Ask API. GET https://whichemulator.wtf/ask answers questions from the same data as this page, and it is the only place the setup steps are published. It takes the question as q and, optionally, this page's path as page, and returns JSON with answer, sources and follow_ups, or Markdown with Accept: text/markdown. No key needed.
curl -G 'https://whichemulator.wtf/ask' --data-urlencode 'q=Which ZX Spectrum emulator should I use on a Mac?' --data-urlencode 'page=/zxspectrum/'Questions it answers:
Guide: /skill.md. This page as Markdown: /zxspectrum.md
Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Sinclair, 1982. Sinclair Research.
whichemulator.wtf calls its recommendation for each system the Gold Cartridge pick. For the ZX Spectrum, the Gold Cartridge pick is Fuse.
The most complete everyday Spectrum emulator. Covers every model from the 16K to the +3, loads tapes accurately, handles Kempston joysticks and has a built-in debugger. If you just want to load a .tzx and play, this is the one.
Runs on Windows · Mac · Linux. Open source. Download: https://fuse-emulator.sourceforge.net
ROMs: Amstrad allows the Spectrum ROMs to be distributed, so emulators like Fuse ship with them. You only need your games, usually as .tap or .tzx files.
standalone Fuse is still the nicer experience
The Spectrum launched in 1982 at £125 for the 16K model and undercut almost everything. Its rubber keyboard and eight-colour palette became iconic, as did attribute clash: colour could only be set per 8×8 block, not per pixel.
The 128K models added the AY sound chip and a proper editor, and the +3 added a 3” disk drive. If a game misbehaves, check which model it was written for.
Games came on cassette. Emulators use .tap and .tzx files; TZX is the more complete format and keeps loading sounds and copy-protection timing intact.
That colour bleeding isn’t an emulator bug. It’s how the hardware worked, and accurate emulators reproduce it on purpose.
Reference: WEM-ZXSPECTRUM-DIIW