Archives for January 2018

Xiaomi Mi IV Hybrid In-Ears for $16 w/free S&H [from China]

They are the Xiaomi Pistons, not the Detroit Pistons! GearBest is having a flash on the silver color scheme of the Original Xiaomi Mi IV Hybrid Dual Driver for $16 with free slow shipping from China. You can upgrade shipping to faster or with tracking for additional fees. Earphones are fairly small, so shipping upgrades are not bad if you want/need them.

GearBest is the only seller on their website (unlike big marketplaces like Alibaba where many sellers offer products), so you don’t have to worry about the reliability of random sellers.

These currently go for $26 Prime-shipped sold by Amazon actual

Two Sonos One Speakers for $350 [for Two Rooms]

Sonos is running a two-pack bundle at some of its authorized dealers. You get two Sonos ONE speakers for $350 with free shipping at OneCall (Huppin’s) which offers various color options, including two of the same color or one of each color. A variety of sellers also has this price at Amazon. One speaker, one room is the Sonos way, these are not traditional speakers that come in pairs.

Phones as DAPs: LG V30 (Unlocked, USA Warranty) for $675; LG G6+ Prime Ads (128GB, Quad DAC too) for $500

From the “Phones as DAPs” department, especially if you are looking to get both a new phone and a new DAP, the new condition, factory unlocked, with USA warranty LG V30 is currently on sale for $675 with free shipping in the cloud silver color scheme at B&H Photo. You can also get a second year of warranty by registering the product online with LG.

Considering all the specs of this model, it can be used as a DAP long after it may be considered too old to be your main phone. The Quad DAC, 64GB onboard and microSD, Snapdragon 835, 4GB RAM, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 18:9 (easier playlist management), 802.11ac, NFC, FM radio, IP68, Qi charging, are more than good enough to handle music streaming apps for many years to come.

LG G6+ for $500 with Prime Lockscreen Ads
If you want a Quad DAC, but prefer a slightly smaller screen and slightly smaller price, Amazon is offering the Prime exclusive LG G6+ for $500. You will get Amazon Lockscreen Offers and Ads, which is why you pay a lower price. The G6+ model has the quad DAC in the US version, with 128GB on-board storage, microSD, 4GB RAM, Snapdragon 821, 18:9 screen, IP68, and so forth.

I haven’t used any of Amazon’s “Lockscreen Ads” phones/tablets, so I don’t know how annoying or helpful they can be [helpful if you are an Amazon bargain hunter]. The ads on the Kindle e-book readers are not annoying and occasionally useful [in finding deals], but e-ink screens limit the type of advertising, while smartphones have a lot more [annoying] ads options 🙂

Seller Refurbished LG V20 for $210
If you want an even better price, the LG V20 is offered seller refurbished for $210 with free shipping by eBay seller “Guarantee Cellular” (96.3%, Brooklyn) is Titan or Silver color schemes. This is a higher risk purchase, but they offer a 30 day guarantee. Still if you hate the idea of having to return something, you may want to avoid this. Over 480 units have been sold from this listing so far.

Sennheiser HD 579 Open Over-Ears for $113 [limit 3]

The middle of the three new open-back headphones in the Sennheiser HD 5** line is the HD 579, and this headphone is currently on sale for $113~ with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon actual with up to three pairs per customer at the sale price. This is not a lightning deal, so expiration time is unknown. They average 4.4 out of 5 based on 61 customer reviews and have 24 answered questions.

Fiio E10K USB DAC/amp + AK iRiver ICP-AT1000 IEMs for $80

The Fiio E10K USB DAC/amp goes for $76 in new condition at various authorized Fiio Dealers such as Adorama and various at Amazon but for $4 more, you can get it bundled with Astell&Kern (iRiver) ICP-AT1000 earphones, sold in this bundle by seller “ProStudio Sound & Music” with the orders Fulfilled by Amazon, so you get Prime shipping, and Amazon customer service and support.

Samson SR850 Semi-Open Over-Ears for $33 w/free S&H

According to a blog search here, this went as low as $25 shipped, but if you don’t want to wait for a future sale, the new condition Samson SR850 Semi-Open Over-Ears are on sale for the very specific price of $32.80 with free shipping by Amazon actual, where they average 4.5 out of 5 based on 400+ customer reviews. They picked up 132 more customer reviews since April 2017 dropped 0.1 in review average.

These are a value play headphone with a loooooong non-detachable cable. It also sells under the Superlux brand and there are probably other variations as well. We have a text and pictures unboxing of these here. They are open enough that in a quiet room you can use them as temporary computer speakers if you hang them near ear-level and increase the volume level. The only accessory included is a 1/4″ to 1/8″ adapter.

Dunu DN-12 Trident Metal In-Ears for $26 w/FS

If you want to receive these quickly, especially if you are a Prime member, a couple of fulfilled by Amazon sellers (including “Shenzhen Audio”) are offering the new condition Dunu DN-12 Trident Metal In-Ears for $26 with free shipping and handling. They average 3.7 out of 5 based on 55 customer reviews.

Focal Spirit One S Closed Over-Ears for $79

Before FOCAL generated a lot of interested with their audiophile line of headphones, their first foray into headphones were closed-back consumer-tier headphones. IF you are curious about those early days, one of those early headphones, the new condition Focal Spirit One S Closed Over-Ears are on sale at various sellers for $79 to $80 with free shipping fulfilled by Amazon and also the audioLAB eBay store and also by Electronics EXPO thru Walmart and thru NewEgg

[DEAD] Tennmak PRO In-Ears for $21 to $23

This lightning deal expired, but it is good news going forward, because often times lightning deals return over and over. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future lightning deals of the Prime-shipped Tennmark PRO in-ears. I picked up one during the sale, and will be posting an unboxing right after it arrives. And hopefully I get organized and sorted out to start posting more review/opinion content too 🙂

[Read more…]

V-Sonic VSD2s IEMs for $35 NEW or $27 [Prime shipping]

If you want to get the V-Sonic VSD2s IEMs in the red-blue color scheme with fast US-based shipping, you can get them in new condition for $35 fulfilled by Amazon (sold by “Lend Me UR Ears”‘s Amazon store) or for $27~ in “Used – Very Good” condition (repackaged) by Amazon Warehouse actual. You can see both options at the detailed Amazon listing

Floyd Rose FR18M Wood Headphones with Luxury Wood Case for $110 to $113

If you are a fan of wood headphones with a matching luxury wood case, three different color schemes of the new condition Floyd Rose FR18M Wood Headphones with a luxury wood case included by the manufacturer as part of the included accessories kit are on sale for $110 to $113 at Amazon.com. The Mahogany goes for $110 by Zorro (not Prime eligible) or $111 by Amazon actual [see detailed listing]…

Used Etymotic MK5 In-Ears for $45

This is a bit of a question-mark because it says “Used – Acceptable” condition without giving any further details on the condition. They have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so if you don’t hate returning items, it’s not as big of a deal. This is the Etymotic MK5 In-Ears available in that condition for $45~ with free shipping by Amazon Warehouse Deals actual

PS: Amazon Warehouse Deals is rebranding itself to Amazon Warehouse.

Repurpose this: K-Cup Drawer for Earphones and Accessories

And now another wild idea from our “Repurposing Department”. If you like to store your earphones and their assorted accessories in a drawer-style configuration, here’s a repurposing idea: use the storage drawers for K-cups! You can get a very estimate of the available space based on the size of a K-cup.

For example, this $13 Mind Reader Anchor Triple Drawer has three drawers. Each drawer holds 12 K-Cups, in rows of two. So you know the size of the drawer, it is two K-Cups wide, six K-Cups deep, and one K-Cup tall. They have different colors/styles on the same listing. Some of them include a free basic milk frother. Do not use that to change the sound signature of your headphones 😉

I can’t tell from the picture whether these things are stackable. They are intended to hold K-Cup machines, so they should be more than strong enough to hold a headphone stand with heavy headphones on it.

Some DAPS can also fit inside. For example, the Fiio X1 DAP is less than two K-Cups wide, less than one K-Cup tall, and less than three K-Cups deep.

PS: all apologies to coffee purists for subjecting you to and/or triggering you with K-Cup mentions 🙂

Used Fiio A3 portable headphone amp for $42 w/FS

Keeping track of the Fiio product names from memory, especially after the naming reboot, is no easy task. The new condition Fiio A3 portable headphone amp (no DAC on this one) goes for $60 in new condition at authorized Fiio dealers, but if you want to save some, you can get it for $42~ with free shipping by Electronics EXPO through Amazon Warehouse Deals.

Amazon rebrands “Warehouse Deals” to “Amazon Warehouse”, Gives it Distinctive Green Logo

We often mention Used Amazon deals here, so this is of interest if you are shopping at Amazon Warehouse Deals. Amazon is now giving them a logo and branding of their own. Their new name is “Amazon Warehouse”, which sounds perhaps more attractive to a general audience. You can see this in the screenshot below and also at the Warehouse Deals home page. It makes it easier color-wide to separate it from Amazon’s own new condition listings.

If you want a live listing to see it, there are multiple of them at the used ATH-M40x listing. That’s where the screenshot was taken above.

Amazon is notorious for experimenting with things, so you may not see it immediately. Sometimes they show changes to a subset of customers, eg based on browser, operating system, screen size, and so forth. Thus the screenshots here so you’ll know it’s coming.

Preorders accepted for new Audio Technica M50X in Black/Blue

If you like the Audio Technica M50X but the only thing that’s stopping you front buying them is that your favorite color combination is Black and Blue, instead of the other existing colors, Audio Technica has you covered! Coming out in early February is the Black and Blue version of the M50x, named officially the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBB and it is available for pre-ordering for $169 at Woodwind & Brasswind and at Musician’s Friend.

Fusion Gaming Headset for $30 [limit 3]

On the gaming front, the new condition Fusion Gaming Headset is on sale for $30 with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon actual with up to three pairs per customer at the sale price. They average 4.3 out of 5 based on 33 customer reviews, with 9% of them being 2-stars. The microphone is detachable and they have a 42 inch braided 3.5mm cable.

3ft Monoprice MIDI Cable (5-pin DIN) for $0.92

If you are planning an Amazon order, this is something to append to your order. The new condition 3-foot Monoprice MIDI Cable with 5 Pin DIN Plug (Black, model 108532) is currently on sale for $0.92 by Amazon actual. You can buy as many as you like but this is an Add-ON item, so your order total must be $25+ regardless of Prime membership status.

Speaking of Add-On items, this 3.3 foot C2G/Cables to Go USB Extension Cable is on sale for $1.67. This is a USB 2.0 cable, male on one side, female on the other (thus, an extension cable). The 2 meter version (6.6ft) goes for $3 and the 3 meter (9.84 ft) goes for $2.78.

All the items mentioned in this post are Add-ONs but they have no purchase quantity limits, so you can get to $25+ by any combination of the above cables.

Massdrop Round-Up: lots of offers ending in 2-3 days

A handful of previously unmentioned Massdrop “Drops” are in progress at the moment, so we are rounding them up in a single post here, sorted by expiration time:

+ NuFORCE uDAC-3 DAC/amp for $60 with free US S&H
+ ships late February

+ Thinksound USP1 IEMs for $130 w/free US S&H
+ ships late February
+ made in USA, comes with 1-year Thinksound warranty

+ Fanmusic C6 Cables for HD 58X & HD 6XX for $65 with free US S&H
+ ships early March

+ Koss KDE250 Earphones for $100 w/free US S&H
+ ships late February

+ OSTRY KC06A In-Ears for $45
+ the “A” is a newer/revised model, sells more than KC06
+ ships early March

The above are the regular time-sensitive classic Massdrop “Drops”. But that’s not all! A number of the best-selling headphones at Massdrop are offered in a more conventional fashion, you buy them and they ship within a week of purchase. We track those at the Massdrop Tracker perma-post.

[DEAD] Feed your DAPs (until Wedn 2:45am ET): 256GB Sandisk Ultra for $106, 400GB for $200

This daily expired…

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[DEAD] Rowkin Pulse Bluetooth Earphones for $10

This daily deal expired…

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[DEAD] Used Fiio EX1 (2nd Gen) for $39 w/free S&H

As of 2/6/18 recheck, this sold out at these low used prices…

On the earphones front, the Fiio EX1 in the second generation is available in “Used – Very Good” condition (original box, original packaging) for $39~ with free shipping by Electronics EXPO through Amazon Warehouse Deals. The earphones average 4 out of 5 based on 22 customer reviews. These ship directly from Electronics EXPO (mainly east coast chain() and are not Prime-shipping eligible.

[DEAD] Tue: Logitech Gaming Headsets, G231 for $35, G433 for $61

This daily deal expired…

[Read more…]

[DEAD] Sennheiser HD559 Open Over-Ear Back to $100

As of 2/6/18 recheck, this jumped to $130+…

They are back on a modest sale again, the new condition open-back over-ear Sennheiser HD 559, the vanguard of the latest generation of “9s” in the HD 5** series, are back down to $100 with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon actual with up to three per customer at the sale price.

[DEAD] Tue: 2pk Gabba Goods Bluetooth Wireless Eye Masks for $29

This daily deal expired…

[Read more…]

Feed your DAPs: 64GB Samsung EVO Select microSDXC for $20

If you need a 64GB microSDXC card for your digital audio player (DAP) or PAD (Phone as a DAP), the 64GB Samsung EVO Select microSDXC with 10 year warranty and four-proof protection (water, temperatures, other conditions) is on sale for $20 [was $19] by Amazon actual. No purchase quantity limits. It comes with a full size SD card adapter, so you can use it with devices that take full size SD cards (eg if you want to fill/refill it on your laptop or desktop).

Used Hifiman HE-400i Planars for $150

Marketplace seller “Alpha Stereo” (fulfilled by Amazon) is currently offering the Hifiman HE-400i planar-magnetics in “Used – Good” condition (they have a long uppercase sentence describing them) for $150 with free shipping through Amazon Warehouse Deals.

Used Status Audio CB-1 Closed Over-Ears for $40

The closed back Status Audio CB-1 over-ears go for $59 in new condition but if you want to save some, the Status Audio Amazon store has a trio of Used Listings at Amazon Warehouse Deals going for $40 (Used Good) or $44 (Used Very Good) or $49 (Used Like New). These are fulfilled by Amazon, thus Prime eligible.

The open-back sister model, the OB-1, are currently un-orderable at Amazon, eg when you search for them, they don’t show up in the search results. The product listing is not pulled though, it remains there on their website, but it won’t show up with an Amazon product search. Kinda annoying if you are trying to read reviews and comments about it.

Used Audio Technica R70X Open Over-Ear for $239

The open-back over-ear Audio Technica R70X (a parallel model to the closed M70x) are currently available in “Used – Good” condition (cosmetic imperfections; damaged original packaging) for $239~ by Amazon Warehouse Deals actual. This link is the summary that only shows one used listing, but when you check the Used Only listings you’ll also find a “Used – Very Good” for $255~ and a “Used – Like New” for $270~.

[DEAD] Mokin Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter for $27

These offers expired…

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Apple Original Earpods for $9.49 with free S&H

Clearance specialist Tanga.com is offering for a limited time the new condition Apple Original Earpods, model MD827LL/A, for $9.49 with free shipping and free returns. They also have them in a 2-pack for $18 with free shipping, so if you need more than one, it’s cheaper to buy them in 2-packs. They offer 15 day returns, with over 3700 units sold. These are wired 3.5mm, not lightning earpods.

[DEAD] Brainwavz S0 In-Ears for $18 after coupon and Gold Box

This offer ended…

[Read more…]

Used Open Box Sennheiser HD 650 for $256

If of all the various Sennheiser options it is the HD 650 the one you want, it is currently available in “Used – Like New” open-box condition for $256 with free shipping by BLINQ through Amazon Warehouse Deals (AWD). This ships directly from Blinq and it is not Prime eligible. The new condition price is steady at $315 these days at authorized Sennheiser dealers.

The same seller has the all new HD 660S in Used Open Box condition for $438~ also through AWD.

Of note, upsetting the 600/650 truce is the Massdrop HD 6XX for $200 whose “drop” (aka offer) is currently inactive.

Sennheiser HD 820 gets July 2nd release estimate

Patience is a virtue! Massdrop has prepared you for this! The latest update on the release date of the all new Sennheiser HD 820 closed-back flagship headphone is now July 2nd in 2018 at reputable New York dealer B&H Photo.

IF you are interested in this or other newly revealed headphones, stay tuned to our on-going Headphone Tracker perma-post.

Pre-order new FOCAL CLEAR Professional ($1700)

NAMM trade shows typically do not bring out as many new headphones as does CES in Vegas, but that is not to say that there are no new headphones at NAMM either!

Following on the launch of the CLEAR, Focal is back with a “Professional” version of their open-back over-ear FOCAL CLEAR headphones. Some Melisandre red can be found on the interior of the new headphone and a starting price of $1699. Pre-orders are accepted at reputable and authorized dealers such as Adorama.com and B&H Photo. An exact release date is not yet available.

We have just added this new top tier headphone to our on-going Headphone Tracker which has been refilled/reloaded with all the new things that came out at CES 2018 [check our our round-up for a summary of sorts].