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

[mi-fu]

That was exactly what I did as well! Hopefully it's good. I'm also curious about the other amps Monoprice has in the works. They also released this recently, I didn't order it though. They generally don't put their more popular items on sale but they can kinda be a bargain if they are good products. The M1060 would have been one such product but the ringing ruined them for me.

I shared my impression with it here
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...cavalli-liquid-spark-initial-impression.4840/

 

[esm]

But I found there is audible distortion and one of the XLR output sockets is bent. I'm going to return it.

Hopefully this is just a case of one unit being poorly handled; we'll see how it goes when mine arrives.

Just to confirm: was the distortion you heard coming out via the passive XLR outputs, or through the powered headphone amp?

 

[mi-fu]

Hopefully this is just a case of one unit being poorly handled; we'll see how it goes when mine arrives.

Just to confirm: was the distortion you heard coming out via the passive XLR outputs, or through the powered headphone amp?

The passive XLR outputs (without connecting the power cord).

I have to say the distortion is not severe, though it is audible.

 

[Guermantes]

Pioneer XDP-30R Portable High-Resolution Digital Audio Player (Black)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1334874-REG/pioneer_xdp_30r_b_digital_audio_player_black.html

4 hours left until deal expires. $149.95 USD reduced from $399. Deal expired - now $230.

Design & Build

• Dual SABRE ES9018C2M DACs
• Dual SABRE ES9601K high-output amplifiers
• Symmetrical channel layout
• Solid brushed aluminum casing
• 32-bit DSP
• Scratch-resistant 2.4-inch 320 x 240 touchscreen
• Dual-band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
• Bluetooth wireless audio streaming (Profiles: A2DP/AVRCP, Codec: SBC)
• Intuitive user interface
• Large knurled volume control
• Side buttons for play/pause, skip/scan

Playback

• DSD (5.6 MHz/2.8 MHz), DSD-IFF, MP3, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, and AAC (Maximum 192 kHz/32-bit)
• MQA support with scheduled firmware update
• Supports TIDAL and TuneIn streaming services
• Control playback from smartphone with Pioneer DuoRemote App for iOS and Android
• Displays album artwork
• Sort by album, artist, genre, and more
• Playlist creation, shuffle, and repeat functions

 

[mi-fu]

Pioneer XDP-30R Portable High-Resolution Digital Audio Player (Black)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1334874-REG/pioneer_xdp_30r_b_digital_audio_player_black.html

4 hours left until deal expires. $149.95 USD reduced from $399.

Design & Build

• Dual SABRE ES9018C2M DACs
• Dual SABRE ES9601K high-output amplifiers
• Symmetrical channel layout
• Solid brushed aluminum casing
• 32-bit DSP
• Scratch-resistant 2.4-inch 320 x 240 touchscreen
• Dual-band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
• Bluetooth wireless audio streaming (Profiles: A2DP/AVRCP, Codec: SBC)
• Intuitive user interface
• Large knurled volume control
• Side buttons for play/pause, skip/scan

Playback

• DSD (5.6 MHz/2.8 MHz), DSD-IFF, MP3, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, and AAC (Maximum 192 kHz/32-bit)
• MQA support with scheduled firmware update
• Supports TIDAL and TuneIn streaming services
• Control playback from smartphone with Pioneer DuoRemote App for iOS and Android
• Displays album artwork
• Sort by album, artist, genre, and more
• Playlist creation, shuffle, and repeat functions

any idea if it is good?

 

[Guermantes]

any idea if it is good?

I have no experience with it, sorry. I use a FIIO X3 MkII and this unit seems like an upgrade with respect to specifications.

A favorable review on Head-Fi:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/pioneer-xdp-30r.22886/reviews

What Hi-fi? praises it mainly on specs:
https://www.whathifi.com/pioneer/xdp-30r/review

StereoNet considers it "high-performance":
https://www.stereo.net.au/reviews/review-pioneer-xdp-30r-digital-audio-player

Mixed reviews on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Hi-R...Type=all_reviews&sortBy=recent#R1MH7WD1MPT9XL

 

[mi-fu]

I have no experience with it, sorry. I use a FIIO X3 MkII and this unit seems like an upgrade with respect to specifications.

A favorable review on Head-Fi:
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/pioneer-xdp-30r.22886/reviews

What Hi-fi? praises it mainly on specs:
https://www.whathifi.com/pioneer/xdp-30r/review

StereoNet considers it "high-performance":
https://www.stereo.net.au/reviews/review-pioneer-xdp-30r-digital-audio-player

Mixed reviews on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Hi-R...Type=all_reviews&sortBy=recent#R1MH7WD1MPT9XL

Thanks a lot for the links!

 

[NorthSky]

$699 for this baby, limited time offer ... till the 25th. --- Weight: 10.3 kg / 22.7 lbs

⛟ https://www.massdrop.com/buy/pioneer-ultra-hd-universal-disc-player?
_____

* https://www.avsforum.com/forum/149-...owners-thread-no-price-talk.html#post56995606

 

[NorthSky]

Important question: Is this a reliable site to purchase your audio equipment?
¤ https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.massdrop.com

If it is I will keep an eye open for future great audio deals.
If it isn't I want zero part of it, forever. I will delete anything/everything related to it by me.

 

[amirm]

Important question: Is this a reliable site to purchase your audio equipment?

Massdrop is the top discount site for audio gear (and other stuff). I have bought a bunch of stuff from them as have others. It is a very good company other than selling products that may not be ready for months at times.

Most of the notices here for discounts is actually from massdrop.

 

[NorthSky]

Ok, good to know Amir.

Now can you explain this, from Pioneer's own solid sources (web):

All Pioneer Elite products for the last few years come with a 3 year parts and labor warranty.
If one is not an authorized Pioneer Elite dealer then Pioneer most likely will not honor the warranty.
_____

When on that massdrop page it says:

Included

• Pioneer’s 1-year warranty

 

[derp1n]

If you care about warranty, don't buy from Massdrop. They have a poor reputation.

 

[NorthSky]

Massdrop is the top discount site for audio gear (and other stuff). I have bought a bunch of stuff from them as have others. It is a very good company other than selling products that may not be ready for months at times.

Most of the notices here for discounts is actually from massdrop.

Are there other ASR members here who have purchased audio items from them and who like you are also 100% satisfied?

And of course I'd like to know about that warranty discrepancy.
One year isn't three years, and Pioneer Elite products are three years. If it isn't it usually means that it is not an authorized Pioneer Elite audio product dealer.

 

[NorthSky]

If you care about warranty, don't buy from Massdrop. They have a poor reputation.

Now you're talking! ...Like a straight arrow hitting its matter of the fact target...bullseye.

Some we care some we don't. People who don't care they live in a black hole.
People who care live on a white cloud.

 

[NorthSky]

Thx Amir too.

 

[wadec22]

I agree with both of them. Massdrop is a great way to get exclusives, discounts & tough to find overseas gear. I've bought keyboards, audio equipment and PC hardware from them. I love some of the stuff I've purchased there.

I've reached out to ask there team questions and customer service is painstakingly slow to respond.

I've never had any equipment need warranty help, but the discussion areas often have comments from frustrated users with slow resolutions.

YMMV

 

[NorthSky]

So far three of you don't mind @ all recommending massdrop for great audio deals.

 

[maxxevv]

I have bought 3 items from Massdrop so far. Despite the tenuous shipping process ( as some items do not allow for direct shipping to my location) and generally long delivery lead times, it has been a good experience so far.

So far I bought the HD6XX, HE4XX and Matrix HPA-3B from them. All problem free and excellent products.

The excellent product part relies on some in-depth research work. The problem free part relies a bit on chance / luck of the draw as with many products out there.

 

[JJB70]

On the Pioneer DAP, it's a nice unit and at that price a no brainer if you want a DAP. I have an older Pioneer DAP and have had no complaints at all, solidly made, good sound quality and a good UI. My only criticism would be that volume does not go very high (though it is adequate) but that is because of EU regulations and not a fault of the device or Pioneer and the US model may be unregulated.

 

[jsmiller58]

I have bought many, many, many (yeah, I mean many) items on Massdrop, almost all audio gear.

Yeah, some of what they sell comes with no warranty (just 30 day return if defective), some with just a Massdrop warranty (up to a year), and some with the original manufacturer’s warranty. Depends on the item. I am not sure how they choose what they sell w/o a warranty - if they are a channel from the manufacturer to sell off excess capacity at a discount (saving warranty cost), or if they are not authorized sellers, etc., but I am pretty sure their warranty approach is one of the reasons they offer some of their deep discounts.

I have been lucky, only had an issue with one item from them. Of course it was an item without warranty coverage. Personally I have no issue buying from Massdrop and trading risk of not having warranty coverage for deep discounts.

Now, those delivery times...