NES in HD? Should You Buy the Budget-Friendly Old Skool Classiq N HD HDMI Equipped NES Clone System

In this video, we test and review the Old Skool Classiq N HD NES Clone System.Show more

A little over the year ago I had my first experience with the Old Skool product line in their Classiq 2 HD clone system. The design was simple and made it possible to easily play either NES or SNES games in HD. While I liked the aesthetics of the system, it represents perhaps one of the most disappointing clone systems I have ever tested. The sound on the NES side was really bad, way off, and the color palette of the SNES side was pretty muddy.

With their newest release, the Classiq N HD, it removes the SNES side of things and is only an NES clone. As such the price is a lot less ($39.99 vs $69.99). There is a composite-only version of the Classiq N, but if you're going to but that why not just buy an NES?

The design of the Classiq N is pretty clean, but it has some nice touches to it. The top-loading design features power and reset buttons on the face of the unit, and they really resemble those found on the original NES. The top of the unit has the cartridge sloth which, while the pins old the cartridges tightly, I wouldn't consider it to be a death grip. Towards the front left corner of the unit is a large "N" that looked to be clear. When I powered the system up I was pleased to see that the N lit up and rotated colors. Sure, it's a bit cheesy but I like it.

The Classiq N includes 2 of the most unique controllers I have seen for an NES clone to-date. They're a bit thick and chunky, but the top features a rounded vs square edge. While I didn't know what to think upon first glance, they actually wound up being decently comfortable. The controller port does use a traditional NES-style connector so if the desire to use an NES Advantage or Max controller ever hits you can do so.

On the back of the system, you have some goodness going on. A push button 4:3/16:9 is on the left side of the rear, a bit unusual to see a push button versus a slide switch but it seemed to operate just fine. In from that is a Micro USB port, Composite video outputs, and the HDMI Port.

The first game is my go-to when I start testing out a clone, the original Super Mario Bros. This is a great test due to familiarity with the game and how soon audio and visual issues pop up. The coins, on many clones, just don't sound right, and unfortunately, the performance of the Classiq N bore that out as well. The sounds were all pitched high, most notably with the coins, but it exactly replicated my experiences with the Classiq 2. Just to compare things I did play a little of my HDMI-modded NES Top Loader and the differences are stark. I was disappointed, but there are other NES Clones that are also not very accurate.

Why it RoX:
- Under $40
- Very good games compatibility
- While unconventional looking the controllers are actually pretty nice
- Nice long controller cords
- The Power and Reset buttons look spot on to the original
- 4:3/16:9 switch
- The light up "N" is pretty sweet

What could be improved?
- Audio and video were both considerably off
- Pretty tight grip on the pins
- Noticeable lag even in game mode
- Plastics of the system just feel cheap

Should you buy one?
The Classiq N is literally the company's Classiq 2 with the SNES side removed, as such the NES hardware emulation is off the mark in a lot of areas. If the audio was a little better and the price was $10-$15 less, I'd say it's a definite maybe. But for this price, there are other systems out there that do a better job for less. Unless you just can't find another system locally and you don't want to order online I'd say this is a pretty hard pass from me.

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include—

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
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The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)