One box to make every old console look right on a modern panel.
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An upscaler takes the analogue signal from an old console and rebuilds it as a clean digital image your TV understands, instead of letting the TV's own cheap scaler guess.
The gap between a good upscaler and a generic converter is enormous — sharper pixels, correct aspect, optional scanlines, and lag low enough for action games.
Handles composite, S-Video and component from almost any console with near-zero lag and simple plug-and-play operation. The default recommendation for a mixed shelf of consoles.
If your consoles are already RGB-modded or European, an RGB SCART chain into a scaler gives the cleanest possible source before any processing happens.
If you only own one retro console, a dedicated adapter for that machine is cheaper and needs no configuration at all.
It converts a 240p or 480i analogue signal into a modern digital resolution with correct pixel geometry, instead of letting your TV apply heavy smoothing.
No — one box with the right inputs can serve your whole shelf if you swap cables or add a switcher.
On a big modern panel they hide the harsh grid of enlarged pixels and get closer to how the games looked on a CRT. It is a taste thing.
For authenticity and zero lag, yes. For convenience, space and 4K TVs, a good upscaler is close enough that most people stop noticing.