Not a lot of dedicated books are out there about headphone-related matters, but if you are interested in reading about the story of Schiit Audio (the company), directly from its two co-founders, their 383-page e-book “Schiit Happened: The Story of the World’s Most Improbable Start-Up” is on sale for $3.82 for the Amazon Kindle.
Archives for March 2017
AUDEZE iSINE 10 In-Ears + iFi nano iDSD Light Edition for $349
If you had been waiting for a deal to get the new Audeze iSine 10 planar in-ears, wait no more! For a limited time, authorized dealer Adorama is bundling the AUDEZE iSINE 10 In-Ears WITH the iFi nano iDSD Light Edition, TOGETHER going for $349 with free shipping. This is the same price as the iSine10 on their own.
The iFi goes for $129 on its own, so it’s like getting it for free. If you don’t want the iFi, you can always trade it with local or internet friends or sell it or gift it. Amps don’t go in the ears, so more people are willing to buy them from peers 🙂
AUDEZE iSINE 10 In-Ears (Lightning) + iFi nano iDSD Light Edition for $399
The second of the iSine + iFi bundles is for Lightning music source fans. It is the iSine 10 planar in-ears with both Lightning and standard cables included, bundled with the iFi nano iDSD Light Edition, together going for $400 with free shipping at Adorama. The iSine 10 goes for that on its own, so it’s like you are getting the iFi for free.
Fiio M3 DAP for $50 w/free S&H [armband for $8 + S&H]
The underground popularity of audiophile-priced DAPs is also having an undercurrent of increasing some of the options for the double-figure DAPs. Case in point, the blue color scheme of the Fiio M3 DAP is on sale, in new condition, for $50 with free shipping at Adorama.com… While there, they have the Fiio armband for the M3 player for $8 plus shipping (starts at $3.75).
The M3 has 8GB on-board storage plus a microSD slot for additional music storage. It plays the usual lossy formats (MP3, OGG, WMA, some M4As), along with lossless APE (16/48), FLAC (24/48) and WAV (24/96). The numbers in parenthesis are bits and kHz.
Philips SHE-8500 earphones for $9
Back to the single figures we go now, the new condition Philips SHE-8500 in the red or blue color-schemes are on sale for $9 at Amazon by Amazon actual. Limit up to three units per color per customer. Free 2-day shipping for Prime members (they are not an add-on item). Free shipping with a $35+ order fro non-members.
Audeze EL-8 Titanium Closed Over-Ear Planars (with 24-bit Cipher Lightning Cable) + iFi micro iDSD Black Label Edition for $900
Another Audeze and iFi bundle, their bundling alliance is strong! The AUDEZE EL-8 Titanium Planar-Magnetic Closed-back Over-Ears (with Lightning cable included) are bundled with the iFi micro iDSD Black Label Edition, both new condition, for $900 with free shipping at authorized dealer Adorama.com. This is a limited time but recurring offer.
PS: the EL-8 Titanium comes with their 24-bit Cipher Lightning cable. The “regular” EL-8 do not come with a Lightning cable.
Refurbished JBL S300i or S300a Closed On-Ears w/full warranty for $40 with free S&H
White color headphones can look nice but they also absorb stains like no other. It can be a plus if you want to “life decorate” your headphones, a combination of coffee, tea, wild blueberries and beets will definitely make them a head-turner 🙂
But if you like the white color scheme, you are in luck! The new condition JBL Synchros S300 with the Apple remote buttons are available in new condition for $39 with free shipping by a variety of sellers fulfilled by Amazon (Prime eligible). “HiDEF Lifestyle” is the most recognizable of the lot (a real world B&M A/V store).
If you prefer other color and OS combinations, the official Harman Audio and JBL websites (they have the same content with different styling and domain names) have a factory reconditioned section that does not show up in the search-results when you use the search-box on their web store. The headphones offered there come with the original warranty and offer a 30-day return guarantee.
The current headliners among the refurbished headphones there are the JBL Synchros S300A (Android buttons) and S300i (iPhone buttons) closed-back on-ears offered for $40 with free ground shipping. They are available in multiple colors each. There is a limit of five units per order, but I don’t know if the limit is per color or per OS or overall. They have a detachable cable, so you can repurpose the cable with other headphones (assuming it fits – I haven’t seen these in person so I don’t know how their cable connects).
Since you get the original warranty, certified by the manufacturer and free shipping, the thrifty way to go is with the factory reconditioned.
Blue-Ever-Blue IEM grab-bag for $27 shipped [MD]
If you don’t get the after-purchase blues when you buy grab-bag offers or monthly “loot” subscriptions, then Massdrop it is, they have a new Blue-Ever-Blue (the brand name) IEM grab-bag offer, fully unlocked. You pay $24 plus $2 flat shipping, and for that, you receive, by random choice/chance, one of eight BEB IEMs, from the 388 to the 1200EX. About half of the participants will get the 388 or the 833. Limit two grab-bags per customer.
Offer runs for the next seven days from today (= blog-posting date) or earlier if the 1250 units available for this promotion are depleted. They are estimated to ship in late April from Massdrop directly.
Audeze LCD-2 (Shedua) and iFi micro iDSD for $995
Another Audio Odyssey offer 🙂 It’s bundle time again, the Audeze LCD-2 planar magnetics (Shedua wood) is bundled with the iFi micro iDSD Black label edition, together going for $995 with free shipping for a limited time at authorized dealers Adorama.com. This is a limited time offer. No coupon/rebate needed.
[DEAD] 2pk Xuma Zipper HIZ73 earphones for $20 w/free S&H
This daily deal expired…
[DEAD] 1More Triple Driver IEMs (Titanium) for $86 [limit 3]
This sale ended…
Samsung Earpods for $3 with free S&H [limit 2]
These cost just a bit more than a cup of coffee at Starbucks! The new condition Samsung earpods (model EHS64AVFWE) are on sale for $3 with free shipping by Tech Rabbit’s eBay store. An online doorbuster. Limit two per customer. Over 1600 units got sold in the last 24 hours per the listing there.
These are more earpods than earbuds, in that there is a speaker-y protrusion as opposed to the flat earbud and the canal insertion of an in-ear. They even come with a mic/remote. Let the price set expectations as they say 🙂
Audeze LCD-3 Planars + iFi PRO iCan amp for $2300
Two months after the last time we spotted this promotion, and it is back. It is a combo deal, the iFi PRO iCAN amp is bundled with the Audeze LCD-3 planar magnetic headphones (zebrano and leather), together for $2300 with free shipping at authorized dealer Adorama.com. This is a limited time offer but some of their Audeze specials are recurring every few weeks/months.
AKG K181 DJ UE On-ears for $63 [MD] or $69 [Now]
It’s good to have choices! If you are interested in the closed-back on-ear “AKG K181 DJ UE” DJ headphones, they are offered on Massdrop for $55 plus $8~ flat shipping. The offer runs for the next seven days and will begin shipping in early April 2017. So that’s not a long of a wait.
But if you want the wait to be almost minimal, especially if you are a Prime member, a couple of marketplace sellers offer it for $69 with free shipping (and Prime eligible) at Amazon.
These headphones earn their DJ moniker with a Mono/Stereo option, along with a Bass Boost physical switch, detachable cable, folding earcups, etc.
FLC Technology FLC8S IEMs for $284
More unlocked offers at the members-only website Massdrop, it is the new condition FLC Technology FLC8S IEMs going for $270 plus $4~ flat shipping. This is available in either black or red color scheme. It will ship around Tax Day 2017, and the offer runs for the next seven days from blog-posting date.
In comparison, this goes for $355~ right now by a couple of marketplace sellers at Amazonia that are Prime eligible. So patience is a $70 virtue 🙂
Sennheiser HD700 flattens to $400
Squeezed between the 6-series and the 8-series, the HD700 is often not given as much attention but it too has its fans. Plenty is written about the 6/7/8 Sennheiser line-up online, so if you have a few months to spare, you can read it all 🙂
Which brings us to a flattening of the HD700 price, it is now going for $400 with free shipping, in new condition, at Amazon by Amazon actual with a limit of up to three units per customer.
NOTE: when price-checking this and the HD800* models at Amazon, pay attention on who the actual sellers are. A lot of un-authorized and fairly unknown sellers offer them for less. Be sure to understand all the risks and trade-offs involved before buying from one of those un-authorized and un-known sellers,
AmazonBasics In-Ears for $5
On the budget side of things, if you like curving earphones, there is a sale on the various color schemes of the AmazonBasics In-Ears at the Amazon website. The blue goes for $5.13 and the black for $5.32 and if you are a Prime member you get free 2-day shipping even if you buy just one pair and nothing else. Meanwhile the pink color-scheme goes for $5.07 BUT it is an Add-On item, so you have the $25+ limit to clear. These have a 1-button remote and mic, and a shirt-clip and extra eargels. They average 3.8 out of 5 based on 310 customer reviews.
NOTE: various models with and without a remote/mic are on the same page. If you start switching between the different colors make sure you are looking at the “Headphones with Mic” option. How exactly it looks depends on your web browser window/viewport size. Here’s one “view”:
Sony MDR-ZX220-BT On-Ears for $58
If you are a fan of the Sony ZX-series and Bluetooth, their new model, the MDR-ZX220-BT/B (= black color scheme) is on sale in new condition for $58 with free shipping at B&H Photo and Amazon by Amazon actual (limit three per customer) where it currently averages 4.2 out of 5 based on 34 customer reviews and has over 20 questions answered.
Astell & Kern AK Jr DAP for $269
The Astell & Kern AK Jr DAP with 64GB on-board storage is on sale for $269 with free expedited shipping at B&H Photo and $279 by “ProStudio Sound & Music” with the order fulfilled by Amazon.
Koss ESP-950 electrostatics for $643 [was $600]
This looks like it could be a computer-generated price-match of a marketplace seller, so I don’t know how long it may last. Anyway, the new condition KOSS ESP-950 electrostatic headphone system is (headphones with dedicated amp) are on sale for $643 [WAS $600] with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon actual. You can buy as many as you like.
UPDATE: used prices start at $471 in “Used – Very Good” condition by Amazon Warehouse Deals actual.
Prices updated here 3/23/17 PM
Jaybird X2 bluetooth earphones for $72
The Jaybird X3 bluetooth earphone is the “latest model” that occasionally goes on sale for $100, but if you don’t want to wait for a sale or if you prefer the previous generation, the new condition Jaybird X2 bluetooth earphones are on sale for the very specific price of $71.68 at Amazon by Amazon actual in the “Storm White” (almost Storm Trooper) color scheme. You can buy as many as you like. This is not a lightning deal.
NuForce BE6 bluetooth in-ears for $75
The new condition NuFORCE B6 bluetooth in-ears, in the gold color scheme, are currently on sale for $75~ with free shipping by Woot, with the orders fulfilled by Amazon, so you get free 2-day Prime shipping if a member. This is an “organic sale”, not a lightning deal.
FiiO Kunlun E18 Portable DAC/amp for $105
If of all the old and new Fiio DAC and Amp and DAP options it is the new condition FiiO Kunlun E18 Portable DAC/amp combo the one you want, it is currently on a closeout sale for $105 with free shipping by Adorama directly, or if you have Amazon gift cards to spend, by Adorama thru Amazon (not Prime eligible).
Speaking of Adorama, this is part of their Overstock Sale (220+ options).
AKG K545 closed-back over-ears for $93 to $96
The new condition AKG K545 closed-back over-ears are currently on sale for $93~ with free shipping in the white color scheme and $96~ in the black color scheme. Woot is the seller of record, with the order fulfilled by Amazon, so if you are a Prime member, you get free 2-day shipping. This is an organic sale, not part of the daily/lightning deals. The other two colors are not available. They average 3.9 out of 5 based on 65 customer reviews.
Beyerdynamic A20 Headphone Amp for $299
The new condition Beyerdynamic A20 Headphone Amp is currently going for $299 as a closeout sale at Adorama.com. You have to click on the blue “PRICE” button to see the sale price.
Beats Solo 3 for $180 (Rose Gold) or $195 (Black)
Headphone prices are not stock prices, but the $220 resistance for the new Beats Solo 3 has collapsed! You can now get the new condition rose gold Beats Solo 3 for $180 with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon actual with a limit of three units per customer during this sale.
Meanwhile the more conventional color, the black color scheme is now down to $195 with free shipping, also limit three per customer.
Both of the above are sold and shipped by Amazon itself. These are closed-back bluetooth (Class 1) on-ears, the first wave of Beats under the Apple UFO.
[DEAD] Monoprice M560 Planars + Tube Head Amp drop to $250
As of 3/24/17 re-check, the price returned to $300…
[DEAD] Tuesday: two Maximo earbuds for $8
This meh Meh daily deal expired 🙂
Westone Bluetooth Cable AND Shure SE-215 for $200
If you want both the Westone Bluetooth Cable (powered Bluetooth 4.0 cable, goes for $150 on its own) AND the Shure SE-215 in-ears (go for $100 on their own), you can get them bundled together for $200 with free expedited shipping at B&H Photo in two of the SE-215 color bundles, the Clear color scheme or the Black color scheme.
Speaking of Westone, their UM3X 3-Way Universal Fit In-Ears continue to be on sale for $250 with free shipping.
Sony NWE395 16GB Walkman MP3 Player for $78
The new condition Sony NWE395 mp3-player, part of their good old “Mouse Ears design”, with 16GB of on-board storage, is on sale for $78 with free shipping in the red or black color scheme at Amazon by Amazon actual. Limit up to three per color per customer. These do not have a microSD slot, so if you need more than 16GB of music, this is not it. They don’t have “smartphone features” either.
HeadAmp Pico Slim for $208, DAC/amp for $258 [MD]
Massdrop kinda needs to improve the way they show multiple different products on the same listing as it can get confusing, and confusing typically means fewer sales 🙂 Anyway, in a new offer, running for the next seven days or so (from blog-posting date), two Headamp products are offered and they are currently unlocked. The Pico Slim headphone-amp goes for $200, while the combo DAC/amp goes for $250. Shipping is $8 flat. They are expected to ship around Tax Day 2017.
PS: due to time constraints, there isn’t a new This Week in Headphoolia round-up this week. It will be back next Sunday covering the last two weeks.
[DEAD] Monday: Monoprice M560 Planar Headphones AND Stereo Tube Headphone Amp (PID 16154) for $188 After Coupon AND $50+ filler items
This semi-recurring coupon expired…
[DEAD] Monday: HyperX Cloud Pro Gaming Headset for $64 [limit 2]
This daily deal expired…
[DEAD] Monday: Sennheiser HD 558 Open Over-Ears for $70
The daily deal at $70 ended, it is back at its “new normal” price of $80…
[DEAD] Monday: refurbished Bohm ANC Bluetooth Over-Ears for $50
This daily deal ended but it is a recurring offer…
Recent Comments