The Best Headphone Deals Just Before October Prime Day | Lifehacker

October Prime Day starts tomorrow, Oct. 8, and goes through Oct. 9—but if headphones are on your wishlist, you may not have to wait that long. Early Prime Day deals are already in motion with discounts of up to 71% on brands like Apple, Sennheiser, and others. Here are the best headphones and earbuds deals I’ve found so far ahead of the big sale.

Best AirPod deals for early Prime Day

If you’re looking for AirPods, consider the Apple AirPods Max, currently down to $399 (originally $549). That’s still expensive, of course, but up until recently, they rarely went on sale. They are one of the best ANC headphones you can buy (they don’t give you that weird pressure sensation when you turn them on), have very good ambient awareness to hear your surroundings well, have adaptive EQ and spatial audio, which adjusts the audio automatically to you and your environment, and hands-free Siri, according to PCMag’s “excellent” review.

Best over-ear headphone deal for early Prime Day

The best non-Apple over-ear headphones are the Sennheiser Momentum 4, currently $249.95 (originally $379.95). These headphones came out in 2022 and were one of the top ANC headphones for that year, according to PCMag’s “excellent” review. If you’re looking for excellent audio with strong bass, detailed highs, codec support for your phone, and user-friendly controls, the Sennheiser Momentum 4, for its current price, is your best bet. These headphones have an impressive 60-hour battery life and the option to plug in a stereo 3.5mm cord.

Best ANC earbuds ahead of Prime Day

There is no question the best ANC earbuds are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, unfortunately, they’re not discounted (yet). However, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 is a great more budget-friendly alternative that is 53% off right now. You can get them for $132.42 (originally $279.99). Apart from having great ANC, the case supports wireless charging, the app has adjustable EQ, and the audio is excellent with powerful bass, according to PCMag’s review.

Best budget earbuds

If you’re looking to save some money for Prime Day but still need new earbuds, consider the Amazon Echo Buds with ANC for $34.99 (originally $119.99). These are the second generation Echo Buds from 2021, and as PCMag concluded in their review, they are “excellent” earbuds with a balanced sound and give you hands-free Alexa. If you don’t care about ANC and want to save even more money, consider the newer third-generation Amazon Echo Buds (without ANC) for $24.99 (originally $49.99).