Now you can get your full Plex library working through a vintage CRT television without having to use lousy converter boxes. A developer has created a feature Plex core for the popular retro gaming MiSTer project.
See it in action in my latest video!
One of the strengths of the FPGA-based MiSTer is that it can send raw signals directly to CRT televisions without any pre-processing or filtering. For video games it recreates the console experience on a nearly 1:1 basis. I found playing 4k Blu-Rays on this core to now recreate the experience of the laserdiscs I watched on my CRT back in the 90s.
For this review, I used the SuperStation One MiSTer, which includes RCA composite outputs. This is the only MiSTer that has that capability built in – other MiSTers will only output to CRT televisions with a component RGB input (although there are adapters now for other connection types).
Access to this specific Plex core is currently available through Matija’s Mister Zine Patreon as a beta, with a public free release expected once the code is finalized. Future updates are slated to include Jellyfin compatibility and further interface refinements. Despite being in its beta stage, the current version is very functional and includes a variety of standard Plex features.
The interface allows for familiar navigation, such as a “Continue Watching” section that syncs with other Plex clients. During my testing with various files, including feature films and television series like *Star Trek: The Next Generation*, the core maintained the ability to resume playback from previous sessions and supported the playback of theme music during menu navigation. It also supports standard metadata features like “skip intro” and “skip credits” buttons.
Technically, the core outputs at 480i to the television, which results in an interlaced signal. Within the settings, users can cap the bit rate at 2 megabits per second, a limitation of the MiSTer hardware that remains sufficient for the resolution of a CRT. The core also includes tools for video geometry and cropping, which are sometimes necessary for adjusting the image to fit the unique overscan and display characteristics of older tube televisions. I did not need to adjust these settings on the two televisions I tested it on.
Because the MiSTer requires specific file formats and bit rates for stable playback, a Plex server with a Plex Pass and hardware transcoding capabilities is necessary. This is particularly true when using subtitles, as the core requires them to be “burned” into the video stream by the server. In practice, this process is efficient; using a server with hardware acceleration allows for smooth playback with minimal CPU utilization.
Additional customization options include the ability to filter the library to show only 4:3 aspect ratio content, matching the native format of most CRTs. Letterboxed content displays accurately on the CRT so I did not see a need to activate the 4:3 only option. The core also includes basic screen savers, such as a moving logo, to prevent image burn-in on older phosphor displays.
This project demonstrates the flexibility of the Plex API and the ongoing expansion of the MiSTer platform beyond traditional gaming. For those who have a TV set up for retro gaming, this development provides a streamlined method for integrating those displays into a modern home media ecosystem.