Knock, on wood (and your spouse-CFO’s door) to get authorization for this Massdrop offer, it is the E-MU Teak Headphones with Removable Cable going for $500 plus $20 flat shipping. You can select teak or rosewood at checkout, or go ebony for $20 more. Only 100 units are available for this promotion which runs for the next seven days (or earlier if sold out, it’s already 74% claimed as of the time of writing). It will ship early March 2017, so patience is a virtue 🙂
DarkVoice 336SE OTL Headphone Amp for $213 [MD]
Another offer launched and is quickly unlocked (= lowest price during this particular offering) at members-only but free-to-join Massdrop, it is the DarkVoice 336SE OTL Headphone Amp going for $200 plus $13~ flat shipping. The offer runs for the next seven days (from blog-posting date) and will ship mid-February 2017.
Massdrop x AKG K7XX Red Edition for $200
It’s back on again! The Lady In Red, without Chris deBurgh, is unlocked at Massdrop for $200 with free shipping. That’s the “Massdrop x AKG K7XX Red Edition”, an open-back over-ear headphone, a continuation of their K7** series. The offer runs for the next seven days and ships in late January 2017. Only 145 units are available and they are serialized if you are a fan of that approach. They include a 2-year AKG warranty.
PS: AKG is owned by Harman Kardon which is now owned by Samsung.
Lasmex L-85 Open-Back for $73 [MD]
Open backs under $100 are not as common as above that price range, so if interested in this price-range, the open-back Lasmex L-85 is unlocked at members-only Massdrop for $65 plus $8~ flat shipping. The offer is running for the next seven days and will ship in early February 2017. They have a detachable cable and 64 ohm impedance.
Colorfly C3 Digital Audio Player for $48 [MD] or $50 [Prime]
On the budget digital audio players front, Massdrop has fully unlocked the Colorfly C3 Digital Audio Player for $45 plus $3~ flat shipping. The offer runs for the next seven days and will ship in early February 2017, from Massdrop. It has 8GB on-board plus memory card slot.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to wait that long, you can pay just $2~ more and get it in two days if you are a Prime member, ShenZhenAudio is offering it for $50 with free shipping with the orders fulfilled by Amazon.
TEAC AI-101DA Integrated Amplifier with USB DAC for $209
Another drop is fully-unlocked at members-only but free-to-join Massdrop, it is the TEAC AI-101DA Integrated Amplifier with USB DAC going for $200 plus $9~ flat shipping. They are available in black or silver. You also have options to add the LS-101 speaker set for +$75 or buy the speakers outright without the DAC/amp (ha!). The offer runs for the next seven days (from blog posting date) and it is estimated to ship early February 2017.
NOTE: this is not a dedicated headphone amp!
UPDATE: our round-up of the CES headphones continues, with a more detailed look at the Audio Technica DSR9 and DSR7 Digital Signal to the Drivers mystery.
Objective O2 Headphone amp for $88 to $103 [MD]
There are many solid options in the $100-or-less headphone amp or DAC or combo units, one of them is the legendary Objective headphone amp [lots of info and knowledge at the NwAVGuy blog], and Massdrop is offering their own co-branded O2 (Objective 2) headphone amp, fully unlocked for $80 plus $8~ flat shipping. Or for an extra $15, you can get the “Desktop Edition” with RCA inputs, 1/4″ headphone output, and rear power.
The offer runs for the next eight days, and will ship directly from Massdrop, in mid-to-late January 2017, which suggests they may have the units available in their warehouse (or will get them soon enough).
Shanling M1 Square DAP for $129 [MD]
The underground resurgence of DAPs (digital audio players) is fascinating, and there’s a lot of diversity in the market, from the $20 Chinese OEM to the whole Fiio line-up, to four-figure flagships, and just about anything in between. Some of the DAPs are more square and boxy…
… which brings us to the small little thing that is the Shanling M1, unlocked at Massdrop for $129 with free shipping. Despite its size, the thickness holds DSD and Bluetooth 4.0 technology, but it can also be used as a USB DAC or even as a USB transport. Storage is a microSD slot (up to 256GB). It can go up to 24-bit 192kHz, and supports DSD64 and 128. Full specs on their website.
It is available in three color schemes, with the offer shipping in February 2017. It runs for the next six days.
Grace Design x Massdrop m9XX DAC/Amp for $500
Dave Matthews may insist that the Grace is Gone, but Massdrop thinks otherwise, as it is now fully unlocked, the Grace Design x Massdrop m9XX DAC/Amp going for $500 with free shipping. The offer runs for the next seven days and it is expected to ship mid-January 2017. Specs and close-up pictures can be found at their listing over there.
VE Monks Plus Earbuds (all blue) for $8 [MD]
They are back! $8 is the ticket for this thrifty hype train! Massdrop is back with an all-blue color scheme of the VE Monks Plus earbuds. They go for $5 plus $3 flat shipping. These are true earbuds, but that’s not all. You have an option to get a model with mic/remote for $5 more (iOS or Android options), and they also have another +$5 option that gets you an accessory pack.
The offer is running for the next seven days from blog posting date (New Year’s Day) and will ship late January 2017.
I don’t have this all-blue model, but I have the red, here’s the useful text and pictures unboxing and an on-going slow-moving review diary.
This is what was included with the red color scheme:
NuForce uDAC-3 DAC/Amp Combo for $64 [MD]
Massdrop strikes again, this time with another double-figure combo, it’s the NuForce uDAC-3 DAC/Amp going for $60 plus $4~ flat shipping. This runs for the next eight days or so (first calendar week of January 2017), and will ship at the end of January 2017. This too has a blue light (prepare the electrical tape?), and has USB input and RCA and Coaxial (orange) outputs. Along with headphone out obviously.
xDuoo TA-01 DAC/Amp for $139 [MD]
Massdrop action again, the xDuoo TA-01 DAC/Amp is fully unlocked for $130 plus $9~ shipping with six days to go in the offer (ends around 1/6/17), with a direct shipment from MD at the very end of January 2017. This has a little tube on top (12AU7).
AKG K553 PRO for $120 [MD]
The offer is back on once again, the closed-back over-ear AKG K553 PRO is offered at members-only (but free to join) Massdrop for $120 with free shipping and a mid-January 2017 shipping estimate. The offer runs for the next eight days (from blog posting date). This is a recurring offer, so if you miss it, it will likely return many times and more.
Topping D30 DAC for $108 [MD]
Another offering is now fully unlocked at Massdrop, it is the Topping D30 DAC going for $100 plus $8~ flat shipping. The offer is running for the next seven days (from blog-posting date; give or take), and it is expected to ship in late January 2017. This is a DAC only, with three inputs (USB, coax, optical) and one output (RCA).
Thinksound ON2 On-Ears for $138
If you can wait until mid-January for shipment, Massdrop is offering the new condition closed-back wood on-ear Thinksound ON2 for $130 plus $8~ flat shipping. The offer runs for the next five days (until the end of this calendar year). They have detachable cable (two are included), 50 ohm impedance, and come with a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer (Thinksound).
Massdrop x HiFiMAN RE-00 In-Ears for $35
The Massdrop x HiFiMAN RE-00 in-ears are back again at Massdrop going for $35 with free shipping. They offer runs until the end of the year (literally, 12/31/16), but purchases will begin shipping in late January 2017, so patience is an earful virtue 🙂
Meanwhile two of the three versions of the RE-400 continue to sell for $49 (the buttonless, and the Android; the iOS is Apple-taxed at $59).
Shanling UP Portable DAC/Amp for $133.50 [MD]
Another portable USB DAC/amp, and one that serves four different cables (full size USB, micro-USB, USB-C, Lightning). It is the Shanling UP Portable DAC/Amp, currently fully unlocked at members-only Massdrop for $130 plus $3.50 flat shipping. The offer runs for the next seven days (from today) and will ship mid-to-late January 2017, so patience is a four cable virtue 😉
Massdrop Brainwavz IEM grab bag for $25 w/FS
If you like the randomness of “grab bag” style offers, members-only Massdrop is running one for Brainwavz IEMs for $25 with free shipping. For that, you will receive (randomly chosen by fate) one out of five possible IEMs: the S0, or S1, or S5, or M100 or ProAlpha. Each customer can buy one or two grab bags. The offer has 760 units available during this run, which continues for the next seven days (or earlier if the quantity is depleted). They will ship mid-January 2017.
They have 12 “prizes” that keep unlocking as more units get purchased. Up to twelve people will receive the more expensive “prize” instead of “one of the five”. Most of the prizes are the Brainwaz B150 earphones, but there is also one Hifiman HE-350, an AKG K7xx, and a Fostex The People TH-x00 Mahogany. The last three being over/on-ears, not earphones.
Heads Up: Tuesday 9am ET: Massdrop x E-MU Purpleheart for $75
Set your alarm clocks for Tuesday 9am ET if you are interested in the Massdrop x E-MU Purpleheart wood headphones. They will be unleashed on the members-only service there with a price of $75 with free shipping. They will have 3000 units available for this particular drop.
IMPORTANT: these will ship mid-April 2017. I repeat, middle of April in 2017. Think Tax Deadline day. So perhaps look at this as more of a Kickstarter/IndieGoGo than a purchase 🙂
Etymotic Research HF5 IEMs for $103.50 [MD]
The price sounds like an FM Radio, at 103.5 FM 🙂 The Etymotic Research Hf5 in-ears are going for $100 plus $3.50~ flat shipping at members-only Massdrop, with seven days left in the offer, and shipping estimates being mid-January 2017. These are triple-flange style.
Zorloo ZuperDAC for $63 [MD]
Another tiny USB DAC is out, fully unlocked at Massdrop, the Zorloo ZuperDAC going for $60 plus $3~ flat shipping. The offer runs for the next seven days, and will ship late January 2017. It is a simple device, USB input, 3.5mm output.
Five new offers got unlocked at Massdrop
Members-only Massdrop has five new offers that are currently unlocked, with somewhere between 6-7 days left in the promotion (from blog-posting date). The usual situation applies, shipping dates vary by individual product, and things of that nature. The five are (I am adding the shipping fee to the price mentioned below):
- GermanMaestero GMP 400 for $173, GMP 450 Over-Ears (MiG) for $10 more
- OSTRY KC06A In-Ears for $48
- MElectronics Audio X7 Plus Bluetooth IEMs for $64~
- Little Dot MKIII Tube Headphone Amp for $230
- XDuoo X10 Digital Audio Player (now with scrolling wheel technology; takes two cards) for $158
PS: MiG = Made in Germany.
Just Mobile HeadStand for $38 [MD]
This offer is back on again, with five days to go (from blog-posting date), Massdrop is offering the Just Mobile HeadStand headphone stand for $30 plus $8~ flat shipping. Three color choices are available, which you can select at checkout. The shipping estimate is the end of the year, which means these will arrive in early 2017.
Thinksound IEM grab bag at Massdrop
Massdrop is back with another grab bag promotion, this time featuring Thinksound wood IEMs. You pay $33 plus $3~ flat shipping, and for that, about half of the people will receive the Rain3 IEMs, and the rest will be split between three different models. Check their website for the exact percentages. Each person can buy up to two “grab bags”, with a total of 500 units available for this particular promotion. As usual, they have Prizes if certain quantities are purchases (three ON1 wood on-ears, one AKG K7xx over-ears). Shipment is estimated to be the end of the year, so you will receive them in 2017.
AKG M220 Semi-Open Over-Ears for $58 [MD]
They are back on again, the semi-open over-ear AKG M220, a modernization of the K240, are unlocked at members-only (but free to join) Massdrop going for $50 plus $8 flat shipping. They will ship early January and the offer is running for the next eight days from blog-posting date.
PS: a marketplace seller on Amazon used to have them for close to that price (when you consider Prime shipping vs Massdrop shipping) but their supplies ran out.
SMSL Icon Lightning DAC/Amp for iOS for $58 [MD]
The “Apple tax” is not high on this one, the SMSL Icon Lightning DAC/Amp for iOS is fully unlocked on Massdrop going for $55 plus $3~ flat shipping. It is estimated to ship early January 2017 and the offer is running for the next eight days.
Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00 for $400
It’s back on again. Fostex the people! The Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00 is ready to go for $400 with free shipping. It is running for the next eight days (until around 12/14~ or so; they don’t provide an expiration time, only “8d left” so you can’t pinpoint it to a specific time). About 1300 units are available and this will ship fairly quickly by MD standards, mid-December 2016. It will likely arrive before Christmas – knock on wood (pun intended).
Hifiman HE-350 for $100 [MD]
When it rains, it pours, and when it drops, it massdrops 🙂 Or something like that – the Hifiman HE-350 is back again at members-only Massdrop for its customary price of $100 with free shipping. The offer runs until about 12/11/16 or so, and is expected to ship mid-December 2016. This is not a planar magnetic headphone, Hifiman makes all kinds of headphones, even though they may be more well-known for their recent planar onslaught.
Speaking of Hifiman, the RE-400 non-buttoned earphones continue to sell for just under $49 and Prime eligible. The “just under $49” is important if you are not a Prime member; if you cross $49 you get free shipping.
DarkVoice 336SE OTL Headphone Amp for $213 [MD]
Glowing now at Massdrop, for the next six days (from blog-posting date) is the DarkVoice 336SE OTL Headphone Amp going for $200 plus $13~ flat shipping. Note however that orders will ship early January 2017, so it won’t be on time for the Holidays. You have a choice of power supply during checkout.
AKG K181 DJ UE for $63 w/fast shipping [MD]
Massdrop has a feature they call a “Bazaar”, where they sell remaining quantities of various products in their warehouse, and they ship those quickly like a normal retailer (around two business with free shipping). Supplies are very limited, but as of the time of writing, they have over 30 units of the closed-back on-ear AKG K181 DJ headphones for $63. They come with a 2-year AKG warranty. This offer will last as long as they have units available, so YMMV depending on when you are reading this.
AKG K553 Pro Studio Headphone for $120
The older AKG K550 is currently going for $90 by AKG thru NewEgg but a more recently released model, the AKG K553 Pro, is fully unlocked at members-only Massdrop for $120 with free shipping. It will ship mid-December 2016 and comes with a 2-year warranty from AKG, which is co-operating with MD for co-branded products. This particular offer runs for the next eight days (from blog-posting date). As the “K5” in the model name hints at, this is a closed-back headphone as well.
Final Heaven III IEMs for $73 [MD]
Another exclusive rolled out at its lowest offer price during this run at members-only MassDrop (MD), it is the Final Heaven III IEMs going for $70 plus $3~ flat shipping, with an early January 2017 shipping estimate. The offer is running for the next eight days (from blog-posting date). They will ship from MD.
Today’s buzzword du jour is BAM, balancing air movement 🙂
WoodLab Royal Glam Headphone Stand for $59 [MD]
On the wooden crafted headphone stands front, Massdrop has also fully unlocked the WoodLab Royal Glam Headphone Stand for $50 plus $9~ flat shipping. You have a choice of three options at checkout. There are eight days left in this and are estimated to ship mid-January 2017, so they will definitely not be on time for Holiday gift giving.
Fuse True Cable-Free Bluetooth Earbuds for $54 [MD]
“True wireless” earphones are becoming a thing now, and one of these, the Fuse True are fully unlocked at members-only Massdrop for $50 plus $4~ flat shipping. Three days are left in the offer (from blog-posting date), and are estimated to ship late December 2016. They come with a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer. They also have “CVC 6.0 noise-cancellation technology”.
NuForce DAC80 for $310 [MD]
With two days to go (from blog posting date), at members-only Massdrop, you can score the NuForce DAC80, in silver or black, for $300 plus $10~ flat shipping. It will ship late December 2016. This is not headphones-specific, but offers some flexibility if you have a more complicated setup ~ you can connect up to four devices at the same time. Check reviews and forums for more on this.
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