[Ynot1]

For $33 shipped, a variant of the famed Brainwavz HM-5 in an Open Back version, the Spadger CD990 is available now as an Amazon Lightning deal after checking the $15 coupon on the listing page. These are so far as I can tell identical to the Monoprice HR-5 Headphones except that they come with 2 pairs of protein leather pads instead of one each pair of PL and cloth. $48-$15 coupon for Prime members shipped. I bought a pair a couple of years back and can confirm they are the same headphones. At the time they came with the giant squishy padded case, I expect they still do.

If you search this deal thread for Spadger or Aizer you will find discussion of these phones including a link to a positive review of the Spadger by the sometimes right and frequently entertaining Zeos.

These are quite nice phones for $33...which is the cheapest I have seen any of the HM-5 variants. Note, open back, but they sound very similar to the closed versions.

The pivot points can squeak pretty uncomfortably, but a little lithium grease can solve that in no time. Just need lithium grease and tooth pick. But I'm sure others can chime in with a better way.

I'm thinking of pad change to reduce head clamp, maybe v6 or m50 pads.

M50 pads just barely fitted with hours of tugging, and the firm with thinner pads still had a strong head clamp; so it's on the stretcher.

The sound is open and has the sansa house sound which is very pleasing and comforting. Detail retrieval I think is pretty good.

 

[GearMe]

Who wants to try out Planar Iems for $50?

I ordered a set...from the reviews I gather they need mods to be comfortable, a little EQ to sound their best and the cable sucks...but once you get that all sorted out, they sound AMAZING for the price.....
soooo you're saying this model of Monolith Planar is like every other Monolith Planar ever? Cool, I'll take one, that's usually a lot of fun.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=24461

UGH This thread is nickel and diming me to death right now; ordered a set as well...

I mean, $50 for planar IEMs...c'mon!!!

 

[cel4145]

UGH This thread is nickel and diming me to death right now; ordered a set as well...

I mean, $50 for planar IEMs...c'mon!!!

Buy the headphone, not the deal

 

[GearMe]

Buy the headphone, not the deal

Ha! Yeah, typically do. Actually, I make a concerted effort to do both when I can...holding off on cans I'd like to get until they hit a price I like.

 

[Terco]

HiBy R5 $299

https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-r5

 

[Cruelhand Luke]

Ha! Yeah, typically do. Actually, I make a concerted effort to do both when I can...holding off on cans I'd like to get until they hit a price I like.

I try to take a similar attitude...there are select headphones that if they drop to a certain price I'd get them just to try it..
I wanted the fidelio X2 for a few years, but didn't get a set until they were $99.
$33 for the Spadgers was low enough I would have pulled the trigger if I had seen it in time, I always wanted to hear the open backed version of those...
I just checked and Monpprice has them on sale for $45...that's a great deal.
https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=34192

 

[donato]

Also on Monoprice, Most of the open box items have an extra 20% off with coupon OPENBOX at checkout. An open box Monolith liquid platinum amp for $480+tax.

https://www.monoprice.com/search/index?keyword=refurbished & open box&rows=25&pgNum=1

Ahh, i've been so good about not making any audio purchases for a whole few months, but decided to jump on that one. Darn this thread!

 

[leeperry]

Also on Monoprice, Most of the open box items have an extra 20% off with coupon OPENBOX at checkout. An open box Monolith liquid platinum amp for $480+tax.

https://www.monoprice.com/search/index?keyword=refurbished & open box&rows=25&pgNum=1

30 days warranty only, not such a good deal considering the poor QA

 

[kl884347]

Were the Monoprice Electrostats always 299 as well? That is the current 'sale' price.

 

[Cruelhand Luke]

UGH This thread is nickel and diming me to death right now; ordered a set as well...

I mean, $50 for planar IEMs...c'mon!!!

Got mine today... they are totally worth $50, the sound is really fantastic.

 

[LaughMoreDaily]

30 days warranty only, not such a good deal considering the poor QA

That's for your money back. I saw a 5 year warranty.

 

[leeperry]

That's for your money back. I saw a 5 year warranty.

Open boxes only come with 30 days warranty AFAIK.

 

[GearMe]

Got mine today... they are totally worth $50, the sound is really fantastic.

Thanks for the update and good to hear...

Mine get here Tuesday

 

[AxelCloris]

Looks like Amazon Warehouse is taking 20% off a lot of their inventory today, and there are a number of headphones included. One example is the WH1000XM3, Used - Very Good, comes out to $208.75 at checkout. There are a number of headphones from Audio-Technica, Koss, Monoprice, Jabra... Might be worth checking out.

https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=Headphones&i=warehouse-deals&bbn=16059676011

 

[Mr. Olinad]

If you're looking for an Ananda BT, this may be a good chance.
I received an email from Audiogon with a trade-up offer from Hifiman.
It seems to be limited to 100 pairs only.

http://store.hifiman.com/index.php/ananda-bt-trade-up.html?scr=Audiogon20200109