Now shipping: new Focal Spark Wired and Wireless Earphones

Focal is back with two new double-figure earphones as part of their new more fashion-y “Spark” line. One is wired, the other is wireless (bluetooth), covering both preferences. Both have 3-button in-wire remote controls, the wired for phone control, and the wireless for bluetooth controls.

And they are already in-stock and shipping from a handful of different recognizable sellers at Amazon. The Spark Wired go for $69 in either black or silver color schemes, while the Spark Wireless go for $99 in the same color combinations.

Or if you prefer to shop away from Amazon, all four combinations are in-stock at authorized dealer OneCall.com, which is the online website of B&M A/V retailer Huppin’s, not far from Final Four heartbroken darlings, the ZAGS! 🙂

Sennheiser HD 579 Open Over-Ears for $150

The new condition open-back over-ear Sennheiser HD 579 are on sale for $150 with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon actual with a limit of up to three units per customer. This is not a lightning deal.

Note that not all the headphones in the new HD 5*9 series are open. One of them is closed, the HD 569. These came out together as a group around IFA 2016.

Akai Professional 50X Studio headphones for $32

This is such an Audio Technica M50X clone it even calls itself a “50X” 🙂 It is the new condition Akai Professional Project 50X and it is currently on sale (not a lightning deal) for just under $32 [was $36] with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon actual with a limit of up to three units per customer. They average 3.7 out of 5 based on 60+ customer reviews and two cables and a pouch.

Audio Technica AD500X Open Over-Ears with AT Omni Lav Mic for $70

The new condition Audio Technica AD500X Open Over-Ear headphones are bundled together WITH the Audio Technica Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier Microphone, together going for $70 with free shipping by Beach Camera thru Amazon. This ships directly from Beach Camera (East Coast) but if you are a Prime member, you will get Prime-like shipping speed (probably faster for those closer to Beach since, unlike Amazon, they don’t have warehouses all around the world).

On the other hand, if you don’t want/need the AT microphone, the headphones on their own go for $68 by Amazon actual, where the share the same listing with the ATH-AD700X, so their reviews are intermingled over there.

MEE Audio RX18 earphones for $4.49

On the budget side of things, the black color scheme of the MEE Audio RX18 earphones (wired, no mic/remote) is on sale for $4.49 at Amazon by Amazon actual with a limit of up to three pairs per customer. There is a catch however, it is an Add-ON item, so your order total must be $25+ in eligible items. The restriction applies to all customers, and you can’t buy it even if you want to pay for shipping out of your own pocket.

[DEAD] JLab Diego earphones for $6

This lightning deal expired…

Two of the five color schemes of the new condition JLab Diego earphones are a Prime-elgiible Amazon lightning deal going for $6 with free Prime shipping (or with a $35+ order for non-members) until 6:50pm ET or earlier if sold out. They average 3.9 out of 5 based on 550+ customer reviews. Non-Prime members can buy it starting around 1:20pm ET.

[DEAD] Saturday’s Offers: KZ ZST, Status CB-1, Symphonized, Etc

These lightning deals expired…

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Philips M1 MK II BO/27 On-Ears for $70

Philips headphones go in and out of sales cycles, and their closed-back Philips M1 MK II BO/27 are on the sale cycle again at amazon.com. The black-orange color scheme goes for $70 by a marketplace seller (fulfilled by Amazon), while Amazon’s own price is $80. Meanwhile the black color scheme is sold for $75 by the same marketplace seller as above. The headphones average 4.4 out of 5 based on 43 customer reviews.

JLab Audio FLEX DJ-Style Studio for $20 w/free S&H

If you were tempted by the JLab Flex headphones but didn’t want to pay big bucks for JLab (we do hard truths here, we don’t sponsor-worship), you can get the new condition JLab Audio FLEX DJ-Style Studio headphones for $20 with free shipping by eBay seller “Quick Ship Electronics” (99.7%, ship from USA with Economy shipping). This is model FLEX-SLV-BOX with a Universal mic on the included detachable cable. It comes with a 1-year warranty.

Beyerdynamic DT880 PREMIUM (250 ohm) Chrome SE for $139

Back on the sale train again, the new condition Beyerdynamic DT880 PREMIUM (250 ohm) Special Edition Chrome semi-open over-ear headphones are going for $139 with free shipping by Buydig on eBay with up to five units per customer during the sale.

PS: if you are not familiar with the various DT 770 / 880 / 990 options, be sure to look them up as there are many variations and permutations!

The Unicorn is Returning: Sennheiser HD6XX on June 26 for $250

The unicorn is coming back! The Sennheiser HD 6XX open-back over-ear headphone will return to Massdrop, available for purchase for signed-in members on Monday June 26 at 9am eastern. There is a catch however, the price is now $250 with free global shipping.

The original launch that crashed the Massdrop website was $200. This new price puts it closer to the HD 600 and HD 650 duo, making the decision more complicated when you factor in used options as well.

This drop will have 7,500 units available for purchase.

The HD 6XX is based on the HD 650.

[DEAD] Samson RTE 2 Bluetooth On-Ears for $30 w/FS

This recurring offer expired…

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[DEAD] Bose SoundTrue Around-Ears II for $79 to $85

As of a 6/27/17 re-check, this sale ended…

The new condition closed-back over-ear wired-only (no BT, no ANC) Bose SoundTrue Around-Ears II are on sale for $79 in the Blue Color Scheme (iOS) and $85.40 in the Charcoaol (iOS) color scheme. Limit up to three per color per customer. The Android colors go for twice as much. This is not a lightning deal, but a sale, so expiration date is unknown.

Open box Fiio A3 portable head-amp for $49

The Fiio A3 portable headphone amp is currently available in Open Box condition (Used – Like New, full warranty) for $49 with free shipping by Maryland’s Gramohpone through Amazon Warehouse Deals. This ships directly from Graomphone and is not Prime eligible. A few other options are available in similar prices depending on the color.

Used MEE audio Pinnacle P1 IEMs for $138

If you don’t want to wait for a future sale, and if you are comfortable with used earphones, you can get the MEE Audio Pinnacle P1 IEMs for $138 in “Used – Good” condition (cosmetic imperfections, damaged original packaging) by Amazon Warehouse Deals. According to the shopping cart, there is only one unit available.

Both Etymotic Research ER4XR and ER4SR IEMs in-stock

The Etymotic Research ER4XR IEMs are in-stock for $350 with free shipping by various at Amazon, including Amazon actual.

Its sister model is in-stock too, but not discounted, the ER4SR IEMs go for $350 by various fulfilled by Amazon including AudioLAB, Hidef Lifesytle, Zorro, Etymotic itself, and more.

Post updated here 6/23/17.

Used Musician’s Gear MG900 Studio Headphones for $12

This is a headphone that goes by multiple different brand names (CAD is one of them I believe). It is the closed-back over-ear Musician’s Gear MG900 Studio Headphones and it is available in “Used – Like New” condition for $12~ by Amazon Warehouse Deals actual. A Prime membership gets it to you in 2-days or so, otherwise you need a $35+ order of eligible products.

As of the time of writing there are 19 units available according to the Amazon shopping cart.

[DEAD] Thursday’s Offers: Bluedio, Cowin, Symphonized, Etc

These lightning deals expired…

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[DEAD] Used Hifiman HE-400i Planars for $185

As of 6/27/17 recheck, the used prices are higher…

Amazon Warehouse Deals. This ships directly from HiDef. There is one unit available from them.

There as well you will find a “Used – Good” condition (minor cosmetic imperfections; damaged original packaging) for $187~ by AWD actual (meaning Amazon Warehouse Deals proper is the actual seller). This is Prime eligible.

[DEAD] Vox amPlug I/O Guitar Headphone USB Audio Interface with JamVOX III for $30

This daily deal expired…

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Used NuForce BE6i for $41+, BE6 for $49+ [bluetooth apt-X earphones]

If you are interested in the NuForce BE6* bluetooth earphones with apt-X and you are comfortable with used earphones, you can get them for around half of the new condition price at the moment, depending on color:

+ USED Nuforce BE6i Gold for $41~ in “Used – Good”, $44 in “Used – Very Good”, $47~ in “Used – Like New” (last two pages
+ there are a lot of used listings for this, which means chances of further discounts are possible

+ USED NuForce BE6i Gray for $45 in “Used – Good”, $48 in “Used – Very Good”, $51 in “Used – Like New”
+ there are a lot of used listings for this, which means chances of further discounts are possible

+ USED NuForce BE6 Grey for $49 in “Used – Very Good” (AWD actual) or $50 in “Used – Like New” (Butterfly Photo) or $52 (AWD)

Audio Technica ATH-AX5-GM Over-Ears for $20

A couple of “fulfilled by Amazon” sellers are offering the new condition closed-back over-ear Audio Technica ATH-AX5-GM headphone, in the Gun Metal color scheme, for the very specific price of $19.72. Free shipping for Prime members or with a $35+ order. This averages 3.8 out of 5 based on 15 customer reviews.

New Blog Post: Unboxing the Monoprice Desktop Headphone Amp (PID 11567)

Nothing like a deadline to get you to get things done 🙂 I just posted a Text and Pictures Unboxing Post (no audio, no annoying video, no animations) of the Monoprice 11567 desktop headphone amp. I had purchased this (with my own money) during a previous sale at Monoprice.

The coupon expired: The deadline being that you can get it for $64 plus shipping at the Monoprice website using coupon code BIG20 until 3am eastern on Tuesday (I think that’s when the Monoprice daily coupons expire since Monoprice is on the pacific time zone ~ but I haven’t tested the exact coupon expiration time).

Opinions and reviews on how this performs will come in future posts! I am trying to get optimized so I can post a LOT more content ~ instead of one thing every other month 🙂

Refurbished Sony MDR ZX600 On-Ears for $45 [updated]

This offer is back, ends around 6/26/17…

One of the longer running deals at Woot are the factory reconditioned Sony MDR-ZX600 closed-back on-ears offered for $40 in three different color schemes. Limit up to three per customer. Shipping is $5 flat regardless of how many things you buy from them during a particular calendar day in the Central time zone.

[DEAD] Wednesday’s Offers: Symphonized, Noontec, Etc

These lightning deals expired…

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[DEAD] Archeer 4-channel headphone amplifier (1/4″ jacks) for $10

As of 6/23/17 re-check, this is sold out and cannot be ordered at the moment…

[Read more…]

[DEAD] V-Moda Crossfade II Bluetooth Over-Ears with Apt-X for $270

AS of 6/23/17 the sale is over again…

It is the Rose Gold color scheme of the new V-Moda Crossfade II Wireless (bluetooth) over-ear headphone going for $270 with free shipping at authorized dealer Adorama.com.

The “Rose Gold” color is important in this case, because it is the only one of the three colors that supports apt-X. The other two colors do not.

20% off two-step discount on Google Play All Access Music subscription using Gift Cards

Google Play does not offer discounts on their All Access monthly music subscription service once your free trial ends, however, there is a way to get a discount on a regular basis if you take an additional step: buy Google Play gift cards at a discount.

Once upon a time it was hard to find Google PLAY gift cards at a discount but these days both Rite Aid and Walgreens are including them in their virtual 20% off promotions. For this week, good until the close of business on Saturday 6/24/17 at Rite Aid brick and mortar stores, you can get $5 back in Plenti rewards points when you purchase a $25 GooglePLAY gift card. Limit two per customer. You pay full price, but you get $5 to spend in future purchases (but not gift cards) at Rite Aid and other participating retailers (Macy’s, Exxon gas stations, etc).

So how exactly does that get you a discount on the music subscription service? Simple! Once you load up the gift card to your Google Play account, you can go to your Account settings and have your monthly music subscription get paid by your gift card balance. Once that is depleted, it will switch back to your default credit card. Or if you keep reloading gift cards, it will keep using the gift cards.

I’ve been doing this for many months now, and it works just like clockwork!

When you consider that YouTube RED is included with the Music subscription, that’s a good value. YouTube RED includes access to the YouTube Music app that allows you to play in the background, play audio-only videos, and of course avoid all ads!

Used Beats urBeats earphones for $18 w/free S&H

This is often a one of the recurring daily deals at A4C (aka All 4 Cellular), the used condition Beats urBeats earphones (an older model). They go for $15 when they are a daily deal and $18 when they are not. With free shipping. The product description says they come with new eargels installed but the earphones themselves are used/pre-owned.

[DEAD] Monday: 20% off at Monoprice with coupon [no minimum]

This coupon offer expired…

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[DEAD] Monday (Phones as DAPs): LG V20 for $400 [unlocked, USA]

This limited time sale expired…

[Read more…]

[DEAD] Monday: Sonic Solace ANC + Bluetooth Over-Ears for $51 + S&H

This coupon offer expired…

[Read more…]

[DEAD] Monday: Monoprice Desktop Headphone Amp for $64 + S&H after coupon

This coupon offer expired…

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[DEAD] Tuesday’s Offers: SOUL On-Ears, Noontec, Symphonized Earphones

These daily deals expired…

[Read more…]

[DEAD] Philips L2BO Semi-Open Over-Ears for $85

This sale ended…

This was a daily deal a few days ago at Woot, but now it has moved to a longer-running Plus offer at Woot. It is the new condition Philips L2BO Semi-Open Over-Ears offered for $80 plus $5 flat shipping. Limit up to three per customer. This is new with a 1-year Philips warranty per the listing. The offer continues for the next eight days, it is not one of their daily deals.

Running in parallel with that is a sale on the new condition Philips SHB9850NC Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones (bluetooth 4.0) going for $100 plus $5 flat shipping. The same terms as above.