Archives for April 13, 2017

CEntrance DACport Slim for $100 [MD]

It is back on again, the CEntrance DACport Slim portable little USB DAC/amp is fully unlocked at members-only Massdrop for $100 with free shipping. The offer runs for the next seven days from today (today being blog-posting date) and will ship late April 2017. This too is an “all sales final” type of a promotion.

Amazon Prime Store Card: 10% back on select Musical Instruments (includes 36 headphones)

If you have an Amazon Prime Store credit card (not to be confused with the Chase VISA card), you earn 5% cashback on Amazon purchases. For a limited time until 5/1/17, you will earn an additional 5% cashback, for a total of 10% back on your statement when you purchase select Musical Instruments gear, which includes 36 headphones (the last row that says “Featured headphones”).

A number of well-known studio-type headphones are eligible, including the Sony V6, AKG, KRK, DT-series, Pioneer, Shure, Fostex, etc. Headphone prices are all over the place in terms of competitiveness, so if you are not familiar with a particular headphone’s price, price-check first before buying.

NuForce uDAC-3 DAC/Amp for $70 [MD]

Another offer has blossomed (okay, enough with the spring analogies) ~ it is fully unlocked at members-only (but free to join) shopping club Massdrop, it is the new condition NuForce uDAC-3 DAC/Amp going for $70 with free shipping. The offer runs for the next seven days and will ship from Massdrop around mid-May 2017. All sales are final on this offer too, so keep that mind when shopping at Massdrop. That’s one of the reasons they can offer lower prices as everything factors in the cost of doing business.

Monoprice Tube Amp with Bluetooth 15W Compact Stereo Hybrid for $65 w/FS after coupon

Speaking of Monoprice, their Tube Amp with Bluetooth 15-watt Compact Stereo Hybrid, PID 16152, can be yours for $65 with free standard US shipping when you use coupon code 15TUBE over there. This is a limited time offer but I do not know when it expires. This is not a headphone-amp.

Panasonic drops360° RP-HJX5-A for $13

The new condition Panasonic RP-HJX5-A earphones, part of the drops360 line, in the metallic-blue color scheme, is currently on sale for $13 each at Amazon by Amazon actual. The other two colors go for around $20. They average 3.9 out of 5 based on 50+ customer reviews and they are marketed as “Powerful Bass”.

Kinera BD005 IEM for $20 + S&H [MD]

More Chi-Fi action at Massdrop’s, the Kinera (not to be confused with the Game Of Thrones Red Priestess Kinvara) is fully unlocked for $20 plus shipping. The offer runs for the next seven days and will ship mid-May 2017. It will ship from Massdrop. It comes in three colors, the pictured R’hllor-approved Red, along with Blue or Gray. This is another hybrid design, one dynamic and one balance armature (not balanced armchair) driver.

Used Focal Elear Open Over-Ears for $819

The open-back over-ear Focal Elear go for $1000 in new condition at authorized dealers, but if you are comfortable buying them used, they are available in “Used – Like New” condition for $819 with free shipping by marketplace seller “Audio Fanatic” (100%, 81 ratings) through Amazon Warehouse Deals. They are not Prime eligible.

PS: ignore the “Just Launched” sellers with the ridiculous low prices and the “email us before buying”. They are harvesting data and worse.

Sony MDR-XB950 AP Extra Bass for $59

Good until Friday, the new condition closed-back over-ear Sony MDR-XB950AP/H Extra Bass in the gray color scheme is on sale for $59 with free shipping by Focus Camera through NewEgg Flash.

PS: this is the wired-only version. The Bluetooth version has a BT appended to its model name, it is MDR-XB950-BT. Plus the bluetooth is available in black, blue or red, not gray. The Bluetooth version has a newer version even, the MDR-XB950-B1 which goes for its honeymoon era price of $198.

[DEAD] Beats Studio Wireless Over-Ears (BT and ANC) for $210

This daily deal expired…

PS: this market segment (over-ears with bluetooth and ANC) continues to increase in popularity (to the chagrin of some audiophiles) and it is heavily contested as a nice profit margin segment in the $200+ price range, with Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, V-Moda, B&W, B&O, and many more vying for earfection. Ear affection that is, although on re-reading this new made-up-word, it sounds more like an infection ~ which the dissenting audiophiles will agree with 🙂

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[DEAD] Symphonized MTRX 2.0 Wood In-Ears for $20

This expired but different Symphonized wood-y earphones are offered in the lightning deals almost daily…

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