Sound Advice: Bargain price headphones and Panasonic TV deals
Published in Entertainment News
Full-featured headphones for $34.99: When I wrote about Cambridge Audio's Melomania P100 headphones last week I knew not everybody would want to spend $239, no matter how good they are. The EarFun Wave Life headphones are a solid budget buy for everyone else, and those who already own pricey headphones may find them perfect for the gym, for kids or to give as gifts.
The EarFun Wave Life headphones share key features with the Melomania P100 like active noise cancellation, Bluetooth and 60-hour battery life. They also support a direct USB-C to USB-C connection, a rarity in budget models. At $59.99 MSRP they don't sound or feel like $239 headphones, but the sound is fine for everyday listening and is adjustable to your taste in the EarFun app. The combination of long battery life, noise cancellation and direct USB-C connection make them excellent airplane headphones when used with a portable device. (There is no headphone jack.) Regularly $59.99, the code WAVELIFE at myearfun.com saves $25, making them only $34.99 with an 18-month warranty and free shipping.
Q. I would like to replace the Panasonic plasma TV I purchased over 10 years ago with something bigger. Why are the new Panasonics hard to find in stores? I have been very happy with my TV and want to stay with the brand.
—J.D., Pittsburgh
A. I am frequently asked why Panasonic TVs are hard to find in stores. Panasonic televisions returned to the U.S. market less than a year ago, and the retailer onboarding process takes time. I expect it will happen later this year. If you can order online, a fantastic opportunity has arrived. When you see the prices I don't think you will care if you buy the TV in a store or not!
New 2025 models will be announced soon, and current high-end Panasonic Smart Televisions are now an impulse buy if you can snag one before they sell out. Starting with the Panasonic W95A Mini LED series, the 55-inch is $499.99 reduced from $1,299.99, the 65-inch is $599.99 from $1,799.99, the 75-inch is $799.99 from $2,299.99, and the 85-inch is $999.99 from $2,999.99. For OLED models the 55-inch Z85A is $899.99 from $1,599.99, and the 65-inch is $999.99 from $1,799.99. The top-of-the-line 65-inch Z95A OLED is $1,999.99 from $3,199.99. If these prices aren't crazy enough, if you sign up for newsletters on the Panasonic website you get a coupon code to save another 10% when buying direct from Panasonic! (I generated a code and it worked on the TVs.) When I saw the prices I could not believe my eyes and contacted Panasonic's PR department to make sure I wasn't missing something. It is for real, and you can research and order on Amazon or shop.panasonic.com. Delivery is free except for the 75-inch and 85-inch models, making the deals even sweeter.
I am not surprised your TV is working well and you are satisfied over 10 years later. Panasonic is legendary in the TV space, one of the last Japanese television manufacturers and Panasonic OLED products are used by Hollywood studios to master motion pictures. Panasonic is also a tremendously solid brand and the company is very customer-focused, responsible and socially conscious. The first of founder Kōnosuke Matsushita's Seven Founding Principles is "Contribution to Society." (Two others are "Fairness and Honesty" and "Courtesy and Humility." The world could learn from these words.) I can't remember ever getting a complaint about a Panasonic product, from a nose hair trimmer to an expensive TV or camera. Apparently Matsushita's words sunk in and Panasonic is still honoring his principles, over 100 years later.
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