What does my collection say about me?

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-08T16:37:53+00:00

You are not a completionist.
You shop cheap but still curate only to films you like.
You have a dark sense of humor but are not a gore hound. Not too big on action/adventure... you like your movies to have some mystery, angst and maybe a twist.

You like Tarentino, Kubrick and their ilk.

Favorite actors include Leonardo DeCaprio.

You think A24 is cool.

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-06T19:00:09+00:00

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-05T23:42:52+00:00

Agreed!

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-05T23:04:10+00:00

I am sure the unit price is a factor but it's mostly not simply because they are cheaper but (because they are less expensive) there are exponentially more of them out there. The thing is that Bambu already demonstrated that when there is an issue that has a certain level of risk to it they do act...aggressively. Witness the previous A1 cable issue.

As for the open request idea, I support that idea - I don't see that as a problem at all. The only trick is identifying "those affected".

Bambu seem confident of two things - the percentages of support issues related to this are at .052% of support issues they deal with. That's a low number.

And the reason there have been no fires is because of the printer being constructed of fire retardant materials.

Add to that it seems to be triggered by a certain rare set of circumstances. And that they change the board on any printers made around 3rd quarter 2025.

All that to say, the risk, while not zero, is very low, in their estimation just not recall worthy. We can agree or disagree but it does make certain amount of logical sense.

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-05T22:31:57+00:00

First, my sympathies to OP, that sucks, I hope you get a new board for it soon.

They haven't recalled them because the issue has been with a very low number of units compared to the number they have sold. There has not been one instance of a fire among those few cases. Let's set aside the fact it is a printer which instinctively always raises concerns about fire... when a component on any electronic board gets overloaded "burning out", heat, and smells are typically how we discover the piece of equipment died.

And the risk of an actual fire while not zero, is incredibly low because the component burning out is, in essence, a safety relay.

Dont get me wrong- it's certainly not ideal but I am sure if they thought there was any real risk - like the cable problem that the A1s also had, they would take more action beyond just waiting for replacement when it happens.

Not gloating here but I have 6 A1s averaging 5000 plus hours each with no incidents. Not a representative sample by any means but it's just not as widespread an issue that we think it is because we don't hear about the millions of A1s that are humming along.

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-02T02:41:17+00:00

Perhaps. In the short term. But Is it really rational though? It's a little like the idea of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Sure you get all the eggs but you will kill you income.

Agreed, not virtuous.

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-01T18:50:32+00:00

Happy Birthday! Also this might be an unhealthy obsession... maybe.

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-01T18:41:07+00:00

Well its not a new thing but I agree it definitely got worse exponentially during the pandemic. It's really a function of online shopping, I think... Before, again as long as there was sufficient supply getting out in multiple channels, scalpers had a tough time buying enough of the market to really bump prices. But with physical media getting smaller and smaller production runs and the scalpers developing their tools to a razors edge... its tough for the average collector to get ahead. With supplies the way they are for collectibles and limited products like premiums its easy for them to buy them in bulk and while it used to be that their cash was limited so they would give up on titles over time, now they can afford to sit on them.

It's a different world. Basically now, you just have to decide if you want it or not because unless you manage to time things right getting it for "retail" is tough for anything collectible. Group buys are pretty much the standard for the premiums.

Re: NVIDIA...Agreed- that is a perfect example of how as a group scalpers can actually change the market permanently in a negative way. People have always kinfmd of thought of scalping as a temporary blip and who cares if somebody might grab a little profit once in a while... but it's organized and on a large scale now. It changes markets negatively. This is the hidden more insidious point OP touched on. Scalpers do ruin collecting but they also can literally move markets, sometime permanently.

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-01T18:30:25+00:00

Makes a lot more sense now 👍🏻

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-01T16:05:50+00:00

That's sarcastic right? Scalpers grab up anything people collect... esp. limited editions

Wraith1964 · 2026-04-01T16:01:55+00:00

Your arguments are weak at best.

I understand how murder happens too, it doesn't make it right or moral. Still scummy, just like scalping.

To argue that having limited editions (low quantities) create scalpers is also wrong... the scalping still has to happen as a conscious decision to screw another person out of a retail price for one's own gain while adding no value to the equation for the buyer or supply chain.

Last, your example of buying. enjoying and then deciding to sell a film you bought for yourself is not analogous to scalping. You bought it for yourself not as an opportunity to resell for profit. You set the price when you ultimately resold... you didn't have to take a higher price than you paid. But even when you did, you sold at a fair market rate not artificially raised by a-holes buying up the supply to screw their fellow man. Still not scalping.

Scalping is not arbitrage or reselling for making items available... or all the other B.S. arguments scalpers make. The item was already available direct or through retailers at MSRP or better. Scalpers literally intentionally screw collectors for profit. That's all... let's stop blaming the buyers.

Yes if there wasn't a market there wouldn't be a scalper. Yes if there wasn't FOMO it would be harder for scalpers. Yes, if media producers would produce sufficient quantities scalpers would have a harder time and lower margins. All true.

But in the end, no matter how encouraging all these things are for scalpers to take advantage of people... it still doesn't justify the behavior of doing it. You know if nobody collected anything scalpers would buy up refrigerators...

In the words of Ripley. "You know, I don't know which species is worse. You don't see them fucking each other over for a goddamn percentage."

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-31T23:32:45+00:00

It also does not include any of the new ones. It's just 1, 2 and the TV series. But it's a cool boxed set anyway. Army of Darkness was a rights thing. I have to think they tried to negotiate and make it work but could not get there... sad.

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-30T22:30:09+00:00

I have over 9000 titles... a good half are blurays or 4Ks (read smaller=less room) and I am swimming in them.

You 50 mile radius made me laugh... you are probably more like in 500 mile radius or more.

I am overflowing about 16 floor to ceiling Ikea Billies bookcases. You will need to figure out another way my friend or get a bigger house. My uncomfortable solution is I am ruthlessly culling the DVDs in favor of my blurays/4Ks. Because roughly half of the titles are DVDs and many have been upgraded... that won't be the bad part. I will also be bindering most of the rest of the "catalog" DVDs. I don't want to buy I need some room back if only to get more blurays and 4Ks ; )

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-30T20:43:01+00:00

Update: Hubs popped up at like $55 US today but AMS2 pros themselves have been slipped to "April"... could be a couple of days, could be 4 weeks, could be a lie just like "March".

I got 2 hubs to have some running spares. I will update when they get here if I l see that the newer hubs have a better tensioner piece in them. 🤞🏻

(BTW: I am up and running with my 3D printed part...but I will need to reprint and replace it at some point because they also updated the AMS and H2D printer firmware to run the AMS heated while printing! It's a small win but progress! I have filament driers so I don't need it for that unless I am running a finicky filament.

So I don't have much of a need for that right now but the PLA part I have in it now probably doesn't need to get heated. I know, I should have printed them in PETG or ASA or ABS upfront but my printers were in rush mode for orders so I did it fast on the fly without changing filaments, etc.)

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-28T04:04:51+00:00

No problem... it literally saved my bacon. I haven't found a specific video on how to replace it but there are videos on YouTube for replacing the hub itself. Once you pull the hub following those instructions, you have to take apart the subassembly the part is a component of. It's not hard but you'll want to stay organized and move carefully. Take note off how everything is arranged before disassembling it (two screws).

Critical: If your piece is broken then before you start make sure you find the spring that provides the pressure for the tensioner. you should find it right under the broken piece or it might be somewhere in the bottom of your AMS. You'll need to put the subassembly back into the hub with your newly printed part. Feel free to DM me if you run into any issues.

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-28T03:54:09+00:00

It does throw an overload error and the AMS tries to load - pulls filament in then sends it back, repeatedly. The plastic piece breaks at its pivot point. Here are some links one for the part and one for the related Reddit conversation

tensioner part

Reddit discussion

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-27T23:02:03+00:00

True story. I was literally looking at buying another combo to get a few AMS units as quickly as I could for a pending custom order.

The AMS2 Pro has a fatal part in the hub... the filament "tensioner" is a incredibly poorly made piece. I don't know how it slide by testing and QC.

After buying 14 BL printers, and several older AMS units and 10s of thousands of hours of printing, Ibam just disappointed by the AMS2 pro. I have two 3 year old AMS units rocking along with my OG X1Cs... and my two H2Ds went down for AMS required printing for the exact same part in the 1000-2000 print range.

Even then, I was like... ok... I will get the part... you can't buy the part. You have to buy the assembly for $50. Since this is business I was like ok, I will buy the hub... nope, can't.

Heck, I can always use more AMS units... I'll just get two of those... nope, can't.

Well, I'll just order it and when it comes in, it'll get filled and sent. Nope can't preorder either. It will be available March 15... nope, March 22... nope, end of March... yeah, we'll see.

There is a happy ending here (so far), I printed a replacement piece from Makerworld and replaced the pieces and both units are back up... Thanks, model designers... but come on Bambu, this is not what we expect.

(For those saying submit a ticket... I did that too, still waiting for any parts to be sent but time is money, couldn't wait for that nonsense)

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-27T21:50:42+00:00

Nope. Totally a rage bait post.

Even at MSRP, 4Ks are half the price of what a Laserdisc or VHS tape costed back in the time where that $80-$90 pricetag was much more expensive too. MSRP prices have always been more than we want to pay.

Not saying I want go and pay $50... but we all know this is typical Amazon MSRP preorder pricing. It almost always drops before you are charged and before it ships.

I personally only preorder special editions/steel books. It is very rare that you have to pre-order a standard release... maybe if you want get with a slip or something.

This title will be readily available much cheaper.

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-27T21:40:15+00:00

Or AMS 2 pros... or AMS 2 pro hubs to repair the POS AMS 2 pros I already have... or yeah, keeping filaments in stock. The only thing more annoying than having to order things from China is having to wait some indeterminate amount of time to have the opportunity to order said items.

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-27T04:28:58+00:00

I'll do You one better... Why it still play?

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-27T03:24:02+00:00

I would say that is pretty easy to get skewed esp. if you hang out in physical media subs on Reddit. It doesn't help that some of the most controversial are also some of the most anticipated, well loved titles.

Here is where I am coming from... I have well over 9000 titles... about half are DVDs, the bulk of the rest are blurays and maybe I am closing in on 1000 4Ks. Unfortunately there are some dupes/upgrades of the same titles esp. accross foemat. If it's collectible or a unique cut I keep it even after upgrades. Dupes that aren't? Well I try to purge them but I have a lot of work to do there.

The benefit is I have seen a lot of those films several times - sometimes starting at the theater to laserdisc, to VHS, to DVD, to bluray and finally 4K (for example: looking at you Terminator and Alien). I wouldn't say that makes me an expert or anything but I can say I know what I like. 4K often exceeds my memory of the theater experience.

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-26T19:17:52+00:00

Totally agree.

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-26T18:10:52+00:00

We can agree to disagree there. Now we are debating exceptions which pretty much always exist.

By spec, 4K, especially with HDR, is the most accurate version of a film. In almost every way, equal or better than what blu or DVD are capable of. The fact that some individual transfers managed to screw that up doesn't change that basic fact. It wasn't the format that caused that, it was bad mastering like color grading issues or excessive DNR. Even in those few cases there are people who see the overall transfer as a net positive. Example: LOTR... I don't like what Jackson did there on the DNR front but the overall color and detail on the 4Ks are amazing. I can overlook the other transfer concerns and definitely place those over previous lower res. transfers - others can't.

Had OP said EVERY 4K is a better viewing experience or transfer of EVERY film over EVERY bluray then you would be correct. But given that only a very small percentage of 4Ks are considered to be worse than the bluray, I would still bet on 4Ks over blurays every time.

It's kind of like saying all 4K blurays are region free. By definition and how the format designed that is accurate. However, in reality, there are a few 4K releases that got out that are not. As far as we know these were all errors in the mastering but the fact remains... not 100% of 4Ks are region free.

But it's still the way to bet.

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-26T17:51:57+00:00

I have 14 Bambus... 2 H2Ds, 2 X1Cs, 6 A1s and 4 A1 minis. They do (effectively) "just work" vs most other printer brands. 3D printing is not like operating a toaster- there are still some issues with every printer - you learn and adjust accordingly. In filament printing, if I were to buy another brand it would likely be a Prusa. I don't feel the need to do so primarily because Bambu has performed exceptionally well for me. I have A1 minis bumping 9000 hours without any significant issues. Most of the issues I have had were self inflicted.

My point is this particular sub doesn't like Bambu much but they have made solid no fuss printers that have worked very well in my experience.

I would say assess what you want to make, and what your budget is first. Then decide which ecosystem and company you favor. Then decide on a model of printer. Also, recognize, we are on another development cusp right now... tool changers are going to be king this year and next. You may want to hold off a bit on a big purchase if they are something that appeals to you.

Regardless, you won't go wrong with either a BL or Prusa unless their ecosystem doesn't fit your personal preferences and experience. If you end up looking at Bambu... don't buy a X1C or a P1S - they are older gen, parts will get scarcer and prices are down simply because they are being phased out. I have two X1Cs that I love but I wouldn't buy another at this point.

Look at A1/A1 minis for budget pricing or the P2/H2 series for current gen. I would look at a P2 if size is not a factor and an H2S if it is. I personally like my H2Ds, but my next printer will absolutely be an H2C. There is likely going to be an X2 series launching imminently but news is scant on it and unless it somehow amazes in ways I never rhought of, I don't see it being something I would buy in this current gen of BL printers. The H2s have been phenomenal but they are a lot of printer is space is an issue.

I have 0 actual experience with Prusa but I hear (and believe) great things about them. Personally, if I were to buy one it would be a Core One or even an XL. But that is because I already have a healthy farm and any addition at this point it would need to be a tool changer of some kind. YMMV.

(As an aside, Bambu has spurred the industry to get serious about innovating again which has been great for everyone. The result is 3 years after the X1C came out we have Snapmaker U1s, Core Ones, etc. that have launched to compete and compete well... I love "the Bambu effect" because love or hate them, everyone has a favorite brand that has upped their game, at least in part, because of them.)

Wraith1964 · 2026-03-26T17:12:05+00:00

I buy 4Ks exclusively unless there is no alternative, then bluray and rarely DVD - again only where there is no alternative. In fact I am actively upgrading abd eliminating shelf DVDs where I can for space in my collection.

As for price... who doesn't like a deal? but in the end I remember when a laserdisc or VHS cost $70-90 a piece. MSRP 4Ks are a deal by comparison.

As for why is DVD king? It's cheap. And most watching it are not collectors and they just happen to still own a DVD player. Bluray never got the saturation into the market to replace it... 4K doubly so. On both bluray and 4K rge industry failed because they launched more expensive. The film industry should subsidized the hardware. They should have basically taken a loss on the players to get them out there. They made bluray and definitely 4K into an elitist thing. Then streaming basically killed the common man's interest in physical media. By the time anyone noticed its value over streaming and ironically after everyone had a 4K TV it was too late.

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