RetroTap offers a cleaner power setup for more than 45+ retro gaming systems

Anyone running several retro consoles from the same setup knows the problem. Power bricks pile up fast. Sockets disappear. Cable management gets messy. RetroTap is built to simplify that. Made by Kytor Industries, RetroTap is a compact DC power distribution unit that can supply power to several compatible consoles from one central source. It launches on 3 September 2026 for $59.99 and supports more than 45 console models and hardware variants. The unit has 11 outputs in total. That doesn’t mean you should switch on 11 consoles at once, though. Kytor recommends running no more than four systems simultaneously. The idea is fairly simple. Instead of keeping a separate wall adapter for every console, RetroTap handles the low-voltage DC side from one box.

One box, several connector types

Retro consoles aren’t especially consistent when it comes to power connectors. Some use one barrel size. Others use another. Polarity can change too. RetroTap deals with that by providing several different 9V outputs. Five 5.5 x 2.1mm connections supply centre-negative power, while four 4.8 x 1.7mm outputs use centre-positive power. There’s also one 6.5 x 3.0mm centre-positive connector. A USB-C output provides 5V at up to 4A.

That combination gives RetroTap support for a fairly broad range of hardware. Compatible systems include the Sega Master System, Mega Drive and Genesis, Mega CD, 32X, NES, Famicom, Super Famicom, Super NES, PC Engine, TurboGrafx-16, Atari Jaguar, Jaguar CD and certain Neo Geo AES models. It isn’t limited to original hardware either. The 5V USB-C port can power devices including MiSTer FPGA, MiSTer Pi, SuperStation One, Mega Sg and Super Nt.

There is one detail worth checking before plugging anything in. The USB-C connection is a fixed 5V output. It doesn’t support USB Power Delivery, so it’s meant for compatible 5V hardware rather than anything that happens to have a USB-C socket.

Each output gets its own protection

Sharing one power supply between several machines raises an obvious question: what happens if one device draws too much current? RetroTap gives each output its own resettable fuse. If something pulls more current than expected, that protection can limit the problem without relying on a disposable fuse.

The unit also includes filtering designed to reduce electrical noise and ripple. That’s useful in a shared setup because several pieces of hardware are effectively drawing power from the same source. Poorly managed power can introduce unwanted interference, particularly when older hardware and multiple accessories are involved. Kytor says RetroTap has gone through internal testing, independent laboratory testing and more than six months of beta testing.

The company has also tested more complicated Sega combinations, including systems where a Genesis or Mega Drive runs alongside a Mega CD and 32X. Those setups normally involve several separate power adapters, so they’re an obvious use case for a central supply.

You’ll still need the right main power supply

RetroTap doesn’t generate power by itself. It takes a centre-positive 9V DC input and is designed to work with power supplies rated at roughly 5A to 6A. Compatible options include selected units from Mean Well, Ideal Power and Triad.

A PlayStation 2 Slim power supply can also work when paired with the appropriate adapter. The main power supply isn’t included with the $59.99 RetroTap, so that’s something buyers need to factor into the total cost. Kytor also sells heavier-duty DC cables separately. That means the basic unit is really the hub. You’ll still need the correct supply and suitable cables for the consoles you want to connect.

It won’t power every retro system

RetroTap has clear limits. It mainly targets consoles that originally used external low-voltage DC adapters. Systems with internal mains power supplies don’t fit that design. That rules out machines such as the Sega Saturn, Dreamcast and full-size PlayStation 2.

It’s also not intended to run video-processing hardware such as scalers, switchers or transcoders. Devices including RetroTINK and OSSC units sit outside the product’s intended use. So this isn’t a universal power box for an entire gaming rack.

It’s more specific than that. The connector types, voltage, polarity and current ratings are designed around a known range of consoles. You’ll still need to check that you’re using the correct output and cable before connecting anything.

Launching on 3 September

RetroTap is priced at $59.99 and launches on 3 September 2026. Before release, the product listing shows the unit as out of stock, which simply means orders haven’t opened yet. For anyone with several compatible consoles connected in one place, RetroTap offers a straightforward way to reduce the number of separate power adapters behind the setup.

Instead of a wall full of plugs, you get one central power source feeding several systems. That’s the whole pitch. And for larger retro setups, it’s easy to see why that could be useful.

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