Best of the Best
Black Friday deals have already started and it’s not even Black Friday yet. Cyber Monday Deals are here too. Don’t get me started. Amazon and other retailers have turned two of the Internet’s most prolific online shopping days into a two week extravaganza of discounts.
Only a small fraction of highly discounted items will only be available on the Friday after Thanksgiving or the Monday following the Holiday weekend. Some of the best deals are available now, and if they sell out, they won’t be around by Cyber Monday.
Sorting through thousands of deals is no easy task. Just because something is cheap doesn’t mean you should buy it. We’ve scoured through the deals to the find the best consumer electronics we’d recommend even if it wasn’t on sale.
Discounts for audiophiles and home theater don’t come around often, so it’s good time to pull the trigger on a purchase you’ve been holding off on. Not only are retailers trying to get ready for 2021 with end-of-year closeout deals on TVs, headphones, sound bars, wireless speakers, subwoofers and more as retailers get ready for 2021.
Here’s what we’ve found so far…
4K TVs
Sony’s A8H 65-inch OLED TV of 2020 is the critics choice among videophiles this year. It debuted at $2,799 earlier this year and is now $1,000 off! The 55-inch model is just as good for less cash.
Samsung The Frame is the 4K TV that hangs like art on your wall. The 65-inch model includes a no-gap wall mount too. It was $1899. Now $1499.
Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4 are considered by many reviewer to be the best-of-the-best wireless noise cancelling headphones of 2020, slightly edging out the Bose Headphone 700. See our WH-1000XM4 review roundup. Regularly priced at $349. Now $278 (21% off).
Ranked #1 by Wirecutter for best wireless headphones 2020, the Jabra Elite 85h Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones, “do nearly everything better than similarly priced competitors.” Now $100 off. Was $249. Now $149.
Although the Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Bluetooth headphones are a generation behind. You’ll still enjoy top-notch noise-cancellation at an unbeatable price, now with a $100 price cut.
New Amazon Lightning Deal: Sennheiser HD 599 SE open-back wired headphones are half off! Was $199. Now $99. Hurry, expires midnight (PST) on Black Friday.
Apple’s second generation iconic AirPods are still a must-have for everyday wireless listening with convenient connectivity to iPhone and iPad. They’re $40 off!
AirPods Pro are the latest wireless earbuds from Apple which add noise cancellation. They’re $50 off!
Harmanaudio.com has the AKG N5005 in-ear headphones on sale for 60% off! Was $999. Now $399. Wired.co.uk awarded them best in-ears and said they have, “hair-raising performance.”
The online audiophile store Apos Audio is offering an exclusive 20-30% discount on nearly all Ultimate Ears professional in-ear monitors from Saturday, November 21st until Friday, December 4, 2020. Discount IEMs include:
- UE LIVE now has $660 off for a 30% savings.
- UE 18+ Pro now has $450 off for a 30% savings.
- UE 11 Pro now has $360 off for a 30% savings.
- UE Reference Remastered now has $200 off for a 20% savings.
- UE 7 Pro now has $180 off for a 20% savings.
Beginning Wednesday, November 25th, till December 4th, all orders for UE 18+ and UE LIVE will get a free WONDERBOOM 2 Bluetooth speaker (this will be added to the orders of UE18+ and UE LIVE automatically).
If you’re missing live music, Wired.com says the Audeze LCD-1 lightweight planar magnetic (wired) headphones “give you the next best thing.” Now 25% off at Amazon or direct from Audeze.com. Was $399. Now $299.
Smart Speakers
Amazon’s newest Echo (4th gen) smart speaker is $30 off. Was $99.99. Now $69.99 (30% off). It’s the speaker where you just, “Ask Alexa”. Audiophiles should want it if only to control music through “works with Alexa” compatible components. Or save 42% off the smaller Echo Dot.
OWC has Apple’s HomePod on sale for 30% off. Was 299. Now $208.
Home Theater
Sonos Beam is the most affordable sound bar that’s apart of the Sonos whole-home wireless ecosystem. It’s $100 off. Was $399. Now $299. Same deal at Sonos.com where you’ll find more $100 off savings on speakers, subwoofers and sound bars, including Sonos Arc.
RSL Speakers is having a blemish sale, offering $100 off their audiophile-grade CG5 and CG25 bookshelf speakers each. Was $350 or $425 each. Now $250 or $325 each.
Regular priced items from RSL are on sale too with coupon codes:
- spend $750, get $50 off – use code: blackfriday750
- spend $1000, get $75 off – use code: blackfriday1000
- spend $1250, get $100 off – use code: blackfriday1250
- spend $1500, get $125 off – use code: blackfriday1500
Klipsch Black Friday Specials have launched. Save up to 50% off Klipsch speakers and home theater systems.
Bluetooth Speakers
Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is half off! It’s a rugged go-anywhere waterproof Bluetooth speaker. Was $199. Now just $99.
Home Audio
Audio Advice and Amazon are offering $500 off the Cambridge Audio ALVA TT Turntable with Bluetooth AptX HD. Was $1699. Now $1199.
Little known brand Arylic has a tiny streaming box with built-in 50-watt amplifier that will be discounted 20% on Black Friday only. The Arylic A50 can stream music from a variety of hi-res sources sources. Just add your speakers. Was $159.99. Wait for the sale…
Harmanaudio.com has the JBL Studio 580 floorstanding loudspeakers discounted 63%. Regularly $799, now $299 each. Whathifi.com rated them 5-stars and says, “they live up to JBL’s rock-based heritage yet still has the finesse to do justice to all kind of music.”
Crutchfield has the Focal Chora 806 Bookshelf Speakers discounted 15%. Was $990/pr. Now $841.50/pr. Don’t miss our Focal Chora 806 Review.
Crutchfield also has the Focal + Naim audiophile streaming bundles on sale too.
KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers are half-off at Crutchfield. Was $599.99. Now $299.99.
Apos Audio has the all-new SMSL SP400 Headphone Amp is 14% off. It’s a balanced stereo headphone amp with a THX AAA-888 amplifier, 1.9″ LCD screen, and full-function remote. Was $629. Now $541.
Apos Audio also has the matching SMSL M400 MQA DAC at 14% off. Was $809. Now $728. Or buy both together as an Ensemble and save even more if you add headphones.
Wi-Fi
If you’re streaming lossless music and 4K HDR video throughout your home you need a fast Internet connection and a fast router. The new Eero Pro 6 is compatible with the fastest WiFi 6 standard, and offers the easiest setup you’ll find. It’s now 20% off. Was $229. Now $183.
Updating…
Stay tuned to this page for more deals as we learn of them. Happy Black Friday.
If you catch one of these deals, please let us know in the comments below.
