Topic: ATH-M50 Headphone Pads

[stevetoney]

I've owned a pair for maybe 2 years max and the ear pads are already rotted.  The naugahide vinyl surface has become very cracked (like shattered glass) and is flaking.  The headphones now are very uncomfortable and annoying to wear.  I'm really surprised and disappointed this happened so quickly on these phones, which I kinda still consider to be like new.  I'm seeing them recommended alot based on sound, but because of this experience, I can't recommend them.   

Anyway, two questions... 

Have other owners also experienced this?

Any recommended fixes or workarounds?

[ashevillain]

I've owned a pair for maybe 2 years max and the ear pads are already rotted.  The naugahide vinyl surface has become very cracked (like shattered glass) and is flaking.  The headphones now are very uncomfortable and annoying to wear.  I'm really surprised and disappointed this happened so quickly on these phones, which I kinda still consider to be like new.  I'm seeing them recommended alot based on sound, but because of this experience, I can't recommend them.   

Anyway, two questions... 

Have other owners also experienced this?

Any recommended fixes or workarounds?

I've been using mine on almost a daily basis for the past 3-4 years and they still look brand new.

Sorry, I'm of no help!

[stevetoney]

^ It's a help to know that you haven't had the same experience. 

[flipp]

Have you contacted AT?

Based on my experience in getting replacement elastics for some 8410s I would expect they would take care of you by either sending free replacements or selling them at a greatly reduced cost considering the age of the phones.

[stevetoney]

^  I should do that. 

I looked and it looked to me like the pads can't be replaced, but sitting here typing at my computer at work, that doesn't make much sense.  They probably snap in or something.

[fmaderjr]

I've owned a pair for maybe 2 years max and the ear pads are already rotted.  The naugahide vinyl surface has become very cracked (like shattered glass) and is flaking.  The headphones now are very uncomfortable and annoying to wear.  I'm really surprised and disappointed this happened so quickly on these phones, which I kinda still consider to be like new.  I'm seeing them recommended alot based on sound, but because of this experience, I can't recommend them.   

Anyway, two questions... 

Have other owners also experienced this?

Any recommended fixes or workarounds?

http://www.headphone.com/accessories/audio-technica-m50-cushion.php

[jlykos]

I've had these for a few years and it's the headband pad that is disintegrating on me.  The covering is flaking off and is leaving exposed foam underneath.  The earpads are fine, if a bit hard.  I'm surprised as well that the headband is completely falling apart after just a few years and considering how well I take care of them.

[stevetoney]

http://www.headphone.com/accessories/audio-technica-m50-cushion.php

Saweet, thanks 1M!

[stevetoney]

I've had these for a few years and it's the headband pad that is disintegrating on me.  The covering is flaking off and is leaving exposed foam underneath.  The earpads are fine, if a bit hard.  I'm surprised as well that the headband is completely falling apart after just a few years and considering how well I take care of them.

Strange...my headband is fine, but it sounds like the same material was used in both cases.

[fmaderjr]

http://www.headphone.com/accessories/audio-technica-m50-cushion.php

Saweet, thanks 1M!

No problem. I'm sure you noticed that you only get 1 pad for $9.99 + shipping, so you need to order 2. I didn't notice it until  now.

[fotoralf.be]

I've had mine for a little over a year and the headband started looking like a leather couch that had been dumped in the woods a long time ago. Called AT here in Germany and their prices for replacement heandbands and ear cushions were so low that I ordered five of each. Took them about three months and a total of three shipments to mail them but I've got them eventually. They seem to have a central spares store somewhere in the UK since all parcels came from there.

Fitting the new headband is a little tricky since one has to remove and unsolder the entire right capsule although they're seeing little use lately since I got myself a beyerdynamic Headzone Pro which came with a DT 880 Pro. Now, that's altogether in a class of its own.

Still, really fine headphones.

Ralf

[stevetoney]

...and the headband started looking like a leather couch that had been dumped in the woods a long time ago.

Exactly...that is a good description.   

[ashevillain]

Upon a second (closer) look it does appear that my ear pads are breaking down slightly, right around where the temple pieces of my glasses rub against them.

[stevetoney]

Upon a second (closer) look it does appear that my ear pads are breaking down slightly, right around where the temple pieces of my glasses rub against them.

Just for clarity in this thread, the degradation to my ear pads is significant and pronounced.  It all happened really quickly too.  It's like they were fine and then within a few months the material turned brittle, cracked, and flaking on 100% of the surface area of both ear pads. 

I'm not saying this to be a prima donna in this thead about what happened to my phones, but just for adequate description of what happened to me in case anyone else reads this thread down the road.  I'll be ordering replacement pads from the site in the link previously provided.  I'll report back about my experience on ease of replacement, comfort, etc.

[Fried Chicken Boy]

Thanks for the heads up on your experience, folks, and please keep us updated.  Wondering if it could be that certain batches of the material are wonky and why the degradation is affecting some but not all user's headphones?  For the record, I've had my set of ATH-M50's for nearly 3 years, use them several times a week for long sessions, don't take particularly good care of them, and they're still in great shape.  And now the earpads will fall apart on me in the next month.

[fotoralf.be]

I've head similar problems with my AKG K81DJ. There, the ear cushions peeled off after about two years, mostly in those places where I had wound the cable around the phones. Might be that the cushions reacted with the softener in the cable's outer sheath.

One a general note: what is this stuff on those headbands and ear cushions? Real leather or just leatherette? Would it help to apply a light coat of a leather care product?

Ralf

[Fried Chicken Boy]

What pulled me into this thread was hoping someone had a line on replacement pads that breathed a bit more.  My fat head gets steamy and a nice velour or brushed suede type cloth cover would be a welcome modification.

There's been talk about different replacement pads over on the Head-Fi forums.  The consensus is that there are more comfortable pads to be had but they will/might change the sound and isolation a bit.  But if comfort is what you're after...

Shure SRH940 / SRH840 pads
Beyer DT250 velour pads ('for sale' item with pictures; I wouldn't be surprised if other Beyer pads will also fit)
Fischer Audio FA-003 velour pads ('for sale' item with pictures)
New socks (yes, really)

[bugg100]

Posted by: Ben Turnbull
« on: October 20, 2012, 03:31:30 PM »"
What pulled me into this thread was hoping someone had a line on replacement pads that breathed a bit more.  My fat head gets steamy and a nice velour or brushed suede type cloth cover would be a welcome modification.

"



http://216.70.98.113/product-detail/ear-cushions-parts/x32-x12-ear-cushion/156

These pads fit pretty well, more easily fitting around (circumaural) than the stock pads, which sat partly ON my ears... more like the way Senn hd-280/380 pads fit and feel.

http://216.70.98.113/product-detail/headsets-legacy/ear-force-x11/235
The x11 pads appear to be the same, with no screenprint on the driver cover!

[Jamos]

The velour earpads are fantastic.  They don't make your ears sweat like the vinyl ones do...
and I believe the statements that they provide a little less isolation, but honestly I've never noticed any difference.

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-Velour-Earcushions-MDR7506-Headphones/dp/B0016MF7W2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364230631&sr=8-1&keywords=beyerdynamic+dt250+dt280+replacement+earpads

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/313962-REG/Beyerdynamic_942704_Padded_Earcushions_for_DT250_DT280.html

[stevetoney]

The velour earpads are fantastic.  They don't make your ears sweat like the vinyl ones do...
and I believe the statements that they provide a little less isolation, but honestly I've never noticed any difference.

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-Velour-Earcushions-MDR7506-Headphones/dp/B0016MF7W2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364230631&sr=8-1&keywords=beyerdynamic+dt250+dt280+replacement+earpads

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/313962-REG/Beyerdynamic_942704_Padded_Earcushions_for_DT250_DT280.html

Sweet Jamos.  Do those pads fit the ATH-M50 cans too? 

Coincidently, I literally just last week got a replacement pair of the vinyl kind, but I wouldn't be opposed to buying a pair of these if you can confirm they fit on the ATH-M50s.

BTW, if you used these as replacements for the ATH-M50, how did you deal with the fact that there's no material in the center that covers the drivers?

[DigiGal]

I use Pearstone's for my MDR7506's, someone had posted they would work with ATH-M50's as well.  The Pearstone model is discontinued but this Auray model appears to be an equivalent and as such should also work with ATH-M50's

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/886945-REG/Auray_epd_mdr7506_Deluxe_Velour_Earpads_Pair.html
Auraray Deluxe Velour Earpads



Discontinued Pearstone but check the review by b3wannabe from Maryland
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/645787-REG/Pearstone_9081860_Deluxe_Earpads_Pair.html

[Jamos]

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-Velour-Earcushions-MDR7506-Headphones/dp/B0016MF7W2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364230631&sr=8-1&keywords=beyerdynamic+dt250+dt280+replacement+earpads

Sweet Jamos.  Do those pads fit the ATH-M50 cans too? 

Coincidently, I literally just last week got a replacement pair of the vinyl kind, but I wouldn't be opposed to buying a pair of these if you can confirm they fit on the ATH-M50s.

BTW, if you used these as replacements for the ATH-M50, how did you deal with the fact that there's no material in the center that covers the drivers?

The Beyer ones at the Amazon link above definitely will work with AT M50's.  I've got some on mine right now...and if you look at the Amazon photos you'll see some M50's in there.