Why You Can Trust CNET Get a Sol Republic Shadow Wireless earphone for $34.97
From the Cheapskate: That's one of the lowest prices I've seen for one of my favorite gym-friendly Bluetooth earphones. Plus: three seriously good bonus deals!
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Once upon a time, you bought one pair of headphones and that was pretty much it. You wore them for anything and everything. Today, different situations demand different 'phones.
For example, yesterday I logged three miles in preparation for an upcoming 5K. I wore a set of Aftershokz Trekz Titanium bone-conducting sport headphones because they allow me to hear ambient sounds (like approaching cars).
Best color combination (out of three choices): black/red.
When I hit the gym, however, I prefer noise-isolating earphones that block out the sounds of weights clanking and hip-hop blaring. Specifically, the exact noise-isolating earphones on sale today.
For a limited time, and while supplies last, Yugster has the refurbished Sol Republic Shadow Wireless for $34.97 shipped when you apply coupon code SRSHADOW at checkout. These originally sold for $99.99 and now run at least $80 elsewhere. They're available in your choice of three colors: black/gray, black/red and gray/gold.
Refurbished earphones? Yeah, that's my only sticking point; I don't know what kind of condition these might arrive in. At the very least they'll have totally new ear tips, right? Because otherwise: gross. But Yugster's been in the discount-deal game a long time, and I have to imagine these are like new or darn close to it.
And worth the risk, in my humble opinion. As I said, this is what I wear to the gym. Sound quality: fantastic. Comfort: fantastic. (They're not ideal when I lie flat on my back, though, as the neckband does fall off.) Sweatproof-ness: I'm a mess by the end of every workout, and the Shadow Wireless shrugs it off.
Oh, and I'd say battery life is at least as good as the promised eight hours; I typically charge them only once every couple weeks.
The button controls on the neckband are way easier to manipulate than most, as they're slightly spread out so you can more easily identify them by touch. (That's not the case with a lot of the less-expensive sport earphones I've tried.)
CNET's review (3.5 stars out of 5) includes a few reservations about the product, and Amazon buyers likewise rated it 3.5 stars. All I can say is, I've been extremely happy with mine. They're great for walking and gym-going, though definitely not for running. And all those reviews are based on an $80-100 price tag.
At $35 out the door, I think these are a stellar buy.
Bonus deal: I've sung the praises of Samsung's Gear VR headset many times, because even at its original list price of $99.99, it was a terrific entry into the wonderful world of VR. In recent months, refurbs have continued to lower that cost of entry, culminating with this: Best Buy (via Ebay) has the refurbished Gear VR for just $39.99, the lowest price to date. If you have a compatible Samsung phone, this is way too good to pass up.
Bonus deal No. 2: Video editing: It's still a thing! In fact, if you want to do it right, you need desktop software with all the trappings. CyberLink just released the latest version of its powerful, popular and highly rated tool, and I've got a Cheapskate exclusive for you: CyberLink PowerDirector 15 Deluxe for $49.99 when you use coupon code CYBERSKATE. This version is identical to the Ultra edition ($99.99) save for the lack of 360-degree video editing features -- probably not a priority for most users.
Bonus deal No. 3: If you need a multifunction printer but don't especially care about color, good heavens: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Quill has the Dell E514DW all-in-one monochrome laser for $59.99 shipped. Dell proper charges $129.99. This model prints, scans and copies. It features a 250-sheet input tray, auto document feeder, auto-duplexing and wireless connectivity. It's big, bulky and not super attractive, but, wow, that price. You could easily spend that much (or more) for just a printer.