Sharp Twin Famicom — Famicom + Disk System in One Machine (Buying Guide)

Before You Buy

Things to watch out for when buying

The Twin Famicom is a Famicom and a Disk System drive built into one Sharp case. It went on sale in 1986, so every unit you can buy today is close to forty years old. The part most likely to be worn out is the disk drive.

Many listings say "belt replaced." That tells you one part was changed. It does not tell you the drive reads disks. The questions below help you find out what was actually done to the machine before you buy it.

Ask what was done to the disk drive
After forty years, the rubber drive belt has usually failed and has to be replaced. The drive also has to read the disk with the right timing, and that timing drifts as the machine ages. So ask the seller who changed the belt, and whether they adjusted the drive mechanism as well. If the seller cannot say, treat the drive as not yet working.
Identify the model variant
Four variants exist. AN-500R (1986, red) and AN-500B (1986, black): no turbo. AN-505-BK (1987, black/green) and AN-505-RD (1987, red/beige): turbo rapid-fire on A and B. If you want turbo for action games, check that the unit is an AN-505. The model number is on the underside label.
Verify composite AV output on screen
The Twin Famicom sends composite video through RCA jacks, which gives a clean picture. Ask the seller whether they tested it on a screen with composite inputs, and what the picture looked like. The output jacks can oxidize after long storage. That can be fixed, but it is better to know before the unit ships.
Understand the power supply requirement
The original AC adapter is rated for Japan's 100V. In countries with higher voltages, you need a step-down transformer. If the original adapter is missing, a replacement has to match its output.
Confirm what actually comes in the box
The two controllers are hardwired into the chassis, so they are always present — but the AC adapter and the AV (RCA) cable are separate pieces that may or may not be included. 'Console only' listings are common for forty-year-old hardware. Confirm the adapter and an AV cable are part of the lot, or plan to find them yourself, before you assume a unit is ready to play on arrival.
Is it genuine?
Genuine units carry the Sharp logo on the top and a model number on the underside label. The disk-drive slot on the front is what sets every Twin Famicom apart from a cartridge-only Famicom. If the underside label is missing or the markings look wrong, ask the seller for clear photos of the base before you buy.
Has it been tested — and what does "tested" mean here?
A Twin Famicom is two machines to test. "Powers on" is not enough. Ask whether the seller loaded a cartridge game and a disk game on this unit, and saw both on a screen. A unit tested only with cartridges tells you nothing about the disk drive. A good listing reports the cartridge test and the disk test separately.
The seller who welcomes questions
Before you buy, send the seller the questions on this list. A careful seller answers them plainly. Their photos show the actual unit, the underside label, and the disk slot, not a stock image.

Which One?

The variations of the Sharp Twin Famicom

1986

AN-500R (Red, 1986)

The first Twin Famicom, in red. Combines the Famicom 60-pin cartridge slot with an integrated Disk System drive in one chassis. Composite AV output standard — years before Nintendo's own AV hardware. Controllers are hardwired; no turbo function.

Composite AV output
Integrated Disk System drive
60-pin cartridge slot
Hardwired controllers (no turbo)
Japan 100V power supply
Red housing

The AN-500 was the first Famicom-family hardware to offer composite video output. On any surviving unit, the original rubber drive belt has most likely worn out or broken. Expect the drive to need a new belt and an adjustment before it reads disks reliably.

1986

AN-500B (Black, 1986)

The black colorway variant of the first-generation Twin Famicom. Functionally identical to the AN-500R. The darker housing conceals surface wear and yellowing more effectively over time.

Composite AV output
Integrated Disk System drive
Hardwired controllers (no turbo)
Black housing

Its disk drive needs the same care as the AN-500R's. Some collectors prefer the AN-500B for its lower visibility of cosmetic aging.

1987

AN-505-BK (Black/Green, 1987)

Second-generation Twin Famicom in black with green accent styling. Adds turbo rapid-fire on A and B buttons on both controllers. Hardwired controllers retained.

Turbo rapid-fire on A and B buttons
Composite AV output
Integrated Disk System drive
Black + green accent housing

The AN-505 is generally preferred by buyers who use the console for action-heavy titles. Turbo is the key hardware upgrade over the AN-500. In both generations, the disk drive is the part that needs the most care.

1987

AN-505-RD (Red/Beige, 1987)

Second-generation Twin Famicom in red with beige accent styling. Functionally identical to the AN-505-BK with the same turbo controller addition. The AN-505-RD is the rarer of the two AN-505 variants.

Turbo rapid-fire on A and B buttons
Composite AV output
Integrated Disk System drive
Red + beige accent housing

Drive belt degradation is universal across all Twin Famicom models regardless of storage history. The AN-505-RD is less commonly found in the used market than the AN-505-BK.

Ready to Buy

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What the machine was bought for: Namco released The Tower of Druaga on the Famicom on August 6, 1985 with sixty floors and no hints of any kind, and finishing it meant reading what another player had written down first.

What the disk slot was for: Konami released Arumana no Kiseki on a Famicom Disk System disk on August 11, 1987 — a rope-and-grappling-hook adventure that was never sold outside Japan, and that a Twin Famicom loads without a separate drive unit.

Already own one? How to care for a Sharp Twin Famicom →

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Buying a Sharp Twin Famicom — A Practical Guide