TIARA v2 Gives the Atari 2600 Cleaner Composite and S-Video Without Killing RF

Mark of The Retro Channel reveals TIARA v2, a no-cut Composite and S-Video mod for the Atari 2600 that installs over the TIA chip while keeping the original RF output active.

Original Atari 2600 owners have another modern video-upgrade option thanks to TIARA v2, a redesigned Composite, S-Video and audio modification from Mark of The Retro Channel. The board has been designed with relatively straightforward installation in mind. It fits over the Atari's TIA chip pins, requiring solder only at designated points before video and audio signals are routed to the desired output connector. Installers who want to preserve the external appearance of their console can perform the modification without cutting the shell by routing wiring through existing openings. The original RF output also remains operational, meaning owners can retain the authentically fuzzy 1970s television experience whenever nostalgia demands it. TIARA v2 can even coexist with a Lumacode installation. Separate PAL and NTSC versions are available, with pricing around $30. There are several compatibility limitations worth noting. The board does not support rare later 'one-chip' Atari 2600 Jr. systems that consolidate the console hardware into a single integrated circuit, while French SECAM and South American PAL-N and PAL-M machines have not been tested. For the enormous installed base of conventional Atari 2600 consoles, however, TIARA v2 provides another relatively inexpensive way to obtain significantly cleaner video without replacing the original machine with modern reproduction hardware.