- Audio
- Portable Media Players
You gotta ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel like an audiophile?' Well do ya, punk?
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(Image credit: Astell & Kern, Activo)
Thinking about getting into hi-res audio this Black Friday? I'm so glad. That means you'll also be thinking about the glorious return of local storage, rather than paying by the month for the cloud.
Why? Because the gloriously detailed FLAC and DSD audio files you're about to download as well as the tracks you'll be streaming (I'd always recommend a combination of both, budding audiophile!) do require a bit of room, and said storage space isn't that easy to come by on a device that's also housing your WhatsApp backups, photos, voice notes and Instagram videos (aka, your phone).
Amazon Black Friday audio deals – quick links
- Amazon Sony headphones deals
- Amazon Bose noise-cancelling headphones deals
- Amazon Black Friday Bose Bluetooth speaker deals
- Amazon Black Friday JBL Bluetooth speaker deals
- Amazon devices Black Friday deals
Today's best hi-res audio player Black Friday deals
Save 25% (£200)Astell & Kern A&norma SR35: was £799 now £599 at AV.comWhat 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's also a belter of a player and on sale if you scroll down) but 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.
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Save 38% (£150)Activo P1 player: was £399 now £249 at AmazonActivo's five star P1 hi-res audio player (just see our Activo P1 review if you don't believe me) is a joy even at full price – because Activo is the cheaper offering from elite audio outfit Astell & Kern (see above). It launched on July 24th, 2024 and basically knocked everything like it out the water for the money. And now, you can save £150. Again, it's a model we called "an excellent audio player and DAC and, at £399, it represents very good value; similarly specced players are usually much more expensive". At an even lower price, you can see how good this deal is.
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Astell & Kern Kann Ultra : was £1,599 now £999 at AmazonThis November 2023-launch beauty of a digital audio player (or DAP) is the successor to the excellent 2022-issue Kann Max, which came with a £1,199 price tag. This model isn't one we've been the full 12 rounds with, but with a faster octa-core CPU, a larger 5.5-in display and up to 16Vrms of output power (compared to the Max's quad-core CPU, 4.1-inch 720p screen, and 9Vrms maximum output) plus a newer ES9039MPRO DAC, along with A&K's excellent know-how with DAPs I cannot imagine this little beauty would be anything less than splendid. Oh, and that LED light around the rotary volume dial glows red for 16-bit audio, green for 24-bit, blue for 32-bit and purple for DSD files. And this is what I love about dedicated, serious hi-res audio players – they tell you the resolution, so you're never in any doubt.
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Save £200Activo P1 player + custom-fit case + Volcano IEMs: was £499 now £299 at AmazonWhat a huge discount this is on already-affordable separates in a complete starter bundle pack for hi-res audio on the go! For just £50 more than the discounted P1 player above, you get that very same DAP, a protective case, and the company's most affordable March 2025-issue Volcano IEMs thrown in, which should cost £99 on their own! So why isn't it my top pick? I'll be honest, the Volcano are absolutely made for the P1, but they aren't my favourite wired buds made by Activo (that'd be the Activo Q1, but sadly there's no bundle deal including those right now), however, if you've got a budding audiophile in the family, this is still an excellent beginner portable hi-res system.
View DealMy best MP3 players guide is the place to go for my other recommendations in the world of hi-res portable options (and my best DACs guide is the place for if you just want to level up the bit between your device and the best wired headphones or best wired earbuds), but again, these really are the best deals I've seen to date, if it's a player you seek.
Want to get into the nitty-gritty of wire-free higher-quality audio? Our aptX unpacked explainer is the place to click – or our more general guide to hi-res audio and how to get it.
So which should you buy? OK, I'll say it: there comes a crossroads in any audiophile's journey when the simple and reasonable question is posed: "Come on, which of these would you get if money were no object?" and my answer is "the most expensive of this roundup that you can afford".
I'm sorry, but there it is, in this instance. While my enduring love for my humble-res iPod Classic is strong, I'm afraid this isn't a win for the more frugally-minded – except of course that there are discounts live now, and this is Black Friday.
If, like me, you can't drop £999 on the heavily discounted Kann Ultra, I'd go for the A&norma SR35. And if a reduced fee of £599 is also unthinkable, the Activo options are there – and while they're not as good as the pricier options, they're still a huge step up on the audio quality you'll get from your phone on the commute. And that's worth a lot.
Happy shopping, and do always remember to enjoy the music!
Today's best Black Friday deals - quick links
- 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
- Dell: laptops from £279
- Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
- EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
- John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
- Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
- Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
- Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion
Becky ScarrottSocial Links NavigationAudio EditorBecky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.
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