I've got more PlayStation 1 consoles in my retro console collection than I'd like to admit. That includes everything from the SCPH-1001 "Audiophile" original to the PSone and Sony's PS1 Mini that nobody liked, and they all actually have specific strengths. So, I wasn't too shocked to see modder Secret Hobbyist share a custom "hybrid" version that fuses various models together to create a tiny PS1 that's better than the original, but I am ridiculously impressed.
In a video titled "Introducing World’s First PlayStation Hybrid: 2 PlayStations in 1", Secret Hobbyist shows off their redesigned console that features a brand new PCB (printed circuit board). The revamped system is designed to accommodate motherboard components both the small oval PSOne from the 2000s and the OG to achieve what the YouTuber claims is a PS1 with "all pros, no cons."
By pairing the PSOne's more power-efficient GPU and CPU with the fat Audiophile PS1's Digital Audio Output (DAC), the modder has effectively made the "ultimate" PlayStation. That's before you get to the fact that it's also armed with modern tricks like an XStation ODE (Optical Disc Drive emulator) replacement that uses a microSD card and HDMI output using a Highspeedio FPGA-based digital converter.
Okay, when I say you can make a PS1 mini that's better than the original, I mean any of you with adept soldering skills. The project involves installing lots of tiny surface-mounted resistors and chips onto a new PCB, and the board also squeezes the above modern mods into the same space. The result, though, is absolutely extraordinary, as you end up with a palm-sized PlayStation that can save you looking into how to connect your retro console to a gaming TV or monitor and run off just 3 volts of power.
Highspeedio HDMI | View at Aliexpress
XStation ODE drive | View at Aliexpress
Believe it or not, the modder says the project isn't actually at the "end goal", despite having already cut down the design to just 85mm x 73mm and ditching additional boards used by the prototype. While the video shows off the classics like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Ape Escape, and Ridge Racer Type 4, it's naturally missing a snazzy new shell and a replacement for the OG controller ports, which are still currently used by the console.
I'll be keeping an eye out for the next chapter in Secret Hobbyist's hybrid PS1 project, as the modder has created what would be the perfect modern PlayStation. Don't get me wrong, I won't be ditching janky old disc drives and analogue video any time soon, as I apparently like to cause myself setup pain (my main console is currently acting up), but this is effectively a system that uses original parts, but can rival fancy FPGA remakes like the SuperStation with newfangled perks.
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