RGB to HDMI Adapter

Last update: 30/7/2025

Background

I mainly use a Panasonic Viera 32" TV for my ST but it is now 14 years old. It has 2 scart sockets and 2 HDMI ports. The picture quality via scart for ST/Amstrad/PS2 is very good but the Freesat receiver has stopped working on it. It is quite heavy as well. Modern TVs don't have scart sockets so I need a scart to HDMI adapter.

As a replacement I have a 24" Sharp TV which fits better on my tiny Ikea desk but I don't want to spend too much on an adapter.

1. These ones look terrible. Composite only:

SCART To HDMI Converter Adapter Composite Video Audio Adaptor SKYBOX DVD 1080P

2. This one looks quite well made and supports RGB via scart:

SCART to HDMI+HDMI RGB HD Video Converter Audio scart to hdmi+Digital 1080P

3. These ones are also composite only:

RetroScaler 2x A/V to HDMI Up-Scaler Converter

The OSSC convertors at £100+ are crazy in my opinion.

HD Video Converter

Well I bought option (2) and it seems to be basically OK.

I wish I had seen these videos before though:

RGB to HDMI Adaptor Retro ATARI Hardware

The Worst Scaler In Retro Gaming

One spelling mistake on the case is HDMI Intput and Scart Intput (sic).

A 5V 1A power supply is included but I used a high quality one (Stontronics - with data sheet!) I got from CPC for my GBS-8200 which I haven't really used.

PS2

Here are some observations:

1. Panasonic 32" Viera (2011):

OutRun 2006: Looks good but some red shades are too dark, some yellows are too white.

Taito Legends (Rainbow Islands): Some purples are too saturated. Colour bleeding?

Dukes Of Hazzard: Good.

Psyvariar: Good.

Sonic Mega Collection (Sonic 1/2): Very good.

The picture is better than connecting the SCART directly to the SCART input on TV! There is less ghosting.

This TV is quite old and not the best quality. Maybe my eye sight is getting worse.

2 Sharp 24" (2022): HDMI only.

Similar results. Outrun 2006 has marginally better picture and colour reproduction.

OutRun 2006

Panasonic Viera 32" - Reds are too dark

Sharp 24" - Better red contrast

Atari ST

Reds are too dark on the Panasonic but OK on the Sharp.

There is signs of high contrast ghosting with black text on white background.

Picture is generally good.

Amstrad CPC

Picture quality is generally very good.

VTech Smile

My C64 was inaccessible so to test composite signals I used an old VTech Smile Console. The audio and composite signal are connected to a scart header. It works! The OSSC does not support composite.

The picture does not jitter vertically as it did when connecting directly to a composite socket on older Samsung TVs.

Summary

Pros

• For £25 or so it's better than any composite adapter and not as expensive as an OSSC.
• It supports composite signals as well which I have read the OSSC does not support.
• It's better than nothing if your new TV only has HDMI inputs. TVs that have SCART inputs are now at least more than 5 years old.
• Sound quality is generally excellent.

Cons

• Does not automatically detect or signal to the TV if the input source is 4:3. Most TVs have the ability to change the screen format on the remote.
• The adapter uses an unknown ASIC. The video shows the part number has been scratched off. Unknown designer and chipset.
• For more modern multi-resolution consoles e.g. PS2 horizontal scrolling blurring and input lag may be an issue.

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