Insurrection Industries Spark Plug RGB Adapter for the TurboGrafx16 Review

In this video, we unbox and test out the Spark Plug RGB Plug-N-Play adapter from Insurrection Industries for the TurboGrafx 16 and PC Engine.

I have always admired the TurboGrafx, along with the PC Engine and Core Grafx. I always thought the games were gorgeous, the sound was amazing, and overall it was a great system. One issue with them, however, is that it can be considered to be quite difficult to get a good picture out of them. The TurboBooster was an attachment back in the day that provided Composite video output, but getting a Component or RGB signal output is actually possible. Much like the Sega Genesis and Master System, the TurboGrafx 16 outputs RGB natively. But how can you tap into this? Well, that's where Insurrection Industries comes into play with their Spark Plug adapter.

The Spark Plug is actually a collaborative effort between the team at Insurrection Industries and Tian Feng. The unit is compact and simple in it's design. A PCB featuring a 9-pin DIN connector, identical to what the Model 2 Sega Genesis uses, is housed in a 3D printed case. The case has been designed to not only protect the internals, but incorporates a printed "foot" which provides support to the Spark Plug when installed. This acts as a strain relief and prevents the pins from being stressed or bent by bearing the weight of the adapter and cables. It's definitely a nice little detail which makes a difference.

The overall shape of the Spark Plug has been designed to work in any of this generation Turbo/Core/PC Engine systems. It doesn't tap into all the pins on the system, just the outer most on each side. You can use the Spark Plug with Insurrection Industry's own exceptional SCART Cables, which is what I used, and you can also use Model 2 Genesis component video cables. In addition to providing exceptional Component video quality, but also stereo audio.

Installation is super easy, just take your time to ensure the pins are aligned properly to prevent bending or breaking them upon installation. The 9-pin DIN connector feels like it is of very good quality; it holds the cable securely while not having a death grip on the pins. Overall, the Spark Plug adds very little to the overall length of the system, and I do like the fact that the cable exists straight out the back of it. I half wonder if I could fit this under the rear TG16 shroud, however, I don't have one for my system.

To test the system, I connected my SCART cable to my OSSC, and had to load a profile into it as I didn't have one setup previously. I was thrilled that 5x scaling worked amazingly well and looked gorgeous. I started my testing by firing up my system and Bonk's Adventure. I've loved this game, even the version on the Famicom, and it is beyond amazing. Even just the menu and the teaser portion of the game looked the sharpest I had ever seen from a TurboGrafx. In addition to the crisp video, the audio was terrific as well. Button presses all felt great, Bonk was super responsive, and in the end, I was thrilled with the results.

Up next, I threw in Fantasy Zone, and it is wild to think that Sega actually made a game for a competitor's system. What I really love about Fantasy Zone is the brilliant colors, which simply popped on my television. This is a different sort of Shmup, but still a classic. Much like in Bonk, Fantasy Zone controlled without any lag or latency, a perfect experience.

The final game I tested was Final Lap, which is my most recent pickup for the system. It reminds me of an updated version of Pole Position, and even with a D-Pad vs a steering wheel, it is a really fun game. Once again, the colors and audio were exceptional from the Spark Plug, the responsiveness was awesome, and I couldn't be any happier with the overall performance.

Why it RoX:
- Budget Friendly
- Plug-N-Play
- Compatible with TG16, Core Grafx & PC Engine
- Absolutely brilliant color and audio performance
- Foot supports the Spark Plug and reduces strain and stress on the pins
- Compatible with OSSC & RetroTink
- Great customer support

What could be improved:
- I'd like to see a combo with a Spark Plug & Cable
- Include component video ports in addition to the 9-pin DIN connector

Should you buy one?
With the performance that the Spark Plug delivers, it is easy to recommend owners of a TurboGrafx, Core Grafx, & PC Engine to consider. It is elegant in its simplicity, and it just plain works. The visual and audio results are nothing short of exceptional, and the fact that I can use it with both an OSSC & a RetroTink is awesome. Since the launch of the Carby, Insurrection Industries has made amazing products at a reasonable price for the retro gaming community, and the Spark Plug is a welcome addition to their lineup.

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

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