Headroom’s website (headphone.com) is having its own Black Friday sale as well, coupon code 15thanks gets you 15% off your purchase. As usual with site-wide sales, some items may not be eligible for the coupon discount for various reasons (eg, the manufacturer prohibits the seller from discounting their products with a coupon).
Alexa Voice Order: AKG K240 Studio headphones for $54 ($5 bonus if first order) [PRIME ONLY]
Another block of new deals and price-checks begins now, so expect many and more posts in the next few hours until I run out of steam 🙂
We start with a new round of Alexa Voice offers. To get these, you must be a Prime member, and place an order using the Alexa Voice AI assistant. If you haven’t placed an Alexa order before, you will also receive a $5 Amazon gift card. Of headphone interest, they have the new condition semi-open over-ear AKG K240 for $54 with free shipping. Remember, you have to order with Alexa to get this price, you can’t order it from the website. These are limited time offers but I have no idea when they expire/switch. Here’s a screenshot of what they show:
[DEAD] Shure SRH145 Closed On-Ears for $25 [ends 4:34pm ET]
These Black Friday lightning deals expired as well…
[DEAD] Friday’s Offers: SMS, Shure On-Ears, NuForce, Symphonized, Parrot, Etc
These daily deals expired…
[DEAD] Limited Time: Parrot Zik First Gen for $118, Bluedio T2s for $19, etc
These Black Friday lightning deals expired…
[DEAD] Sennheiser Urbanite On-Ears for $69
As of late Black Friday recheck, the lowest price is around $80… The Sandsnake (ha!) color scheme of the iOS version of the closed-back on-ear Sennheiser Urbanites is on sale for $68.50 at Amazon by Amazon actual with a limit of three per customer. The other colors and OS combinations go for more.
[DEAD] Refurbished Sony MDR-1A for $130
As of a late 11/25/16 PM recheck, this sold out at this price. It’s hard for something like this to stay “hidden” on Black Friday 🙂 The closed-back over-ear Sony MDR-1A, in the silver color scheme, is available for $130 with free shipping in manufacturer refurbished condition with a 90-day warranty by Secondipity through Amazon Warehouse Deals. It ships directly from Secondipity (in brown box packaging), and it is not Prime eligible.
Sony MDR XB-950BT Extra-Bass Bluetooth Over-Ears for $88
UPDATE: Amazon is back on the $88 bandwagon again: Bass and Bluetooth in one headphone is the main marketing push for these headphones, the new condition closed-back over-ear Sony MDR XB-950BT available in three different color schemes for $88 with free shipping, with a limit of five units per color per customer at Amazon by Amazon actual where they average 4.3 out of 5 based on nearly 1200 customer reviews.
This ended as of 11/26/16 AM re-check: As of 11/23/16 PM, the Amazon sale below is over, however, you can get the new condition Sony MDR XB-950BT Extra-Bass Bluetooth Over-Ears for $88 with free shipping in your choice of black or blue or red, with a limit of five per customer, by Buydig’s eBay store, which also includes a 2600 mah mobile power bank, which is perhaps good enough as backup power for the Sandisk Clip Plus 🙂
PS: the Bs may not be popular with some vocal audiophiles ~ Bluetooth, Bassy, Beats, Bose ~ but the average consumer loves them 🙂
YMMV: Amazon Mobile App has Giveaways, May Give Coupons on Featured Items, But Kinda Buggy
The official Amazon app from Google Play (Android) has a new mobile giveaway promotion running between November 23 to December 6 in 2016. An Amazon notification informed me of this, and when I tapped on that, it took me to the promotion within the app that said this:
A handful of products were offered, the first on the list was the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless ANC. The giveaway in itself is not of deal interest, but when you enter the giveaway (you have to tap the moving Amazon box, a nano game of sorts), you are told whether you won or not. If not, (this is the deal part), it gives you a limited time promo code to get a discount on the featured product. You can see that in the screenshot below:
However, the whole thing was rather buggy, every other touch resulted in an error, and as you can see in the screenshot above, it didn’t spit out a promo code as it promised. I did this early in the day (10:40AM), on day #1 of the promotion, so maybe they are working out the kinks. I was running the latest version of the Amazon app.
So, YMMV…
Audio Technica R70X with $25 Promo Gift Card for $224
The NewEgg – Beach Camera combo is back again with another similar promotion. Beach Camera offers the new condition open-back over-ear Audio Technica R70x for $224 with free shipping through the NewEgg website. For a limited time, if you purchase this, you will also receive a $25 promotional NewEgg gift card (to be used at the NewEgg website within one year). You’ll know the offer is still running if you see it featured prominently on the page, for example:
Beyerdynamic DT880 PREMIUM (32 ohm) with $50 Promo Gift Card for $160
The headphone party continues at NewEgg, this time Beach Camera’s NewEgg store is offering the new condition Beyerdynamic DT880 PREMIUM (32 ohm) for $160 with free shipping. But for a limited time, NewEgg will send you a $50 promotional gift card with purchase. The promo gift card has to be used at NewEgg for up to one year after it has been issued (about four days after invoicing). You will know this offer is still running if you see this blurb featured prominently over there:
MEE Matrix2 AF 62 Bluetooth for $58 [MD]
The price of these headphones has been all over the place, but it’s back on the discounting train at Massdrop where they are fully unlocked for $50 plus $8 flat shipping, with a mid-December shipment estimate, shipping from Massdrop to the buyers. There are two days left (from blog-posting date) on this offer. They play music via Bluetooth but they also have a 3.5mm input, and have a carrying case.
New headphone release: Sennheiser HD200 Closed Over-Ear for $70
But wait, there’s more from Sennheiser! In addition to the newly renamed HD 2.xx and HD 4.xx and new HD5xx that were revealed at IFA 2016, Sennheiser also released yet another new headphone in the HD2xx series, it’s the closed over-ear “professional monitoring” HD200, with a starting price of $70, and already shipping from some of the sellers at amazon.com. It has no reviews there, it’s that new. Per the specs in the description, it has 32 ohm impedance.
Costco: Sony MDRZX770/780DC for $100
Costco is offering what they describe as the Sony MDRZX770/780DC headphone with bluetooth and active noise cancellation for $100. I do not know why it has two model numbers in its name. It has a limit of up to three units per customer and it may be available at their local stores as well. Non-Costco members can purchase it but have to pay an additional 5% more as a non-member. I am not currently a Costco member so I can’t go to the stores to “investigate” 🙂
As of 11/24/16 re-check this sold-out: Speaking of which, the ZX770BT is available in certified refurbished condition for $80 with free shipping by Secondipity thru Amazon (not Prime eligible).
Philips SHP9500S open over-ears for $50 w/free S&H
The confusion is cleared up in this listing. NewEgg is offering the new condition (and newer model) Philips SHP9500S (the “S” is part of the model name and is the newer model; that’s why I hate it when companies use a plural “s” at the end of product names) for $50 with free shipping. These are open-back over-ears and they are sold and shipped by NewEgg actual. The sale ends on Cyber Monday. Limit 20 per customer. Screenshot proof of that below:
[DEAD] Tuesday: refurbished Bose QC25 for $220, QC15 for $205
This daily deal expired, but things typically keep returning at Woot until they are really sold out… One of the Tuesday daily deals at Woot is a sale on two refurbished Bose Quiet Comfort headphones with active noise cancellation. These are older models, powered by AAA batteries, so it becomes a pro/con depending on your disposition towards built-in versus customer-changeable batteries.
The two models are the refurbished QC25 over-ears for $215, and the refurbished QC15 on-ears for $200. Limit three of each per customer. They come with a 90-day warranty covered by Woot, not Bose. Shipping is $5 flat regardless of how many things you buy from Woot during a particular calendar day (in the Central time zone).
This offer ends on Wednesday at 1am ET or earlier if sold out…
PS: I have no idea what the battery charger is doing in that page. Maybe a “deal stray”? 🙂
Samson SR850 Semi-Open Over-Ears for $25 w/free S&H
The sale for the SR950 closed model is over, but it is the turn of the semi-open Samson SR850 over-ear studio headphones to go on sale, they are going for $25 with free shipping at Adorama.com. These are going for the budget studio approach, an AKG homage of sorts.
They come in a very spartan packaging, cardboard and the headphones, no cases or other bonus items. I bought them during a previous sale for review/comparison but haven’t yet gotten around to using them. Here’s a quick shot as they wait their turn in the box:
Philips M2L/27 Closed On-Ear for $130 [Lightning connector]
If you are fond of Lightning headphones, the new condition Philips M2L/27 sealed on-ears, with an integrated DAC inside, is on sale in new condition for $130 with free shipping at Groupon Goods and at NewEgg actual.
It is interesting how the headphone market is expanding by segmenting with Lightning headphones and USB-C headphones, and VR headsets, and wearables and such. Interesting times 🙂
[DEAD] Audeze SINE Closed On-Ears for $300
This sale expired too… The new condition closed-back on-ear planar-magnetic Audeze SINE with a standard cable is on sale for $300 with free shipping at authorized dealer Adorama.com. The previous time I posted about this you had to do a mail-in rebate to get this price. Now you just add to cart and checkout.
AKG K518 DJ On-Ears Limited Edition for $30 w/free S&H
Another AKG model on sale, also a closed-back model, but it’s an on-ear DJ-branded and limited-edition marketed model, in a black/fuschia-purple color scheme, the new condition K518 going for $30 with free shipping, sold and shipped by NewEgg actual with a limit of up to ten units per customer during this promotion.
There’s very little info on this at NewEgg, but you can find some reviews at amazon.com where there are complaints of build quality, fit (not friendly to bigger eggs), and things of that nature.
[DEAD] AKG K545 Closed OverEars for $90
This offer expired… And we are baaaack with another round, starting with Woot, offering the new condition closed-back over-ear AKG K545 headphones for $90, in two color choices, with a limit of three per customer, as one of the longer-term running Woot deals, good for the next nine days from blog-posting date.
Interestingly the shipment is “fulfilled by Amazon”, not a surprise really, considering the logistics benefits of combining this. Already Woot offers a lot of things at the Amazon website as fulfilled by Amazon, so it is only nature for this to also propagate at the Woot website.
Hifiman HE 350 returns to Massdrop for $100
Hifiman may be better known for their planar magnetic adventures, but they also have dynamic headphones, and their $100 Massdrop exclusive HE-350 is back on at the members-only but free-to-join website, ready to buy for $100 with free shipping. The offer is running for the next ten days from blog-posting date, and will ship early-to-mid December 2016 from Massdrop.
Headphones in the 2016 Black Friday Ads
Black Friday 2016 is just around the corner. In this post, I am attempting to summarize the various headphones and earphones advertised in the published or leaked Black Friday ads. More will be added as I haven’t finished them all yet. So far we have…
WIRED OVER/ON EARS
Audiophile headphones very rarely make appearances at big chain store Black Friday ads, but there is a member of the Beyerdynamic ever-growing DT 7-8-9 line-up featured at Musician’s Friend. As you can size by the size of the blocks below, bluetooth is favored by the marketing departments…
- Beyerdynamic DT770 STUDIO for $150 at Musician’s Friend
- Fostex TX-1 for $20 at Musician’s Friend
- Bose SoundTrue II Around Ears for $100 at HH Gregg (doorbuster)
- JVC HA-SR185 for $10 at Walmart, $15 at MicroCenter
BLUETOOTH OVER/ON EARS
Beats continue to win the hype wars with the two latest models likely to feature prominently. But others are getting some glossy attention, including Skullcandy.
- Beats Solo 3 at “lowest price of the year” at Overstock
- Beats Solo 2 Wireless for $120 at Target, $150 at Best Buy
- Sony MDRXB950BT Extra Bass for $90 at Best Buy
- Bose SoundLink Around Ear II Bluetooth for $230 at Microsoft Store
- JBL Synchros E40BT on-ears bluetooth for $60 at Microsoft Store
- Philips SHB8750NC Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones for $50 at Walmart
- Skullcandy Uproar bluetooth on-ears for $25 at Sears and K-Mart and Walmart
- Skullcandy Grind Wireless (Bluetooth) On-Ears for $50 at BJ’s Wholesale
- Skullcandy Hesh 2.0 Wireless (bluetooth) for $50 at BJ’s Wholesale and Best Buy
- unspecified brand over-ear Bluetooths for under $10 at CVS
BLUETOOTH EARPHONES
With Best Buy scoring some kind of an exclusive on the new Jaybird X3, they are getting most of the attention…
- discounts (without actual prices posted) on Sony and Jaybird wireless in-ears at Best Buy
- Beats Powerbeats 2 wireless for $90 at Target
- LG Tone PRO HBS-760 for $30 at Walmart, $33 at BJ’s Wholesale
- Jabra Sports Wireless (bluetooth) earbuds for $50 at BJ’s Wholesale
- 2pk of Samsung Level U Bluetooth for $50 at BJ’s Wholesale, 1pk for $30 at Meijer
WIRED EARPHONES
A couple of Bose models and the wired non-magical Apple earpods lead the way, along with the obligatory single-figure models, and the free after store rewards Philips earbuds that seem to be a Black Friday staple almost every year.
- Bose SoundSport In-Ear Headphones for $40 at Best Buy
- Bose Quiet Comfort QC20 in-ears for $200
- Apple Earpods for $25 at HH Gregg
- Beats Tour 2 in-ears for $50 at HH Gregg, $65 at Target
- JBL Sychros E10 earphones for $20 at Microsoft Store
- Skullcandy Smokin Buds 2 neckback bluetooth earphones for $30 at Best Buy
- JVC Gumy and Riptiz earphones for $5 at K-Mart
- 2pk of Samsung Active Wired earbuds for $20 at BJ’s Wholesale
- Philips Earbuds Free with Plenti points at Rite Aid
Order with Alexa: Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO 80 Limited Edition for $100 [PRIME ONLY]
If you are an Amazon Prime member, you are eligible for some rotating Alexa Exclusive Voice-Order offers. To get these, you have to order the items using Alexa, Amazon’s voice-activated AI. One of the current offers are the new condition Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO 80 Limited Edition closed-back over-ear headphones for $100 with free shipping. The website price is $180.
You can find this offer towards the bottom of the Alexa exclusive offers. Here’s a screenshot of that and the Alexa shortcut voice code to quickly order it:
PS: I don’t have a way to place an Alexa order, so I can’t test this.
PS2: of music interest, another one of the offers is Garth Brooks’s Ultimate Hits music CD for $1.45 if you voice-order it with Alexa. The website price is $6.92.
Koss KSC75 Earclips for $11.75 [limit 3]
In a sale paralleling the PortaPros, the clip-on KSC-75 cliphones are down to $11.75 with a limit of three per customer, in new condition, at Amazon by Amazon actual. As with other Koss models, they have a limited lifetime warranty… Check the Koss listings to see if any other models are on sale as well…
Koss PortaPro for $26 [limit 3]
If you don’t want to wait for further discounts, as of the time of writing, the good old Koss PortaPro, in new condition, is on sale for the very specific price of $26.09 at Amazon by Amazon actual, with a limit of three units per customer. Note that this is open-back, despite it’s porta(ble)-compact-ness 🙂
Sony MDR-1A for $253 with coupon
The previously mentioned Musician’s Friend coupon code BLACKFRIDAY can get you the new condition Sony MDR-1A closed-back over-ear headphone for $253 with free shipping. The regular price is $300, the 15% off coupon drops it to this price. You can add the headphone to the cart and enter the coupon code further down below in the page. You don’t need to sign-in or sign-up to test the coupon.
On the other hand, if you are comfortable with refurbished or imported products, you can get them for even less:
+ manufacturer refurbished for $150 by Secondipity thru Amazon
+ international version (new condition) without Sony USA warranty for $187 by various at Amazon
Akai 50X Closed-Back Over-Ears for $80
The popularity of the Audio Technica M50/M50x has created a whole clone sub-genre, one of which is apparently an Amazon-exclusive model of sorts, the new condition, closed-back over-ear Akai Project 50X is on sale for $80 with free shipping with a limit of three units per customer.
They are collapsible with 50mm drivers and average 4.3 out of 5 based on 35 customer reviews over there. The first review there notes their resemblance to similar headphones from Lyxpro, Stellar and ISK. In response to the review, an AKAI representative wrote that these have been tuned by AKAI’s engineers. Research them further if interested. I haven’t seen or touched them, so I know nothing Jon Snow 🙂
Audio Technica MSR7 for $189 (limit 3 per color)
More discounting action now, on the closed-back over-ear front, both colors of the Audio Technica MSR7 are on sale in new condition for $189 with free shipping, with a limit of three per color, at Amazon by Amazon actual.
PS: if you want to keep up with the action, you can also subscribe to our free full-text RSS feed.
Bluedio UFO PPS8 Bluetooth Over-Ears for $80
Things are starting to heat up, I can’t keep up 🙂 To eBay we go now, where the Bluedio eBay store is offering the new condition Bluedio UFO PPS8 headphone (over-ears, Bluetooth 4.1) for $80 with free shipping. They are also running a promotion where if your order total from their eBay store is $100+, you get a 10% off discount.
This beats the current lowest price at amazon.com which is $100, where they average 4.3 out of 5 based on 375 customer reviews, and they have over 100 questions answered by viewers like you. They include cables and a half-dome hard case.
Beyerdynamic Custom i On-ears for $80 w/free S&H
The closed-back on-ear Beyerdynamic Custom i (the “i” is part of the model name) are on sale for $80 with free shipping by Sweetwater eBay store and Sweeterwater directly.
PS: these look very similar to the Beyerdynamic Custom Street. Visually, I can’t find a difference between the two, but I have not touched the “i” model. I have posted a pictures & text unboxing along with an on-going review diary on the Street model which went as low as under $70 a few weeks ago. Which reminds me I need to pick up the pace with that review diary 🙂
Bose SoundLink Bluetooth On-Ears for $170
Some more action on eBay on another older headphone model, the new condition Bose SoundLink On-Ear bluetooth closed-back is on sale for $170 with free shipping by Deal.fisher’s eBay store… Speaking of Bose, some of their other headphones are on sale, check the Bose category here to see them…
[DEAD] Monday: A-Audio Legacy Over-Ear Noise Cancelling for $55
This deal du jour expired with a meh 🙂
[DEAD] Sunday: Beats Solo 2 Wireless (BT) for $166
These offers expired…
Sony ZX110 Closed On-Ears for $10
The white color scheme of the closed-back on-ear folding headphones is currently on sale for $10 in new condition at the Walmart website, sold by Walmart. Shipping is not free unless your order total is $50+, or you subscribe to Walmart’s “Prime” service. It may also be available for free store pickup, which is YMMV depending on location and inventory.
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