Prime Day is over, but I'm an audiophile and I've found a few last-minute audiophile deals to transform your listening experience

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(Image credit: Fosi Audio/Douk/Sennheiser)
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The October Prime Day sale is over, but there are still some deals live. I've found some great savings on Sennheiser HD 569 that costs $122 at Amazon. If you're interested in improving your audio game, you need some wired headphones. They make you sound like you're in a concert hall. I've also found an amplifier to help those headphones shine.

While none of my go-to DACs are discounted anymore, you should still get one if you can. DACs convert the digital music files from the best streaming services so that they sound their absolute best.

So while it's slim pickins now, there are still a few meaty deals to sink your teeth into. (For more discounts, check out our October Prime Day deals live blog and our roundup of the best Walmart Deals live now).

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The headphones

Sennheiser HD 660S2

(Image credit: Sennheiser)

If there's one thing you buy off this list, let it be a pair of wired headphones. They're the core of your audio setup. Nothing else here works without them. If you can only afford one thing right now, buy headphones. You can use them right away with anything else — something you can't say about DACs and amplifiers (woops, spoiler alert).

A couple of things to know about headphones before we get started. It's worth reading up on your chosen pair of headphones first. I won't go into powering your headphones here, but some are thirstier for juice than others. Make sure you're buying headphones that your system can power; otherwise, they won't be at their best. A quick Google search will tell you everything you need to know.

You'll also want to choose headphones that suit your environment. Home office hero, and want some headphones that extend your soundstage? You won't have to worry about environmental noise as much (unless you work next to a road, or something), so some open-backed headphones will be perfect. They let all the noise in and out, but give you more immersive sound in return.

In an office and surrounded by noise? We're going to go with a closed back. You'll not hear as much of the outside world (and they won't be able to hear your most embarrassing music either), and you'll get some stronger bass. The soundstage won't be as impressive, however.

Sennheiser HD 569
Sennheiser HD 569: was $179 now $122 at Amazon

This pair of closed-back headphones is perfect for office use. They're not too expensive, so you won't mind if a jealous colleague from another cubicle "borrows" them, and the closed-backs mean they won't let noise in and out. They also sound excellent, with a wealth of detail and ample mid-range warmth. They're also light and comfortable, and the cable is replaceable.

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HiFiMan Sundara
HiFiMan Sundara: was $229 now $179 at Amazon

These are a more affordable pair of open-backed wireless headphones. They're very detail-oriented, so expect some brightness when you wear them. They're light and relatively comfortable, and the replaceable cable means they'll last a long time.

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Sennheiser HD 660S2
Sennheiser HD 660S2: was $679 now $429 at Amazon

This is the ultimate pair of open-backed headphones. They're my testing headphones of choice, bringing perfectly balanced sound to the table for some excellent listening experiences. They're not cheap, but they're some of the best-sounding headphones for the price. You can swap the cable out as well, should the one in the box end up breaking.

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The Amp

Close up of WiiM Amp in silver

(Image credit: WiiM)

I'm not going to tell you to go and buy a big ol' HiFi amp and try and find some space for it on your desk. Instead, there are some more compact models designed for headphones that aren't going to break the bank, while taking up less space on your work surface.

Why do you want an amp? Well, if you've bought some of those more power-hungry headphones, then the amplifier will give you the power you need for them to sound their best. But it's also good for headphones that don't need extra power, enriching the sound quality of your headphones at lower volumes.

So now that we know why you need one — let's see which model you should pick up this Prime Day.

Douk Audio U3 Pro
Douk Audio U3 Pro: was $89 now $54 at Amazon

This little headphone amp will provide plenty of power for your headphones, and it happens to look adorable. Plug your DAC in with the RCA cables at the back, plug your headphones into the front, and away you go. Just remember to max the volume on your other devices — that way, the control on the front of the U3 will dictate volume.

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The DAC

Unfortunately, none of the DAC sales are live anymore. However, it's still worth getting one, and here's why.

Everything that can play music has a DAC in it. It's a digital-to-analog converter, and it takes the digital tracks from the best streaming services and makes them into a listenable signal that your headphones can play — and that you'll recognize as "music." Or whatever approximates as such in your world.

The better the DAC, the better your music will sound — and when you've got some lovely wired headphones that are capable of maximizing your music quality, a decent separate DAC is always a good idea. Here are some great options, but they're not discounted anymore.

Fosi Audio DS2
Fosi Audio DS2: $59 at Amazon

This little guy is perfect if you're listening with a phone. It's compact and connects over USB-C. It won't be able to power serious headphones, but most wired options aren't going to have any problems. It's going to make Spotify Lossless sound its absolute best, that's for sure.

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Fosi Audio K7 Gaming DAC
Fosi Audio K7 Gaming DAC: $199 at Amazon

This desktop DAC is great for audiophiles and gamers alike. There's a mic port on the front and a built-in noise reducer so that your voice sounds great in chat. For your headphones, you get some top-notch DAC circuitry to make your music sound much better than the standard headphone jack on your computer.

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For more great discounts, be sure to check out our Amazon Prime Day deals live blog right now.

More to consider

RitMoment Wired Earbuds
RitMoment Wired Earbuds: was $23 now $11 at Amazon

These little earbuds bring the sound for cheap. This is the version with a 3.5mm headphone jack so you'll need a dongle for your smartphone, but you'll get an in-line microphone and controls for your trouble. That's a braided cable, and RitMoment says you'll get "crisp treble, warm mids and deep bass." What more could you want for less than a meal at Burger King?

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Linsoul KZ ZS10 Pro
Linsoul KZ ZS10 Pro: was $49 now $44 at Amazon

These little buds have served me well for a long time. They're a well-priced pair of buds that have crept up in price as more and more people have realized their audio brilliance. They're incredibly well detailed and feature some surprisingly dynamic bass. The cable is removable for easy replacement and the metal outers make them feel more premium than their price would suggest.

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Tammy Rogers
Tammy Rogers
Audio Editor

Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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