Black Friday music deals 2023: Everything you need to know ahead of the big sales weekend

Black Friday music deals
(Image credit: Various)
Black Friday music deals: Quick menu

Black Friday might seem an age away, but time flies and those big Black Friday music deals will be with us before we know it - so ahead of the massive sales weekend, we’ve got everything you need to get you prepared.

Here at Louder, we’ve been covering all the biggest and best Black Friday music deals for a number of years and we keep an eye on the latest prices so we can provide you with genuine bargains when they crop up. We also review everything from headphones and speakers to earplugs and turntables so we can give you the best advice on what’s worth your hard-earned cash.

If this is your first Black Friday, here's a quick lowdown on what it's all about: Black Friday is an annual sales event that always takes place the day after Thanksgiving in November. It was once predominately an American-only shopping extravaganza, but as soon as online retailers began to get a foothold in the marketplace, Black Friday quickly expanded to all corners of the globe. As a result, it’s a great time to get a great deal on a wide selection of products.

While the official Black Friday music deals won't come into play until the end of November, in previous years we’ve noticed price reductions starting to come in way before then - so keep this page bookmarked because we’ll be highlighting all the best bargains.

US quick links

UK quick links

Editor's picks

Even this far out from the main event, we’ve started to see some awesome deals which we’ve highlighted below - and there will be loads more to come as Black Friday approaches.

Sony WH-1000XM5: Were

Sony WH-1000XM5: Were $399, now $348
Sony’s latest over-ear headphones are on sale right now at Amazon. Not only do they offer fabulous sound, but their noise cancelling is best in class. Battery life weighs in at up to 30 hours and they’re lightweight enough for long listening sessions.

Audio-Technica LP60XUSB: Was

Audio-Technica LP60XUSB: Was £169, now £149.99
We’re big fans of Audio-Technica’s turntable range and this is a nice wee price drop on the LP60XUSB at Amazon. It features a built-in phono preamp, is easy to set up and it can also convert your vinyl to digital files on Mac and PC.

JBL Flip 5: Was

JBL Flip 5: Was $129.95, now $89.95
There’s 31% off the RRP of the JBL Flip 5 portable Bluetooth speaker right now on Amazon US. It comes in a wide variety of colours, delivers brilliant sound thanks to its 20W output and it’s waterproof, so perfect for outdoor use.

Black Friday music deals FAQ

Marshall's 3rd generation of speakers

(Image credit: Marshall)

When do the Black Friday music deals start?

This year’s Black Friday will take place on Friday, November 24 - the traditional sales day following Thanksgiving in the US. However, if the last few years are anything to go by, the Black Friday music deals will actually start to come in long before that, with online retailers jostling for your attention by reducing the price on a whole load of products from around mid-October. 

It’s also worth noting that the music deals won’t come to a sudden stop at midnight on Black Friday, as the sales will continue right through the weekend and into Cyber Monday on November 27. In recent years, we’ve also noticed many top music deals remaining beyond then and in the run-up to Christmas.

What deals should I expect to see?

In previous years online retailers have been getting in on the Black Friday action early and we’ve spotted some top quality deals on products from some of the biggest brands in music, including Sony, Marshall, Audio-Technica, Bose, JBL, Apple, Amazon and more. We expect those names and more to come to the fore once again.

We’re keen to spot what headphones go on sale, and we’re even hoping to see some of our favourite budget headphones get further price cuts to become even more appealing. For example, last year we saw the neat Samsung Galaxy buds slashed to below the $70 mark, while a number of Marshall speakers were also knocked down in price big time in both the US and UK, including power hitters like the Acton II.

There's also sure to be some great booze bargains, two-for-one deals, savings on Lego kits and band merch, money off music biographies, reduced prices on TV and music streaming services, iPads, laptops, TVs and more.

We’ll have our bargain snipers locked on target to bring you the biggest and best Black Friday music deals.

How to prepare

Black Friday music deals - credit card, laptop

(Image credit: Getty Images - Virojt Changyencham)

Once the floodgates open on the Black Friday music deals, previous experience tells us that a little bit of planning goes a long way in helping to secure a cracking bargain - and helps keep your head above the waves as the deals flood in.

1. Make notes: First off, make a note of the products you’re interested in and mark down their current price. This will let you see at a glance how much of a saving there is on a product you really want. Amazon’s list function really come into its own here as you can create individual folders to keep everything neat and tidy. I already have a ‘Black Friday’ list on the go, with the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones taking pride of place at the top as I really want to get a pair for a good price this year. Fingers crossed!

2. Decide your budget: It’s easy to be tempted to dive right into a great deal when you see it, but keep your budget in mind before flinging your chosen product into the basket. You don’t want to overpay for something you might find cheaper elsewhere. Here at Louder, we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for awesome deals across the internet and posting them right here for you to see.

3. Sell older products in advance: If you’ve got your heart set on on upgrading a bit of kit such as a turntable or Bluetooth speaker, selling your older model before the Black Friday music deals kick in could net you a decent chunk of change to spend on that shiny new bit of tech when the sales get under way.

4. Sign up to retailers’ mailing lists: One of the quickest ways to get a heads up about what’s going on sale or when the savings are due to begin is to sign up to an online retailer's mailing list. Getting this info early could steer you in the right direction of a top deal on a product you really want quickly. Sure, constant emails after the event can get a bit annoying, but you can always unsubscribe at any time you want. Also, keep this page bookmarked and check back regularly, as we’ll be on top of all the best Black Friday music deals.

How we choose products

We’ve reviewed many music products here at Louder over the years, with our team of experts and enthusiasts covering everything from headphones, speakers and turntables, to earplugs, books and smartphones. That’s given us a broad overview of what’s going on across the musical landscape and allows us to compare and contrast products and pick out items that excite us and things we think you’ll like too. That means there's no room for tinny-sounding headphones or speakers that don’t cut the mustard.

Why you can trust our picks

Here at Louder, we’ve been covering big sales events including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day for a number of years and have also created a wide range of buyer’s guides and product reviews. We dig deep into the essential specs of a product and also give hands-on information about how it performs, how easy it is to use and if it’s good value for money. 

We test headphones, speakers and record players in a real-world environment - our living rooms or out on the streets as we feel this gives a more genuine insight into how you’ll be using the product. If we’re recommending a pair of earplugs for musicians, we test those either in the studio or up on stage to give accurate information.

We also give pros and cons for products in our buyer’s guides, while all our reviews always feature a couple of alternative options to give you as much choice as possible when it comes to choosing something that's going to be right for you.

Last year's highlights

Last year's Black Friday brought a massive range of sales for music fans - and we saw prices slashed on everything from turntables and record players, to booze and collectables. Here are some of last year's Black Friday highlights in both the US and UK.

US

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Sony Bluetooth turntable: Was $249.99, now $199.99
Less than $200 for a Bluetooth Sony turntable was a great price last year. Simple to use and with Sony’s track record on audio gear, this was simply unmissable. As an added bonus, you also got free Apple TV+ for 3 months.

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Victrola Premiere V1: Was $499.99, now $349.99
The V1 is an all-in-one turntable with internal stereo speakers and Bluetooth capabilities. There’s an S1 wireless subwoofer to give you a great audio experience and there was $150 off the list price last year at BestBuy.

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Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen): $50 off plus 3 Apple subs
This deal from last year at Best Buy saw the Apple AirPods Pro reduced from $249.99 to $199.99 which was good enough. But they also gave 4 months of Apple Music, 4 months of Apple News+ and 3 months of Apple TV+ in free too.

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JLab Go Air Pop: Were $24.88, now $9.88
This was the best deal on a pair of Bluetooth in-ear headphones we saw last Black Friday. Less than $10 for a pair of neat headphones which offer 32 hours of playback from a single charge. Nice!

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Live: Were $149, now $69
This was a brilliant Black Friday bargain on the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live last Black Friday. Walmart reduced the price by $80. Active Noise Cancelling and great audio for less than 70 dollars? Amazing! More of this please!

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Sony WH-CH710: Was $149.99, now $68
You could save more than $80 on these Sony headphones over at BestBuy last year. This was a top deal, especially when you consider they offer noise cancelling. That’s not all: You also got four free months of Amazon Music Unlimited thrown in for good measure.

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Marshall Uxbridge: Was $219.99, now $149.99
The Marshall Uxbridge Bluetooth speaker sounds amazing and it also has Amazon Alexa functionality built in, so you can control your music with the power of your voice. Alexa also turns the speaker into your one-stop-shop for news reports, sports scores and more. There was 32% off the RRP at Amazon last year.

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Nirvana Nevermind super deluxe: $259.80, now $163
Amazon cut the price by $90 for Black Friday last year. This super deluxe edition was released to mark the record's 30th anniversary and is pressed on180g vinyl and spread across 8LP. It also contains the Endless, Nameless 7-inch single. Studio tracks, live cuts and more - it’s the ultimate tribute to the grunge kings.

UK

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Marshall Major IV: Were £129.99, now £79
Marshall’s popular Major IV on-ear headphones were down 24% on Amazon last November, making this a quality deal on a top set of headphones. Cracking audio quality coupled with 80 hours of play time made this a standout deal.

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Marshall Emberton: Was £149.99, now £89.99
Marshall’s tiny-but-powerful Emberton portable Bluetooth speaker is the audio company’s most popular speaker in their range. You could grab one last year with more than £60 off at Very.co.uk.

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JBL Charge 3 Stealth Edition: Was £139.99, now $99
Amazon lopped 29% off the RRP of the powerful and portable JBL Charge 3 Stealth Edition speaker last year. Brilliant sound and 20 hours of non-stop music playback from a full charge.

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House Of Marley Stir It Up: Was £199.99, now £149.99
We’re big fans of House of Marley’s products here at Louder thanks to their sustainable philosophy and their top notch audio delivery. Last year you could grab the brilliant Stir It Up turntable at Amazon with £50 off.

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Audio-Technica AT-LP3BK: Was £249.99, now £218.56
This belt-driven turntable is a cracking record player for the money, and there was 13% off at Amazon last year. It’s light weight and although there’s no Bluetooth connectivity, it would make an ideal starter record player.

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Sony WH-1000XM5: Were £380, now £290.68
Sony updated their over-ear headphone range in 2021 with the sparkling WH-1000XM5. Noise cancelling has been improved and you'll still get 30 awesome hours of play back from a single charge. This was a cracking Amazon deal last year.

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Apple AirPods Pro (2021): £184 + 5mo. of Apple Music
John Lewis had a neat offer if you were in the market for a new pair of in-ear headphones and a new music streaming service last November. If you bought a pair of the 2021 AirPods Pro, new subscribers could claim 6 months of Apple Music for free.

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Philips PerfectDraft Pro bundle: Was £419, now £278
The PerfectDraft from Philips guarantees you a chilled pour of your favourite beer or cider every time - and last year at Beerhawk (now called PerfectDraft) you could grab a PerfectDraft Pro Stella Artois Starter Bundle - a price drop of £140 from its usual price.

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Andertons Black Friday sale
Andertons are the UK's biggest musical instrument retailer and last year they offered huge savings on effects pedals, electric guitars, amps, acoustics and more. You could save £100s on guitars from Fender, Gibson, Squier, PRS, Schecter, Kramer and many more.

More Black Friday content

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.

With contributions from