I found an outlet selling the Carson 3D series 8x32 binocular for $150. The ad doesn't mention ED lenses, so it probably doesn't have them.

It appears to be a good deal, but I don't know anything about Carson optics.

Anyone know anything about build quality - overall ruggedness for hunting - lens sharpness - customer service?

Thanks in advance for any input.

I saw no one had responded and I am hesitant as I have no first hand experience of them. I saw them on line several months back and since first reading the reviews of the ED version have been interested like you. I have spoken to one guy only who has seen them in use and his take was very positive. Seems a hard thing to beat as far as features bang for buck. Dielectric prism being first and foremost but fov, size and weight also. I would go for ED glass but don't know how their ED stacks up to others ya know? I don't think you can go very wrong with them except I am not too sure on the warranty. The reason I haven't bought them is because I prefer to not buy Chinese if I can. That is proving very hard. Since then I have discovered several other makes and models that really have me interested but none at that price. For whatever this is worth....good luck.

Not exactly the same, but I have Carson 8x42 HD's which have the HD coatings. I have compared them to the high end ed 8x42 Promaster's, my high end Fujinon Polaris and an Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum 10x50 I used to have.
The Carson HD's has better contrast and brighter colors than the EO, the promaster is slightly better than the carsons and the big porro prism fuji's top them all.
Without having them all to compare side by side you would be happy with any of them IMHO.YMMV
AT $150 that seems like a great buy.

my dad has a pair of the Carson Binoculars, I can't remember if he got the ED version or not but the few times I"ve looked through them I really like them just haven't talked the wife into me "needing" a pair of $300 binos