# Unico USA Prepares to Launch Replacement 26" Arcade Monitors

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2023-05-17  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/unico-usa-prepares-to-launch-replacement-26-arcade-monitors

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## Analysis

Unico USA is launching a line of 26" LCD replacement arcade monitors (Phoenix Series) priced at $299 to address the scarcity of replacement CRT monitors for classic arcade machines. The first batch of 200 units is in final testing, with pre-orders to follow. TNT Amusements will serve as a distributor.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] CRT monitors are no longer manufactured, making replacement difficult for classic arcade machines — _Industry observation; widely acknowledged fact in arcade community_
- [HIGH] Unico's Phoenix Series 26" LCD monitors will retail for $299 — _Official product specification from manufacturer_
- [HIGH] First production batch consists of 200 monitors — _Article states 'first batch of 200 monitors' with production pictures_
- [HIGH] If first batch sells out, Unico will ramp production to 500-1,000 units over 90 days — _Direct manufacturer statement in article_
- [HIGH] The project was delayed by the pandemic — _Article explicitly states pandemic delay_

### Notable Quotes

> "I agree, in an ideal world all classic arcade games would continue to operate with original CRT monitors."
> — **Knapp Arcade (article author)**, opening
> _Acknowledges arcade purist perspective while justifying the product's necessity_

> "This dearth of CRT monitors is why Unico USA...has been working on creating a line of 26" replacement arcade monitors for classic arcade games."
> — **Knapp Arcade (article author)**, middle
> _Frames the business case and market need driving the product development_

> "I definitely think that it has a place in the industry, particularly for multi-cade builds."
> — **Knapp Arcade (article author)**, introduction
> _Identifies target use case for the LCD replacement monitors_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Unico USA | company | Manufacturer of arcade and home arcade products including MVSX Neo Geo machines and Neo Geo mini; launching Phoenix Series LCD arcade monitors |
| Arcade1Up | company | Referenced as comparison point for Unico's home arcade cabinet business model |
| TNT Amusements | company | Arcade distributor; will serve as distributor for Unico's Phoenix Series monitors |
| Todd Tuckey | person | Representative of TNT Amusements; distributing Unico's new monitor product |
| Neo Geo | product | Classic arcade platform; basis for Unico's home arcade machines (MVSX, Neo Geo mini) |
| Phoenix Series Arcade CRT Replacement 26" LCD Monitor | product | Unico's new arcade monitor replacement product with CGA/EGA/HDMI/VGA inputs, $299 retail price |
| Knapp Arcade | company | Arcade enthusiast media outlet publishing the product announcement |

### Topics

- **Primary:** CRT monitor scarcity and replacement solutions, Arcade hardware preservation and modernization, LCD vs CRT conversion debate in arcade community
- **Secondary:** Unico USA product expansion and manufacturing, Multi-cade arcade cabinet builds
- **Mentioned:** Pandemic-related manufacturing delays

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.75) — Article is promotional but acknowledges legitimate community concerns. Author positions the product as pragmatic solution to real problem while respecting purist perspectives. Optimistic about market demand.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Unico USA expanding beyond home arcade cabinets into arcade hardware components and replacement parts market (confidence: high) — Company pivoting from consumer MVSX/Neo Geo mini products to B2B arcade replacement monitor business
- **[business_signal]** TNT Amusements announced as distributor for Phoenix Series monitors (confidence: high) — Todd Tuckey partnership confirmed with planned promotional video
- **[market_signal]** First batch of 200 monitors expected to sell through with ramped production of 500-1,000 units planned (confidence: high) — Article states 'I think that it will' sell out and describes production scaling plan
- **[announcement]** Unico USA officially launching Phoenix Series 26" LCD arcade monitor replacement (confidence: high) — Product specifications, pricing ($299), production timelines, and distributor partnerships announced
- **[technology_signal]** Industry trend toward LCD replacements for obsolete CRT arcade monitors due to manufacturing discontinuation (confidence: high) — Article frames CRT scarcity as ongoing problem driving product development; identified as solution for multi-cade builds

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## Transcript

I'm going to start this post off by saying, I know, I know, arcade purists...including most of the people in the hobby who I am friends with, turn their noses up at CRT to LCD conversions for legit old school arcade machines. I agree, in an ideal world all classic arcade games would continue to operate with original CRT monitors. But, given the fact that CRTs aren't produced any more, it's becoming more and more difficult to find working replacement CRTs for games over time.

This dearth of CRT monitors is why Unico USA, manufacturer of cool Arcade1Up-like MVSX Neo Geo home arcade machine and Neo Geo mini, has been working on creating a line of 26" replacement arcade monitors for classic arcade games. As I said, a lot of purists will probably immediately dismiss this product, but I definitely think that it has a place in the industry, particularly for multi-cade builds.

The project was delayed some by the pandemic, but it is nearing completion. Unico's Phoenix Series Arcade CRT Replacement 26" LCD Monitor will retail for $299. The monitors have CGA/EGA/HDMI/VGA inputs. Below are pictures of the first batch of 200 new monitors sitting on shelves ready to go to final testing. As soon as the final testing is complete on complete half of the batch Unico will start pre-orders for the new product. If the first batch of 200 monitors sells out (and I think that it will), Unico will ramp up production to 500 to 1,000, which will take 90 days.

Below are the aforementioned production pictures, pictures of Unico's other products and some video of the new monitors in action:

https://www.unico-usa.com/

UPDATE: I spoke with Todd Tuckey with TNT Amusements and he is going to be a distributor for the new monitors. He is putting up a new video about the product soon. I'll share it here when it's out.

Pictures of Unico's other products:

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 31128af0-a453-415b-bf9f-6021ec375117*