Subj : Audiophiles, assemble! The first legit Black Friday Astell & Kern To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Thu Nov 13 2025 15:15:08 Audiophiles, assemble! The first legit Black Friday Astell & Kern deal worth considering is in Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:06:42 +0000 Description: What Astell & Kern calls an 'entry level' hi-res audio player is rarely what we'd call affordable until this Black Friday deal lands. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Often, in the the run-up to huge sales events like Black Friday, I see so many early Black Friday deals that I struggle to get excited about the savings and it's not lost on me that the big day isn't for a few weeks yet. If you're looking for genuine hi-fi kit (rather than stocking-fillers, say) it can be even more infuriating. Was this turntable always discounted? Is this the older-generation set of headphones, or the most recent? And why am I being dazzled and confused with all these model numbers and 'Max', 'Pro' or 'Plus'-type suffixes? So let me reassure you: this deal concerns a fantastic five-star hi-res audio player, back to its lowest ever seen price only this time, retailers are also throwing in a case (valued at 69) for free. The hi-res player is the Astell & Kern A&norma SR35, now 599 (was 799) at AV.Com and in case you haven't read it, our Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review is the place to go for the full scoop on why we still love it. Shop Amazon's full early Black Friday deals I'm TechRadar's Audio Editor and I only cover the products I think are worthy of your time. And to be clear, this is my solo early Black Friday pick for the audiophile in your life. If you still can't spend over 500 (I get it), Sony's fabulous WH-1000XM5 over-ears are currently under 200 and as the big weekend approaches, I'm sure further excellent Black Friday deals will surface. But if it's got to be A&K, this is the deal you've been waiting for. The only audiophile-grade early Black Friday deal of 2025 What a hi-res audio player this is! It launched in May 2023, it is still A&K's newest 'entry level' digital audio player (although its sub-brand, Activo, has a very affordable P1 and that also a belter of a player) and for this 200-off sale price it simply cannot be bettered. For clarity, this is a return to the SR35's lowest-seen price ever but as you'll see when you click through, this time you can choose a brown or grey case (that feels like leather but is actually polyurethane), for free. See our five-star Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review for the specifics (and a lot more praise), but let me tell you this: musical might feel like a bit of a cop out to describe a DAP, but not every player deserves the description. This one does. I know it's still not cheap but believe me, it's musical and then some. View Deal Regular readers probably already know this gifted player Astell & Kern devotees certainly will. I've written odes to it, telling fledgling audiophiles it is hands-down the player I recommend to get them hooked . Personally, I think this is the inaugural audiophile-friendly Black Friday deal of 2025, and that's not something I say lightly (this is my job, after all). Our Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review (for that is the player's full name) opens with the phrase, "Bargain hunting? You're in the wrong room, friend." Only now, that's all out the window, because a three-figure investment that starts with a five is infinitely better than one that starts with a seven, no? For a full explanation of its price history, this seriously talented player has only been this 'affordable' twice before (I do use that word lightly; it's still nearly 600), briefly in July of 2024 and then in November 2024, but that disappeared after Black Friday and as far as I'm aware, retailers have never thrown in a free case before. It's a May 2023-release player and it is still every inch an up-to-the-minute DAP that's right at the top of A&K's A&norma product lineup on its website and also sitting pretty as 'best step-up model' in my guide to the best hi-res audio players going. My advice? It's a great deal and I don't think it'll drop further over Black Friday proper. More early Black Friday deals to consider Amazon : up to 66% off tech & essentials AO : up to 500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense Argos : up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys Boots : save on 1,000s of beauty products Currys : deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo Decathlon : up to 50% off Dell : laptops from 279 Dyson : up to 550 off vacuums Honor : up to 50% off tablets & phones John Lewis : up to 50% off tech & fashion Lego : sets & accessories from 2.99 Music Magpie : extra 10% off Samsung : up to 500 off appliances & phones Superdrug : up to 55% off fragrances & skin care Very : up to 40% off Samsung, Nintendo & Adidas ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/audiophiles-assemble-the-first-legit-black-fri day-astell-and-kern-deal-worth-considering-is-in --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .