Comparing Gameboy Amps | Volume, Clarity, Size, Cost, Power Consumption

Since recording this video more amps have become available! I did try an Amp from RetroModding but could not get it to work on my Gameboy Color. I may revisit comparing gameboy color amps when more reach the market.
See anything you would have done differently? let me know! I'm self taught and learning more each day I'll take any lessons I can get!
*AMPS LINKED BELOW*
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videogamerestoration.com/tool...
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www.VideoGameRestoration.com
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I've linked all of the places I found the amps used in this video here 👇
Mini Digital Amp:
a.aliexpress.com/_mtTWRNw 🇨🇳
retrogamerepairshop.com/produ... 🇦🇺
Pam 8302A (Purple):
a.aliexpress.com/_mrgHERw 🇨🇳
console5.com/store/mini-audio... 🇺🇸
handheldlegend.com/products/a... 🇺🇸
Pam 8403 (Green):
a.aliexpress.com/_mtKPtGs 🇨🇳
handheldlegend.com/products/a... 🇺🇸
retrogamerepairshop.com/produ... 🇦🇺
Ribbon Amp:
a.aliexpress.com/_mKT6nbW 🇨🇳
handheldlegend.com/products/g... 🇺🇸
retrogamerepairshop.com/produ... 🇦🇺
RetroSix Clean Amp:
retrosix.co.uk/CleanAmp-Audio... 🇬🇧
handheldlegend.com/products/c... 🇺🇸
#nintendo #gameboy #comparison #sound

[@petruccilewis]

I like how hoy start your video being humble about your methodology, but then it proves to be very thorough and professional. I was impressed to see your attention to detail!

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@theshemullet]

I like this comparison review. You can only give your opinion. Sound is like art, everyone has their own way of viewing it, or in this situation hearing it. Also as you are hearing it analogue ( your ears ) and we hear it through the digital audio-compressed version; I'd be inclined to take your 'OPINION' as a truer source reference. Thanks for the video

[@cyril2pointzero]

great video ! the best I've seen on this small amps 💪 thanks for all informations 👍

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Thanks! Hope it helps!

[@LucaBlightOfHighland]

The content I didn't know I needed, nice.

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Hope it helps in the future !

[@chimera5588]

I know that I need to hear the clarity test to say this as fact, but just from the startup tests you did I actually agreed with your rating from best to worst lol. Also, I'm SUPER happy that TronicsFix did a colab with your because that's how I discovered your channel!

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Nice! Stoked Im not alone in my rating!! I'm super glad you found me! I hope you enjoy the rest that I have to share!

[@chimera5588]

@@VideoGameRestoration I've been binging your videos since I found your channel 😁 They're great!!

[@VideoGameRestoration]

@Chimera thanks man! Theyres a ton over on Tiktok if you're interested!

[@mrsuprpotato526]

Sick!

[@MNSweet]

Thanks for making a comparison video on a component. I've been wanting a place that makes content like this for some time. Screen brightness is what I'm most interested in if you are looking for another project. So I can ask my customers "where you play the most" and install a screen that would work the best for them.

[@MNSweet]

Follow up if you do a brightness based comparison, please do the "Blanket Test" as in how comfortable is it on your eyes when you are playing a Gameboy under a blanket in a dark room at night. This is mostly opinion based and meant as a gag, but I think the audience will like it, and it's a fun callback to when we were kids.

[@MNSweet]

More comparisons: USB-C batteries. This is a hard one to edit as you will have to decide early on if you want to do all the systems together in chapters or make part 1, 2, etc as their aren't many competitors in the space. But put FunnyPlaying against, Generic and R6's battery. Honorable Mentioned, rechargeable AAA/AAs, compare power density and retention of rechargeables. IKEA LADDAs, Eneloop, Ebl, HiQuick, Energizer. Li-Ion verse NiMH

[@MNSweet]

Let's talk cleaning contacts: IPA only, BrassO, BrightBoy, Magic eraser, pencil eraser, Tronics has been playing with DeoxIt. I think you should get a test board from a PCB manufacturer (maybe even a future sponsor if you can swing it) that has large gold contacts that you can grim up, let sit, and clean with different methods to test electrical resistance to your ground test pin and thus cleaning ability. Could do it with silver contacts, too, if you like.

[@MNSweet]

You could do speakers but I don't think there is much meat there in the results you will find

[@MNSweet]

If you want to step deep into modding, you can put your own twist on what Tito did and compare GBA consolizers.

[@multimediaman374]

PAM 8302A is what i put into mine. works great but i have a little of noise if i put volume very high... i should re-check all wiring and isolation

[@rokmanreacts]

Do u have any videos installing the last Pam

[@TheAstro306]

Subscribed after this video

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Thanks so much!!

[@ubacow7109]

I wish there was some way to test the THD & SINAD for the diff amp modules

[@Blehstor]

cool video, would be amazing if you showed how to do the installation

[@VideoGameRestoration]

I have an install video for te ribbon amp! If I ever get te time I'd like to revisit these and do an install video

[@planeetpaul]

Does the headphone out jack still work after installing the XY-sp5w or any other amp? Also, I read about issues with hiss and noise when combined with an IPS kit because of the extensive power draw. What's your experience with that? Do you need any additional mods for a more stable end result? For example upgrading the c32 capacitor? Thank you so much for doing these tests!

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Hey! The RetroSix, Ribbon, and Digital Amp all have headphone capabilities. The PAM ones need a resistor to work properly. Yes audio interference is an issue. Replacing the main cap with a 680uF help but also ensuring that the power switch and headphones jack are cleaned. You can also get upgraded power boards that help with interference

[@8bitnation419]

You have to try out the Helder Tech amps. They outperform many of these AMPs including the clean amp. The parts in them are of higher quality and it's much easier to install. Helder Tech also has a guide for your GBA that replaces liquid electrolytic capacitors with Solid Tantalum ones which will outlast and outperform electrolytics. I never had luck with the PAM amps, there really aren't any guides for you to install them into your Gameboy. I tried it in the DMG and got really low audio and I tried it in my Color and ended up frying two SMD capacitors which I was able to repair and instead i installed the USB C Pro Board Giltesa into my GBC which includes both USB C lipo battery support along with an amp.

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Yeah! At the time of filming this I didn't see a Helder GBC amp. I'm have the materials to do a GBA comparison and have his amp along with few others!

[@UnbornApple]

Thanks for reminding me to schedule radon mitigation.

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Super important! My levels were crazy high

[@juanhermosillo7322]

You should do this for the PSP 1000 😊

[@nostaldex]

Idk lobe to know how to install this blue one in a gba

[@Hitokiri926]

Any chance you could do a comparison of them at the same volume level? I’d love to know if any drive the speaker more efficiently than the original amp. Ex.. Measure original amp max volume. Install new amp, set volume to match original, measure power draw.. Great video regardless!

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Hey! I did! (Kinda) The clarity test was all at the same decibel (82ish if I recall) everything else was done at full volume

[@Hitokiri926]

@@VideoGameRestorationSorry, I must have missed that, I was listening to the video while driving. Thank you for the video and reply!

[@PabloGil.]

Hello, please I need help, all of these mods are mono audio. Does anyone know if when installing one of these mods the stereo audio in the headphone jack is lost or is it a separate output and the mod only affects the speaker? I would like to keep that function on my headphones

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Hey! I believe the Ribbon amp and RetroSix amp both allow headphones to work

[@PabloGil.]

@@VideoGameRestoration Thank you

[@Tendo209Mods]

Where are you connecting your audio source to, the speaker pads or the volume pot?

[@VideoGameRestoration]

I used the speaker pads for these! Since the Ribbon cable had to connect there I tried to keep all the tests the same

[@Tendo209Mods]

@@VideoGameRestoration I wonder how they’d differ if you tapped directly into the pre-left/right channels on the volume pot?! Only because I did that w a PAM board and it was SO loud! 😂

[@VideoGameRestoration]

@@Tendo209Mods the Pam board is deafening!

[@ComsiCaterpillar]

I threw in a CleanAmp V1.2 and the hiss is ear piercing ... painful. It has CleanPower too. Is this normal? Do I need to do the caps too, or are gameboy amp like just like this. I'd be more interested in a video about a quiet noise floor. The amp has 2x more volume than it needs ... it's loud as sh1t, pointlessly loud. I's prefer a mild amp with a quiet noise floor, I don't need it so loud that I'll have the volume on 25%. Maybe the PAM8302A with the potentiometer would be better for me

[@VideoGameRestoration]

The clean Amp is pretty loud! It's definitely recommended that you swap the main 100uF cap with a 680uF. Also, clean the headphone jack and volume wheel. You may be able to damped the sound by adding a Resistor. Best place to ask about that is RetroSix's discord

[@ColeDaCMNDR]

super mini gang rise up!!!!

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Haha it's a good little amp!

[@matthubina64]

You look like Macaulay Culkin. I’m dead serious.

[@lightrxvers3888]

Do you know where to get a dehumpket(however it’s spelt)

[@VideoGameRestoration]

De-Hum Kit 😅 For what system? I only know of Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Advance SP kits. For gameboy colors you upgrade a capacitor or use a heldertech power board

[@lightrxvers3888]

Thank you! And it’s for a GBA SP

[@VideoGameRestoration]

@@lightrxvers3888 I have a tutorial for those with links in the description!

[@daliromeriskie328]

Keep the stash

[@VideoGameRestoration]

👨

[@brandyhandy4157]

❤❤❤💖💖💖💖amazing 💋👌

[@aubreymontyf.l.3766]

I ship the best but I don't know how I ended up receiving the absolute garbage that everyone likes, is your link okay? I haven't install it yet, I've just unbox now

[@VideoGameRestoration]

Which link!