This was posted 1 year 17 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Free International Shipping (Normally US$16.50-$22, ~A$24.70-$33) @ Drop (Minimum Order US$50 Ex-GST, 5 Items Max)

500
Free International Shipping (Normally US$16.50-$22, ~A$24.70-$33) @ Drop (Minimum Order US$50 Ex-GST, 5 Items Max)
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jasswolf on 08/04/2023 - 13:56 drop.com (3151 clicks)
Last edited 22/04/2023 - 09:34
USTAXDAY

EoFY in the US, and they're throwing away with international shipping fees to celebrate/boost quarterly reports! Not a lot of deals to start off with, but through the duration of this deal their weekly specials will refresh twice (Saturdays). Apparently does not stack with $10 welcome credit, but works perfectly fine for every other kind of credit (Drop points, referee bonus).

Here's what's currently on offer:

Item Current Best Price Drop Price
E-MU Black Walnut Headphones ~$148 AUD + shipping ~$130 AUD shipped
KOSS KPH30i $58 AUD ~$41.25 AUD (basket of $50 USD required)
Drop + KOSS KPH40X $77.50 AUD (KPH40) ~$64.40 ~$47.85 AUD (basket of $50 USD required)

KPH30i is well reviewed headphone, which offers a wide soundstage, great timbre, good imaging, solid tonality all in a small, comfortable, lightweight on-ear form factor.

Compared to the KPH30i, KPH40 is a structural upgrade, tonal downgrade, and technical nudge. If you already own a KPH30i or a KSC75, I would not recommend bothering with the KPH40 unless you've broken them often, and definitely do not dip into its 'utility' system for cable upgrades. Porta Pro users should move onto these immediately.

The E-MU Walunt is the Creative Aurvana Live! in wood earcups (E-MU is a Creative brand), which trade a little treble and upper mids for better timbre. Given the CAL! SE seems to be discontinued this is the only alternative currently if you're seeking that sound, and is ok value in the $70-$130 headphone landscape if you're focused on timbre, and low mids & bass texture. It's a very small over-ear cup though and a flimsy build, so consider yourself warned. As has been the case for some time, IEMs will get you better audio quality for the price.

Some reviews:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/e-mu-walnut-creative-aur…
https://www.headphonesty.com/2021/04/review-koss-kph30i/
https://english.achoreviews.com/2021/08/review-koss-kph30i-s…
https://english.achoreviews.com/2022/02/review-koss-kph40-ut…

I probably won't update this table as the sale progresses, and of course others are welcome to make separate deal posts. Enjoy!

Referral Links

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Referee receives $10 on a new signup with referral link. Referrer receives $10 credit upon the Referee completing a purchase.

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closed Comments

  • easternculture on 08/04/2023 - 14:14
    +1

    KOSS KPH30i

    I like me some koss

    • jasswolf on 08/04/2023 - 14:16

      Still incredibly hard to beat in this kind of price range unless you want an IEM.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2023 - 15:14

        Personally i'd spend a bit more for the kph40, better form factor and swappable cable.

        • jasswolf on 08/04/2023 - 17:34

          Mid-bass aside, it's tonally worse audio, and the technical ability is worse too. It's an upgrade for Porta Pro users, not the rest.

          Swappable cable is its own ecosystem that rarely sees discounts. If you're trading down so much just for a detachable cable, what's the point?

      • OMan on 08/04/2023 - 16:07

        Yes, they are great. My only complain is that the earpads do not last very long, and the replacements are expensive in relation to the price of the headphones.

        • jasswolf on 08/04/2023 - 17:36

          Sweat and sunlight mustn't be too kind to them then, because I'm yet to change a pair in 4 years. The pad design is very basic and you can grab a third party option without running into sound issues, or you can even switch to Yaxi pads and change the sound.

      • freefall101 on 08/04/2023 - 16:56

        Is the microphone any good at all? I wouldn't mind using these to WFH, but at least need to be audible to people on the other end (in a quiet office, so doesn't need to be amazing, just audible and without bleeding from the headphones themselves)

        • jasswolf on 08/04/2023 - 17:32
          +1

          It would be borderline passable, and I guess you can hold it up if people are struggling at any given moment. It rests in the same spot as most in-line microphones.

  • winsonian on 08/04/2023 - 16:20

    Oooh I might pick up some keycaps

    • Ezuku on 08/04/2023 - 20:18

      What are you looking at? I've been eyeing the bloom glow keycaps for a while.

      • winsonian on 08/04/2023 - 23:04

        Maybe the DCX Cybers? Though still thinking about the GMK mecha pre-order…

        Bloom glow looks pretty good actually!

        • Ezuku on 09/04/2023 - 10:59

          Cheers. Not many options if you want something decent for south facing led. Bit hard to tell if it's compatible with my keychon v5 though…

          Those cybers are pretty nifty as well.

  • OMan on 08/04/2023 - 16:26

    How do you get the free shipment? It still charging me US$20 at checkout.

    • Wooluff on 08/04/2023 - 16:39

      Wait 2 days (maybe 3? Idk about the time zone) and use coupon code "USTAXDAY"

      • TinyTimmy on 08/04/2023 - 17:01

        Deal clearly states "In 2 days"

        • OMan on 08/04/2023 - 21:49

          I jumped the gun!
          Thanks

        • Wooluff on 09/04/2023 - 06:18

          Ok I checked drop.com and the deal is as follows: International Free Shipping Promotion is valid April 10 – April 23, 2023, at 11:59PM PT [Pacific Time]

          So it doesn't specify a start time, but I'd assume it starts at 12:01AM PT April 10, which is 5:01PM on the 10th in Brisbane.

  • dcep on 08/04/2023 - 16:31

    I suppose the $10 off 1st order doesn't stack with this ?

    Else could get 3x ksc75 for USD$50 shipped. Though would love your old deal at 2 for AUD$28 shipped.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/489107

  • mrjayviper on 08/04/2023 - 18:26

    Is the emu headphones come with removable cables? Thanks

    • jasswolf on 08/04/2023 - 19:17

      It does not, but that's also something Google would have spat out for you.

  • Julius on 08/04/2023 - 19:23

    the LOTR keyboards look dope.

  • reddead2067 on 08/04/2023 - 21:19
    +1

    Don't forget the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX Headphones.

    I use them for single-player PC gaming. Love it.

    https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-sennheiser-hd6xx

    • jasswolf on 08/04/2023 - 21:26

      This would make them just under $400, which is incredibly close to HD 600 prices in Australia. They need a discount to be viable.

  • Sandaz on 08/04/2023 - 21:33
    +1

    Jasswolf, I love your work and have been reading up on your headphone comments for a while.
    Im after your sage advice if possible please. The question I'm trying to answer is which sub-$200 headphones should I get for beatmaking (mainly boom bap and sample based instrumental hip hop) via laptop, FL Studio and Maschine MK2 with no audio interface? Im currently using very beat up old Technics RP DJ 1200s with this set up.

    I have a 9 month old daughter so I'm now mostly exiled to music making in the garden shed and out of a backpack in the park (even playing the pads wakes her up!).

    I already have a seperate home studio workstation and gaming set up with DT880s and KRK Rokit 7 G4s on a UAD Volt 1. I dont want to move them.
    I also have a pair of Sony WH-1000xm3s for office work and casual listening.

    I'm after somthing thats good enough for mixing and is good for the genre. I get mixing isn't ideal on headphones but I need to do it and dont want heaps of surprises when I double check stuff on my monitors or other speakers. Minor bonus points for somthing a bit different to what I have, so I expand my referencing options (but this is a very secondary goal). I can wait a few months for a deal.

    The shortlist contains AKG K71 and K361s (on your frequent ozbargain recommendation),
    ATH-M50Xs and potentially Beyer DT770s (Jonwayne uses them and a friend loves them) but I know they are controvesial and similar to my DT880s. I'm very very open to recommendations for my specific use case.

    Apologies for the long windedness. I figure its best to be specific.

    Cheers

    • OMan on 08/04/2023 - 22:11

      PSB M4U are supposed to be lineal. They were about US$140. They are good headphones but not as comfortable than the Technics, Sennheiser, or Beyerdynamic. I don't mix music, but my nephew does. He loved these headphones for mixing. He said they are as good as his Yamaha HS5 speakers.

    • jasswolf on 08/04/2023 - 22:45

      If you haven't ruled out IEMs, Truthear Hexa for $110 now or $95ish plus cashbacks/gift cards during sales. Otherwise K371 remains my pick, just that it's not sub-$200 anywhere right now, but I'd value at around $150.

      DT770 is worth about $120, K361 about $100. Wouldn't bother with the M40X and M50X because their staging is awful, and the M50X is tonally busted for a neutral mix. None of these bar the IEMs hugely isolate you, but enough unless someone is running a motor nearby.

      The only other headphone of note in this price range is the Sennheiser HD 25 Light v2, which is $120-$130ish and a low cost version of a DJ staple that's slightly U-shaped but does the job for listening back. The wired headphone space is slow moving due to a lack of new techniques or designs generally, and I don't see that changing any time soon, particularly with the new Bluetooth codecs just starting to come in.

      I'd say get a solid IEM like the Hexa to give yourself something you'll have multiple use cases for going forward, and get an audiophile-grade portable headphone like the Audeze Maxwell as your WH-1000XM3 upgrade in the future.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/04/2023 - 10:56
        +2

        Formerly sponsored by sennheiser dj here. The hd25 series is incredible at sound isolation, its black magic. But they are piercingly bright (also helps with live dj mixjing), far from my first choice for production. They will get loud without a proper amp though, relatively sensitive for cans in this space.

        Thats said, generations of people have grown up using them as "my first studio headphones" so theres that.

        Such a succesful model that they spun of various cheaper lines, like the light.

        Always get a chuckle seeing the humble 25 still in use in live production all the time by commentators, even though newer lines exist. Launched in 1988!

        • jasswolf on 10/04/2023 - 12:43
          +1

          Yeah they are definitely U-shaped, the issue here being they're still relatively neutral across the spectrum for how headphone and speaker users will target sound, especially when up against the DT770 and M50X.

          My strong recommendation is the K371 despite a slight lack of treble detail, but at $150ish, not the current $240 import or $330 local.

          • Sandaz on 12/04/2023 - 13:17

            @jasswolf: Thanks heaps.
            Im in Bangkok for a day tomorrow and see that K371s are on sale at a reputable shop there for about $175 AUD.
            So I'm verrrrry tempted… but the internet is rife with K371 quality control issues and Thailand is a long way from Melbourne if i need warranty support when I get home. Hmmm.

            Other options im considering are just EQing other cans to flat perhaps using the Oratory1990 recommendations.
            Sony MDR-7506s have also sprung up as an option.
            IEMs are not off the cards but i havent done my homework on them and im suprised that they can be better than headphones of the same price, although my wife's BT airpods are surprisingly good sounding.

            TBH im now questioning if I've described my use case as 'mixing' accurately. I really mean that i want to be able to listen to and select virtual instrument settings, samples and one shots accurately so that they sound how i like them to sound on other speakers/headphones/buds etc.

            E.g I haaaaate it when i select an awesome sound and spend time making an arrangement with it, only to have it miss a certain quality that i love when i play it on another system. I want to minimise how often that happens.

            • jasswolf on 12/04/2023 - 14:47
              +1

              @Sandaz:

              but the internet is rife with K371 quality control issues

              Early stock this is true, not so much now, flimsy build but no signs of things like microfractured plastic. Electronics should be the main concern, but usually expresses itself out of the box. If they're cheap in Thailand, you can guarantee they're about to hit the market again here for cheaper.

              Sony MDR-7506

              Ancient headphone from the same era as the popular Beyers, which was popular for its consistent seal and 'analytical' i.e. peaky treble. In old audio systems, this helped deal with roll off and picking up hiss. For modern gear, it's too intense and EQ will just reveal how aged and lacking in transient speed and separation the design is.

              That being said treble detail isn't the K371's strong suit either, as it is clearly based off of similar tech to their K600 and K700 headphone series but with a greater bass focus and jammed into a closed enclosure.

              IEMs are not off the cards but i havent done my homework on them and im suprised that they can be better than headphones of the same price

              Of course they can: cheaper parts, cheaper to tune, and huge demand for them reduces the R&D cost per unit. Truthear Hexa competes in terms of sonic quality with $500-$1500 headphones in terms of value level, and IEMs in that same price range. It is pretty much a slightly inferior version of the Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk.

              The pace of innovation in that space is huge because China is geared for it and the equipment for them to conduct their own high level research is highly affordable. China is also advancing the planar driver space for headphones too due to the work of HIFIMAN.

              TBH im now questioning if I've described my use case as 'mixing' accurately. I really mean that i want to be able to listen to and select virtual instrument settings, samples and one shots accurately so that they sound how i like them to sound on other speakers/headphones/buds etc.

              E.g I haaaaate it when i select an awesome sound and spend time making an arrangement with it, only to have it miss a certain quality that i love when i play it on another system. I want to minimise how often that happens.

              This is why you target a fairly common band of neutrality, and why you listen through multiple common and neutral sources: you do your work with a neutral source, and you let the end user system colour it as they wish. EQ can be a shortcut to hearing this tonally, but if you're doing so on a technically inproficient piece of hardware, you lose details i.e. you can make mistakes that come up as artifacts or cut-off rhythms/beats because a slow moving or distorted driver made a note seem longer or different.

              Start with good gear, minimise your need for EQ, don't target a sound via gear that's diminished by EQ, or that is coloured.

  • sudonymm on 08/04/2023 - 22:45

    Would the HE-R7DX be a significant upgrade over the Takstar Pro 82?

    • jasswolf on 08/04/2023 - 22:47

      I haven't had a chance to try them, and I'm hesitant to recommend them, particularly against the Pro 82. I believe a collaboration is in the works to improve the HIFIMAN model, and there's going to be a lot of better bluetooth headphones starting this year, as well as more planar closed backs coming into the sub-$200 market over the next 12-18 months.

      If this is your price range, I'd recommend IEMs if you can handle them, Truthear Hexa being the easiest recommendation you can make today.

      • sudonymm on 09/04/2023 - 00:06
        +1

        I guess I will hold off until more affordable closed back planers become available.

        I have sinus issues and the only IEMs I have tried (some cheap Phillips ones that came with different ear tips) proved to be too uncomfortable to use for any length of time.

  • JoeBogan on 10/04/2023 - 20:32
    +1

    Just a heads up, you can't stack the $10 welcome credit and the free shipping.

    • jasswolf on 11/04/2023 - 00:53

      Just tested if credit is applying, and it is. The change they've made is that you have to manually apply it before you head to checkout.

      Try again, let us know!

      • InternetEggsplorer on 11/04/2023 - 01:27

        I think I am having same issue. Once I manually apply the welcome credit before heading out to checkout, it is applied as a discount code on the checkout page. Using USTAXDAY overrides the welcome discount and removes it. let me know if I am doing something wrong :))

        • jasswolf on 11/04/2023 - 01:29
          +1

          To be clear, I'm testing with a referral credit, which is working fine. Seems it's not working for the welcome credit then, which is a shame. I'll amend the post!

          • InternetEggsplorer on 11/04/2023 - 01:30

            @jasswolf: Ohhhh thank you for the clarification. Yup that was what I was getting wrong :(( I was testing with new user discount not the welcome credit. My bad on that

            • jasswolf on 11/04/2023 - 01:32
              +1

              @InternetEggsplorer: Yeah I'm guessing if it's the first time code for a new or referred user it's not stacking, but everyone else is fine. Doesn't kill the deal on the Koss gear in the slightest though!

              Hopefully better deals on Saturday.

      • JoeBogan on 11/04/2023 - 08:04

        Oh thanks I'll try today!

  • shabaka on 15/04/2023 - 08:57

    nice. grabbed 2x koss gaming headsets for $63 USD delivered

  • awph on 17/04/2023 - 18:07
    +1

    Cheers, picked up some koss. Unfortunately the $10 credit doesn't stack and two out of the 3 colors on the KPH30i were sold out, but it's still a decent deal regardless.

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