPr is a better fit for later CRT televisions and certain professional monitors, while RGBs gives compatible equipment a high-quality analogue signal.

Stereo audio output is included too, so you don’t need a separate HDMI audio extractor. ModRetro has also added physical controls to the adapter. You can select the output type and switch between regional modes directly on the unit, instead of digging through software menus.

That’s useful if you move the M64 between different setups. You might use HDMI on a modern television, component on a CRT and RGBs with a professional monitor. A physical switch makes those changes quicker. The transparent housing also matches the look of the M64 console. It’s clearly designed as part of the same product range rather than a generic accessory with a new badge stuck on it.

Low latency will be the big test

Video conversion can introduce lag. Sometimes it’s barely noticeable. Sometimes it makes a game feel completely wrong. Cheap HDMI converters often buffer the signal before sending it to the display. That delay can make fast platformers, racing games and fighting games feel less responsive.

ModRetro says the M64 AV Adapter runs with well under one frame of latency. That sounds encouraging, but real testing will tell us how well it performs across different resolutions, output types and televisions. Signal handling matters just as much.

A good converter needs to keep 240p stable, preserve clean motion and avoid unnecessary scaling. It also needs to work reliably with a wide range of CRT televisions, monitors, switchers and capture devices.

Since ModRetro designed this adapter specifically for the M64, it has a better chance of handling the console correctly than a cheap all-purpose box. Still, compatibility can vary with analogue equipment, especially older displays.

The price puts it in enthusiast territory

At $89.99, this isn’t a casual extra. You can buy generic HDMI-to-analogue converters for much less, although they usually offer fewer output options and can struggle with lag or low-resolution signals. At the other end of the market, specialist retro-video hardware may support several consoles, not just the M64. The ModRetro adapter sits somewhere in the middle.

Its biggest advantage is convenience. You get composite, component, S-Video and RGBs in one device, along with PAL and NTSC support, stereo audio and forced low-resolution modes. You don’t need to build a setup from several converters, transcoders and audio adapters. It’s one box, made for one console.

That focus is also its main limitation. The adapter makes the most sense for people who already own an M64 and have a clear reason to use analogue video. For most users, HDMI will remain the easiest option. It works with modern displays, supports high resolutions and doesn’t require extra hardware. But for anyone connecting the M64 to a CRT television, broadcast monitor or analogue capture setup, this adapter could be the cleanest solution ModRetro has offered so far.

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Built for CRT televisions and analogue displays

Four video formats in one box

Low latency will be the big test

The price puts it in enthusiast territory

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