Archives for April 2015

Astell & Kern AK120 DAP for $800

The audiophile level Astell & Kern AK120 digital music player is currently down to $800 with free shipping at Amazon.com (by ProStudio and Beach Camera) and BuyDig.com.

Fully Unlocked at Massdrop: Fostex HP-A4 and TTPod and Firestone

Three new offers are up and running at members site Massdrop (free to join), all with five days left (from blog-posting date, not from the day you are reading this), and all three are fully unlocked, which means they have reached the lowest price possible under this particular Massdrop offer. They are:

  • Fostex HP-A4 DAC/Headphone Amp for $308~ shipped
  • TTPODs T1-E IEMs for $30 shipped
  • Firestone Audio Headphone Stand for $40 shipped
  • I cannot calculate sales tax since there are many states and countries

Used Sennheiser IE800 in-ears for $484 (was $511)

The Sennheiser IE 800 in-ears are currently available in “Used – Good” condition (damaged packaging, missing manual, blemished accessories) for $484 (was $511~) by Amazon Warehouse Deals… Price updated 5/3/15…

Monster Inspiration Active Noise Cancelling for $85

The official Monster store on eBay is offering new condition Monster Inspiration Active Noise Cancelling over-ear headphones for $85 with free shipping. There are five different color schemes to pick from. Limit five per buyer.

[DEAD] Used AKG K550 for $108

As of 5/5/15, the used price has gotten closer to the new condition price…
[Read more…]

Beyerdynamic DT 990 (250 ohm) Pro + AT AT2020USB USB mic for $200 after $40 MIR

For a limited time, you can get a bundle consisting of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 (250 ohm) Pro open-back over-ear headphones and the Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone for $200 after a $40 mail-in rebate (MIR). Limit one rebate per customer. Rebate offer ends 5/5/15. Details and PDF of the mail-in rebate at Adorama.com.

Samson SR850 Studio for $40

The Samson SR850 studio headphones (related to the Superluxes) are currently on sale for $40 with free shipping per pair, with no purchase quantity limits, at Amazon.com by Amazon actual. They average 4.4 out of 5 based on 110+ customer reviews and have 14 questions answered by other shoppers over there… Price updated 5/3/15…

Used Audio Technica ATH-M10 for $22

If of the various Audio Technica ATH-Mxx series headphones it is the M10 you are interested in, they are available in “Used – Very Good” condition for $22.05 by K&M Camera fulfilled by Amazon.com.

Used Samson HP10 Over-Ears for $3.45

If you are looking for headphones to experiment on or keep in the car and such, the Samson HP10 over-ears headphones (which also go by other brand names by the looks of it, they remind me of some of the Nady headphones included with some music keyboards) are available in “Used – Like New” condition for $3.45 (was $4.23) by Amazon Warehouse Deals. Prime membership gets them to you with free 2-day shipping. Non-Primes get free S&H with a qualifying order of $35+. They average 3.4 out of 5 based on 38 customer reviews… Price updated 5/3/15…

New at Massdrop: Fidelio L1, Titan 1, Cypher C6

Three new offers are up at Massdrop (members only). As of the time of writing, none of them are fully unlocked:

+ Philips Fidelio L1 as low as $115 shipped
+ Dunu Titan 1 IEMs as low as $98 shipped
+ Cypher Labs C6iem as low as $453 shipped
+ expire in 5-7 days from blog-posting date

[DEAD] Keeps Dropping: Used Soundmagic HP150 for $101 (was $124)

As of 4/29/15 at 9:50pm ET, the used options sold out at Amazon Warehouse Deals
[Read more…]

[DEAD] JBL J55a Android On-Ears for $20 w/free S&H

This limited time offer expired…
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[DEAD] Thursday: Beats Tour 2.0 In-Ears for $95

This daily Woot offer ended…
[Read more…]

Wedn: Skullcandy Uprock On-Ears for $10

The Best Buy’s website’s deal of the day for Wednesday April 29 in 2015 is a sale on the Skullcandy Up-Rock On-Ears offered for $10 per pair, in three different color schemes. Free store pick-up. Free shipping with a qualifying order of $35+.

Able Planet SH190 On-Ears for $10

The Staples website is turning into a headphones store 😉 They have another featured discount, the Able Planet SH190 Travelers’ Choice On-Ear headphones are currently on sale for $10 per pair, with four different color schemes to pick from. These are new condition. They are on sale at the Staples website with the usual options (free ship-to-store, store pick up (if available!), and ship to your home).

Unlike previous Able Planet headphones, these seem to be faring better in reviews (they don’t have ANC), with 22 of them in, they average 4.2 out of 5 at amazon.com where a close inspection of the pictures shows they may be at least Lannister cousins to the AmazonBasics On-Ears.

Audio-Technica ATH-WS55BK On-Ear for $40

Staples appears to have scored a recurring discount on the black Audio-Technica ATH-WS55BK on-ears, they are back down to $40 at the Staples website. You get them shipped to your home (Staples Rewards members get free shipping on everything), or to your local store (Free) or pick it up from a local store (check inventory first!!!).

These average 4.3 out of 5 based on 70 customer reviews over at amazon.com.

Massdrop: Samson SR450, BeyerD DX160, SoundMagic MP21

The action continues at members-only Massdrop, three more items were added, expiring in 7 days from today (blog-posting date) with none of them fully unlocked as of the time of writing:

+ Beyerdynamic DX 160 iE in-ears for $92 shipped
+ SoundMAGIC MP21 IEM in-ears for $22.55 shipped
+ Samson SR450 On-Ears as low as $27 shipped (goes for $30 at amazon.com)
+ for future updates, please check their website – I cannot “babysit” individual “drops”

[DEAD] Wednesday Lightning Offers: Outdoor Tech, iKross, and Beats

These lightning deals expired…
[Read more…]

Apple Earpods for $10 (non-retail pkg)

If you are curious about the Apple earpods but don’t want to pay shiny-box prices, among the latest eBay offers, you can get the Apple Earpods (MD827LL/A) (from the iPhone 5/5S era) for $10 with free shipping, with a limit of five per buyer, by MobilePros1 (97.4%) on eBay. These are new condition but not in a retail packaging. The eBay listing stresses repeatedly that these are genuine original OEM models.

Pioneer SE-MJ532-K On-Ears for $20

These basic Pioneer SE-MJ532-K on-ear closed-back headphones are currently on sale for $20 with free shipping by a marketplace seller “audio video sales guy” through amazon.com. These ship from the seller so they don’t qualify for free 2-day shipping. They average 4.2 out of 5 based on 20 customer reviews over there.

Earjax Lyrics In-Ears for $35 w/free S&H

The Earjax Lyrics in-ears, by BodyGuardz, are on sale for a limited time for $35 with free shipping at Stacksocial.com, with a limit of three per customer during this promotion. They come with different kinds and sizes of eartips, along with zipped case, a 3ft extension cable, and a shirt clip.

Used BeoPlay H6 Over-Ears for $245 (was $258)

The new condition stylish BeoPlay H6 over-ears go for $400 in new condition, but if you are comfortable with used, you can get them as low as $245 (was $258) in the black color scheme, in “Used – Very Good” condition by Amazon Warehouse Deals. They are available in five different color schemes. The rest go for more in used condition. They average 4.4 out of 5 based on 70+ customer reviews… Price updated here 4/28/15…

Used Sennheiser HD 218i On-Ears for $21

The closed-back on-ear Sennheiser HD 218i headphones, with the Apple MFi 3-button remote and mic, is currently available in “Used – Good” condition for around $21 by Amazon Warehouse Deals. These average 4 out of 5 based on 50+ customer reviews.

Used Sennheiser RS 170 Wireless (kleer) for $104

Sennheiser has a new generation of RS-series headphones, but if you cool with the previous generation and used condition, the RS 170 (one pair of headphones plus transmitter stand/base) are available in “Used – Very Good” condition (damaged packaging) for $104~ by Amazon Warehouse Deals. These are RF Wireless (not bluetooth) and use Kleer technology.

Massdrop: Creative Sound Blaster E3 for $92.55

Also fully unlocked at Massdrop, with seven days left (from blog-posting date) is the new condition Creative Sound Blaster E3 portable DAC/amp going for $90 plus $2.55 flat shipping. This is the lowest price during this offer.

Massdrop: AKG K553 Pro Studio for $120

It is back, the Massdrop-exclusive AKG K553 Pro Studio headphone is on sale again over there for $120 with free shipping. This is the lowest price during this offer (fully unlocked) and it ends in about seven days from today (today being blog-posting date). This is a closed-back model, with a maximum of 675 units to be sold through this offer (as of the time of writing, 290 were purchased).

Used MEelectronics AirFi Venture (Bluetooth) for $25

More brand name bluetooths under $30. The MEElectronics Air-Fi Venture over-ears are available in “Used – Very Good” condition for around $25 by Amazon Warehouse Deals. Free 2-day shipping for Prime members. These average 4.2 out of 5 based on 280+ customer reviews. They also have a 3.5mm input for wired input. It has a built-in rechargeable battery, and folds flat. It is model HP-AF52-BK-MEE.

Massdrop: DACmini CX fully unlocked for $400

A new round of offers is up at members-only Massdrop, the ones mentioned below end in 4-6 days from blog-posting date:

+ CEntrance DACmini CX Amp/DAC fully unlocked for $400
+ Fostex TE-05 in-ears as low as $125
+ Fostex TH500RP over-ears as low as $560
+ Colorfly C4 DAP + DAC + amp as low as $508

[DEAD] Audio Technica ATH-OX5 On-Ears for $65 + S&H

This daily deal expired…
[Read more…]

Free Fiio E6 and Zalman Mic1 with ATH-M40x for $100

The Audio ATH-M40x with the Fiio E6 head-amp and the Zalman Zm-Mic1 mic is bundled together for$100 with free shipping by Firemall fulfilled by Amazon, so it is eligible for free 2-day Prime shipping (for members).

The price of the M50xBL bundle jumped up to $200 as of 4/27/15… The Audio Technica ATH-M50xBL is offered in a bundle with the tiny Fiio E6 head-amp and the Zalman Zm-Mic1 mic for $160 with free shipping, by Firemall fulfilled by Amazon, so it is eligible for free 2-day Prime shipping (for members). The other colors of the M50x are similarly bundled, but they go for $10 to $30 more.

Used V-Moda XS On-Ears for $115

The white-silver color scheme of the V-Moda XS On-Ears is currently available in “Used – Good” condition for $115~ and “Used – Very Good” for $122 by Amazon Warehouse Deals. If you prefer the black color scheme, it’s available in “Used – Acceptable” condition for $118~ and “Used – Good” for $127~, and “Used – Very Good” for $135. Keep in mind, prices and quantities change over time.

Used V-Moda M80 On-Ears for $48

The V-Moda M80 on-ears are currently offered for $48 in “Used – Very Good” condition by Amazon Warehouse Deals. There are multiple listings at this price, so price pressure may (or may not) build up over time. They also go for $51 in “Used – Like New” condition.

Used Sony MDR-Z7 for $462

The Sony MDR-Z7 closed-back 70mm driver audiophile headphones are currently offered in “Used – Very Good” condition for around $462 by Amazon Warehouse Deals. Make sure you check the actual sellers offering them. A couple of lesser known sellers have them for around $450. AWD’s own price is currently $462, but keep in mind, used prices and quantities change often-er (new word!). These go for $700 in new condition at authorized Sony dealers.

Used RCA WHP141B 900MHZ (RF Wireless) for $18~

If you are looking for a utilitarian RF-wireless pair of headphones, the RCA WHP141B (900MHZ) are available in “Used – Like New” condition for under $18 by Amazon Warehouse Deals. They average 3.5 out of 5 based on 1700+ customer reviews.

Unlocked at Massdrop: trio of DAC/amps, stand, and Jaybirds

Let’s take a look at some of the recently launched offers at the members-only Massdrop website during the last week. I am breaking them down by Fully Unlocked (which means they reached the lowest price possible over there) and the rest (haven’t yet, there’s no guarantee they will). The offers mentioned below expire in 3-5 days from blog-posting date:

Fully Unlocked
+ JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth earbuds for $115 shipped
+ Topping NX1 Headphone Amp for $36 shipped
+ TCG U-SKIN Portable DAC/Amp for $73 shipped
+ xDuoo TA-01 DAC/Amp for $135 shipped
+ Just Mobile HeadStand for $41 shipped

Not Unlocked (Yet?)
+ Fostex TH500RP could go as low as $560 shipped
+ Mousai MSD192 DAC could go as low as $300 shipped