If you’re looking for audio deals on Amazon, we’re on the same wavelength.

By Tony Ware | Updated Jul 13, 2022 6:17 PM

If you like to switch up your audio gear with the same frequency you skip tracks on a playlist, Amazon Prime Day is going to be hit after hit after hit. This year there are Bluetooth headphones, true wireless earbuds, good old-fashioned wired earphones, Dolby Atmos soundbars, wireless party speakers, and much more. Whether you’ve been curious about trying bone conduction headphones or you need a little orb that can have Alexa tell you a joke, there’s an option for every space and occasional. Instead of forcing you to scroll through the labyrinth that is Amazon listings, however, we’re pulling out highlights to showcase products we believe are the best. So check back throughout today to see what new and notable items we’ve uncovered.

Here are just some of the note-perfect audio deals:

Sennheiser is renowned for a fatigue-free listen. But before you get it twisted, know that fatigue-free is far from detail-free. Sennheiser’s CX Plus True Wireless Earbuds use the German-engineered TrueResponse driver system (similar to the one in the more than twice as expensive MOMENTUM True Wireless 3) to deliver resonant bass, velvety midrange, and treble that is clear but not crispy. Available in Matte Black, this Special Edition CX Plus adds in active noise cancellation, a transparent mode, touch controls, and plenty of battery life to make sure that your listening sessions can go on undisturbed all day (unless there’s a call you need to take conveniently).

Sony’s wireless noise-cancelling headphones use each generation to reinforce small refinements and big sound. With 2020’s WH-1000XM4, Sony really staked its claim on industry-leading noise cancellation and sound customization features in a travel-friendly headphone. While this fourth iteration is “last year’s model,” it’s far from outdated. Available in Black, Silver, or Blue, this stylish headphone offers you a bubble of portable productivity and an immersive sphere of rich sound thanks to the AAC and LDAC Bluetooth codecs and a wealth of DSP/EQ options in the comprehensive app. And they put out plenty of bass, if you like, so you can keep the fun in functional.

If you’re an on-the-go audiophile—especially one with an Android smartphone—then Bowers & Wilkins’ PI7 True Wireless earbuds are some of the best you can buy for pure sound quality. When using a Bluetooth 5.0 aptX Adaptive connection (sorry, iPhone users, that leaves you out), the 24-bit signal combined with the hybrid driver (one balanced armature + one dynamic) configuration is pure sonic bliss. And you can get those resonant lows, that rich midrange, and the refined highs in either charcoal or white. Plus, there’s active noise cancellation, touch controls, the ability to turn the case into a transmitter, and other fancy features. First and foremost, however, is the sound. In addition, the PI5 (the PI7’s smaller, single dynamic driver sibling) is on sale for $141, down from $249.

There’s always lots of talk about home theater … but what about home amphitheater? Whether by the pool or on the patio, your family and friends can enjoy a full-range soundtrack without worrying about Bluetooth speaker battery when you install the Polk Atrium 6 Outdoor Speakers. Rated for 100W of quality amplification, these speakers use a 5 1/4-inch Dynamic Balance driver and 1-inch dome tweeter to deliver a frequency response as low as 60KHz and PowerPort bass venting for low-distortion slam. You can mount these all-weather speakers either vertically or horizontally and they can withstand extreme heat to drenching rain. Expansive spaces, mean expansive sounds.

So you snagged a great new TV on Prime Day. Well, even the most beautiful OLED display will fall short if you don’t have content to feed it. And when it comes to audio, those gloriously flat screens sacrificed compelling speakers a long time ago. With the Roku Streambar Pro, you can solve two problems with one additional purchase. Featuring an HD 4K streaming media player and four 2.5-inch full-range drivers, this compact Wi-Fi-enabled soundbar gracefully enhances whatever content you find compelling. Speech Clarity helps with dialogue; Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, as well as AirPlay, let you share and steer wirelessly (assisted by the voice remote). And, if you decide at a later date that you want a proper surround system, the Soundbar Pro pairs seamlessly with Roku satellite speakers and subwoofers.

“Affordable” and “audiophile” sound like diametrically opposed words … and they usually are. But in the case of the Philips Fidelio X3 headphones, entry-level audiophile has been achieved. And during Prime Day the price of admission is reduced even further. The angled 50mm multilayer polymer (with dampening gel) diaphragms, nestled in breathable ear cushions and acoustically transparent Kvadrat speaker fabric, offer a Hi-Res Audio-certified frequency range of 5 – 40 000 Hz throughout an airy soundstage—great for acoustic and jazz, as well as other bright, forward genres where detail appreciation is paramount.

The Shure KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphone System packs a 24-bit/96 kHz digital-to-analog converter, an amp, and isolating earphones into one pocketable package. This self-contained signal chain conveys every transient, every shudder and flutter in your tracks. Natural and spacious and distortion-free, the KSE1500 is insanely technically proficient. And built-in EQ/DSP allows for a bit of on-the-go tone tweaking. While the pack is a mildly hefty handful, the earphones themselves are extremely lightweight and, in total, this miniaturized desktop system is the peak of realism for those looking to scale Mt. Transparency.

All prices are subject to change.

Tony Ware is the Associate Managing Editor for PopSci.com (and PopPhoto.com). He’s been writing about how to make and break music since the mid-'90s when his college newspaper said they already had a film critic but maybe he wanted to look through the free promo CDs. Immediately hooked on outlining intangibles, he's covered everything audio for countless alt. weeklies, international magazines, websites, and heated bar trivia contests ever since.

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