Archives for September 2016

[DEAD] Thursday’s Offers headlined by Sennheiser HD650 and B&W P5

These daily deals expired…

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AKG K553 PRO Closed Over-Ears for $120 [MD]

This is the first (in reverse chronological order that is) of a handful of Massdrop posts today, they are back, the closed-back over-ear AKG K553 PRO headphones are fully unlocked for $120 with free shipping. The offer is running for the next seven days (from blog-posting date), and will ship in mid-October 2016. It comes with a 2-year AKG warranty as MD and AKG have been increasing their co-operation in recent months.

Thinksound ON2 Headphones for $178 [MD]

Another offer at Massdrop got the mid-week bump and it is now fully unlocked, it is wooden earcup time with the Thinksound ON2 Headphones going for $170 plus $8~ flat shipping. The offer has four more days to go (from blog-posting date), and comes with a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer, and will ship in early October 2016. These have detachable cables (two are included).

Now shipping: Bose SoundTrue Wireless (BT) for $150

If you want to be among the first wave to get these, the black color scheme of the Bose SoundSport Wireless (Bluetooth) earphones is now in-stock and ready to ship for $150 with free shipping by Best Buy on eBay (limit 3) and Amazon by Amazon actual (limit 30).

Sentey GS-1401 Universal Black Carrying Case for $7

The Sentey GS-1401 Universal Black Carrying Case is currently down to $7, in new condition, sold by Sentey with the orders fulfilled by Amazon, so they are Prime eligible. Shhh! Don’t tell them, it’s not an Add-On item 🙂 It averages 4 out of 5 based on 570+ customer reviews. Check the pictures, item description, customer reviews and 170+ answered questions to get a feel of what size/shape headphones can fit in this one.

Bose QuietComfort 20 ANC In-Ears drop to $250 at Authorized

Like a choir, the prices at authorized dealers of the Bose QuietComfort 20 in-ears with Active Noise Cancellation have dropped to $250 with free shipping in either the iOS or the Android/Galaxy versions (the OS versions refer to the functionality of the remote control) at authorized dealers such as amazon.com.

DarkVoice 336SE OTL Head-Amp for $233 [MD]

Another offer is now fully unlocked at members-only Massdrop, and it has four days to go (from blog-posting date), it is the DarkVoice 336SE OTL Head-Amp going for $220 plus $13~ flat shipping, with a mid-to-late October 2016 shipping estimate. This is an amp-only (it only has analogue inputs).

Fanmusic E6 IEMs for $38 [MD]

It’s unlocking day it seems at Massdrop, yet another offer is now at its lowest during this promotion, it is the Fanmusic E6 IEMs with mic/remote (1 button) going for $35 plus $3~ flat shipping. They come with multiple eartip sizes and a basic drawstring pouch. Shipment estimate is mid-October 2016 and the offers runs for the next eight days (from blog-posting date, since MD does not post an actual expiration date, only a “X Days Left”).

Grace Design x Massdrop m9XX DAC/Amp for $500

Dave Matthews thinks Grace is Gone, but it is back at Massdrop, another one of their exclusive is back on and fully unlocked, the Grace Design x Massdrop m9XX DAC/Amp going for $500 with free shipping, with seven days left in the offer, with 250 units available for this particular listing. The shipment estimate is mid-October and the listing there has plenty of pictures and specs.

[DEAD] Wednesday’s Offers: BeyerD Custom Street On-Ears, Symphonized, Etc

Wednesday’s offers expired but don’t miss the Thursday 9/22/16 offers headlined by the Sennheiser HD 650 and Bower & Wilkins P5 (wired)…

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Monster DNA Rave On-Ears Limited Edition for $55 w/free S&H

It’s not just audiophile brands that do the “Limited Edition” thing, Monster is on that game too, and their official eBay store is offering the new condition Limited Edition Monster DNA Rave On-Ears for $55 with free shipping with a limit of 50 per customer. They are available in two colors, black/red or red. Over 175 units got sold so far from this offering.

Open-Box Sennheiser Momentum In-Ears for $55

If you don’t want to wait for future discounts on the new condition Sennheiser Momentum In-Ears, at the moment you can get them in open-box condition from authorized dealer VM Innovations for $55 with free shipping from their eBay store or through Amazon Warehouse Deals. This is the iOS version (this refers to the remote functions; audio works with any 3.5mm music source, it’s only how the Volume and Back/Fwd buttons perform that changes with the iOS vs Android buttons).

Harman IE ANC In-Ears for $28 w/free S&H

The official Harman Audio eBay store is offering the new condition Harman IE ANC In-Ears for $28 with free shipping, with a limit of five units per customer. Over 3600 units have been sold so far by this particular eBay listing according to the statistics over there. This has a built-in rechargeable battery, it does not use AA/AAA.

SMSL IDOL+ DAC/Amp for $35 shipped [MD]

The parade of small USB DAC/amps continues with the SMSL IDOL+ DAC/Amp currently going for $32 plus $3~ flat shipping at the members-only (but free to join) shopping website Massdrop. There are seven days left in the offer, it comes with a 1-year warranty from MD (not the manufacturer) and shipments will begin in mid-October 2016.

Creative Sound Blaster X7 DAC/Amp for $320 [MD]

It took a couple of days but the Creative Sound Blaster X7 DAC/amp combo device is now fully unlocked at members-only Massdrop going for $300 plus $20 flat shipping, with five days left in the offer (from blog-posting date). You can optionally upgrade to the Limited Edition for +$100. Shipping estimate is mid October 2016.

[DEAD] Monday’s Offers: MEE Sport-Fi M6, refurb Beats Solo 2, Etc

These daily offerings expired…

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Open Box Sennheiser Urbanite XL for $70

The VM Innovations eBay store has, as of the time of writing, four units available of the closed-back over-ear Sennheiser Urbanite XL in Open-Box Condition with a 1-year warranty for $70 with free shipping. This is the black color scheme with the iOS mic/remote.

Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 On-Ears (Bluetooth, ANC) for $256.50

It looks like a price-match discount of sorts, the new condition Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 On-Ears with Wireless (Bluetooth) and ANC (active noise cancellation) is going for $256.50 with free shipping at Target.com (online only) and Amazon by Amazon actual (limit 5), where it averages 3.8 out of 5 based on 37 customer reviews and has 26 questions answered by customers there.

Used Status Audio HD One for $20+

In the case of the Status Audio HD One folding closed-back over/on-ear headphones, going used gets them to you for less than half the price of new condition. There are available for three colors, and at the lowest condition, used prices start at $20 for “Used – Acceptable” at Amazon Warehouse Deals (AWD). This link shows the lowest price per color.

To see more per color, click on the “See all offers for this product” next to each color-scheme’s name. The lowest “Used – Good” price is $25, the lowest “Used – Very Good” is $30. Some of them are available from AWD actual, others are offered by Status Audio themselves with the orders fulfilled by Amazon, so both options are Prime eligible.

These average 4.4 out of 5 based on 600+ customer reviews. They have detachable cables.

PS: I use the term “Over/On” if I can’t quickly or easily tell deterministically whether a headphone is actually over-ear or on-ear.

Used Creative Aurvana LIVE for $41

The Creative Aurvana LIVE (first generation) go for $51 in new condition, but if you are comfortable with used, you can shave $10 off the price and get it for around $41 in “Used – Very Good” condition (minor cosmetic imperfections, damaged packaging (maybe)) by Amazon Warehouse Deals actual.

The headphones average a 4.4 out of 5 based on 270+ customer reviews, and have a very solid “review intensity ratio” (5-stars vs 1-stars) of 21:1 (63% vs 3%).

CozyPhones Sleep Headphones with Travel Bag for $13

The gray color scheme of the CozyPhones Sleep Headphones with Travel Bag is currently on sale for $13 per, sold by manufacturer with the order fulfilled by Amazon so it is Prime eligible. Unlike the iPhone 7, these have 3.5mm technology 🙂 They average 4.0 out of 5.0 based on nearly 950 customer reviews.

[DEAD] Sunday Offers: Creative Sound Blaster, Headphone Stands, Etc

These offers expired…

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[DEAD] Saturday: JBL Reflect Mini Bluetooth Earbuds (Stephen Curry Edition) for $50

This daily deal expired, just like the Warriors 2016 Championship dreams. OUCH!

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Open-box Fostex TH-610 with full warranty for $529

The Fostex TH-610 goes for $600 in new condition at authorized dealers, but if you want to save some, you can get it for $529 with free shipping in Store Demo condition with the full manufacturer warranty by Razor Dog Audio on eBay. There is only one unit available. Per the listing, this was a store demo with “less than 5 hours used”.

Used Audio-Technica ATH-WS1100iS for $157

The Audio-Technica ATH-WS1100iS currently goes for $230 in new condition at authorized dealers, but if you prefer used, it is available in “Used – Good” condition (cosmetic imperfections, damaged original packaging) for $157~ by Amazon Warehouse Deals actual.

TEAC CT-H02 Closed Over-Ears for $14

If memory serves me well, these are a rebranded Tascam TH-02, it is the white-pink TEAC CT-H02 closed-back over-ear headphones currently going for $14, in new condition, by a marketplace seller with the order fulfilled by Amazon. Free 2-day shipping for Prime or with a $49+ order. They only have five customer reviews, but the Tascam TH-02 have 500+ customer reviews.

Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless drops to $190

The closed-back over-ear Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless headphones have dropped down to $190 with free shipping with a limit of five units per customer at Amazon by Amazon actual where they average 4.4 out of 5 based on nearly 400 customer reviews, and they have almost 200 questions answered by the interweb people. This includes one base/transmitter/stand, and one pair of headphones.

This is NOT bluetooth, and NOT using Kleer technology, but it is RF wireless using Sennheiser’s own technology.

Used Beyerdynamic DT1770 for $385

We have even more Beyerdynamic action, this time it is their DT 1770 PRO studio headphones closed-back over-ear headphones with Tesla 2.0 technology. They go for $600 in new condition at authorized dealers, but as of the time of writing, there are many “Used – Very Good” condition listings for $385 at Amazon Warehouse Deals. Given the many listings, it is possible that price-pressure may build on these and prices will drop further down. They are not a consumer headphone that moves fast, so that increases its chances. But that’s not guarantee because many known and unknown factors seem to decide how Amazon Warehouse Deals prices go up and down.

NOTE: there are some quality control issues with these, eg these 1-Star reviews.

Refurbished Sennheiser HD 219 S for $22 w/free S&H

Sennheiser launched new consumer headphones at IFA 2016 in what used to be the HD 2xx and 4xx line-ups, but if you don’t want to wait or don’t want to pay “latest model” prices, the older closed-back on-ear “HD 219 S” (S for mic/remote) are available in refurbished condition with a 30-day warranty by seller “Ocean Reef Electronics” through Amazon Warehouse Deals. They ship directly from Ocean, so they are not Prime eligible.

Koss PRO 4S Studio Headphones drop to $80

Another Koss discount, this time it is the new condition Koss PRO 4S Studio headphones down to $80~ with free shipping, with a limit of five units per customer at Amazon by Amazon actual where they average 4.6 out of 5 based on just 27 customer reviews. They dual-entry with your choice of left or right.

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

Weekend is coupon time at the Monoprice website, coupon POP is $5 off $25+, and coupon CORN is $20 off $100+. Coupons expire Saturday 9/17/16 at 11:59pm or so.

+ Monoprice Desktop Headphone Amp, Product ID 11567, plus filler item (eg 3.5mm mobile cable) to get the total slightly over $100 and use the coupon, dropping the price to $80~

+ Monoprice Stereo Hybrid Tube Amp with Bluetooth, product ID 13194, for $130

Monoprice Portable USB DAC/amp (15494) for $55 (or Less) with Coupon + S&H

Monoprice recently entered the portable USB DAC/amp game too with their Portable USB DAC/amp, model aka Product ID 15494. The regular price is $60 but until Saturday night (9/17/16), Monoprice has two coupons. If you only want to buy this and nothing else, coupon code POP ($5 off $25+) brings it down to $55. If you are planning a Monoprice order total of $100+, coupon CORN ($20 off $100+) brings it down even further, depending on your order total and how you do the math.

Shipping is not free, and it depends on shipping method and where you are (different options available, they make sure of local/regional services as well as the big ones).

[DEAD] Used Koss ESP-950 Electrostatic Stereophone for $522

As of a 9/17/16 1:21pm ET recheck, the used option at $522 is gone. The lowest price is $800 in new condition by marketplace sellers at Amazon

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Friday’s Offers: APPJ, Jarv, Popclik, Riwbox

There is some mild action scheduled for Friday September 16 in the Amazon Gold Box with these items pre-scheduled:

+ starts 7:15am ET: Riwbox X7 Comfort-Fit In-Ears (price before sale $14)

+ starts 10:15am ET: APPJ PA0901A 6N4+6P14 Mini tube Amplifier (price before sale $190)
+ this is NOT a dedicated headphone amplifier

+ starts 5pm ET: Popclik Evolo Earphones (price before sale $15)

+ starts 5:35pm ET: Jarv NMotion Sport Bluetooth 4.0 Earbuds (price before sale $19)

PS: one could write a short story with the character names being the brand names in this list 🙂

Refurbished Sony XB 600 Extra Bass for $40

I am not becoming certifiably certifiable, the reason you see a string of certified refurbished items is because I am going through the list of 150+ certified refurbished headphones at Amazon, and among them is the Sony XB 600 Extra Bass folding headphones going for $40 by DealFisher thru Amazon, so they are Prime eligible.

They include the original accessories and a 90-day warranty. “Certified Refurbished” appears to be an Amazon term for products that fit certain requirements, a highlighted screenshot of that segment below.

certified_refurbished

As you can see, these can be manufacturer refurbisher or other-party refurbished, as long as they fulfill the above requirements.