Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
An original PlayStation does not output HDMI. It sends analog video and audio through its AV Multi connector (and some early consoles also have RCA composite sockets), so an HDMI-only television requires an active PS1-to-HDMI converter or a separate analog-to-HDMI scaler. If your television still has yellow composite video and red/white audio inputs, you can connect the console directly with an AV cable.
Start by checking the ports on both devices
Turn the television around and identify the inputs before buying anything. Modern sets vary considerably by model and region. A television may have a yellow composite jack, a combined composite adapter socket, S-Video, an RGB-capable SCART socket, or HDMI only. The shape of the port is not enough to establish what signal it accepts: for example, a SCART socket may accept composite but not RGB.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
On the console side, most original PlayStation systems use the rectangular AV Multi connector. That socket can carry composite video, S-Video, RGB, and stereo audio, depending on the cable. Some early PlayStation models also provide separate RCA composite outputs. Those outputs are still analog; neither the AV Multi socket nor the RCA sockets produce HDMI directly.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Yellow video plus red and white audio: You can usually use a PlayStation AV cable without an external converter.
- S-Video: Use a compatible PlayStation S-Video cable and connect its separate audio leads.
- RGB-capable SCART: Use a properly wired PlayStation RGB SCART cable and select the television’s RGB-capable SCART input.
- HDMI only: Use an active PS1/PS2-to-HDMI adapter or a separate analog-to-HDMI scaler.
Do not assume that an unused-looking jack is an input. “AV,” “VIDEO IN,” “COMPOSITE,” “S-VIDEO,” and “SCART” labels normally identify inputs, while “OUT” identifies a source output. If the television uses a small proprietary breakout adapter for composite, locate that adapter before purchasing a cable; the three RCA plugs cannot be inserted into an HDMI socket.
#1 Best Overall
- WORKS WITH PS2 & PS1 — PHAT AND SLIM — Connect your PS2 (both original Phat and Slim models) or PS1 directly to any modern HDTV, monitor, or projector via HDMI. No drivers required. Just plug in and play your classic game library on your modern display within minutes.
- WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PICTURE — This adapter converts your PS2/PS1's analog AV signal to HDMI so it works on modern TVs. The PS2 hardware outputs a standard-definition signal (480p max) — the adapter upscales this to 720p for a cleaner look, but cannot go beyond the console's own limits. Great for retro gaming; not a 4K upgrade.
- 4:3 / 16:9 ASPECT RATIO SWITCH — One button to toggle between classic 4:3 and widescreen 16:9 display. Supports 480p and 720p resolution output. Low-latency signal processing for responsive, lag-free gameplay — ideal for action and rhythm games where timing matters.
- POWER REQUIRED — PLEASE READ BEFORE BUYING — This adapter requires an external DC 5V/1A USB power source to operate. A USB cable is included; a USB power adapter is NOT included. Use any standard phone charger or plug into your TV's USB port. No power = no signal output.
- IMPORTANT — PS2 AND PS1 ONLY — Works exclusively via the PS2/PS1 AV output port. Does NOT support PS3, PS4, or PS5. Does NOT work with HDMI capture cards, splitters, or passthrough devices — connect directly from console to TV. Not compatible with BlackMagic brand displays.
Which connection should you choose?
| Method | Television requirement | Picture path | Extra hardware | Cost and availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite AV | Yellow video input and red/white audio inputs, or a supplied composite adapter | Composite analog video | One AV cable; no converter when the TV accepts the signal | Usually the simplest cable to source; local price and stock vary by region |
| S-Video | S-Video input plus audio inputs | S-Video analog video, with brightness and color carried separately | One S-Video cable and separate audio leads | Availability depends on the TV and region; price not stated |
| RGB SCART | SCART socket that explicitly accepts RGB | RGB analog video | Properly wired RGB SCART cable | Common on some European sets; regional availability and price vary |
| PS1/PS2-to-HDMI adapter | Free HDMI input | Active conversion from the PlayStation’s analog output to HDMI | Adapter, HDMI cable if one is not included, and sometimes USB power | Most straightforward route for HDMI-only TVs; listing price, stock, and compatibility vary |
| Separate analog-to-HDMI scaler | HDMI input plus the scaler’s supported analog input | Analog input converted and scaled to HDMI | Console cable, scaler, HDMI cable, and any required power supplies | More components; regional price and availability vary |
For a television with no analog input, a dedicated adapter made for PlayStation 1 and 2 is generally easier to install than assembling a separate scaler. A separate scaler can make sense if you already own one or need to connect several different retro systems, but every additional box adds another cable, power requirement, and possible compatibility point. No universal claim about image quality, input lag, or support for every television is justified without testing the exact models involved.
How to connect a PS1 when the TV has HDMI only
Buy an adapter whose listing explicitly states support for the original PlayStation or PS1 and identifies the console-end connector. A PS2-only accessory is not automatically suitable. The adapter must accept the signal from the original console and convert it to HDMI; a passive plug or cable that merely changes the connector shape will not perform that conversion.
- Confirm the package contents. Look for the PS1/PS2 adapter, an HDMI lead if supplied, and any USB power lead. Check whether the adapter sends the console’s audio through HDMI or requires a separate audio connection.
- Power off the console and television. Unplugging while equipment is operating is unnecessary and can make troubleshooting harder. Place the adapter where its cables will not be pulled.
- Connect the console. Insert the adapter’s PlayStation connector into the AV Multi socket on the back of the console. Push it straight in; do not force a connector that is the wrong shape.
- Connect HDMI. Run an HDMI cable from the adapter’s HDMI output to an available HDMI input on the television. Note the input number, such as HDMI 1 or HDMI 2.
- Provide USB power if required. Some adapters need a USB power connection even though HDMI is connected. Use the power method specified by the adapter’s instructions and confirm that its indicator, if fitted, lights.
- Start the television on the correct source. Use the remote’s Input, Source, or similar button and select the HDMI socket used in step 4.
- Turn on the PlayStation. Insert a game, close the lid, and press the console’s power switch. Give the television a few seconds to lock onto the converted signal.
- Set the adapter’s mode only if necessary. If the device offers a resolution or mode switch, begin with its default setting. Change one setting at a time and wait for the picture before testing another.
If the adapter has separate audio outputs instead of embedding sound in HDMI, connect those outputs to the television’s matching audio input or to an amplifier according to the adapter’s manual. Do not connect the console’s red and white plugs to a random HDMI port; HDMI sockets do not accept analog RCA audio.
Direct composite connection: yellow, red, and white plugs
Composite is the most direct option when the television still accepts it. Use a PlayStation AV cable with the correct AV Multi plug, or use the console’s RCA sockets on an early model that has them. The standard color convention is yellow for video, red for right-channel audio, and white for left-channel audio.
- Insert the cable’s PlayStation connector into the console’s AV Multi socket, unless your model has the matching RCA outputs and the cable is intended for those sockets.
- Insert the yellow plug into the television’s yellow VIDEO IN or composite input.
- Insert the red plug into AUDIO R and the white plug into AUDIO L. If the television combines video and audio in a single breakout adapter, connect each plug to the matching label on that adapter.
- Select the television’s AV, Composite, or Video source. The label must correspond to the physical input used.
- Turn on the PlayStation and verify both the startup picture and game audio.
If the TV has a yellow jack but no red and white sockets beside it, inspect the set for a manufacturer-supplied AV adapter. Some televisions expose composite through a small multi-pin socket rather than three full-size RCA jacks. Without that adapter, a standard three-plug cable cannot be connected directly.
S-Video connection
S-Video is also analog, but it keeps brightness and color on separate conductors instead of combining them into one composite video signal. Use a cable designed for the PlayStation’s AV Multi connector and connect its separate left and right audio leads to the television. The TV must have a genuine S-Video input; a similarly shaped socket intended for another purpose will not work.
Rank #2
- 🎮HD LINK🎮Convert and upscale the analog RGB signals to digital HDMI signals for modern HDTVs/monitors/projectors, which makes the HD link cable compatible with classic PS1, PS One, Fat PS2, Slim PS2
- 🎮EASY TO USE🎮Plug and play with well-prepared cables. Detachable design, so high-end or extended HDMI cables can be used
- 🎮AWESOME IMAGE🎮Provide the best upscaled signal processing with great precision, colors, resolution and details at this price
- 🎮ASPECT RATIO SWITCH & LOW LATENCY🎮Support 4:3 and 16:9 with a toggle switch & unnoticeable lag when playing games
- 🎮ONE-YEAR WARRANTY🎮Offer the free replacement without asking and helpful customer service
After connecting the cable, select S-Video as the source if the television offers a separate S-Video entry. If the set groups S-Video and composite under one AV input, choose the input mode shown in the on-screen menu. The cable carries video only through the S-Video plug, so the red and white audio leads remain necessary.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11RGB SCART connection
The AV Multi connector can output RGB. On televisions that accept RGB through SCART, a properly wired PlayStation RGB SCART cable can use that path. The important qualification is the television’s SCART capability: a SCART socket that accepts only composite will not provide RGB simply because the plug fits.
- Check the TV manual or input menu for wording such as RGB, RGB input, or a selectable SCART mode.
- Connect the PlayStation RGB SCART cable to the console and the SCART socket.
- Select the corresponding SCART source and, if the menu offers a choice, select RGB rather than composite.
- Start the console and confirm that the picture is stable and that audio is present.
SCART availability is especially common on some European television models, while many newer sets omit it entirely. If the television has SCART but no RGB support, use a composite-capable cable or convert the analog signal to HDMI instead.
What to look for when buying an adapter or cable
- Explicit console support: The product description should name PlayStation 1 or PS1, not merely “retro console.” Support for PlayStation 2 is useful only when PS1 support is also stated.
- Correct console connector: Confirm that the console end is made for the original PlayStation AV Multi socket, or for the RCA outputs on the specific early model you own.
- Audio route: Check whether audio travels inside the HDMI output. If not, the listing should explain which separate audio plugs or outputs are required.
- USB power: Some HDMI adapters need USB power. Make sure a suitable power source is available near the television and that the product says how it should be powered.
- Input and output labels: An HDMI adapter must have an analog PlayStation input and an HDMI output. A generic HDMI “coupler” or passive converter cannot change analog video into digital HDMI.
- Region and television compatibility: Availability, stock, pricing, and supported video modes vary by country and TV model. Treat broad claims of universal compatibility cautiously.
Useful search phrases include “PS1 to HDMI adapter” for an HDMI-only set, “PlayStation 1 AV cable” or “PS1 RCA cable” for a television with composite, “PS1 RGB SCART cable” for an RGB-capable SCART input, and “retro console analog to HDMI scaler” when you want a separate scaler setup. Verify the actual listing details before ordering rather than relying on the search phrase alone.
First-start checklist
Use this sequence whenever you install the console on another television:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- The PlayStation connector is fully seated in the AV Multi socket.
- Every plug is in an input, not an output, and the colors or labels match.
- The adapter, if used, has its required USB power.
- The television is set to the exact HDMI, AV, S-Video, or SCART source in use.
- The console power light comes on and a game disc is seated correctly.
- Volume is raised and the TV is not muted.
- Any source-specific menu setting, such as RGB for SCART, is enabled.
Troubleshooting a blank screen or missing sound
The TV says “No signal” on HDMI
Recheck the selected HDMI number, then verify that the adapter is powered. If the adapter uses USB, try the specified power arrangement and inspect the indicator light. Reseat the PlayStation connector and HDMI cable with both devices switched off. Test another HDMI input only after confirming the original input selection. If the console works on a television with a direct analog input but not through the adapter, the adapter’s compatibility or power arrangement is the likely point to investigate.
Rank #3
- Composite to HDMI Converter: Converts analog AV composite (Yellow, White, Red) input to HDMI 720P/1080P (60HZ) output, displayed on smart TV, Projector or HD Display, which bring back your old and cherish memories.
- Plug to Play: This HDMI Converter no extra drivers need, just plug and play,easy to use. Please hook up the USB Power Cable (included) to 5V power source during use. Note: The Video Converters only support converts AV to HDMI, can't converts HDMI to AV.
- Widely Used: This composite to hdmi adapter is widely applied to PS1, PS2, PS3, Xbox, N64, Wii, STB, VHS, VCR, DVD Players and other devices with standard composite AV input. Note: It can only be used when PS2 is set to RGB output.
- Wide Compatibility: This Video Audio Converter Adapter supports source formats of PAL, NTSC3.58, NTSC4.43, SECAM, PAL/M, PAL/N standard TV. Provide advanced signal processing with great precision, colors, resolutions, and details. Important Note: This converter can't improve video quality!
- Attention & Package: Please ensure to connect this av hdmi converter to power source to make it work. Package include: 1*AV to HDMI Adaptor, 1*USB Power Cable(adapter not included), 1*User Manual.
The picture appears through composite but colors are wrong on SCART
Confirm that the SCART socket accepts RGB and that the cable is wired for RGB rather than composite. Select RGB in the television’s input menu when that option exists. A physically compatible SCART plug does not guarantee an RGB signal path.
There is a picture but no audio
For direct AV, check that red is connected to Audio R and white to Audio L. For S-Video, remember that the S-Video connector carries no audio, so both audio leads must be connected separately. For HDMI adapters, check whether the adapter is designed to embed audio in HDMI or to send it through separate outputs; follow that product’s documented route.
The television has only a small AV socket
Look for the television manufacturer’s composite breakout adapter. The socket may accept yellow, red, and white signals only through that accessory. If no adapter was supplied or it is unavailable, use an active analog-to-HDMI solution rather than forcing standard RCA plugs into the socket.
The console works on one TV but not another
TV input implementations differ by model and region. Compare the second set’s available inputs and supported modes, then choose the matching cable or converter. Do not infer that a television’s SCART, composite adapter, or HDMI input has the same behavior as another model’s port with a similar label.
Picture path and practical trade-offs
Composite minimizes equipment: one cable goes from the console to the television, provided the set still accepts the signal. S-Video and RGB use alternative analog paths available from the AV Multi connector, but they require matching inputs and correctly wired cables. HDMI conversion is necessary when no analog input is available, yet it introduces an active device, an HDMI cable, and sometimes a USB power lead.
Connector choice alone does not establish a guaranteed resolution, latency, or visual result. Those characteristics depend on the console’s output, the adapter or scaler’s conversion, and the television’s processing. A product listing may claim broad compatibility, but the exact adapter, television, game region, and connection mode determine whether the combination displays reliably. Buy from a seller that clearly documents PS1 support and provides a return path when the model combination is uncertain.
Rank #4
- Apply to convert PlayStation1/2 signal to HDMI signal (Sony playstation game console connection to HDTV)
- No need to install drivers/hdmi cable , portable, flexible, plug and play. Provide advanced signal processing with great precision, colors, resolutions and details.
- Video signal transfer only, can't improve the video quality.
- With male ps 2 input and male hdmi output port ,so you do need buy hdmi/ps2 cable
- NOTE: Compatible with PlayStation 2/1 only.can not use for ps 3， the package only has micro cable(it has not us power adapter).it do not compatible with Sony, with BlackMagic brand televisions /diplayer
Choosing the shortest reliable setup
If the TV has composite
Use a compatible PlayStation AV cable. It is the fewest-device path and follows the conventional yellow-video/red-and-white-audio wiring.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If the TV has S-Video or RGB SCART
Use that connection only after confirming that the input accepts the corresponding signal. S-Video needs separate audio leads; RGB SCART needs an RGB-capable socket and a properly wired cable.
If the TV has HDMI only
Choose a PS1/PS2-to-HDMI adapter with explicit PS1 support. Confirm its audio path and USB-power requirement before purchase, then connect the adapter between the console and a numbered HDMI input.
If you already own several analog consoles
A separate analog-to-HDMI scaler can consolidate connections, but it adds hardware and power supplies. Check that its analog input accepts the particular PlayStation cable and signal you intend to use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I plug the original red, white, and yellow cable into an HDMI socket?
No. Those plugs carry analog composite video and stereo audio, while HDMI is a digital audio/video connection. Use the TV’s matching composite inputs or an active analog-to-HDMI converter.
Does every PlayStation AV cable work with every original PlayStation?
The cable must have the correct console-end connector and wiring. Confirm that the listing explicitly supports the original PlayStation and the connection type your television accepts.
Best Value
- [Compatible with PS1 / PS2] Designed for use with PS1 and PS2 consoles, this PS to HDMI converter helps connect classic game systems to modern HDMI TVs, monitors, and projectors. Not an official product.
- [S-Video Based HDMI Conversion] Uses the console’s S-Video Y/C signal from the AV Multi-Out port for HDMI conversion, providing a cleaner signal path than standard composite video conversion.
- [HDMI Output for Modern Displays] Converts the original console video signal to HDMI output, making it easier to enjoy classic games on displays with HDMI input. Display quality depends on the original console signal and display settings.
- [Micro USB Power Required] Connect the converter to a 5V USB power source with the included Micro USB power cable before use. Power adapter is not included.
- [Complete Cable Kit Included] Package includes PS to HDMI converter × 1, 1.5m HDMI cable × 1, 1m Micro USB power cable × 1, and user manual × 1. Simple setup with no driver required.
Is SCART automatically RGB?
No. SCART is a connector standard that can carry different signals. The television’s socket must accept RGB, and the cable must be wired for RGB.
Why might an HDMI adapter need USB power?
Active conversion requires electronics that draw power. Some adapters obtain that power through USB, so HDMI connection alone may not be sufficient. Check the adapter’s instructions before diagnosing a blank screen.
What should I buy when I do not know which ports the TV has?
Inspect the television first, including any supplied composite breakout adapter. If it truly has HDMI only, search for a PS1-to-HDMI adapter and verify PS1 support, the console connector, audio handling, and USB-power requirements in the listing.
Recommended Free Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plug the original red, white, and yellow cable into an HDMI socket?
No. Those plugs carry analog composite video and stereo audio, while HDMI is digital. Use matching composite inputs or an active analog-to-HDMI converter.
Is SCART automatically RGB?
No. The SCART socket must accept RGB and the cable must be wired for RGB.
Why might a PS1 HDMI adapter need USB power?
Active conversion electronics may require USB power; HDMI alone may not supply what the adapter needs.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
