eBay bargains - what's your latest conquest?

[ToniCH]

Thanks. Doesn't show up in my Amazon though. There are couple of others but no mention how you adjust the output. They also say 100-120V but I hope you can somehow adjust it so its actually 100V. And UK wall plugs work for TheShortTimer but not for me.

Seems like the actual electric/electronics stores do not sell those but random Chinese companies do in Amazon, ebay etc.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Wouldn't it be better to purchase a stepdown convertor so you can keep everything original. Something like this?

View attachment 2565259

As it goes, I actually have that very step-down converter for use with my Pioneer LD-V4400 NTSC industrial LaserDisc player but no, it would not be better to do that in this instance seeing as I have the skills to negate a converter. Keeping "everything original" really isn't necessary here.

I admire your purism, though!

Besides, as @ToniCH pointed out, that step-down converter is 110-230v and the Japanese Saturn uses 100v.

And UK wall plugs work for TheShortTimer but not for me.

You see, this is what happens when you inhabit one of the few places that escaped British colonisation.

Joking aside, I've managed to acquire a universal voltage power-board and an RGB-SCART cable. All I need to do now is buy a game...

 

[Doq]

I almost suggested this too but then remembered that it might be difficult to find one for Japanese 100v stuff.

From my experience with my imported Japanese electronics, the power circuitry in them is tolerant enough to handle 120 American volts no problem. Of course if you want to really be safe then you should put in the correct voltage, but from my experience 100 volt hardware is just fine on 120 volts.


Oh yeah, I've had these sitting in the lab for about a week or two now:

Two more nuggets to join the first.

The Zen Xtra (left) was another repair job, though slightly more complicated as it needed a display replacement, and the displays on these Creative units are structurally soldered to the mainboard, rather than using a bracket or similar. Had to obtain a donor unit for this repair-- about $45 overall.

The Zen Sleek (right) is the most expensive one out of the three, as I specifically bought a tested working model instead. $75.

 

[TheShortTimer]

I've bought a couple of games - and they had to be Japanese versions due to region locking. There's a solution and I'll look into it later but for now, here's a couple of bargains from eBay:

£10.78 GBP from a UK seller and the cheapest Japanese version available to me that's complete with the sleeve and jewel case. There was another listing which was marginally cheaper but you got the disc and nothing more. This game is English friendly so I won't have to worry about using Google Lens to translate stuff.

Onto bargain #2:

£8.95 GBP, again from a UK seller and with free shipping. No other listing for a Japanese version that was complete matched this price and it was reduced slightly after the seller conceded that the casing is worse for wear and agreed to a discount. This title is also English friendly, which makes two for two with no language barriers.

The game I'll be playing for now is the waiting one for everything to arrive.

 

[MarkC426]

I've bought a couple of games - and they had to be Japanese versions due to region locking. There's a solution and I'll look into it later but for now, here's a couple of bargains from eBay:

£10.78 GBP from a UK seller and the cheapest Japanese version available to me that's complete with the sleeve and jewel case. There was another listing which was marginally cheaper but you got the disc and nothing more. This game is English friendly so I won't have to worry about using Google Lens to translate stuff.

Onto bargain #2:

£8.95 GBP, again from a UK seller and with free shipping. No other listing for a Japanese version that was complete matched this price and it was reduced slightly after the seller conceded that the casing is worse for wear and agreed to a discount. This title is also English friendly, which makes two for two with no language barriers.

The game I'll be playing for now is the waiting one for everything to arrive.

Nice bit of retro……

 

[TheShortTimer]

Nice bit of retro……

Thanks!

In a former life, I worked at a well known UK high-street consumer electronics chain and spotted in the stock room tons of unsold new old stock that included a boxed Sega Saturn with the Sega Ages bundle (Space Harrier, Out Run…). By that point it had been superseded by the Dreamcast - which itself was on its last legs commercially with the impending PS2 release and so it was perceived as worthless, dead stock and I could've had it for a score - imagine!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stick around long enough to get it and regretted this (although I did bag other goodies.)

Nowadays, when I buy retro consoles from the 80s and 90s, I always go for the US/JPN models because they'll run at 60hz with no borders - unlike their Euro counterparts.

There's a few more retro and current gear to show. Watch this space.

 

[MarkC426]

Thanks!

In a former life, I worked at a well known UK high-street consumer electronics chain

Was this maybe Dixons or Maplin….?

 

[TheShortTimer]

Did this start with a D….?

I suspected that I'd given a significant clue as to the company. It did indeed.

 

[Doq]

At some point I will have a Creative shrine. The perk of this "MP3 player renaissance" as of late is that they've basically been concentrated entirely on iPods-- the street price for an iPod is insane now. These ones came in earlier this week.

The Zen Micro (left) is not the bargain this time; at $55 it's about middle of the road. I did throw a flash mod at it though to put its capacity in line with the horde.

The Zen Vision:M (right) is the bargain. Finding these working is not only rare, but incredibly pricey; Vision:Ms really hold their value as the iPod Video competitor. This one was $40 and the only problem is the battery's cack. A real steal for the last real Zen.

 

[TheShortTimer]

The perk of this "MP3 player renaissance" as of late is that they've basically been concentrated entirely on iPods-- the street price for an iPod is insane now.

How much do you see them going for in the U.S.?

This one was $40 and the only problem is the battery's cack. A real steal for the last real Zen.

Congrats. Is it possible for you to replace the battery?

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I've been looking for a RCA Lyra RD2840 which was my first mp3 player - a very chunky girl by today's standards. Anymore, all I have left of it is the original 40gb pata spinner and would like to have a replacement for my collection. I'm sure one will pop up eventually on ebay.

 

[TheShortTimer]

I'm sure one will pop up eventually on ebay.

Almost everything can be tracked down with enough patience, perseverance and money.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Yeah last one was NIB on eBay. lol not paying 220 for it but I figure a used one will pop up at some point.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Yeah last one was NIB on eBay. lol not paying 220 for it but I figure a used one will pop up at some point.

At that price, I bet it remains in the seller's home!

The 2780 with a 20GB HDD has several listings. Any good?

 

[Doq]

How much do you see them going for in the U.S.?

Refurbs are easily going for triple digits minimum, and even almost original MSRP in some extreme cases; regular pre-owned ones are cheaper but still kinda pricey if you want a repairable or upgradeable model (i.e. not nanos or Touches). I'm glad I bought my 3rd Gen before the boom.

Congrats. Is it possible for you to replace the battery?

Batts are pretty easy to find since they're just standard 3.7V slabs in a certain shape and connector. I already got one on the way

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

At that price, I bet it remains in the seller's home!

The 2780 with a 20GB HDD has several listings. Any good?

Yeah but no. I saw those but am looking specifically for the 2840 form factor. It came in a 20 and 40gb model, so either would work for me. Id likely swap in SSD of some sort either way. Another will come around I'm sure

Who knows, maybe Ill get lucky and spot one next time Im out thrift shopping.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Refurbs are easily going for triple digits minimum, and even almost original MSRP in some extreme cases; regular pre-owned ones are cheaper but still kinda pricey if you want a repairable or upgradeable model (i.e. not nanos or Touches). I'm glad I bought my 3rd Gen before the boom.

The UK prices aren't that bad but they're still much higher than I would've expected for MP3 players! From your experience, have you noticed any differences in sound quality between the Creative and Apple players in your collection?

Batts are pretty easy to find since they're just standard 3.7V slabs in a certain shape and connector. I already got one on the way

Okay, cool!

Who knows, maybe Ill get lucky and spot one next time Im out thrift shopping.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Doq]

From your experience, have you noticed any differences in sound quality between the Creative and Apple players in your collection?

Y'know, I never really thought about it. So I threw some lossless files at them to take a real listen, both with my normal everyday buds (KZ ZSN Pro X) and my proper mixing headphones (Samson SR850) and....

I can't tell. I'm not an audiophile, and I don't even have the right equipment (bodily or technology) to make any claims.

Though, I did notice in silence that the Xtra is noticeably noisier. The bigger (physical) hard drive is most likely the culprit on that-- I can hear it think.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Thank you for trying @Doq.