CleanRGB Universal

RetroSix CleanRGB Universal – RGB Video Done Right

You know the problem: you want to hook up your retro console via RGB to a modern monitor or SCART switch, and everywhere you look there are hidden capacitors, sync strippers and resistors lurking inside cables – all sticking plasters on a wound that actually sits inside the console itself. The CleanRGB Universal by RetroSix tackles the problem at its root.

The Core Concept: No AC, Pure DC

Conventional RGB solutions use AC coupling via capacitors to remove DC offset. That sounds harmless, but it brings a whole range of problems: field tilt, droop, common-mode noise and more. The CleanRGB eliminates capacitors from the signal path entirely, replacing them with a fully active DC feedback circuit that removes offset cleanly and without artefacts.

What the CleanRGB Actually Does

• Active DC offset removal via op-amp – no capacitor, no compromise
• Noise elimination: Instantly removes field tilt, droop, ghosting and other video artefacts
• Gain and level adjustment: Each RGB channel can be individually tuned for brightness and saturation to correct IRE levels – ideal if your console is not perfectly factory-calibrated
• 75-ohm impedance: Output is correctly terminated to 75 ohms as per specification
• Signal filtering: All non-video signal components are filtered out at the output

Compatibility

The CleanRGB Universal works in any console that has native RGB and Sync signals present somewhere on the board. The board is soldered to GND and 5 V (for systems above 5 V there is a dedicated >5V pad), then RGB and Sync inputs are wired to the source signals and outputs to the AV port. Any existing direct connections from the chip to the AV port must be severed first.

• SNES / Super Famicom (all variants)
• Sega Mega Drive / Genesis
• Sega Master System
• Neo Geo AES
• Many more consoles with native RGB signals

Installation

Fitting requires basic soldering skills. Detailed installation guides for each supported console are available in the RetroSix Wiki at retrosix.wiki. Pairing with the RetroSix CleanRGB SCART cables is strongly recommended – fully shielded, no hidden components, pure straight-through connection from board to TV.

Important Note

The CleanRGB Universal is the universal variant for all consoles with native RGB signals. Console-specific versions also exist (e.g. SNES CleanRGB + EdgeBuster) that come pre-configured. The Universal version requires manual adjustment of the trim pots for each use case – in return it is flexible enough to be used across many different systems.