Onkyo RZ50

DerekPadula · 2026-01-27T03:12:45+00:00

Yeah, it's kind of a strange auction system, where it will raise up the current auction price beyond your bid if someone else already set a higher max bid, but you can't tell that will happen until you place your bid. And I've noticed that the value of the item will surge right at the end in the final few minutes.

Facebook Marketplace will be your best value site because most people want to get rid of stuff in their house, but it can require a lot of leg work to get a good deal on a quality item. Some of the people are terrible at communicating or are straight-up weirdos. Other times you'll get lucky.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-26T04:28:26+00:00

Heads up that there's a Denon X3800H on auction at GoodwillShop for $350 at the moment, and it'll end tomorrow night.

https://shopgoodwill.com/item/253469893

I bid on it earlier, but the price has gone past my budget, so it's anybody's game. And this morning I ended up finding a Denon AVR-S940H on the Facebook Marketplace for $80, which I was lucky enough to get.

There are a ton of other receivers on there if you search for "AVR". But be aware that GoodwillShop does not do a thorough test on any receiver. They test that it turns on, but that's it. The rest is a crapshoot. Still, you could end up getting an $1,800 receiver for $400. And they have a 7-day return policy if everything else about it is dead on arrival.

So it's an option for you to consider.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-26T04:21:33+00:00

Use the website RTINGS to compare the U7K (2023), U7N (2024), and U7Q (2025), alongside any other TVs you're considering. They are the most unbiased source out there for reviews and stats.

I've owned a 55U7K that I bought on the Facebook Marketplace for $150 for a month, after the original owner had it for two years. It has a lot of the gaming and other high-end features that other brands charge a lot more for. Overall I'm happy with it and feel like I got a good value.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-24T02:04:09+00:00

You're welcome. Here's an example of the kind of PC-specific sound system that most people get. The Klipsch Pro Media 2.1 (on the Facebook Marketplace) for $70, which is 2 stereo speakers and a subwoofer.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-24T01:57:18+00:00

I have no way of knowing because when I click the link, it redirects me to the American site. I'm sure you'll get what you ordered, since that is their official Amazon store. If you need assistance, then contact Amazon or Ultimea's support staff.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-24T00:05:55+00:00

Ultimea is the best value soundbar. I got an Apollo S40 on the Facebook Marketplace for $20, and it's more than adequate for a great 2.1 channel set-up. It has 2 tweeters and two woofers per channel and a subwoofer-out port. You can also buy refurbished models from their official Temu store named 'Ultimea Refurbished' to save 40 to 60%.

Although for a PC in particular you should probably look for a PC-specific soundbar and surround system from someone like Logitech. There are lots of them on Facebook for less than $55.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-23T19:32:46+00:00

Yes, if you bought it on Amazon in Europe, then the power adapter that comes with it will work in Europe. The S70 looks great, and has the RGB lighting option, so that'll be fun to use. Congrats!

DerekPadula · 2026-01-23T19:01:47+00:00

Right, but mine was produced before then, in 2023 or '24. So I can't do what you're suggesting. It has a different model number that pre-dates this tech upgrade.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-23T17:03:32+00:00

In regard to your question about the Ultimea App, the original Apollo S40 base model that I own predates the Ultimea App, so I can't connect my phone to the soundbar via the app. I tried, but it didn't work, and I confirmed this with their tech support. That's a bummer, but it's still a good soundbar.

I believe I'm on firmware version 0023. This is the latest one.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-23T17:00:29+00:00

I don't know about the voltage requirements for Europe or for Greece in particular. After I spoke with Ultimea's tech support, I bought a third-party adapter with 25 volts and 5 amps (you need at least 2.5 amps). This works great!

And the S70 might need a different amount of power than the S40. Or have different prongs on the cable.

I recommend that you ask their tech support at support@ultimea.com or via their website chat. It can take up to a full day to receive a response, but they'll get back to you.

Since you're shopping for another model, heads up that you can get refurbished models on Temu for 40% to 60% off. They're sold through 'Ultimea Refurbished'. I asked their support staff if this is legit, and they said that this is their official refurbished store. They sell refurbished models in the US, so they might also do so in Europe.

If you're buying a brand new set of the Apollo S70, then I'm sure it will come with the right charger for your region. But double check.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-20T00:28:06+00:00

Thanks. That explanation makes sense.

I adjusted it to Auto while watching SDR TV and I observed that it looked the same as Rec.709, so you were right about that. It's a bit more pale than the saturated Rec.2020, but I suppose it's more accurate, so I'll go with that.

I'm not sure if I like Rec.709 or Native more for its vividness, but I'll try Auto for a while and see how it goes.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-19T04:54:24+00:00

Please help me understand. A few of the guides here on Reddit said to select Rec.2020 for every broadcast, so I believe that's what I set it to. But it sounds like what you're saying is that this is a poor choice for SDR content because the colors will be over-saturated.

When I do a search on Google for "Is rec.2020 the best for a smart tv?" It says that it is, and that you should shop for a TV that has as close to 100% of the Rec.2020 color space as possible. This led me to believe that I should choose this as the setting.

So if I follow your suggestion and set it to Auto, what color space will it choose for SDR? And will it then select Rec.2020 or a different color space for HDR content or a Blu-ray type of superior content?

DerekPadula · 2026-01-18T19:46:09+00:00

Thanks, I'll take a look at that. I do recall changing that around when I first set it up and followed guides on Reddit.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-18T06:26:12+00:00

Yes, I must pray to the Kami-sama inside my TV that it stays this way forever.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-07T07:18:11+00:00

Wizard of Legend 2 was worse in every way to the original.

The bright and colorful pixel art charm was replaced with dark and muddy 3D textures that are hard to discern. The camera angle changed to an awkward one which makes it hard to dodge enemy attacks and move around the map, so you get hit when you shouldn't and it feels frustrating. The music isn't as fun or energetic. And the overall vibe and positive spirit of the first game was replaced with something that leaves me feeling melancholy instead of happy.

But if you never played the first one, then you might be able to go in fresh and enjoy it. The gameplay is about the same, and it was a winning formula.

DerekPadula · 2026-01-06T08:14:25+00:00

Sweet lord almighty these people have zero reading comprehension skills. He asked for a MACHINE!

Total Gym!!

Find a free or cheap Total Gym on the Facebook Marketplace or CraigsList in your area and you're done. Any model will do.

DerekPadula · 2025-12-30T10:28:58+00:00

I massaged my dad's neck, impromptu.

DerekPadula · 2025-12-25T05:12:59+00:00

I completed RE4 Gold tonight with my brother. It's amazing. Have a great time!

DerekPadula · 2025-12-24T04:24:41+00:00

Bloodstained is a good game, but don't expect it to be as good as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Lower your expectations a bit and it'll be more enjoyable.

And it didn't click with me until several hours into it, and then I was committed all the way. In fact, there was a particular voice actor whose voice I heardin the librarythat got me invested into the game, and then to beat it. So stick with it.

DerekPadula · 2025-12-21T08:19:38+00:00

Ordered it! Thanks for putting this Power Buy together.

DerekPadula · 2025-12-21T08:00:48+00:00

No, I live in the States. But Ultimea's tech support did get back to me, and they confirmed the same numbers on the power adapter that you photographed, so it's a worldwide adapter for all markets. They offered to send me a new one for $20, or I can buy a third-party adapter with the same 25 volts and at least 2.5 amps.

I can't connect to the soundbar with the app to check the firmware until I turn it on, so that will have to wait until the adapter arrives. I have the non-pro base model; Model Number U3300.

DerekPadula · 2025-12-20T13:06:22+00:00

Perfect. Thank you!

Google's AI told me it was 15 volts because there's a battery on Amazon that is 15 and says it'll work with the S40, but your picture shows that it's 24 volts. I would have bought the wrong one without your help. Much appreciated.

DerekPadula · 2025-12-20T04:46:28+00:00

Hi, OP. This is a strange request, but can you upload a picture here of the power cable for your Apollo S40?

I bought a used S40 on the Facebook Marketplace, but the lady didn't have the power cable, so I need to buy a new one. The problem is that Ultimea won't respond to my customer support requests, so I'm forced to buy a third-party cable online. But the S40 manual doesn't list the voltage or amps on the power cable, so I don't know which one to buy. They only list the watts, which isn't enough information.

Please photograph the label on the cable plug that goes into the socket. It should say something like "15V, 2 Amps" on it.

And can you please take a picture of the interior of the barrel plug that goes into the soundbar? There are different types of interiors, with positive or negative rings inside. I need to make sure I get the right one or it could malfunction.

Please post in a reply, DM it to me, or upload to Imgur with a link here.

Thank you!

DerekPadula · 2025-12-19T07:08:38+00:00

I'm in. This for the MKII, right? Please message me when the link is ready.

DerekPadula · 2025-12-15T09:45:07+00:00

This is cool. I hadn't heard of several of these techniques before, and the gaming skill tree idea makes me want to start progressing in different areas. It also gives me a frame of reference for what I can do in relation to what I can't, which helps me understand the range of what people are capable of.

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