Archives for July 2015

Monoprice 8323 Closed-Back Over Ear for $18 with free shipping (limit 5) [also: 8320 Bassy In-Ears for $5 w/free s&h]

A new Monoprice limited time sale includes their all-star closed-back over-ear moddable with detachable cable Monoprice 8323 headphones for $18 with free shipping for all, with a limit of five per customer. They average around 88% with 1200+ customer reviews there and 4.2 out of 5 with 780+ customer reviews at amazon.

In parallel, Monoprice has their Monoprice 8320 Enhanced Bass In-Ears for $5 with free shipping with a limit of five per customer. These average around 80% with 760+ customer reviews there and 3.8 out of 5 based on 1300+ customer reviews at amazon.

Since Monoprice rarely offers free shipping on their website, and they have them on sale at the same time, this is a good opportunity to scoop them up. If nothing else, for $18, the Monoprice 8323 gives you a frame of reference when participating or reading various forum discussions.

Used Schiit Vali for $106

The Schiit Audio Vali small headphone amplifier is currently available in “Used – Very Good” condition for $106 or “Used – Like New” condition for $113~ by Amazon Warehouse Deals. The new condition price by Schiit directly is $120 plus shipping. You get free shipping at Amazon, but you pay for it at Schiit. Currently Schiit’s own new condition prices at their Amazon store are higher than their own direct website.

Used iBasso DX90 DAP for $338

The iBasso DX90 digital audio player is currently available in “Used – Very Good” condition for around $338 by Amazon Warehouse Deals. The shopping cart says there’s only one used left as of the time of writing. It averages 4.7 out of 5 based on 85 customer reviews.

Open box Sennheiser Momentum Over-Ears (first gen) for $120

The first generation of the closed-back over-ear Sennheiser Momentums, in either the black or the brown color schemes are offered in Open-Box condition for $120 with free shipping, with a limit of five per buyer by VM Innovations on eBay. The listing says they are an authorized dealer and these come with a 3-month manufacturer warranty plus an extra 9-month warranty from the seller (VM Innovations).

Westone Adventure Series Beta In-Ears for $40

On the eBay front, Beach Camera’s eBay store is offering the new condition Westone Adventure Series Beta High Performance Earphones, model 78401, for $40 with free shipping with a limit of five per customer. Over 460 units got sold from this offer so far.

Sennheiser HD 558 for $100 (limit 5)

The middle of the trio of the Sennheiser HD 5xx open-back over-ear series, the HD 558 is back on sale again, going for $100 with free shipping, with a limit of up to five per customer at Amazon by amazon actual where it averages 4.5 out of 5 based on nearly 600 customer reviews. Currently the HD 518 goes for $80, while the HD 598 with its unusual looks goes for $150. Many consider this series a good introductory open-back audiophile-on-a-budget type of a headphone option.

July 12-18: 20% off entry-level Philips headphones

At Staples brick and mortar stores, for the week of July 12-18, they are having a 20% off sale on Philips headphones and earphones. They typically carry entry-level models, so don’t get too excited, there won’t be any X1 or X2. The price range shown in the Weekly Ad is for regular prices ranging from $10 to $50. So definitely not X1/X2. They probably have mostly earphones with occasional over/on-ear or bluetooth, but this may vary by store and region.

philips_staples

Massdrop: Audio Technica M50x for $127

The Audio Technica M50x (black) were at their all time low a few days ago, going for $100 for a limited time (since then, it expired) at Adorama. If you missed that, or if you have Massdrop coupons or credit, they have returned there, fully unlocked for $120 plus $7 flat shipping, with six days left (as of the time of writing).

Monster DNA On-Ears (carbon fiber black) for $87

A parallel offer of sorts also among the latest eBay specials. Brookstone’s eBay Store is offering the new condition Monster DNA On-Ears (carbon fiber black) for $87 with free shipping with a limit of five per customer.

Beats Solo HD Drenched Blue On-Ears for $100

If of all the Beats on-ears out there it is the blue Drenched On-Ears the ones you want, in new condition, they are currently a featured eBay special going for $100 with free shipping with a limit of three per buyer by Target on eBay. This is a previous model, not to be confused with the Solo2 that went on the IF Wall of Fame and created an crisis of faith and identity among some audiophile groups 🙂

Used Creative Sound Blaster E1 portable head-amp for $27

The Creative Sound Blaster E1 portable headphone amp is currently available in ample supply from the looks for it in “Used – Very Good” condition for around $27 by Amazon Warehouse Deals. As of the time of writing, there are three (!) pages of listings, with the last page showing “Used – Like New” condition options for $28.55… This averages 3.9 out of 5 based on 190+ customer reviews over there.

Used Fiio E17K for $110

The Fiio E17K USB DAC/amp is currently available in “Used – Like New” condition with the description stating “store display in original box” for $110 with free shipping by seller “All About Office” (99%, 8324 ratings) through Amazon Warehouse Deals. It ships directly from the seller so it is not eligible for Prime shipping benefits.

Massdrop: B&W P7, DACmini, C3 DAP, T1-E, etc

Five more offers were added to members-only (but free for anyone to sign-up for) Massdrop. As of the time of writing, they have 6-7 days to go, and none of them is fully unlocked (= lowest price possible during this particular offering). They are:

  • Bowers & Wilkins P7 Headphones as low as $350 shipped
  • Soundmagic P30S Portable On-Ears as low as $42.55 shipped
  • TTPOD T1-E IEMs (or dentist ornaments) as low as $30 shipped
  • CEntrance DACmini CX Amp/DAC as low as $400 shipped
  • Colorfly C3 DAP (TI PCM1770, microSD) as low as $82.55 shipped

[DEAD] Wedn: Free A-Audio In-Ears with Legacy Over-Ears for $300

This daily deal expired…
[Read more…]

[DEAD] Ends Wedn 4pm ET: refurbished Plantronics Backbeat Go 2 for $40

This lightning deal sold-out at $40 before the 4 hours expired…

[Read more…]

JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Headphones for $119

On the bluetooth earphones front, the JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Headphones, in the storm white color scheme, is currently on sale for $119 with free shipping at Amazon actual where it averages 3.8 out of 5 with over 4400 customer reviews.

The $116 Best Buy offer expired… by Best Buy on eBay (limit 10)

Harman Kardon Soho II Active Noise Canceling In-Ears for $35 w/free s&h

If you need a low priced pair of active noise cancelling earphones and don’t want to spend Bose QC money and are comfortable with the compromises in both areas, among the latest eBay Deals, eBay seller Shopdivvy (99.1%) is offering the new condition Harman Kardon Soho II Active Noise Canceling In-Ears for $35 with free shipping, with a limit of five per customer. Over 5500 units got sold so far from this particular eBay listing.

Massdrop: CEntrance DACport DAC/Amp could go $153 shipped

With the mobile phone/tablet explosion, a similar mobile DAC/amp explosion happened. Another one of these was added to Massdrop, the CEntrance DACport DAC/Amp could go as low as $153 shipped. It has about seven days from today to get fully unlocked. On the studio front, with 9 days to go, the Technical Pro Boom and Mic Bundle is fully unlocked for $78 shipped. A number of the previously mentioned items are fully unlocked, but I am only posting each Massdrop offer once. You can find them all at their website if you are interested 🙂

Used iFi Nano iDSD USB DAC/Amp for $216~

The portable iFi Nano iDSD USB DAC/Amp (USB or orange digital input; RCA or headphone out) is currently available in “Used – Very Good” condition for around $216~ by Amazon Warehouse Deals. It averages 4.4 out of 5 based on 27 customer reviews.

Used Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 for $150~

If you are comfortable with used headphones, the black color scheme of the relatively recent Audio Technica ATH-MSR7 (BK = black) is available in “Used – Very Good” condition (damaged original packaging) for $150~ (was $157~) by Amazon Warehouse Deals. The new condition price is $250. Only one listing is there, so it may (or may not) last long.

Koss SP540 Over-Ears for $120 (limit 5)

If you are not in a hurry to receive them (they are currently “temporarily out of stock” but you can order them and lock up the sale price), the Koss SP540 over-ears are currently on sale for around $120 with free shipping, with a limit of five per customer, in the frustration free packaging (not the commercial annoying packaging) at Amazon.com by amazon actual. They average 4.6 out of 5 based on 55 customer reviews. If you listen with your nose open, you may be able to smell their dairy air(e) 😉

UPDATE (7/7/15): the standard packaging is now in-stock for $120…

Used V-Moda M80 On-Ears for $50

The V-Moda M80 on-ears go for $80 in new condition, but if you are comfortable with used, you can get them in “Used – Very Good” condition in the Shadow color scheme for around $50~ (was $55) by Amazon Warehouse Deals.

ASUS Xonar DG for $16 after $10 mail-in rebate

July 2015 is here and among the many other things, the new month brings us a new $10 mail-in rebate form for the ASUS Xonar DG headphone-amp PC card. As usual, the rebate form is just for this month (July 1-31). Next month, a new rebate form will come out. The price is fairly stable. It is $26~ before mail-in rebate, $16 after the $10 MIR. Limit two per customer. Other ASUS cards are also eligible, but the $26 DG has the bang for the buck reputation. It averages 4.1 out of 5 based on 600+ customer reviews.

Fully unlocked at Massdrop: xDuoo TA-01, Calyx PaT, Havi B3 Pro

Never a dull moment at members-only but free-to-join Massdrop. The latest offers added there three items that are fully unlocked (translation: the lowest price possible during this offer). They expire in about 4-5 days from blog-posting date (not the day you are reading this). They are (with prices below including shipping but not taxes since I can’t calculate those for every State):

  • Havi B3 Pro IEMs for $50 with free shipping
  • xDuoo TA-01 DAC/Amp (RCA red/white) for $135 shipped
  • the lady in red, the Calyx Audio PaT DAC/Headphone Amp (USB) for $90 shipped
  • Keep in mind, Massdrop products take a while to ship, so if you need them for a vacation or special occasion, do the math and play it safe

10 pack of Sennheiser HD 449 for $365.50

If you like to buy headphones Costco-style like socks and toilet paper, you can get a 10 pack of Sennheiser HD 449 closed-back over-ear headphones for $365.50 with free shipping by Focus Camera on eBay. The listings twice correctly says these are closed-back but once it inaccurately calls them open back. This promotion brings then down to $36.50 per pair. They go for $48 when you buy them one by one at amazon.com where they average 4.2 out of 5 with over 200 customer reviews.

Sennheiser HD 700 for $500 {ends 7/11/15}

As part of a semi annual sale at NewEgg, Focus Camera on NewEgg is offering the new condition Sennheiser HD 700 for $500 with free shipping and 10x more NewEgg points than usual. The offers end by the end of day on 7/11/15 or earlier if they sell out. This price is only at NewEgg. Even Focus’s own store has it for $550.

[DEAD] Used Audio-Technica ATH-T300 Over-Ears for $5

As of a 7/9/15 recheck, one lucky shopper scooped this up at $5, and it is no longer available as used…
[Read more…]

Open box HRT MicroStreamer for $135

More portable action, the HRT MicroStreamer is currently available in open-box “Used – Like New” condition for $135 with free shipping by authorized dealer OneCall thru Amazon Warehouse Deals. OneCall is the online persona of the Huppin’s brick and mortar from the state of Washington. This averages 4.4 out of 5 based on 47 customer reviews.

Open box AudioQuest DragonFly V1.2 USB DAC for $125

If you prefer used DACs, the portable AudioQuest DragonFly V1.2 USB DAC is currently available in “Used – Like New” open-box with full warranty condition for $125 wtih free shipping by Gramophone thru Amazon Warehouse Deals. This ships from Gramophone (99%, 514 ratings), so it is not eligible for Prime 2-day shipping.

TASCAM TH02-B for $17.69

The bang for the buck, black, closed-back, TASCAM TH02-B studio-ish headphones are back on sale again, going for $17.69 with no purchase quantity limits at Amazon.com. If you are not a Prime member, marketplace sellers have the same price with free shipping. These average 4.2 out of 5 based on 320+ customer reviews.

[DEAD] Street by 50Cent On-Ears (Wired) for $65

This promotion ended…
[Read more…]

[DEAD] Audio Technica M50x for $100 (black or white)

This limited time sale expired…
[Read more…]

Now shipping: Apogee Groove portable DAC/amp

The brand new portable small Apogee Groove USB DAC and amp combo is now in-stock and ready to get shipped to you for $295 by Adorama and amazon.com. This takes USB 2.0 audio input and outputs 3.5mm for headphones. This is built in the USA per the product description over there.

Beats Solo 2 On-Ears for $140

Beats are on the perpetual Wall of Shame according to some audiophile circles, but when IF put the Solo 2 on the Wall of Fame, there was a confusion-quake among those circles. Which brings us to a Beats sale at the Staples website that includes various colors of the Beats Solo 2 On-Ears for $140 per pair. This appears to be an online only offer but you can have them ship it to a local Staples store as well (but you can’t pick it up from available in-stock inventory).

Massdrop: Shure SE215 for $86 shipped

If you don’t mind waiting (estimated ship date is mid-July), the Shure SE 215 in-ears, in the black color scheme, are fully unlocked for $80 plus $6~ flat shipping. These, and the other offers mentioned in this post end in about 6-7 days from blog-posting date (not from the date you are reading this). The rest are not fully unlocked as of the time of writing:

  • Sony MDR-XB920/B as low as $128 shipped
  • Shure SRH440 as low as $84 shipped
  • SMSL VMV VA-2 High-Low amp for $98~ shipped
  • QLS QA360 DAP for $470 shipped