Installing Wire Free Dehum Kit RetroSix GBA

See the everyday life of working a retro modding company. Learn hardware design, mods, software, FPGA, LCDs and more.

[@josephlefebvre9213]

Man I can’t wait till you guys start posting more how to vids. Not only are they super helpful for us gameboy modders, your tips and tricks for soldering in general has saved me much agony. Cheers!

[@ThatMellon]

Just bought my first soldering iron (what could go wrong)... Bough the IPS screen, clean juice and I'm gonna order the rest of the gear to try and do a full mod on my gba with the gear on your website (audio stuff, clicky shoulder buttons, LED replacement, a see through case and new buttons/ pads), I'll be getting the other stuff next week. I've soldered my guitar's line a few times but never soldered to circuits, nice tip on tinning the solder first... Wish me luck... RetroSix is my gateway into modding, so thanks for this experience, I'll update this comment according to how well I (as a beginner) do.

[@RetroSix]

Good luck and if you struggle just stop and ask for advice on our discord then show us your results

[@daithi611]

Job done, just installed, works great, thank you for making it. Sound through headphones is great now

[@RetroSix]

Glad you like it :)

[@KingKing-im2ew]

Ist dont work for me did the Same Like in the Video

[@adultmoshifan87]

Hi there! Thanks for accepting my accessory ideas, which I recently e-mailed y'all asking if you could make! These included replacement DS batteries, replacement Neo Geo Pocket battery covers, a micro SD adaptor for the Vita and a New Nintendo 3DS cover plate that can hold an AirTag! I look forward to seeing what you bring us in the future!

[@samuraijaydee]

Great video. Love your products!

[@AlanMedel_]

Quick question does yours make a loud high pitch noise every time you turn it off?

[@robertdoran2279]

Mine does the same thing. I installed a clean amp pro and a funny playing clear speaker in my GBA along with this kit. Every time I turn it off with the volume wheel about half way turned up I hear a noise. Have you figured out anything about this?

[@feliperocco8052]

x2

[@robertdoran2279]

@@feliperocco8052 what does that mean?

[@mrred4656]

I'm experiencing this as well. But haven't been able to find anything to solve it.

[@DustinHamiltonSituatedAction]

This is a great video, Luke - thank you!

[@swingstylez]

Great video, much appreciated.

[@wesuda]

This video is super helpful! I accidentally soldered away capacitor C26. I tried my best but to put it back in place, and the console turns on. But I wonder if I did a better job. What could be and indication that I didn’t soldered back in place properly? I installed this mod alongside the Clean Amp Pro and I do like how my GBA sounds now.

[@RetroSix]

It will work without as the dehum has an extra one on so no worries

[@tanuki2k]

Lets say the tiny cap at c26 accidently came off, what would it need to be replaced with?

[@RetroSix]

You should be good to leave it off so long as the Dehum kit is installed and there isn't a short between the too and bottom pads where it was

[@specialk1287]

What's it do if it can be left off? ... Asking for a friend... That totally couldn't get the solder to slide over and melting that little fucker right off 🙄🤦

[@RetroSix]

If you don't attach the dehum it will still have noise on audio

[@specialk1287]

​@@RetroSixI attached the dehum, the only casualty was that tiny capacitor. But everything seems to be working without it? 🤞🤞🙄

[@Mark-nh1sj]

Do you not solder the top left corner to the capacitor it touches?

[@RetroSix]

It's only a support pad doesn't connect to anything

[@lilley3747]

It’s supposed to go to cap c54

[@Tink-GB]

Is C54 joined or not to the DeHum ribbon..? Looks like it should...?

[@RetroSix]

No it's just an optional physical support

[@nvelez88]

Hi Luke great video! But how should I solder the dehum kit if I want to install the rechargeable battery pack and the cleanamp audio mod?

[@thedutchcodex]

I wan't to now this to!

[@RetroSix]

They all fit on no problem. Nothing gets in the way

[@neltlen]

I love your videos, I have been watching a lot of your guides since I installed the IPSv2 on a gba, however I noticed the hum after the mod, if I do this mod do I still need to take care of the old Caps that are in the original gba board and replace them with new ones? Or does this mod act as a bypass for the caps involved with the sound? (I am referring to the CAPS CP 1 and 2, I dont know which one is actually for the sound haha) I also noticed that the gba speaker is so weak even in max volume but when i use headphones the volume actually works when i change it to any setting so i dont think its a volume knob issue, will this mod help with the speaker problem too?

[@jackal1115]

You don't do the c54 capacitor?

[@NicB-Creations]

I was wondering the same?

[@blackabe111]

You guys sold a kit where C6 and C15 had were bridges new capacitors. Do you recommend adding those if going this?

[@dustymcgusty9994]

Great video👍👍👍

[@RetroRich91]

Why is there a connector next to c54?

[@nathanaelsmith3553]

What's the unused solder pad at the top left for? It looks like Its designed to join to the adjacent capacitor but you don't do that.

[@RetroSix]

Just a physical support it's not needed just helps keep things flat

[@nathanaelsmith3553]

@@RetroSix thanks - I soldered it on anyway. All working fine! I also installed the clean amp kit. The improved sound really makes a difference in my opinion. Makes games more immersive. One of the things I like about retro games like F-Zero Climax is the soundtrack and now I can hear it much better. The speaker also fitted nice and snug in one of your shells so no buzzy rattle. Very happy with the sound. I also installed an IPS screen from ebay at the same time. This worked perfectly for 10minutes but now it has developed a fault. There are now 2 black lines down the side. I'm wondering if a tiny blob of solder broke off and is shorting across somewhere? I might take it all apart and clean it with a swab and alcohol. Or ask ebay for a refund / replacement. Not your problem though. I would have bought ine from you guys but you were sold out. Very happy with your shell and sound mods though!

[@RetroSix]

@@nathanaelsmith3553 sounds like cracked screen. We have CleanScreen now much better than IPS you should try it on next round

[@lilley3747]

Cap above c44 is now squashed in the case. This pulls the front plastic and warps it making my glass screen come away

[@RetroSix]

Must not be setting right. We have sold over 5000 now including about 10 consoles every day and have no issues of fitment. If you join our discord and send photos we can assist in finding the real problem

[@roheinz5007]

What about the solder pad at capacitor C54? Do I need to connect that? Thanks!

[@RetroSix]

That's just a physical holder, not needed

[@damian_oldstuff]

what kind of soldering iron are you using for this? and what diameter solder? the generic kit I've got laying around can't get anywhere near this precision... at least not that i'm comfortable trying.

[@RetroSix]

Hakko but the TS 80 we sell on store is good enough and much cheaper. Solder is 0.38mm solder king we sell also along with the flux

[@afruit6720]

Can this be installed on a gbc? I'm looking for a solution that gets rid of the hum I'm hearing from my gbc speakers

[@RetroSix]

No. We don't get hum on GBC though so you might just have bad speaker or dirty DC jack or power switch

[@StvnLntz]

I can’t find any video of the results on this, where can I find one ?

[@Utoobyourself]

Question? After this gets installed ,can the Game Boy Advance CleanAmp Pro v1.0 Audio Amplifier be installed at same time? Or this kit has already has a built n amp? Thks

[@RetroSix]

yes

[@Starlight_Hoshi]

What about that pad on the top left that you didn't solder

[@RetroSix]

That’s not needed

[@Starlight_Hoshi]

Oh gotcha thanks for answering

[@Starlight_Hoshi]

It doesn't seem to work after installing unfortunately and I followed the tutorial exactly

[@RetroSix]

Jump on our discord server and send install photos

[@Starlight_Hoshi]

Oki doki

[@phonglua]

Does this stop humm from the headphones as well? Or is this just for hum going through the speaker?

[@AngelSix]

It works for both

[@dertysproshop]

Do I need to have the clean audio amp installed for this to work?

[@RetroSix]

No

[@Bouncedtuna]

Also what about capacitor c54 does that one get soldered on too it looks like it has a pad for it?

[@RetroSix]

No it's just an anchor pad not needed

[@Bouncedtuna]

@@RetroSix ok thank you

[@durkadur27]

Is this version more effective than the other kit?

[@RetroSix]

It works the same as our other RetroSix dehum kit you solder without the flex board. For other kits out there yes there are no known correct dehum kits that actually work fully, only ours. They add capacitors to the wrong places and leave others off completely. Stick with the original for the best experience

[@durkadur27]

@@RetroSix tyvm for reply I purchased a modded gba to learn from. It came with the original dehum kit so I wanted to make sure I didn't need to find one with the wire free installed.

[@0Achicaru0]

Has anyone compared this kit to Helder's power filtering mod in terms of noise improvement?

[@RetroSix]

Helder just copied my original design article and did it wrong lol. Yes people have compared and his doesn't filter most of the noise as it doesn't even have capacitors on the main noise lines

[@0Achicaru0]

@@RetroSix Thank you!

[@Tiut]

Is it possible to install both the dehum/dehiss and the ClenAmp Pro?

[@RetroSix]

Yes it's the combination we use

[@Tiut]

@@RetroSix okay, thank you very much

[@wpwentzell]

One of the capacitors on that board is touching another, looks like a flaw. You can see it clearly at 00:04:43

[@RetroSix]

They are joined to the same rails so it's ok

[@GerrryPv]

Do you or anyone here has experience with installing this kit on a gba with stock audio? Mine only has an IPS screen and the cleanjuice battery. Will I notice any difference on noise after installing?

[@RetroSix]

It will help with the noise the IPS adds, and improve headphone noise also

[@GerrryPv]

I finally got into installing the kit (after 1 year I know lol) I can confirm that it does eliminate the noise om my GBA with just the IPS screen mod (stock speaker). Will likely help with a GBA with stock screen, although I don't see many people doing that.

[@Bouncedtuna]

So what's the difference between the power cleaner and this one

[@Bouncedtuna]

I installed the cleaner new speaker and added an amp would It be best to install this also?

[@RetroSix]

The power cleaner is a bad clone of our Dehum kit. It doesn't filter out noise and adds issues to RAM channels. Remove it and put the Dehum on

[@Bouncedtuna]

Dam it ok ☹️

[@LMR__1]

What about the pad in the top left, is that one not necessary to connect anywhere?

[@RetroSix]

No that's just for physical support if you have a cap there but doesn't connect to anything or do anything

[@LMR__1]

@@RetroSix does the same apply to the far left pad on the gameboy advance SP dehiss dehum kit? I noticed that one had an extra pad top

[@RetroSix]

@@LMR__1 there are 6 pads on the SP one and all needed

[@LMR__1]

@@RetroSix What is the 6th pad needed for? Its absent from Helser's original design.

[@RetroSix]

The original design is actually mine lol there is an article on it on support.retrosix.co.uk explaining the design. Depends what pad you mean is 6th pad. But far top left is ground for input. The other design is poor as of causes a long ground loop for all power filtering flowing through one small ground point far away from the input filtering

[@grommdk]

the cap C54 aint on my board.. what to do? :-)

[@RetroSix]

Doesn't need it. Its just a physical support

[@FuriousTortoise]

So I’ve done this mod and I think I can tell a difference. My only real concern is how absolute shite the GBA audio files are compared to other retro consoles. Anybody know of an audio restoration project?

[@pietronetutube]

I cannot close my GBA now .... Capacitance is touching the case.

[@RetroSix]

It must be in the wrong position. It fits if in the right position. Jump on our discord server and upload install photos

[@exe7936]

Can I install the amplifier with this?

[@RetroSix]

Yes

[@exe7936]

@@RetroSix Thanks 👍

[@tlou2685]

While the cleanamp pro is a real improvement this wirefree kit isn‘t. I installed a few of the former dehum/dehiss-kits and even this was not easy once you had a connection it worked. Not so here. The connection with the battery pin always looses contact after a while. There is no stable connection possible. I tried it five or more times but it always gets loose after a few minutes. It is enough to look on it funny to loose this connection. I do not understand why talking about an improvement when this kit is much harder to install then the previous one. I had no problems with the other three points but this battery spring connection is a joke. Is there an alternate point so that i can use a wire instead?

[@RetroSix]

If it's not sticking you are not breaking through the tin layer of the ground pad. If you follow the advice here to watch solder flow into an even pool after many seconds then it will be a solid solder joint. We do them dozens of times a day and they won't come off if done like this. If you still struggle you can solder w wire to any ground like the shield pad of the switch

[@tlou2685]

Thank you for the fast response and the advice. I tried it first as you have shown it here but that did not work for me (i think my soldering skills are also far away from yours as you are a professional :-). I then increased the temperature from 350 to 450 degrees Celsius to get solder on the battery pad and after i lowered the temperature when connecting to the kit. That worked in the end. As always i watched the video (if available) before starting to install and i saw also what you did with the solder but when i tried it myself the solder always did not leave the iron‘s tip.

[@bourkekarl6328]

Do you guys have a store or just offer support

[@RetroSix]

As have send in services for repair and we are opening a physical store in a few weeks also

[@bourkekarl6328]

Thanks for telling me I found you guys in Retro Gamer magazine and I am in the market for a GBA to play the exclusive crash game for said console.

[@Remade.algeciras]

What is its function?

[@RetroSix]

To remove the noise generated by the consoles poor power regulation, so your audio is much cleaner

[@duke_8747]

Could I get a link to your discord channel?

[@RetroSix]

discord.gg/D4Envqc5jr

[@buddenjoejoe5549]

Just destroyed my gba with this mod 😢 i have to practice 😂

[@LordPsychocutioner]

does this kit increase the volume at all even if just a tiny bit?

[@RetroSix]

If you have an amp like CleanAmp yes might allow slightly higher output due to larger capacitance

[@LordPsychocutioner]

@@RetroSix what if you just install this without the cleanamp chip?

[@RetroSix]

It would just reduce the noisev

[@themadhacker9376]

*watching video* wait...why doesnt he have the amp on there yet?...was i supposed to do this first? wait why dont the points line up on my GBA? wait is that the...cartridge slot? yup...yup...my board is upside down... @.@

[@RetroSix]

😂