Archives for June 3, 2016

Phones as DAPs: 64GB Unlocked ZTE Axon PRO for $300

Some prefer to listen to music using dedicated Digital Audio Players, others prefer to use their smartphones, while other-others a combination of both. If you are interested in “Phones as DAPs”, for a limited time only, the Best Buy eBay store is offering new condition unlocked with no contract requirements 64GB ZTE Axon PRO smartphones for $300 with free shipping. They are available in three different colors.

When price checking and reading reviews, make sure you are looking at the “Axon PRO”, not the “Axon” (not PRO) model. It does not take microSD cards, so keep that in mind. But with 4GB RAM and a Snapdragon 810 processor it should be able to handle even the most demanding Android music and music streaming apps. Another benefit over dedicated DAPs is Bluetooth and NFC. NFC can be very handy if you mix and match different music sources with different headphones/outputs and you don’t like to turn bluetooth on/off all the time to prevent devices for “fighting” over a previously paired connection.

Since it’s an unlocked GSM phone with no contract requirement, you don’t have to use any of the telephone aspects to it, but in the future in case you need a phone or you are in-between phones or providers, it can serve that purpose too.

B&M YMMV: JLabs JBuds Pro Earbuds with mic/remote for $4

This is a YMMV promotion at select Office Depot and Office Max stores (I have no way of checking every store), the colorful JLab JBuds Pro earbuds with a 1-button remote/mic and earfin type thing are on sale for $4 each. They are available in many colors.

The sale is not available on their website where they go for $6. They have over 200 customer reviews at amazon.com where they average 4 out of 5.

JBL Synchros S300 On-Ears (Android cable) for $40 w/free s&h

The weekend sale at NewEgg includes among other things the new condition JBL Synchros S300 on-ear headphones for Android/etc devices in the black/blue color-scheme for $40 with free shipping. No coupon code is needed. These are collapsible, unpowered headphones, and come with a carrying case.

Monoprice Desktop Headphone Amp (Product ID 11567) for $80 with Coupon and Filler Item

The Monoprice Desktop Headphone Amp, Product ID 11567, currently goes for $98.56. It is eligible for the $20 off $100+ coupon code MORE but to use the coupon, your order total must be $100+. To get there, simply add any other combination of items, eg cables, adapters, cases, etc. In this case, I am adding this 3.5mm mobile cable making the total over $101.

Once the total is over $100, then the price drops by $20. The coupon expires Sunday night (6/5/16).

PS: the coupon works on almost everything on their website. For smaller purchases, coupon SOME gets you $5 off a $25+ order. Most items are eligible, but not everything. You can see the Exclusion List by putting the coupon in your shopping cart and then clicking on the “Details” link of the coupon while still in the shopping cart.

Monoprice Stereo Hybrid Tube Amp with Bluetooth (PID 13194) for $130 with coupon

Good until the end of day on Sunday 6/5/16, coupon code MORE gets you $20 off an order of $100+ at the Monoprice website. The coupon includes the Monoprice Stereo Hybrid Tube Amp with Bluetooth, product ID 13194. This goes for $150. Enter the coupon in the shopping cart and it drops to $130.

Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00 Mahogany/Purpleheart for $400 to $450

Fostex the people! Unlocked right now at members-only shopping club Massdrop (which is free to join, everything happens behind a login-wall), their own Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00 Mahogany/Purpleheart headphones are on sale for $400 to $450 with free shipping. The listing is good until 6/24/16. Patience is a virtue however, because the shipment estimate for this is end of September 2016, which is roughly four months from blog-posting date.

M-Audio HDH-50 Studio Headphones for $95

The closed-back over-ear M-Audio HDH-50 headphones are currently offered for $95 at upstart online website Jet.com. When you add the product to the shopping cart and continue through with the checkout process, you will discover that the seller is “NYC Electronics”. I am not familiar with this seller, so I don’t know what’s their reputation.

Jet does not tell you who the seller is before you add something to the shopping cart. Here’s how it looks after you add it to the cart and proceed through with the Checkout process (you don’t have to place an actual order to see it):

maudio_hdh50_jet