Often, in the the run-up to huge sales events like Black Friday, I see so many early Black Friday deals that I struggle to get excited about the savings – and it’s not lost on me that the big day isn’t for a few weeks yet.
If you’re looking for genuine hi-fi kit (rather than stocking-fillers, say) it can be even more infuriating. Was this turntable always discounted? Is this the older-generation set of headphones, or the most recent? And why am I being dazzled and confused with all these model numbers and ‘Max’, ‘Pro’ or ‘Plus’-type suffixes?
So let me reassure you: this deal concerns a fantastic five-star hi-res audio player, back to its lowest ever seen price – only this time, retailers are also throwing in a case (valued at £69) for free.
The hi-res player is the Astell & Kern A&norma SR35, now £599 (was £799) at AV.Com and in case you haven’t read it, our Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review is the place to go for the full scoop on why we still love it.
• Shop Amazon’s full early Black Friday deals
If you still can’t spend over £500 (I get it), Sony’s fabulous WH-1000XM5 over-ears are currently under £200 and as the big weekend approaches, I’m sure further excellent Black Friday deals will surface. But if it’s got to be A&K, this is the deal you’ve been waiting for.
The only audiophile-grade early Black Friday deal of 2025
Regular readers probably already know this gifted player – Astell & Kern devotees certainly will. I’ve written odes to it, telling fledgling audiophiles it is hands-down the player I recommend to get them hooked. Personally, I think this is the inaugural audiophile-friendly Black Friday deal of 2025, and that’s not something I say lightly (this is my job, after all).
Our Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review (for that is the player’s full name) opens with the phrase, “Bargain hunting? You’re in the wrong room, friend.” Only now, that’s all out the window, because a three-figure investment that starts with a five is infinitely better than one that starts with a seven, no?
For a full explanation of its price history, this seriously talented player has only been this ‘affordable’ twice before (I do use that word lightly; it’s still nearly £600), briefly in July of 2024 and then in November 2024, but that disappeared after Black Friday – and as far as I’m aware, retailers have never thrown in a free case before.
It’s a May 2023-release player and it is still every inch an up-to-the-minute DAP that’s right at the top of A&K’s A&norma product lineup on its website – and also sitting pretty as ‘best step-up model’ in my guide to the best hi-res audio players going.
My advice? It’s a great deal and I don’t think it’ll drop further over Black Friday proper.
