Skip to main content

Analogue’s DAC lets you connect modern throwback consoles to old-school TVs

Analogue DAC
In recent years, the gaming hardware company Analogue has released a number of retro consoles that let you play your favorite Nintendo or Sega Genesis games again on your oh-so-modern flat-screen television, including a limited-edition, $5,000 24-karat gold-plated version. Those are awesome, for sure, but what if you want to play one of those updated consoles on an old-school television for the full retro experience?

Up until now, you’ve been SOL on that goal (unless, of course, you still have a vintage console as well). Now Analogue has created a new digital-to-analog converter (affectionately called a DAC) that allows you to experience those classic games on a classic display.

Recommended Videos

Setup for the device is super simple, and for the most part exactly what you’d expect. You’ll take the DAC and plug the HDMI output for your Analogue console into it, then connect the device to that analog television that you presumably have kicking around in your basement.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Analogue says that the device supports RGB, Component, S-Video, and Composite connections. The device is powered via a USB-A port that will be connected to your console, so you won’t need to take up an extra AC outlet to get it up and running.

The company says that it engineered the device from the ground up, specifically with the idea of allowing retro games to be played in the highest quality and most authentic way possible.

The device only works with Analogue’s two most recent consoles, specifically its SNES clone called “Super NT” and its Sega Genesis clone called “Mega Sg.” It should also support future consoles made by the company.

Analogue describes the Super NT as a “reimagining of perhaps the greatest video game system of all time.” The device is compatible with a massive 2,200+ SNES and Super Famicom game cartridge library and allows you to play virtually any Super Nintendo game you can think of from the past on your current television. While the device is designed to offer an authentic Nintendo experience, it can also work with wireless controllers, and obviously your HDTV, giving it a bit of modern flair as well.

If you have an analog display and want to give the DAC a try, you can pre-order the $79 device from Analogue’s website now.

Emily Price
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Emily is a freelance writer based in San Francisco. Her book "Productivity Hacks: 500+ Easy Ways to Accomplish More at…
NYT Strands today: hints, spangram and answers for Tuesday, January 7
NYT Strands logo.

Strands is a brand new daily puzzle from the New York Times. A trickier take on the classic word search, you'll need a keen eye to solve this puzzle.

Like Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword, Strands can be a bit difficult to solve some days. There's no shame in needing a little help from time to time. If you're stuck and need to know the answers to today's Strands puzzle, check out the solved puzzle below.
How to play Strands
You start every Strands puzzle with the goal of finding the "theme words" hidden in the grid of letters. Manipulate letters by dragging or tapping to craft words; double-tap the final letter to confirm. If you find the correct word, the letters will be highlighted blue and will no longer be selectable.

Read more
NYT Mini Crossword today: puzzle answers for Tuesday, January 7
The Mini open in the NYT Games app on iOS.

Love crossword puzzles but don't have all day to sit and solve a full-sized puzzle in your daily newspaper? That's what The Mini is for!

A bite-sized version of the New York Times' well-known crossword puzzle, The Mini is a quick and easy way to test your crossword skills daily in a lot less time (the average puzzle takes most players just over a minute to solve). While The Mini is smaller and simpler than a normal crossword, it isn't always easy. Tripping up on one clue can be the difference between a personal best completion time and an embarrassing solve attempt.

Read more
NYT Crossword: answers for Tuesday, January 7
New York Times Crossword logo.

The New York Times has plenty of word games on its roster today — with Wordle, Connections, Strands, and the Mini Crossword, there's something for everyone — but the newspaper's standard crossword puzzle still reigns supreme. The daily crossword is full of interesting trivia, helps improve mental flexibility and, of course, gives you some bragging rights if you manage to finish it every day.

While the NYT puzzle might feel like an impossible task some days, solving a crossword is a skill and it takes practice — don't get discouraged if you can't get every single word in a puzzle.

Read more