Fisher NES Music Box - 2A03 NSF/VGM Player
Fisher NES Music Box - 2A03 NSF/VGM Player
Demo Video
What is it?
The Fisher NES Music Box is the world's first publicly available hardware NSF player — a standalone device that plays authentic NES/Famicom music using a real RP2A03 (or compatible clone) sound chip, with no emulation involved.
The NES Sound Format (.nsf) is used for storing and playing music ripped directly from NES and Famicom games — similar to the PSID format for C64 music. An NSF file contains the original music code from the game, which runs on real NES sound hardware to produce authentic chiptune audio. The Fisher NES Music Box puts that music code into memory, prepares the sound hardware, and runs it — exactly as the original NES would.
Why Was It Made?
No similar hardware NSF player existed. Fisher built this one to fill that gap — giving chiptune enthusiasts a way to experience NES music on real hardware, not just in software emulators.
What Makes It Special?
- World's first publicly available hardware NSF player
- Real RP2A03 chip (optional) — authentic NES sound, not emulation
- Altera CPLD + SDRAM implements the entire NES peripheral circuit in a compact, elegant design
- Track switching: Navigate between internal tracks within an NSF file
- 50/60Hz playback speed switch — toggle between PAL and NTSC timing
- Supports RP2A03 and compatible clone chips
- Active development — future updates planned for expansion chip support and larger NSF files
Current Limitations
- Supports NSF files up to 32KB only — do not attempt larger files
- Does not currently support sound expansion chips (VRC6, MMC5, FDS, N163, etc.)
- Project is under active development — more features planned
About the RP2A03
The RP2A03 (Ricoh 2A03) is the iconic sound chip of the Nintendo Entertainment System / Famicom. It contains a 6502-compatible CPU core alongside a built-in APU (Audio Processing Unit) featuring:
- 2 pulse wave channels
- 1 triangle wave channel
- 1 noise channel
- 1 DPCM sample channel
The RP2A03's distinctive sound — punchy pulses, rumbling triangle bass, and crunchy DPCM samples — defined the sound of an entire generation of gaming. From Super Mario Bros. to Mega Man, Castlevania to Contra, the 2A03 is one of the most beloved sound chips in history.
Options
- With original RP2A03 — $299 (authentic NES chip included)
- Without RP2A03 — $200 (use your own chip or clone, -$99)