I still have the same N64 I bought over a couple decades ago. And although the controllers have had their fair share of wear and tear, the console works perfectly fine. However, trying to use the system on an HDTV is quite painful over the traditional composite cables. I've read a lot of great reviews over this adapter, and the only negative thing I have seen is about the price. I decided to buy it, and yes, it is expensive. However, if you can get past the cost, you will be rewarded with the best video quality you can get from a converter that doesn't require modification. For plug and play, this is your option to get the best video quality possible for your HDTV. The slick mode is an added benefit for those who want to remove those jagged edges in some of the games. It works better in some than others. It comes down to personal preference. If you want the best to play your Nintendo 64 on an HDTV with a simple solution, this is the product to get. You just have to accept the cost.

Summary:

Although the majority of publications call the Eon Super 64 “overpriced” and recommend the Retrotink 2x for its multi-system use and cheaper cost, it actually costs as much (if not, more) than an Eon Super 64 once fully setup and has a well-known issue where it distorts the audio coming from the Nintendo 64; requiring either separate routing for the audio or a volume attenuator (AKA more $$$). If you are looking for an HDMI solution to specifically play the Nintendo 64, there is no contest; the Eon Super 64 is the winner. It offers incredible video and sound with the convenience of only having to use one digital HDMI cable; completely circumventing the woes of using analog ones. The Eon Super 64 is amazing and it’s the BEST way of experiencing the Nintendo 64 on an HDTV without the use of internal mods. Period.

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Thanks to retro-game publications like My Life in Gaming, the two most popular and recommended solutions to connecting a Nintendo 64 to an HDTV via HDMI are the Retrotink 2x and the Eon Super 64; the former being overwhelmingly recommended over the other. The argument usually goes that while both devices offer the same video and audio quality, the $109 Retrotink 2x offers support for any other system that uses composite, component or s-video while the $149 Eon Super 64 only supports s-video output from one system, the Nintendo 64 (making it “overpriced”). Seems like a solid argument, right?

Well, here’s what NONE of these publications ever talk about when it comes to using the Retrotink 2x vs the Eon Super 64.

POWER SUPPLY

Retrotink 2x: The device does NOT come with a power supply. The recommend one costs $12, making the actual cost of the Retrotink 2x $121; closer to $130 when you take shipping into account. You *technically* can use any 5-volt mini-USB charger to power the Retrotink 2x, but a quick Google search will show many issues being reported from not using the official “recommended” one, including image noise and defective scaling. I managed to find a Raspberry Pi power supply that cost $10 that worked fine.

Eon Super 64: Takes its power from the Nintendo 64. No separate power supply needed.

VIDEO

Retrotink 2x: Analog cables SUCK. Most people reading this review do not remember or even know how impossible it used to be to find decent analog cables that didn’t cost $50-100. Even then, CRTs had this beautiful innate ability to cover noise, so it never bothered us. However, this is the digital age. The difference between a $10 HDMI cable and a $100 cable is negligible at best; non-existent at worst, and most modern HDTVs have never-before-seen clarity that shows a pure representation of the image; all the good and bad. That means all that crap CRTs hid are now out in the open, so if you expect to get a good image from your Nintendo 64 using a $130 Retrotink 2x with a $7 s-video cable from Amazon, you’re going to be in for a VERY rude awakening. Noise and color bleeding galore! The official s-video cable for the Nintendo 64 will run you at least $35 from eBay, with the “holy grail” Monster s-video cable that many recommend running closer to $80 (YIKES!). You can find some sellers on eBay and retro-forums who make their own cables which are surprisingly high quality, but even those will run at least $20. CABLES MATTER, so expect to add at least another $20 to your $130 investment to get even decent video.

Eon Super 64: Requires only one HDMI cable for video and sound. Phenomenal video clarity with a negligible amount of noise and artifacts (I frankly don't see it).

AUDIO

Retrotink 2x: The device has a WELL-KNOWN clipping and distortion issue when outputting audio from the Nintendo 64.

“WHAT! NO WAY!”, you are probably saying. The most recommended way of using a Nintendo 64 on an HDTV can’t even output the audio correctly?

YUP! GOOGLE IT!

Imagine my shock when I finished hooking up my Frankenstein assembly of cables that looks terrible on my TV unit and took WEEKS to finish, just to hear Mario scream a loud and distorted WA-HOO into my ears. REALLY?

The majority of people recommend either outputting the audio separately from the Retrotink 2x or buying a volume attenuator to lower the output of the Nintendo 64. That means MORE MONEY you have to spend just to have playable audio.

Eon Super 64: Requires only one HDMI cable for video and sound. Phenomenal audio clarity with no distortion.

How is there even a debate here?

Bottom line is this. If you want to use the Retrotink 2x for multiple 240p consoles that AREN’T the Nintendo 64, then yes; you are obviously better off investing in it over the Eon Super 64. However, if you are looking for an HDMI solution to specifically play the Nintendo 64, there is no contest; the Eon Super 64 is the one to get. It offers incredible video and sound with the convenience of only having to use one digital HDMI cable; completely circumventing the woes of using analog ones. The Eon Super 64 is amazing and it’s the BEST way of experiencing the Nintendo 64 on an HDTV without the use of internal mods. Period.

UPDATE: I contacted Eon customer support and they really stepped up to save the day. I was able to return the Super 64 and they fixed the issue. Support was responsive and fast and the whole repair process only took about 2 weeks. I am once again thrilled to be able to play my old games on my HDTV. 5 Stars.

I purchased the Eon Super 64 about 1+ year ago and loved it. It was very impressive to see my N64 look so much smoother from such a simple upgrade. However after only 1 year the Eon stopped working and does not provide signal from my N64 to the television. I tested my N64 with the old component cables and my TV and HDMI cables just to be sure and sure enough it was the Eon that was the issue. If only this product could last as long as the 25 year old console it supports it would be perfect…alas I cannot recommend you spend $200 dollars for such a short lived experience.

After hearing about the EON N64 a few years ago, I finally went ahead and bit the bullet as soon as I saw that they were re-stocked and I was able to get a few extra bucks off with an Amazon Promo Code so that helped as well! You won't be disappointed, that I can guarantee and the fact that it does not need any additional power supply or USB adapter is even better. It displays a pretty clean 480p signal and of course this image will still vary based on your setup. The "Slick Mode" switch is perfect and really smoothes out the image without actually losing any type of resolution or image quality. I leave it permanently on on my console and it stays that way too, so no need to press it every time you turn on the console. There are two cons to this device/product which is why I gave it 4 stars and not a perfect 5:

- The image outputs 16:9 by default and to my knowledge, there's no way to turn it off unless your TV has a 4:3 aspect ratio which not all TV's do.

- The quality of the product is not the best. For the price, I expected something a little bit more durable than a little hunk of plastic. The box it came in was damaged and it would have been cool to keep and also the Adapter itself had scratches & chips on the paint as if it had been previously used, but I doubt it was.

Other than some quality control issues, the device works flawlessly and I would recommend it to anyone who really wants to enjoy their N64 on an HD TV without having to fork out $350+ just to get their N64 modded with some HDMI hardware. Also, if you can I highly recommend pairing this with the MClassic as that really boosts the image quality and gives you an overall better experience! Not needed of course, but more enjoyable, kind of like having some Garlic Bread with your Spaghetti.

UPDATE 2022: After 1 year and 9 months of ownership with occasional play time (a few evenings per month), the Eon Super 64 is dead. The console has been opened and cleaned. The TV, cables, and ports have all been tested. The old composite cable works. And nothing about the setup changed or was moved. One day it worked, the next day it didn't. There is no way to open the device to check the state of the solder points.

At this price, I am very disappointed. When I bought this, I did not expect to need to replace it every year and a half. Learned my lesson. I'll spend the money again someday, but I'll spend it on a more reliable mod.

ORIGINAL REVIEW

I never thought I'd be so excited to play a game in 480p, but Eon has done it. This device gets rid of the noise and blurriness that comes through composite cables on modern TVs. Before I purchased this, my favorite console was unplayable on my flat screen TV, and I've been hauling my 30-pound, 12" tube TV from the 90s in and out of the garage whenever I want to play. I'm so excited to get that thing off my desk for good.

DON'T FORGET to set your TV's aspect ratio to 4:3 to mimic the N64's native aspect ratio and avoid stretching out your crisp image!

The Super 64 is expensive, but in 2021 it's the only dedicated plug-and-play "video card" on the market, and Slick Mode makes it worth the cost to me. It was so satisfying to plug it in and see the Ocarina of Time title screen render correctly for the first time--and THEN pressing the Slick Mode button. Wow. So smooth. It's just how I remembered it as a kid. The HD sound was an unexpected bonus: clear, full audio and rounded bass from my digital speakers/subwoofer.

This little thing is incredible and improves the N64's graphics way beyond expectations.

This thing is awesome. Definitely worth the money. Good picture on my 55" Samsung.

Works great for me! I was previously using a cheap RCA to HDMI adaptor and found the visual experience to be a drag. I read a lot of so-so reviews of the Eon Super 64, mostly from hardcore A/V folks who compared it to internal mods or complex setups involving multiple components. I didn't want to delve into modding or soldering. For me, the simplicity of the Eon Super 64 was a major draw, so I gave it a try.

The results have been outstanding. Great colors, a much clearer picture, and no extra wires or USB power to deal with. After about 5 mins of comparing before and after, I quickly forgot about pixels and resolutions, and was simply engrossed by the games again, without obstacles or visuals being a gnawing distraction.

I'm a big fan of elegant solutions and products that deliver what they promise. The Eon Super 64 has done that for me. Great picture, perfect sound, and a really nice all-in-one design. Worth the price for me.

Works like a champ

Must have if you have a modern tv especially 4K because if you use the standard av cables on a 55 4K tv the picture is awful so I seen this super 64 on YouTube and thought I would give it ago ,it’s amazing a little bit pricey but I think it’s well worth it because the picture and sound quality it awesome this little gem makes all my n64 games look remastered on my modern tv

Watch the YouTube video of this to get your own perspective, but this breathed new life into my N64 and had no regrets. The only thing about the Super 64 is the price, it's NOT cheap, but it certainly works, much clearer TV screen and beautiful performance for my old N64 games. Definitely worth the purchase, but again, watch the Youtube video about the Super 64 before you make a decision on getting this cause it's not cheap.

Perfectamente funcional y como lo recordaba de la última vez que tuve uno, además provenía con empaque perfecto y desde Japón!

I also recommend getting the “mcable gaming edition”!!!

ON time and worked just fine!