Three Headphone Price Drops Worth a Real Look This Week

Three headphone price drops are running this week, each aimed at a different use case. The lineup spans a discontinued Audio-Technica wired in-ear with surprisingly large drivers, a Sennheiser true wireless pair that has stayed below its launch price, and the Forza Horizon 6 limited-edition Xbox headset, which has dipped well under its launch MSRP on third-party retailers.

What sets the trio apart is that the discounts are not marketing fluff. Audio-Technica’s official product page now lists the ATH-CKM500i as Discontinued, which turns the current sale into a clearance event rather than a routine mark-down. The Sennheiser CX True Wireless has been trading below its $129.95 launch price for the better part of two years, and the Forza Horizon 6 limited-edition headset is the first half of that bundle to see a real cut.

A Wired Sleeper from Audio-Technica Hits Budget Pricing

The ATH-CKM500i is a wired in-ear with a built-in mic and an inline controller, and its spec sheet reads as more ambitious than its price tag suggests. Audio-Technica’s ATH-CKM500i product page lists 12.5 mm dynamic drivers, machined brass stabilizers designed to absorb vibration for cleaner mids and highs, a 1.2 m Y-type cable, and a 3.5 mm gold-plated L-type connector. Sensitivity is rated at 105 dB/mW and impedance at 16 ohms, which means the pair will drive easily from a phone or laptop without a separate amp.

Audio-Technica lists the model as Discontinued on its own site, with a $109.95 MSRP still showing in the price field. That status changes what a sale price means: this is a clearance run, not a normal discount, and third-party stock will not be replenished once it sells out. The current white ATH-CKM500I Amazon listing is the one attracting the budget attention, and the page description still names the 12.5 mm drivers and brass-stabilizer hardware as the headline features. For anyone who still wants a wired daily driver, a desk pair, or a backup for a dongle DAC, the spec sheet reads as more than the price suggests.

The wired format gives up modern conveniences but gains reliability. There is no Bluetooth pairing to fail, no battery to charge, and no firmware to update. The 3.5 mm jack will not fit phones that have dropped the port, but it will work with any laptop, any DAC dongle, and most in-flight entertainment systems without an adapter.

For a buyer choosing between the three deals, the Audio-Technica is the only one of the trio that will still work in ten years without a charger, a dongle, or a Bluetooth stack. The 12.5 mm drivers and the brass-stabilizer hardware are the cherry on top of that reliability pitch.

Sennheiser’s CX True Wireless Stays in the Discount Lane

The Sennheiser CX True Wireless launched at a $129.95 MSRP, and it has been a fixture of the sub-$100 wireless market since early 2022. The pair uses Sennheiser’s 7 mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers, supports AAC, AptX, and SBC codecs over Bluetooth, and is rated for 27 hours of total battery life with the charging case. An IPX4 splash-resistance rating covers workouts and rain, and the Smart Control app for iOS and Android adds a customisable EQ plus a separate Bass Boost pre-set. The case charges over USB-C and ships with four ear adapter sizes for a fit-and-seal approach to passive noise cancellation.

At its current sale price, the white version undercuts its $129.95 launch MSRP by enough to put a German-engineered true wireless pair within reach of buyers who would otherwise settle for an off-brand alternative. PCMag’s review of the CX True Wireless notes that the pair “stick to the basics, namely, audio quality,” and that the codec support covers most modern phones and laptops without stepping up to LDAC. For casual listeners who care more about sound than app features, that trade reads as a clean one.

Sennheiser’s Smart Control app remains the soft advantage. The Bass Boost pre-set and the customisable EQ are free, and the app pairs the buds in seconds for first-time setup. The CX True Wireless is also one of the few sub-$100 pairs that supports AptX, which matters for Android users running Snapdragon Sound on a recent phone.

Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition Headset Sells Below Launch Price

Microsoft released the Forza Horizon 6 limited-edition controller and headset bundle earlier this year, with the controller and the headset carrying separate MSRPs. The headset is the more interesting half of the pair, with a transparent blue boom mic, hot-pink metallic backing, and a bold “HORIZON” graphic across the headband. Festival-styled earcup dials in silver finish the cosmetic play.

Inside, the headset runs on Xbox Wireless radio for direct console pairing, with Bluetooth available for phone or PC alongside a simultaneous chat connection. The internal rechargeable battery is rated at up to 20 hours, and the Forza Horizon 6 headset Amazon listing names spatial audio support for Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X, with Atmos included at no extra cost. The Xbox Accessories app exposes a custom EQ, a bass boost, mic-monitoring levels, and auto-mute sensitivity for buyers who want to tune the sound to a specific game. The mic hardware is the standout cosmetic feature, and the design is pointed squarely at the Forza fan base rather than the casual Xbox buyer.

For owners of an Xbox Series X or Series S, the wireless radio pairs the headset directly without a dongle or base station, and the same radio also pairs the controller. PC and mobile use falls back to Bluetooth, which works for chat apps and music but not for full Xbox Wireless features. The headset sits well below its launch MSRP at current sale pricing, a rare early cut on a limited-edition console accessory.

this headset is just as good as any headset, even better cuz u dont need anything just pair and play, only con is it only works for xbox, thats it

That review, posted on the Amazon listing on June 17, 2026 by a buyer called Hiilei, captures the headset’s main draw and its one real limitation in the same breath. The platform lock-in is real, and Microsoft’s next Xbox, currently the subject of separate reporting on the disc-free Project Helix design, will be a different platform decision for buyers thinking ahead. For anyone who already has an Xbox, the price drop lands on a headset that skips the dongle step most wireless gaming headsets still require. The current price sits well below the original MSRP that Microsoft set at launch, which makes the deal rarer than the typical console accessory discount cycle.

What Each Buyer Should Watch For

The three price drops are real, but each carries a distinct caveat. The Audio-Technica is officially discontinued, which means warranty support is now channel-dependent and third-party stock will not be restocked once it runs out. The Sennheiser CX True Wireless is an older design that has been replaced by the CX Plus and CX Plus Special Edition, so accessory compatibility, replacement tips, and future firmware updates are not guaranteed. The Forza Horizon 6 headset is a limited edition, which means production runs end and the price tends to drift back up as inventory thins.

The three products, at a glance:

• Audio-Technica ATH-CKM500i: 12.5 mm dynamic drivers, 1.2 m cable, 7.4 g, 3.5 mm gold-plated jack
• Sennheiser CX True Wireless: 7 mm TrueResponse drivers, 27-hour battery, IPX4 splash resistance, AAC and AptX support
• Xbox Forza Horizon 6 Headset: 20-hour battery, Dolby Atmos, Xbox Wireless radio, Bluetooth, transparent blue boom mic

The wired Audio-Technica pair is the only one of the three with a 3.5 mm jack, and that single physical port is the reason it still works on older laptops, gym gear, and in-flight entertainment systems. The Sennheiser is the only one with a Smart Control app for EQ tuning and a Bass Boost pre-set, and the only one rated for IPX4 splash resistance for workouts. The Forza Horizon 6 is the only one that pairs directly to an Xbox console without a dongle, and the only one with a transparent blue boom mic stamped with the Forza logo.

The right move depends on the routine. A buyer who already has a wireless setup and just wants a wired backup for travel should grab the Audio-Technica before the stock runs out. A buyer upgrading from cheap wireless earbuds to a known audio brand at sub-$100 should grab the Sennheiser. A buyer with an Xbox Series X or Series S who wants a limited-edition cosmetic and a no-dongle wireless setup should grab the Forza Horizon 6 headset before the limited production run ends. Anyone whose routine crosses all three roles should keep waiting, because no single pair in the roundup does wired, wireless, and Xbox duties at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Audio-Technica ATH-CKM500i still being made?

No. Audio-Technica’s product page lists the ATH-CKM500i as Discontinued, with a $109.95 MSRP still shown in the price field. Current third-party stock is the only inventory that will be available going forward, and restocks are not expected.

Does the Forza Horizon 6 limited-edition headset work on PC?

Yes, over Bluetooth, and through the Xbox Accessories app on Windows 10 and 11. The Xbox Wireless radio itself is for Xbox consoles only, so PC users cannot run the full spatial audio feature set without a separate dongle.

How long does the Forza Horizon 6 headset battery last?

Up to 20 hours on a single charge, per the Amazon product listing. Battery life varies with distance from the console, mic usage, and whether Bluetooth is paired at the same time as Xbox Wireless.

Will the Forza Horizon 6 headset work with PlayStation or Switch?

Not over Xbox Wireless. The headset can pair over Bluetooth to any Bluetooth-capable device, but Sony and Nintendo consoles will not run the Xbox spatial audio features or the custom EQ from the Xbox Accessories app.