Archives for August 2022

Monoprice Monolith M1570 Open Over-Ear Balanced Planars for $450

Headlining the Labor Day 2022 headphone sale at the Monoprice website is a new-ish planar-magnetic balanced headphone of their own Monolith brand, it’s the new condition wired open-back over-ear balanced planar M1570 going for $450 with free standard US shipping.

Note that per the notice at the Monoprice website they are expanding their warehouse which may cause delays in shipments…

Thursday: Apple Airpods sale (MAX for $370, Small for $115+)

If you are a fan of both Apple AirPods and WOOT, you are in luck because until 9/1/22 at 11:59pm central time (or earlier if sold out) they are having an Apple AirPods Sale. Some are new condition, others are refurbished!

The MAX (ANC/BT closed-back over-ears) are refurbished going for $370 with a 90-day warranty.

Of the truly-wireless Airpods, the prices range from $115 to $135. Two of the three options are new condition. The new condition get a 1-year Apple warranty. The refurbished get a 90-day Woot warranty.

Last but not least, there are four accessories on sale (charging and cables and such)…

UPDATE: music e-books return to the 9/1/22 Kindle daily deals, this time for $2 you can have the “Rock Concert: An Oral History as Told by the Artists, Backstage Insiders, and Fans Who Were There” by Marc Myers. This is 314 pages, November 2021, Grove Press, and it averages 4.4 out of 5 on 107 ratings. It automatically gets a $0.20 “Great on Kindle” e-promotional credit for your future ebook purchases…

Jabra Elite TW sale: 3 for $50, 7 for $125, 85t for $135

For a limited time, Amazon is having a Jabra truly-wireless sale featuring, in various color options, the following:

+ Elite 3 for $50

+ Elite 7 for $125

+ Elite 85t for $135

UPDATE #1: Speaking of Amazon, for a limited time, within the USA Gold Box they have sales on various smartphones, of potential interest as PADs (phones as DAPs) including Samsung flagships, OnePlus, Pixels, Motos, etc…

UPDATE #2: Amazon has a couple of music-related ebooks on sale as part of their Tuesday 8/30/22 Kindle daily deals:

+ “More Myself: A Journey” by Alicia Keys for $3 (with 30c future credit), March 2020, 257 pages, 4.8 out of 5 on 3668 ratings

+ “Billie Eilish” by Billie Eilish (self-titled book!) for $3, May 2021, 336 pages, 4.8 out of 5 on 4246 ratings

Tuesday: Sony WH-1000XM5 for $340 [international?]

If you don’t want or don’t plan to use the 1-year USA warranty, Woot, for 8/30/22, they are offering the international version (judging by the 90-day Woot warranty they offer) of the Sony WH-1000X M5 ANC/BT closed over-ears for $340 with up to two per customer at the sale price. The USA version currently goes for $400…

Samsung Galaxy Buds PRO for $140

For a limited time, Amazon is offering the four color options of the new condition Samsung Galaxy Buds PRO truly-wireless for $140 with free US shipping. Up to three per color per customer at the sale price, when sold and shipped by Amazon actual…

Audio Technica ATH-M20X and AT2005USB and Boom for $79

For a limited time, up until 8/29/22 at 10pm ET, B&H Photo has an Audio Technica bundle for $79 after in-cart coupon that includes:

+ ATH-M20X closed over-ear headphones

+ AT2005USB Microphone

+ boom and USB cable

Sunday ebook: The Beatles: The Biography (Bob Spitz) for $3

Music e-books are all the rage (it seems) at the Kindle daily deals. For Sunday 8/28/22, in the pacific time zone, they offer the “The Beatles: The Biography” by Bob Spitz for $3. This is 965 pages long, June 2012, by Little, Brown and Company.

As of the time of writing it averages 4.7 out of 5 based on 848 customer ratings…

AKG K612 for $110, K240 II for $69, K371 in Bundle

It’s AKG time at the current round of Adorama daily deals running up until Sunday 8/28/22 at 10am ET:

+ AKG K612 PRO for $110

+ AKG K240 mk II for $69

+ AKG Podcaster Essential kit that includes the Lyra USB microphone and K371 headphones for $189

+ AKG P420 microphone for $130
+ interesting model number 😉

Friday: Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (250 ohm) for $114

One of the good things about recurring deals is that they …recur 😉 Good until 8/26/22 at 11:59pm pacific time, or earlier if sold out, NewEGG actual (not iffy marketplace sellers) is offering the wired new condition closed-back over-ear Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (250 ohm) for $114, up to three pairs per customer at the sale price…

Thankfully NewEgg has done away with those silly coupons, the price you see is the price you pay!

Apple AirPods (2019) with wireless charging case for $125

Good until Friday 8/26/22 at 10am ET (or earlier if sold out), New York’s Adorama is offering the new condition Apple AirPods (2019) with wireless charging case for $125 with free US shipping.

Thursday eBook: Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke for $3

Music ebooks return to the Kindle Daily Deals for Thursday 8/25/22, for $3 you can have the “Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke” by Peter Guralnick! It is 770 pages, Back Bay Books, December 2008.

As of the time of writing of this blog-post, it averages 4.6 out of 5 based on 248 global ratings.

Darkglass Element Cabinet Sim Headphone Amp for $196

Surprise-surprise! Among the items in the random sale of Woot Bargain Bins, in the second row of items, you can find the new condition Darkglass Element Cabinet Sim Headphone Amp going for $196 with free US shipping for Prime members, or flat shipping for non-members.

The sale ends on 8/29/22 or earlier if sold out…

Picture #5 over there has a diagram with all the ways you can connect it to various audio inputs and outputs. It has two headphone jacks, bluetooth, XLR, etc. The internet search is your friend for more details on this.

PS: if it doesn’t sell out, after this sale ends, it may likely cycle-through in other “Woot Plus” or daily Woot offerings (until it’s eventually sold out – or something like that)…

Sunday: $2 eBooks (30s Jazz or Billie Holiday)

For Sunday August 21 in 2022, Amazon has over 230 eBooks featured in their deals of the day! And as fate would have it, two of the ebooks are about music. They are on sale for $2 each, ebooks for the Kindle:

+ “With Billie: A New Look at the Unforgettable Lady Day” by Julia Blackburn
+ 370 pages, October 2012, Vintage
+ 4.4 out of 5 on 79 ratings

+ “Really the Blues (New York Review Books Classics)” by by Mezz Mezzrow and Bernard Wolfe
+ 499 pages, February 2016, NYRB Classics
+ 4.8 out of 5 on 78 ratings

Sunday: Shure SRH-240A part of $99 bundle

Good until Sunday 8/21/22 at 11:59pm ET, B&H of New York is offering this Shure Digital Recording Bundle that consists of the SRH-240A studio headphones (wired, closed, over-ear) along with the Shure PGA58-XLR Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone with XLR-to-XLR Cable. These are in the old packaging.

I had the SRH-240A a long long time ago. From what I recall it matches the internet consensus. I bought it either as a bundle or at the same time as a musical keyboard in order to play without waking up the neighborhood 😉

Hifiman HE-X4 Planar Open Over-Ears for $89

Yes indeed! Not only can you get this pair of open-back headphones for under $100, it is also a planar-magnetic headphone, a lower cost way to try planar for the first time without breaking the bank or committing capital and dealing with selling it later!

For a limited time, Massdrop is offering the new condition wired open-back over-ear Hifiman HE-X4 planar magnetics for $89 plus shipping. Shipping is free if your order total is $100+.

They come with a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy. There is no mention of warranty in the listing.

This is an in-stock drop, so they will ship approximately two business days after purchase. It’s not one of those “patience in a virtue” Massdrop deals 🙂

Monoprice Planars: M565C for $175, M1060 for $240

If you page-down and down to the “Audio” section of the latest Monoprice End of Summer sale you will find some headphone-related products on sale:

  • M565C wired closed over-ear planars for $175
  • M1060 wired open over-ear planars for $240
  • Liquid Spark Headphone Amplifier by Alex Cavalli for $100
  • 3.5mm Onyx cables and Premium RCA cables

I do not know when the sale ends…

Sony WH-CH710N ANC/BT Over-Ears for $98

A limited time Sony Audio sale at Amazon (I don’t know when it expires) includes the new condition closed-back over-ear ANC/BT WH-CH-710N headphones going for $98 per, and available in two color options.

The sale also includes a couple of LinkBuds truly-wireless and “Extra Bass” portable bluetooth speakers (SRS-XB13 for $48 in five color options).

As fate would have it, we have here at this blog a text and pictures unboxing of the previous generation headphone, the WH-CH-700N, posted four years ago [how time flies!]

Wedn: Samson SR850B Semi-Open for $25

Good until 8/17/22 at 11:59pm eastern time, or earlier if sold out, B&H Photo is offering the new condition wired semi-open over-ear Samson SR850B studio headphones in the blue (actually black-n-blue) color scheme. Up to six per customer at the sale price.

Optionally there’s a couple of combined purchase discounts if you buy together (in the same shopping cart) as B&H’s house brand headphone stands (“Auray”). Look for these offers in the “Build Bundle” option over there.

The only included accessory is a 1/4″ adapter. The cable is not user-removable. Check your favorite headphoolia forums and blogs and youtubez for potential hacks.

As fate would have it, we have here, from five years ago (how time flies!!!), a text and pictures unboxing of the original black color scheme. I do not know if there any other differences between the colors or through the years…

Monday: Shure SRH-840 Closed Over-Ears for $79

One of the formerly “$100 List” recommended headphones is making a comeback in the recommendations. As late as yesterday Crinacle mentioned it in his first-ever (?) YouTube Q&A live stream. Maybe it’s the new packaging that caused the comeback? 🙂

Regardless, good until 8/15/22 at 11:59pm ET, B&H Photo is offering, as one of their deals of the day, the new condition wired closed-back over-ear Shure SRH-840 studio headphones for $79 with free US shipping. This is the “new packaging”.

The package is quite nice for the price:

+ extra Shure earpads
+ 2-year warranty
+ Shure carrying pouch (which I love)
+ detachable cable
+ threaded 1/4″ adapter

Sunday: Random Audio sale (23 options)

It is back with another iteration, this one running for Sunday 8/14/22 in the central time zone! One of the Woot daily deals for said day is the Random Audio sale with about 40% of the products being headphone-related!

There’s plenty of truly-wireless action including Lenovo, Klipsch, and Bowers & Wilkins!

On the over-ears front, it’s all about bluetooth closed-backs from Master & Dynamic (MW50+ for $190), SOL Republic Soundtrack ($80), Technics Premium ($130), along with options from Altec Lansing and Qisebin.

Oh, there’s also a Sennheiser! The EPOS GSP 300 gaming headset for $45.

OF the non-headphone gear, there’s Nakamichi, Pioneer, KEF, Yamaha, LG, Onkyo, B&O, JVC and friends.

Saturday: JBL Under Armour sale (7 options)

One of the Saturday 8/13/22 daily deals at the Woot website is a 7-item JBL Under Armour headphones, as factory reconditioned with a 1-year JBL warranty. The sale has two on-ear models and five truly-wireless. Prices range from $35 to $50, a narrow “trading range” 🙂

Direct Sound fstream X7 Bluetooth Receiver with Dual Headphone Outputs for $10

Good until Saturday 8/13/22 at 11:59pm eastern time, New York’s B&H Photo is offering the new condition Adorama directly or thru Amazon

They also offer it used/open-box condition for $349…

Wedn: Samson SR350 Closed Over-Ears for $10

Budget headphone action now, good until 8/10/22 at 11:59pm ET (or earlier if sold out), as on one of their daily deals, B&H Photo is offering the new condition wired closed-back over-ear Samsron SR350 Special Blue edition headphones for $10 per pair!

But that’s not all. There’s a couple of volume discount options as well. The 3-pack goes for $25, while the 10-pack goes for $80!

As of the time of writing they average 3.8 out of 5 based on 41 customer reviews at the B&H Photo website.

Truly Wireless sales: Skullcandy, Soundpeats, Sony Linkbud S

And now we have a mini truly-wireless roundup!

We start at Woot where they have the new condition Skullcandy Push truly-wireless, offered in two color options, for $20 per pair with a 1-year Skullcandy warranty. Up to ten per customer. When the daily deal ends, it will simply move to other “Woot Plus” sales…

Name-brand action and name-brand price, Amazon is offering the new condition Sony LinkBuds S for $148 in two color options…

Fourteen (14) options (some of them different colors of the same model) are part of a Soundpeats sale at Amazon. Prices start at $19.

Total coincidence that all the company names in this post begin with “S” 🙂

Ultrasone 880 + Joby RangePod tripod for $179

The Ultrasone headphones are flirting with yet another photography tripod brand! Good until 8/5/22 at 7pm eastern (or earlier if sold out), as one of the B&H Photo limited time offerings, $179 gets you this Ultrasone x Joby bundle with free US shipping.

The bundle consists of two items:

  • Ultrasone Performance Series 880 Headphones
  • JOBY RangePod Smart Tripod (Black)

The 880 closed-back over-ear headphones, which average 4.5 out of 5 based on 14 customer reviews at B&H, come with two cables (one has mic/remote for mobile use), extra earpads, and a neoprene storage pouch (see the last picture in the product gallery over there).

Trigger warning: this uses Ultrasone’s S-Logic technology 😉

Beats Studio 3 Wireless ANC/BT Over-Ears for $170

Good until 8/6/22 at 11:59pm eastern time, or earlier if sold out, New York’s B&H Photo is offering as one of their limited time offers the new condition Beats Studio 3 Wireless ANC/BT closed-back over-ear headphones for $170 with free US shipping.

They do have the Apple W1 chip, especially of interest to those in the Apple ecosystem. However, they charge via micro-USB, so keep that in mind if you’ve already recycled your micro-USB cables. Oh who am I kidding? Your home/office is probably filled with micro-USB powered mp3/DAPs 😉

As of the time of writing they average 4.7 out of 5 based on 32 customer reviews at B&H, and they have 13 answered-questions.

Pre-order Etymotix ERX IEMs for $249 (arrive late Oct 2022)

Massdrop is back again with another product pre-order debut! As promised, starting at 9am pacific time on 8/2/22 they are accepting pre-orders for their new in-ears, the Etymotic ERX, for $249 with free US shipping and returns.

But before you place the order, note that this will ship in late October 2022. That’s nearly three months of waiting – as of the time of writing of this blog post. So patience is indeed a virtue 🙂

Included are three different type of eartips, from single to triple flanges. Etymotic are more recognizable by their multiple-flange eartips and their DEEP insertion.

H&A Versa Professional Field and Studio Monitor Headphones for $40

If you are looking for a Sony V6 / MDR-7506 type of a headphone, good until 8/3/22 at 10am eastern (or earlier if sold out), Adorama is offering, as one of their deals of the day, their house-brand version, the new condition wired closed-back H&A Versa Professional Field and Studio Monitor Headphones for $40 with free US shipping.

As of the time of writing, they average 4.9 out of 5 based on 8 customer reviews. They come with two cables (coiled, straight) and a 1/4″ adapter. With a 1-year warranty. They even have the PDF of the manual linked-to over there, at the product page…

Tuesday: DT 1990 for $440, ATH-MSR7b for $180, Etc

It is back, it’s the 22nd edition of the Woot random audio sale, this one running until 8/2/22 at 11:59pm ET. The sale includes:

+ Beyerdynamic open over-ears wired DT 1990 for $440
+ one per customer
+ two year BeyerDee warranty

+ Audio Technica aTH-MSR7b closed-back over-ear wired for $180

+ truly-wireless options from JBL, Jabra, Panasonic, Master & Dynamic and Audio Technica

+ other audio gear include speakers, soundbar, bluetooth speakers, car audio, etc

HEADS UP!
Speaking of August 2nd, stay tuned because at 9am pacific today (12pm ET) Massdrop will be making the official pre-order reveal of their brand new Etymotic ERX in-ears. The pre-order price will be $250. Details when it goes live at 9am pacific time…

Sony MDR-EX-15-AP earphones for $8

On the budget side of things, as part of the early “Back to School” festivities [poor students can’t even get a full summer without getting bombarded with back to school marketing], Amazon is offering the new condition wired Sony MDR-EX-15-AP earphones for $8 with a mic/remote (single button) or $7 without a mic. This is for the black color scheme. Check the other colors to see their pricing…