Besides Ebay, where else can I buy a Rio Karma?

johnd2442

2009-10-30, 17:09 #1

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Subject: Besides Ebay, where else can I buy a Rio Karma?

Like all of you, I am a Rio Karma enthusiast and lover. Mine is dead and long gone, but I would like to buy another (and maybe 2, who knows). So, I'm wondering, while ebay usually has several listings for Karma players, are there other websites (besides this one), where people are selling Karmas?

Any help would be most appreciated.

obscure co-star 2009-10-30, 19:34 #2

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Mine's an s2G Karma http://system.s2gstore.com/site/RioAudio/index.htm;jsessio…...though they don't seem to be listing Karmas, anymore.

Your question caught me by surprise ---having a Karma now is a bit like driving a Nash Metropolitan-- so I looked in the usual (weird) places I find stuff: No love, anywhere but eBay.

I even came up with one ---from 2004--- on xbox-scene.com [where I happen to also be a Forums member]. (It looks like no-one ever replied to that offer... also, FYI, that site is based in the UK --I think-- so lots of Brits & Aussies there.)

I was a bit surprised, at how many accessories are on Amazon.com ---but they're really just generic ones, that happen to fit/work. Somebody's trying to sell a 5 GB Carbon for $200!!

I did find this: http://reviews.digitaltrends.com/review/774-4/rio-karma-40…, using Google ---but that price is so insane, I'd think it was 5 years old, if it wasn't 40gig.

I have no idea if that listing/price/site is any good, or not. If you sent them $450, I guess you're assuming the price is so high ---they won't just send you a 20 year old Walkman and an foam hand, giving "the bird..."

I don't know quite what to tell you... looks like you need to either be very very patient [or free-spending] on eBay, or give up and go with another player. (You'll find lots of discussion here http://www.riovolution.org/forum/11, of course.

I hope this helps, a bit ----or at least someone else has more/better info.

I have to say, my personal inclination has always been to just become a "Nash Metropolitan mechanic" --for myself. (My scroll wheel is currently "click only," but I'm content to leave it alone, 'till something else goes wrong.)

I've got an extra Karma (bad hard disk) :-)

----which there's no way in hell I'd sell, unless someone else comes out with a really spectacular personal music player/phone/pda/gps/gaming device/remote control.

Tell him about the Twinkie...

johnd2442

2009-10-31, 01:04 #3

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Wow, thank you so much for that thoughtful response!

One thing struck me, and maybe it's because you wrote it near the end. If you have a Karma with a bad hard disk, why wouldn't you sell it? I ask because I also have a Karma with a bad hard disk, and have held onto it for probably 3+ years. I came across it recently and thought about my current mp3 player (Creative Zen Vision) and while I like it well enough, it just simply isn't a Karma which was always so user friendly, especially for adding playlists on the go and deleting songs. And when I came across my Karma, I was very tempted to just get rid of it and sell it, and had been talking to a guy on ebay about that very subject. Apparently this guy repairs Karma's and resells them on ebay.

It seemed like there was a somewhat...dare I say...steady stream of Karma's being sold on ebay? It almost seems like 2-3 at a time are being sold which is really interesting. I was almost thinking of selling my non-working one to someone who repairs them and then just buying 2 functioning ones if I could.

I love the fact that two people on ebay are selling Karmas now with flash drive players which is very attractive, given all of the hard drive issues that I, and so many others, have suffered with. When I came across my Karma, just for fun I did a search on ebay, and saw two flash drive modified Karmas being offered, and that really made me intrigued about getting at least one of these. It's like a best friend that's come back from the dead...albeit in a slightly different (but better?) form!

Thanks again for your post, I appreciate all of the thoughts and links.

obscure co-star 2009-10-31, 08:00 #4

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Subject: Now you've really got me started...

Quote by johnd2442:
Wow, thank you so much for that thoughtful response!

You're Welcome.. I probably check this forum too much, out of gratitude for all the helpful info & other stuff, I find here. (Although not a lot of activity lately, as several regular Posters have moved on ---and or are now in College.)

You would probably had more or more helpful replies, had you not posted on a Friday. Although it's possible that no one here has a good answer. (and likely there just isn't one)

Quote by johnd2442:
One thing struck me, and maybe it's because you wrote it near the end. If you have a Karma with a bad hard disk, why wouldn't you sell it?

Because --sticking to my car analogy--- having become a bit of a hand [although not an authority], at fixing my own if/when it needs it, I'm certainly not giving away my "parts car." It's quite simply worth Way More to Me, than probably to You. I may be good-to-go, for another 5 years, with these two. If I replace my karma, before it's dead & irrepairable, it really will be with a device straight out of Star Trek...

As it is, if something more than scroll breaks on the one I'm using, I have a high probability of having a working Karma again, in just a couple hours. (Although I've also got a Forge, with 2 GB card, so I wouldn't be totally without.)

If this hard disk dies too --I can do the CompactFlash mod, and not have to be scared to death about breaking something [because I really am that accident-prone] irreplaceable.

If I'm totally lucky, I'll find a sweet deal on a small flashed-based (SSD) hard drive [because --except for Rio-- technology is advancing: better, cheaper & smaller; all the time] --before I have any problems at all with this one. (Then I'll have two!!!)

And if my luck is somewhere between Terrific & Terrible, I'll just find 16-32 GB compactflash when/as I need it; as I said --without a major interruption in my Karma use.

If/when I do have a Karma modded with compactflash and a better/smaller battery ---I'll be looking to develope my metal-working skills and replace the body (except for the window for LCD), with 100% 0.03-0.063" aluminum...

I think you'll find there are several of us here, with a "hold-out" Karma, just in case.

Frankly, I never even really considered myself an "audiophile." --Although I definetely hear differences, between different sound set-ups (and audio compression levels) and will fool with settings to get things "right."

I bought Rio because I hate all the "proprietary use" garbage the MicroSoft, Apple, and others will pull, when/if they sell you a product. :nuts:

I wanted Ogg Vorbis (the free-use, open-source Codec) ---so the Karma was really the only way to go, especially for the $180 I spent on it (it was a couple months after Rio went out, as a company).

I'd offer to sell you a Forge --but that would be pretty insulting.

I wish you all the best of luck. I hope you'll continue to read and post here.

Tell him about the Twinkie...

This post was edited on 2009-10-31, 08:12 by obscure co-star.

obscure co-star 2009-10-31, 08:57 #5

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Subject: One thing I forgot

I was thinking all along, but didn't mention it...

You might try posting a "Wanted" Ad(s), in your local Craigslist. [And also others close-by, if you are lucky enough to have them available. Hopefully, you've already searched them, for ones people might be selling.] You'd be relying quite a bit on luck, but it's better than nothing.

I've only gotten involved in my local Craigslist [that's craigslist.org, then you select the nearest community, in your area], since summer... It falls quite a bit short of eBay in the ability to search for stuff across the country, but it is an alternative. (I've been stunned, the last couple months, how many people are giving away old CRT console TVs ---just because of the digital transition & new flat-screen products.)

If nothing else, Amazon did have a couple used Carbons listed, for less than that $200 one. One of those might tide you over well enough... I've never even listened to one, myself. ---But this is Riovolution.org, not Karma-only-forums.

I found another listing --from a site I've never heard of, before (& so, could be dodgy): http://www.topdjgear.com/riokadimupl2.html

I also found a 3rd possible, but I won't give that one, as "Web of Trust" gives it a Poor rating & and the stupid page won't even load enough to let me see what they're selling or what price...

If you are truly desperate, I guess you could start cruising pawn shops in your area. (Although I've seen some in Florida, that really are frightening places...)

I should probably have mentioned, in my last post: I don't even have a dock for my Karma. Every time I think to check pricing on one, it looks to be going for twice what I'd be willing to pay...

Tell him about the Twinkie...

This post was edited on 2009-10-31, 09:01 by obscure co-star.

johnd2442

2009-10-31, 11:42 #6

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In reply to post #4

Quote by obscure co-star:
You're Welcome.. I probably check this forum too much, out of gratitude for all the helpful info & other stuff, I find here. (Although not a lot of activity lately, as several regular Posters have moved on ---and or are now in College.)

You would probably had more or more helpful replies, had you not posted on a Friday. Although it's possible that no one here has a good answer. (and likely there just isn't one)

again, another really interesting post which i thank you for. i found myself nodding throughout because i agreed with pretty much everything even including posting on a friday, but i also think, like you, that there is no good answer here. the available karmas that are either fixable or that people are willing to sell are dwindling slow but sure.

i wish i knew how to fix them, or even had an interest in learning, but i'm not really sure that i do because i am just not savvy in a handy way with a soldering iron unfortunately. i know i'd do a lot more harm than good.

a guy, that is mentioned on these forums, is selling karmas with a compact flash hard drive on ebay which is something i will inevitably probably purchase.

and you know, i used to visit this forum back a few years ago, when it looked differently. i think it had a dark gray background and had a picture of a rio karma on the upper left if i recall correctly. that was when i still had a karma, or was really sad that mine broke down and was looking out of nostalgia. eventually i stopped checking the forum since i got another mp3 player that wasn't/isn't nearly as good.

but what you wrote about having a "hold out" karma just in case is a terrific idea. i was even thinking of buying a compact flash karma from this guy, and having him try to fix the one that i do have now for that very same purpose. have one in reserve just in case one breaks down...which hopefully would never happen, but better safe than sorry. if you wait a few more years, who knows then how many available karmas will be in circulation?

johnd2442

2009-10-31, 11:45 #7

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In reply to post #5

Quote by obscure co-star:
I was thinking all along, but didn't mention it...

You might try posting a "Wanted" Ad(s), in your local Craigslist. [And also others close-by, if you are lucky enough to have them available. Hopefully, you've already searched them, for ones people might be selling.] You'd be relying quite a bit on luck, but it's better than nothing.

I've only gotten involved in my local Craigslist [that's craigslist.org, then you select the nearest community, in your area], since summer... It falls quite a bit short of eBay in the ability to search for stuff across the country, but it is an alternative. (I've been stunned, the last couple months, how many people are giving away old CRT console TVs ---just because of the digital transition & new flat-screen products.)

If nothing else, Amazon did have a couple used Carbons listed, for less than that $200 one. One of those might tide you over well enough... I've never even listened to one, myself. ---But this is Riovolution.org, not Karma-only-forums.

I found another listing --from a site I've never heard of, before (& so, could be dodgy): http://www.topdjgear.com/riokadimupl2.html

thank you for the follow-up post as well. i checked out the link in your post, and $350 for a karma! i love the karma so much, but $350 is out of my price range. now if i could get my current karma with the infamous clicking hard drive fixed AND a refurbished karma with a flash drive for $350, now that is something i'd be willing to do.

craigslist is a good idea as well as pawn shops. hey, you never know! i will check out the carbon though. i've always been a size hog and love the 20+ gb storage, but if a carbon is anywhere near as good, it might be worth it to try it out.

thank you again for the friendly and helpful suggestions. it is really interesting and enjoyable to read others' posts on here that have such a great passion for the karma player and do anything they can do to salvage these players. hopefully some people who used to make these great players check this forum out and have a sense of pride at the great players that they made.

obscure co-star 2009-10-31, 19:58 #8

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Glad to be of --some--help, though I can't say that I feel like I've had much useful info... one of the other regulars may get check back and be more knowledgeable, on Monday.

I should also point out that I've spent a considerable amount of time repairing computers and at different times --pneumatic tools. I'm not MS certified, or anything. It's mostly about recognizing what's repairable, what's junked, and what you can break resting a finger on. Sometimes, it's just seeing what's physically broken, or out of place. (Being able to actually get things apart, is also a huge plus.)

I'm pleased to hear we're somewhat copacetic, on the Karma. In my Dark moments, I sometimes wonder if I'm a world-class crack-pot & generally cranky guy. I tend to be pretty verbose, because I try to think things through, and I'm not gifted at summarizing.

This site is totally user supported/maintained, where Riovolution.com was at least related to the out-of-business Company, Rio. (Apparently, it's "powered" by Kittens ---as you'll have seen on the menu page.)

I used that site only a little [it's how I found this one], but a bunch of members here were regulars there, too.

I'm much tighter with my cash than a lot of the Posters here. (I have this paranoid nightmare, about gadgets costing hundreds of dollars, that co-incidentally happen to fit --a little too easily-- in a toilet bowl...) People make a big deal about the iPod Touch or video. They just seem like just a Massively over-priced toys --with a gimic, to me.

Keep in mind that the Carbon is actually a newer model, which --for some reason-- doesn't have Ogg Vorbis support, either.

Members here have probably been unknowingly competing in eBay auctions, for years. I got my backup [dirt cheap], with 7 Forges ---the condition of the whole pile was listed "not working, some wear, no idea what's wrong, as-is."

I bought my working one from s2G, because I was bidder #1 on an eBay auction, where I thought the "Buy it Now" price was too high... Then, with like 6 hours left, I was out-bid by bidder #2 (happens to me, a lot) ---and a couple days later, the same seller used the same description on a "Buy it now" only listing. (That one didn't sell, either.) The price he couldn't get, I gave s2G, and got the same thing --without dock-- but with a 6 month warranty... (and I still think of that Seller of abuse on eBay)

I love the eBay auction process, as a bidder --but there are too many people there who think their stuff is worth a lot more than what a simple, honest auction sometimes brings. That's Free Market Capitalism, as far as I'm concerned. (it's beautiful!)

Tell him about the Twinkie...

John30_06 2009-11-01, 08:55 #9

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What obscure co-star said. Ebay rocks. You can find very good karma's there for about $100 and often less, which is very reasonable. The guy who mainly does refurbs and upgrades, rdm777, is quite reliable. There's a couple of real good ones right now ( no affil), one ending today.

I recently put a Pioneer headunit in my car with RCA out IP-BUS cable to get the full stereo output from a docked car karma. The jukebox she go anywhere from my pocket to my car to my vintage home stereo- it's great.

Hey hey, my my
rio karma(s) will never die.

johnd2442

2009-12-17, 20:15 #10

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Quote by John30_06 on 2009-11-01, 08:55:
What obscure co-star said. Ebay rocks. You can find very good karma's there for about $100 and often less, which is very reasonable. The guy who mainly does refurbs and upgrades, rdm777, is quite reliable.

Wanted to thank you for this post and to also focus on rdm777. I *just* got my repaired Karma from David today and it is working absolutely beautifully.

I also wanted to say that through the process, he was incredibly great at communication and was willing to answer every single question that I had. I am actually thinking of buying yet another Karma from him soon just to stash one away. But I may make an independent post of this thread to recommend buying a refurbished Karma from David/rdm777 because I couldn't be more pleased with his work and his customer service.

sai 2009-12-18, 11:34 #11

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Wow rdvm777 is still going? That's awesome. Once I re-visited his ebay account and was sad to see he had no listings up and seemed to had stopped. Guess he was just on a hiatus. Maybe I should consider getting a backup Karma just incase while he's still around. If you make that post I will write on it too. I bought a refurbished Karma from him back in January 2007 after my first karma broke. Its now nearly 2 years later and works perfectly (I also treat it a bit like gold though and keep it in its protective pouch all the time and never leave it on the dock if its fully charged). Very happy customer.

johnd2442

2009-12-19, 13:27 #12

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Quote by sai on 2009-12-18, 11:34:
Wow rdvm777 is still going? That's awesome. Once I re-visited his ebay account and was sad to see he had no listings up and seemed to had stopped. Guess he was just on a hiatus. Maybe I should consider getting a backup Karma just incase while he's still around. If you make that post I will write on it too. I bought a refurbished Karma from him back in January 2007 after my first karma broke. Its now nearly 2 years later and works perfectly (I also treat it a bit like gold though and keep it in its protective pouch all the time and never leave it on the dock if its fully charged). Very happy customer.

sai - you may be right; he may have been on hiatus. i have read that karma parts or dwindling and he may have also been waiting for more batteries - things like that.

and like you, i plan to treat my "new" karma that has had life breathed back into it, thankfully, like gold. and i definitely want to get a protective pouch pronto. i can only hope that two years from now, my repaired karma will be working perfectly.

sai 2009-12-20, 02:59 #13

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The bag I use is Lowepro D-pods 20. Got it for £7.50 back in 2007.

[Image: http://digitalbestbuys.com.au/images/lowepro_d_pods_20.jpg]

Fits snugly and strap is removable. I saw it on http://karmalimbo.com which has a few pics of the Karma with the pouch on its homepage. And a comment from them:

http://www.riovolution.org/post/9874

Like karmalimbo I also tried the technohm case when they were selling on eBay but I ended up using that to lay to rest my old broken karma and using this one for carrying around. There may be other pouches these days.

johnd2442

2010-01-01, 23:42 #14

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sai, thanks for the replies here. since you own both pouches, is the lowepro pouch better than the technohm one? i'd really appreciate your input.

sai 2010-01-02, 03:49 #15

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Well the Lowepro is certainly softer and more padded. Its a nice snug fit with as KarmaLimbo said a little bit of space at top enough to fit curled up earplugs. And its basically a pouch so it covers the whole thing. The strap is removable so I removed mine. To switch it on/off I don't bother to slide it out, just press the button at the top and away we go. The stretchy fabric means I can do basic stuff like adjust volume etc. whilst in the pouch. If I think I'm going to be using controls more (e.g. doing a lot of searching etc.) I just slide it out halfway to as far as the toggle stick. Most the time I'm content to just start something off like a Rio DJ mix or playlist and let it play with just occassionally skipping to the next song. So having exposed controls as in the Technohm wasn't such a big thing for me. When I use it its usually in the front of my bag or in my pocket where there might be other things like pens and such that might jar against the player and harm it. So I like to keep it in the pouch as much as possible for protection so the soft padding is a bigger plus to me for that reason.

The plus about the Technohm is that it leaves the controls exposed like the stick/buttons so you can still use it whilst its in the protective case. Its basically hard leather and I don't remember as much soft padding so its kind of a different type of protection. Its a good protective case that allows you to still use the player. You could always get a pouch as well for when you're not using it. It does bulk up the size of it some more though so you would need a much bigger pouch than the Lowepro. When I got them both I tried the Technohm first then tried to fit it and the Karma into the Lowepro, found it didn't fit and went with just the Lowepro instead and as said decided to just lay my dead karma to rest in it but that's me. You can check the thread I linked to for more votes for the Technohm. I didn't use it for very long.

Also this is from the Accessories FAQ:

Where can I find a suitable case for my Karma?
The official "case" for the Karma was a felt pouch. While it was great for earbuds, pocket change, or very small rocks, it wasn't much of a case for an expensive DAP. The following are third-party cases suggested by users of this forum:

    * For those of you with lots of money to burn, check out the fancy custom cases from Vaja Cases

    * Mindknob custom playthrough case designed and sold by Karma owner and Riovolutionary jbp641

    * Technohm playthrough case

    * Tunebelt armband carrier

    * A.L.S. GSP1 GameBoy Carrying Case

    * A.L.S. GSP5 GameBoy Carrying Case

    * A.L.S. NGC1 GameCube Game Case

    * Caselogic MPC2

    * Caselogic MDC2 (may not be found in U.S.)

    * Fellowes Body Glove MP3/Tune Sports Belt (Model #75550) with attached neoprene belt

    * Fellowes Body Glove MP3/Tune Sports Pouch (Model #75551) with belt-clip

    * Sony MD Armband Case

    * Nyko SafeCase SP (available at GameStop)

Good luck with your purchase.

This post was edited 2 times, last on 2010-01-02, 03:59 by sai.