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Audiophiles, assemble! The first legit Black Friday Astell & Kern deal worth considering is in

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It's A&K, it's excellent, it's back down to its lowest ever price and this time, you get a case too… 

Astell & Kern's SR35 player on TR's Black Friday background
(Image credit: Astell & Kern)
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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

Astell & Kern A&norma SR35
Save 25% (£200)
Astell & Kern A&norma SR35: was £799 now £599 at AV.com

What a hi-res audio player this is! It launched in May 2023, it is still A&K's newest 'entry level' digital audio player (although its sub-brand, Activo, has a very affordable P1 and that also a belter of a player) and for this £200-off sale price it simply cannot be bettered. For clarity, this is a return to the SR35's lowest-seen price ever – but as you'll see when you click through, this time you can choose a brown or grey case (that feels like leather but is actually polyurethane), for free. See our five-star Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review for the specifics (and a lot more praise), but let me tell you this: ‘musical’ might feel like a bit of a cop out to describe a DAP, but not every player deserves the description. This one does. I know it's still not cheap but believe me, it's musical and then some.

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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.

More early Black Friday deals to consider

Becky Scarrott
Becky Scarrott
Audio Editor

Becky became Audio Editor at TechRadar in 2024, but joined the team in 2022 as Senior Staff Writer, focusing on all things hi-fi. Before this, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.  

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