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Cool looks, awesome sound.
Harman Kardon
Regular Cheapskate readers know that I love Bluetooth speakers. They also know I tend to favor super-inexpensive models from little-known brands, in part because when it comes to sound quality, I think “good enough” tends to be, well, good enough.
However, where does this leave audiophiles, the folks who want big, loud, pristine sound that’s not crafted on the cheap? Paying through the nose, usually — but not today.
Today only, and while supplies last, Woot has the refurbished Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Bluetooth speaker for $79.99, plus $5 for shipping. The retail price is $199.99 and it sells for at least $135 elsewhere. Also, it looks a lot spiffier than your average speaker.
For starters, it’s round. A built-in stand props it up, so what you see is a cool-looking black circle. It’s also rechargeable, so you can move it around the house without having to keep it near an AC outlet.
Beneath that circular surface lies a four-channel audio system that delivers impressive bass response and louder-than-you’d-expect volume. This is based on a recent encounter with my brother-in-law’s Onyx, which he raved about.
Now for the bad news: This is a Bluetooth speaker and only a Bluetooth speaker. You can’t plug in non-Bluetooth devices. That may be a deal-breaker for some.
For others, check out the user reviews over at Amazon, where the Onyx Studio earned an average of 4.6 stars from over 900(!) buyers.
This is a great opportunity to score a top-rated, name-brand speaker for a price that’s closer to no-brand. Thoughts?
Bonus deal: Need an inexpensive set of in-ear headphones to toss in your travel bag, gym bag, zombie-apocalypse-readiness bag, etc.? Try these: Inateck Online has its BH1105 noise-isolating in-ear wood earphones for $9.99 (shipped free with Prime) when you apply the coupon code RTRCV6FW at checkout. These wired earbuds, which look pretty sweet and come with the obligatory three sets of ear tips, scored mostly positive reviews from Amazon customers.
