Master "deals" (massdrop, ebay, Amazon, etc.) Thread on Audio Product Sales

[jrampoldi]

Amir's Marantz HD-AMP1 review

 

[ROOSKIE]

JBL Studio 530 $289.99 NEW

Can not recommend this speaker enough and of course like ALL speakers best way to find out is by trying them yourself as YMMV.

https://www.harmanaudio.com/jbl/STUDIO+530.html

also available at JBl.com (same exact company just different storefronts)

 

[GGroch]

JBL Studio 530 $289.99 NEW.....

As I mentioned 2 posts earlier ROOSKIE

For the record, I owned a pair and liked them very much, like you did. In my room they sounded much better than they sounded or measured in amirm's.

 

[ROOSKIE]

To compliment your Marantz HD-Amp1, Harman has the JBL Studio 530 passive horn loaded bookshelfs for $290 a pair shipped. So, bookshelf speakers and an amp, neither of which were enthusiastically endorsed by Amir for nearly 1/2 off!!

The Center Channel Studio 520 is also on sale for $140.

Just realized I missed you posted the deal before me. Sorry to double post. I looked quickly and somehow missed it or perhaps my page was not updated.
I do want to mention that like @GGroch the 530's are enthusiastically recommended by myself and many others despite Amir not fully backing them. Additionally the measurements are superb.
That amp however may not be quite enough juice. The 530's are not efficient nor easy to drive and coupled with that smooth sound you may be tempted to turn them up loudly and enjoy. While in many cases the Marantz spec will be enough power I have see the clipping indicator light up on one of my amps during loud, complex passages at high volumes in a medium sized room. That is with about 150 watts, and high passed so the amp was not even driving much bass. This was about as loud as I listen(peaks well into the high 90's at 9-10 feet away) but just to be helpfully clear, very loud playback may require a beefier amp.

 

[sweetchaos]

Studio Monitors:
Yamaha HS8
Was US$370/ea, now on sale for US$325/ea (12% drop) on amazon.com
Lowest price in the last year. Last time it was this low, was back in 2018.

bhphoto, sweetwater, adorama are all showing regular price.
White looks gorgeous...IMO.

Update 1: While it was in stock when I posted...now it says "Usually ships within 1 to 2 months."
Update 2: Black colour received the same price drop. Same, 1-2 month shipping. Lowest price of black colour was US$305/ea several times last year.

 

[sweetchaos]

I will do a sweetchaos or raistlin65, and post this:
Hifiman HE-400I planar magnetic HPs for $145. This is not the 2020 version, but the older version.

That's the 2016 version, the one Amir reviewed (and recommended!).
Currently US$185 on amazon.com, so this is an extra 22% savings. Good deal.
One caveat: Shipping is 3 weeks.

 

[sweetchaos]

I've went through my List of Canadian resellers/dealers to create a List of Amir's Recommended Speakers, for Canadians.
Enjoy!

Who predicted this one?
I created List of Amir's Recommended Headphones, for Canadians
Canadian brothers and sisters...time to spend your Canadian Rubles.

On that topic...here's the commercial that always comes to mind when I see a great deal.

 

[sweetchaos]

Passive Bookshelf:
JBL Stage A120
Was US$250/pr, now on sale for US$150/pr (40% drop) on amazon.com
Lowest price in the last year, last time it was this low was back in Jul 2019.

Note: amazon listing is confusing, as it appears to be a single speaker?
But the price of US$150/pair is the same on bhphotovideo, crutchfield, etc.
So I'll assume amazon listing is for a pair as well.

Amir reviewed the larger brother, A130 (and it was highly recommended).

 

[sweetchaos]

Open-Back Headphones:
Sennheiser HD650
Normally US$400, but now on sale for US$355 (11% drop) on amazon.com
Last time we saw a similar deal was Oct 31, 2020.

Other resellers (adorama, bhphotovideo, sweetwater) are showing regular price.
Amir's review.
I'm slightly jealous...we're paying +33% markup (after currency exchange) here in Canada. *sigh*

EDIT: looks like the deal lasted 2hrs only...

 

[DomieMic65]

https://www.nakas.gr/prd/rme-adi-2-dac-fs-akm4493-da-converter-el

 

[sweetchaos]

Passive Bookshelf:
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR
Was US$150/pr, now on sale for US$74/pr (51% drop) on newegg.com
Last time it was on sale was on Dec 22.

Amir's review.

 

[stumper3819]

AKG N700NCM2 $100 At WOOT

 

[GGroch]

AKG N700NCM2 $100 At WOOT

Good Deal! Link to Woot Deal.

BizzaroWorld rates them 4 out of five stars with praise for space and organization!

PC Mag says "excellent". I own a pair and am quite pleased.

 

[weasels]

Good Deal! Link to Woot Deal.

BizzaroWorld rates them 4 out of five stars with praise for space and organization!

PC Mag says "excellent". I own a pair and am quite pleased.

How big are the earcups, if I may ask, compared to a Sennheiser 6XX?

 

[GGroch]

How big are the earcups, if I may ask, compared to a Sennheiser 6XX?

I do not have 6XX here to compare, but from memory these are smaller, as are most ANC over ears. I have to adjust them a bit to get my full ear enclosed, but they are deep so for me, comfortable.

 

[Lattiboy]

How big are the earcups, if I may ask, compared to a Sennheiser 6XX?

I have a giant head and ears and these fit me well. I have the M1, but I believe they are very similar.

they sound quite good, but the ANC has a very (for me) unpleasant “vacuum effect” when turned on.

 

[ROOSKIE]

The JBL Stage A130 is on Sale Direct for $180 shipped.
https://www.harmanaudio.com/jbl/STAGE+A130.html?dwvar_STAGE A130_color=Black-USA-Current

 

[GGroch]

Woot.com (an Amazon Company) is selling the Amazon Basics 80W digital power amplifier for $70 shipped (for Prime members). Class D, it is I think rated at 75wx2 into 4 ohms and 50wx2 into 8. Two pair of switchable speaker outputs. 2 auto sensing inputs, volume and balance controls plus bass/treble on the back.

Lowest price ever I think was $95 quite a while ago. 5.5 pounds for $70. This would be quite interesting for Amir to measure.

 

[sweetchaos]

Studio Monitor:
JBL 708P
Was US$2000/ea, now on sale for US$1800/ea (10% drop) on amazon.com and guitarcenter.com (and bhphotovideo, but shipping is 4-6 weeks).
Last time it was on sale was on Nov 27-Dec6, 2020 on amazon, but for US$25 cheaper.

Amir's review of JBL 705P (smaller brother to 708P).