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As a shopping reporter, trust me when I say I understand better than most that Amazon’s sale schedule can feel fatiguing. However, as a headphones reviewer, I also can’t deny that this year’s Big Spring Sale offers a great opportunity to upgrade your audio game on the cheap.
Having spent the last few years testing the latest in noise-cancelling tech, open earbuds, and even sleep earbuds, I was curious to see what this week’s sale would bring. Honestly, Amazon isn’t messing around this time.
For example, the newly announced Apple AirPods Max 2 are already $19 off even though they’re still in their preorder phase. Sony’s latest flagship headphones are marked down, and Shokz has plenty of great options for anyone looking for a new pair of workout earbuds. Even Bose, which was quiet at the start of the sale, has finally dropped prices on its QuietComfort headphones, QuietComfort Ultra 2 headphones, and Ultra Open earbuds.
The Big Spring Sale officially wraps up tomorrow, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. PT. With time running out, I don’t expect these prices to drop any further. If you see a pair you’ve been eyeing, now’s the time to grab them.
Just a heads up: If you see a deal crossed out below, it means it has either sold out or the price has gone back up.
Best headphones deal
$249
at Amazon
$349
Save $100
Why we like it
The gulf between budget headphones and premium headphones feels like it gets smaller with every new release, and nowhere does that feel more apparent than with the mid-tier Bose QuietComfort headphones. (To be clear, that’s not a knock against premium headphones — the cheaper models are just getting that good). Though they don’t have the absolute best comfort or spatial audio of their $449 QuietComfort Ultra 2 counterparts, they do come awfully close in that first category. And if you’re not big on spatial audio anyway, it’s not worth shelling out the extra cash for the flagship option.
The QuietComfort headphones live up to their name, and for $249, do it at a much more accessible price point than other options on our list (even with sale prices taken into consideration). While this isn’t their lowest price ever — that would be $179 — this is still a solid get for the Spring Sale.
Read more about the Bose QuietComfort headphones.
More headphones deals
Best earbuds deal
Why we like it
If you’re chasing the absolute best audio fidelity in a wireless package, the Technics EAH-AZ100 are the new buds to beat. Right now, they’re down to $247.99 at Amazon, saving you a solid $52 off their usual price.
Our tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, says these buds deliver “richer, fuller, and more detailed sound” than any other earbuds he’s ever tested. Thanks to their proprietary Magnetic Fluid Driver, you get incredibly clear bass and can distinctly hear individual layers in complex tracks without the notes blurring into each other.
Mashable Deals
You’re also getting adaptive active noise cancellation, seamless switching between three devices, and clever AI tech that blocks out background noise for both you and whoever you’re talking to on the phone. Just keep in mind that they might make your ears a little sore if you keep them in for more than a few hours at a time. Still, if you’re an audio nerd looking for reference-class sound, this is a pretty good deal.
Check out our full review of the Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds.
More earbuds deals
Best open earbuds deal
$48.98
at Amazon
$69.99
Save $21.01
Why we like it
Open earbuds are convenient — they let you have the best of both worlds experience of enjoying your music privately while still getting to stay aware of the world around you. Where they may lose some convenience points, however, is in the fact that most people probably already own a pair of earbuds, and won’t be too jazzed at the idea of dropping $100 or more on new ones just for some extra awareness.
Enter: the EarFun Clip. No, the sound quality won’t quite match up to that of the Bose or Sony options, but at $48.98, they’re also about one-sixth and one-fourth the price of those buds, respectively. I’ve spent time using them, and for their price point, they have well-rounded sound and minimal noise leakage compared to other open earbuds. If you’ve been open earbud-curious but less inclined to drop a ton of cash, this is the deal for you.
