Panasonic Retro RP-HTX7 headphones for $27 with coupon

It’s not often Amazon has a headphone-specific coupon, but occasionally do, and it’s a utilitarian coupon for a utilitarian headphone. It’s a clip-on coupon, so you just have to click at the appropriate spot, you don’t have to type it in.

The black Panasonic RP-HTX7 headphones are on sale for $30 at the moment but with Amazon actual as the seller, a clip-on coupon option appears that drops the price by $3, making it a $27. Free shipping for Prime members or with a $49+ order. Screenshot below when the coupon offer is live:

panasonic_rphtx7_coupon

If you are not a Prime member or do not plan a $49+ order, you can get it for $29 with free shipping by Focus Camera on eBay. Limit 50 units per customer.

These are closed-back over-ear-ish studio-ish headphones on a budget. They average 4.2 out of 5 based on 1600+ customer reviews.

Rooth Earplugs for $21 shipped [MD]

Another day, another offer went live at members-only Massdrop, it is the colorful Rooth Earplugs (they do not play music, it’s strictly hearing protection) for $18 plus $3~ flat shipping. The colors are actually different models with different noise filtering at 9, 15 and 21 dB depending on color. These are triple flanged and discrete (they don’t stick out of your ears, but have a little tab to pull them out) and come with a carrying case. Offer ends in about 8 days from today and ship in late August 2016.

[DEAD] Thursday: JBL Synchros S300 On-Ears for $30 w/free S&H

This particular sale ended but the JBLs appear to be on sale all the time at various retailers…

[Read more…]

Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Over-Ears for $199 [limit 5]

If you are interested in the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 closed-back over-ears, there’s a sale, but only on the Ivory color-scheme with the iOS remote buttons. This is in new condition, going for $199 with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon actual with a limit of five units per customer. You can press the Color and OS buttons to see the other prices for the other combos, screenshot below:

momentum20_sale

The above is what you see on a desktop browser, the design of the page may be different if reading at a laptop or tablet or phone or have a smaller window/viewport or use a different browser, etc, etc, etc.

This is not a lightning deal, so I don’t know how long it will last. It may be a sale or it may be a price match or a combination.

If you prefer any of the other options, used/refurbished may be the way to go, prices start at $145~ depending on option (color and OS). This link shows the lowest price of each option. To see more detailed listings, click on the “See all offers for this product” next to the options of interest.

[DEAD] Refurbished AUDEZE EL-8 Open w/1yr warranty for $400

This recurring sale ended as well… The sale is back on again, but only for the open-back version, the open-back planar-magnetic Audeze EL-8 are on sale in refurbished condition with a 1-year manufacturer warranty for $400 with free shipping at Adorama.com. This is a limited time offer (I do not know the expiration date).

Soundmagic HP150 Closed Over-Ears for $130

The Amazon price-checking party continues, this time with a new condition headphone, the closed-back over-ear and folding SoundMAGIC HP150 are now down to $130 with free shipping by a couple of sellers (Tinbel, Audio Eq) with those orders fulfilled by Amazon, so they are Prime eligible.

I will side-step the whole neutral/flat pitfall by only mentioning that the word “neutral” appears in six of the 20 customer reviews posted for this particular model 🙂

PS: there is also an open-back model, the HP200 which goes for $150 as of the time of writing.

Sennheiser CX215 earphone for $27 w/free S&H

We take a break from the Warehouse Deals Used adventures with a flash sale on a new condition earphone, it is the blue color scheme of the Sennheiser CX 215 going for $27 with free shipping at Adorama.com. This is a limited time sale, but I do not know the expiration date.

Used Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO (250 ohm) for $115

If you don’t want to wait for future sales or bundles, the open-back over-ear Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO (250 ohm) are available in “Used – Very Good” condition for $115 (various conditions) with free shipping by Amazon Warehouse Deals (updated link) and “Used – Like New” for $122~. Since there are multiple listings, price pressure may (or may not) build up over time.

UPDATE: there are multiple used listings, some are back-ordered (strangely), others are not.

PS: there’s a goofy thing with Amazon Warehouse Deals, sometimes it shows a summary of the listings, so not all used options may be shown unless you go specifically to the used-only listings. This headphone, as of the time of writing, is a good example. The general listing only shows some of the used options, but when you click on the Used-only option in the left hand side, you see all used listings. Same thing with new and refurbished. Even though I am aware of this, I still forget about it!

New release: Schiit Modi Multibit DAC for $249 + S&H

Schiit Audio has released a brand new DAC, shaking things up in their Modi line-up with the new Modi Multibit going for $249 plus mandatory shipping. The shipping estimate is currently 2-4 business days from ordering. You can find it on the Modi 2 page, it’s one of the options, see screeshot below:

modi_multibit

This is of interest if you are interested in multi-bit DACs, but it’s also of interest if you are not: it may put some price pressure on the used prices of the Modi 2 and Uber.

Details and explanation how this fits in their multibit line-up at their News page.

PS: an easy mnemonic to tell the Modi and Magni apart. The DAC has a D in its name, Modi, while the AMP has an A in its name, Magni.

PS2: yes, I am aware that DAC is an acronym while AMP is short for amplifier, but it creates a disturbance in the uppercase universe when I type DAC and Amp 😉

Used Magni 2 Uber Headphone Amplifier for $124 [was $128]

The Magni 2 Uber Headphone Amplifier goes for $149 in new condition and $139 in Beef Stock condition at the Schiit website. Shipping is additional and mandatory. The new condition price of this at Amazon is $179 with free shipping. With these numbers in mind…

… the Magni 2 Uber is available in “Used – Good” condition (cosmetic imperfections, repackaged) for $124 (was $127.54) with free Prime shipping by Amazon Warehouse Deals… Price updated in post on 7/27/16 at 4pm ET…

PS: for some reason I cannot resist writing “B-Stock” as “Beef Stock” 🙂

PS2: if you are Schiiit-curious, the e-book co-authored by the two co-founders is (permanently?) on sale for $5 in Kindle format. It is 380+ pages, but keep in mind, this is the story of the company, not an electrical/audio engineering book.

Fiio E17K ALPEN 2 USB DAC/Amp for $99

The last time I posted about the Fiio E17K ALPEN 2 USB DAC and headphone amp it was going in triple figures in new condition, but as of this price check, it is down to $99 with free shipping by a number of retailers including various at Amazon (Pitbull, Gramophone, Expo, Beach, etc) and B&H Photo and Sonix Electronix among others.

Keep in mind this is a previous naming-convention model, you can see the new and old co-mingling at the Fiio website. TIP: their website is fiio.net, not fiio.com (which is giving a web server error).

Sabrent External USB Stereo Sound Adapter for $6

The Sabrent External USB Stereo Sound Adapter is now down to $6 at amazon.com and it is USB powered. It averages 4.3 out of 5 based on 2100+ customer reviews and has 300+ answered questions. This is more of utilitarian interest, than audiophile interest.

If you need more reviews, there is a similarly looking and similarly priced SYBA branded item which is however an Add-On item, so you must place an order of $25+ in order to buy it. This one also averages 4.3 out of 5 based on 3400+ reviews, and has 500+ answered questions. Plenty of details in those two places about it if you want to research them.

PS: I am doing a price-checking session at Amazon and Amazon Warehouse Deals, which is why you will be seeing all kinds of random things getting posted in the next few hours 🙂

Mpow Bluetooth Receiver drops to $12

If you need to bluetoothize (verb) your headphones or anything else that can play music from a 3.5mm input, the well-reviewed (4.3 out of 5 with 2660+ reviews and 300+ questions answered) Mpow Bluetooth Receiver is now down to $12 in new condition at amazon.com. Manufacturers rarely describe this clearly, but you can read the reviews and Q&A for more details.

Receiver is the key word here, it “receives” music from a bluetooth source (eg smartphone or tablet). The opposite is a Transmitter, which “transmits” music (eg from a 3.5mm playback source) to a bluetooth receiver (eg this device or bluetooth headphones or bluetooth-enabled speakers).

Using both a bluetooth receiver and a transmitter, you can take any two analog devices, eg your tape cassette player and your wired headphones and turn them into a bluetooth set. However, keep in mind that there is audio degradation with bluetooth, and more so when you combine them, so this may be best for audiobooks or spoken word or non-musical audio or background music while doing household chores that wouldn’t let you critically enjoy music anyway.

MEE Audio In-Ear Grab Bag for $9 shipped [MD]

In an appetizer-style of a grab bag offer, members-only Massdrop offers a random selection MEE Audio in-ears for $8 plus $1 flat shipping. Limit two random items per customer. You will randomly receive one out of four models (M6P, M6, M9, RX18p). The first two are the more expensive and are 20% of the quantity available. Half of them are the RX18p. A total of 4000 units are available, and at each numeric milestone (500, 1000, etc) a special prize will unlocked, including the Sennheiser HD800 if the grab bag sells out. Offer ends in eight days from today or earlier if the 4000 limit is reached.

[DEAD] Fostex TX-1 for $20 w/free S&H

This daily deal expired… In the #3 slot of the current Musician’s Friend Deals of the Day (aka at the bottom of the stack) are the new condition Fostex TX-1 Headphones offered for $20 with free shipping. The offer ends by Wednesday at 8am ET.

[DEAD] Wednesday’s Offers: GOgroove Earbuds, Earpads for Bose Over-Ears, Etc

This round of daily deals is now over…

[Read more…]

[DEAD] Used Schiit Valhalla 2 Headphone Amplifier for $331

As of a 7/27/16 4pm ET recheck, the used option sold out… The Valhalla 2 Headphone Amplifier goes for $349 plus mandatory shipping at the Schiit website in new condition. At Amazon, the same products are sold for more in new condition, but they get free shipping. With this trade-off in mind, there is a “Used – Like New” listing for this Viking model going for $331~ by Amazon Warehouse Deals actual, with the description of damaged original packaging.

Noontec Hammo Over-Ears for $40 w/free S&H

If you like headphones in a red-yellow type of a color scheme, the new condition over-ear closed-back Noontec Hammo in the red color scheme only are down to $40 with free shipping by Tanga.com and Beach Camera on eBay and Beach on Amazon (not Prime eligible) where they average 4 out of 5 based on 21 customer reviews.

PS: Noontec’s claim to fame was perhaps when their Zoro On-Ears “defeated” the first generation of the Beats Solo while selling for less and looking very zimilar 🙂

Audio-Technica ATH-CHX7 SonicFuel Hybrid Earbuds for $12 w/free S&H

If you want to try out the Audio Technica Sonic Fuels without spending/risking too much, you can get the new condition Audio-Technica ATH-CHX7 SonicFuel Hybrid Earbuds for $12 with free shipping at Tanga.com. They are available in three different colors with a limit of ten units per customer. The free shipping is a limited time promotion.

[DEAD] Monday: Bose SoundTrue Around-Ears II (black; iOS) for $100

This daily deal expired… o/~ Beats and Bose they break my bones o/~ but if you are not singing this tune, then good for Monday only (July 25, 2016), Best Buy is offering as one of their deals du jour the new condition charcoal-black Bose SoundTrue Around-Ears II with the iOS button configuration for $100 with free S&H or store pick-up. These are straight up wired headphones, no ANC, no Bluetooth.

[DEAD] Tuesday’s Offers: Brainwavz Omega, Agptek mp3, Sanitary Covers, Etc

These particular set of limited time offers expired…

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XDuoo X2 Digital Audio Player for $47 [MD] or $50 Now

There is a choice in this offer! If you like to pay a lower price and don’t mind waiting until late August 2016, you can get the XDuoo X2 Digital Audio Player for $44 plus $3~ flat shipping from Massdrop. It is currently fully unlocked with six days left (from blog-posting date, not the date you are reading this ~ MD does not post a specific end time, so I don’t know exactly when it expires).

If you can’t wait that long, or you don’t want to deal with a members-only shopping website, fear not, for $3 more, you can have it in your pocket in as little as two days, depending on how close you are to an Amazon facility and whether you are a Prime member. To cut a long story short, it is offered for $50 by Andoer, with the order fulfilled by Amazon, so it is Prime-eligible.

PS: the first picture at Amazon makes it look like it is pancake-flat. It is not! Check the other pictures, it is DAP-chunky like a Fiio 🙂

Fireye HDB Balanced Portable Amplifier for $187 [MD]

It’s balance amp time, of the portable kind this time at Massdrop, and it is fully unlocked, going for $180 plus $7~ flat shipping. The item in question is the Fireye HDB Balanced Portable Amplifier, with the offer good for six more days (from blog-posting date) and a mid-August 2016 shipment estimate. Close-up pictures of all the ports are included at the MD website.

Chromecast Audio for $30 with free S&H

As foreshadowed by the weekly ad teasers, the new condition Chromecast Audio is now on sale again for $30 (instead of its usual price of $35) with free shipping for all at the official Google eBay store and free shipping for Rewards members at Staples.com. Other retailers have it for $30 but no free shipping. You may also find it on sale for $30 at B&M stores (eg Best Buy, Walmart, etc) but I haven’t walked into those to check.

If you are Chromecast-Audio-curious, here’s our text and pictures useful Unboxing. Fear not, there’s no audio and no video. It’s a non-disruptive unboxing 🙂

[DEAD] Monday Offers: MEE M6 In-Ears and refurbs (Sony Kids, Backbeat Go2, Kraken), Etc

These daily lightning offers expired…

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[DEAD] Open-box Philips SHP9500 for $49 w/free S&H

As of a 7/28/16 recheck, the price went up… If you don’t want to wait for another discount ($60 sale price) or don’t want to deal with a mail-in rebate promotion ($50 after mail-in rebate), the open-back over-ear Philips SHP-9500 are in-stock right now in open-box condition for $49 with free shipping at the NewEgg website by NewEgg actual with a limit of five units per customer.

[DEAD] Refurbished Philips M1/28 On-Ear for $37

As of 10/21/16 rechecked, these sold out… This was $50 when we last posted about it in late April (I do not have photographic memory, I am going through the Philips archives), but as of this re-check, the Philips M1/28 on-ears (discontinued) are available in refurbished condition from Deals2Remember (91%, 90 ratings) for $37, with the order fulfilled by Amazon. Since they ship from Amazon, you deal with Amazon’s customer service and get free Prime shipping, so in case of problems, it’s not as risky as buying directly from a seller. The headphones themselves average 4 out of 5 based on 55 customer reviews.

[DEAD] Philips Fidelio S2WT/28 In-Ears (white) for $94

As of 10/21/16 this discontinued model is not available in new condition at these prices any more… Back on the sale train again, the white color scheme of the Philips Fidelio S2WT/28 In-Ears is down to $94~ with free shipping with a limit of five per customer, in new condition, at Amazon by Amazon actual. There is a used option for $42~ shipped by a non-Prime marketplace seller that is a higher risk. The black color scheme remains at $120+.

Used Philips F1/27 On-Ears for $37, new for $50 to $59

It looks like Amazon Warehouse Deals is starting to re-stockup again after the Great Purge of Prime Day Couponing in early July. Case in point, the Philips F1/27 On-Ears are available in “Used – Good” condition for $37.50 and “Used – Very Good” for $40 by Amazon Warehouse Deals.

But that’s not all, the new condition prices have also dropped, it goes for $50 by AutoCare Depot (not Prime eligible) and $59 by Amazon actual.

Philips Fidelio M1/27 Mark II On-Ears for $80

This headphone dropped another $10 since we posted about it in early July. It is the black/orange color-scheme of the Philips Fidelio M1/27 Mark II BO (= Black Orange) going for $80 with free shipping at Amazon by Amazon actual with a limit of three units per customer. Amazon’s own price is $90 for the Black color-scheme. These are for Prime members only.

However, a couple of marketplace sellers (Phat George and Auto Care Depot) offer these two colors for $80 each thru Amazon. Phat George is fulfilled by Amazon, while AutoCare ships directly. These are not well-known A/V dealers, so it is a higher risk purchase. These offers are available to everyone, only the ones sold by Amazon actual are limited to Prime members.

[DEAD] Still good: Philips A1Pro/27 DJ Headphones for $40 [limit 5]

As of 8/26/16, the price jumped to $80+…

[Read more…]

[DEAD] Saturday Offers: Torque t103z In-Ears, KZ ED9 In-Ears, Mocreo Stand

This limited time daily offerings expired…

[Read more…]

New and shipping: Monoprice portable USB DAC/Amp (15494)

A new product alert from Monoprice, and it is in-stock and shipping as of the time of writing, it is their new Portable USB DAC/amp [updated link], model 15494, with a starting price of $60. This is USB (Class A) on one side and 3.5mm headphone out on the other side, and supports up to 24/96. It is so new it has no customer reviews there.

Free headphones with ZTE Axon 7 pre-order (two choices)

From the “Phones as DAPs” department, the new ZTE flagship smartphone, the “ZTE Axon 7” is available for pre-order for $400 (unlocked, USA warranty, no contract) at various sellers. As of the time of writing, a couple of sellers are sweetening the pie with free headphones.

At NewEgg you get the Monster N-Pulse Over-Ear DJ headphones for FREE. They have a selling price of $200 but various marketplace sellers have the white color for $100 at NewEgg, while a …car parts seller has it as low as $55 at amazon.com. To cut a long story short, this is not a $200 freebie, just the usual marketing value inflation gimmicks 🙂

At B&H Photo you get two freebies without the hype, a $25 B&H Photo Gift Card (to be used in future purchases, not towards this purchase), and the Samsung Level U solid-frame bluetooth earbuds.

Heads up: Chromecast Audio dropping to $30 again on Sunday

This is a heads up alert. According to the sneak peak of the Staples Weekly Ad for the week starting on Sunday 7/24/16, the Chromecast sale will return with both the regular and Audio versions dropping to $30 instead of their usual price of $35. In Staples’s case, the Audio is only available on their website. Usually the sale carries over to other retailers as well, either with price-match or a general purpose sale. You can also check starting on Sunday the official eBay store (it is $35 as of posting time).

ccaudio_sale_again

If you are Chromecast-Audio-curious, here’s our text and pictures useful Unboxing. Fear not, there’s no audio and no video. It’s a non-disruptive unboxing 🙂