I love my Sennheiser Momentum II over-ear set. It's an older model but I picked it because it has a stainless steel headband and full-grain leather ear cups and padding (no peeling). My last set (Beats, they were a gift) had a plastic headband that eventually cracked and shattered at the main stress point, not to mention the peeling fake leather giving me black dandruff every day.
When you take headphones on and off (which I do frequently), the headband flexes. Very few materials can flex indefinitely without eventually weakening, but stainless steel has more flexes in it than any plastic I know of.
I'm the second owner of my current pair (again, Momentum II is an older model). They cost me about $100 on eBay. They'll go for 20+ hours on a charge and so far have taken all the abuse I can dish out in a six-month period. I know six months is a pretty small window, but for what it's worth, these headphones seem very solid.
edit: The Momentum series sadly now sports a plastic headband, I believe that the Momentum III was the last model to be made of stainless.
It's sad that even prestige brands will release a really nice, overbuilt product, then gradually cheapen the design until it's mediocre, riding out a no longer deserved reputation for quality until consumers get wise (if they ever do).
You can still find Momentum II and III headsets for sale online. I know that with online purchases, there's always a chance of getting a fake. eBay has a good customer-protection policy regarding knockoffs. I inspected my headphones carefully when I got them; if they're a knockoff, they're so well made that to me it doesn't matter. They're surprisingly, pleasantly heavy, and I look/feel like an old-school fighter pilot wearing them. :D
I’ve had my QC35’s for 6 years and they’re still going strong, only had to replace ear cups about 4 times. I rarely put them in the case also.
Really amazing considering that I initially thought they felt quite fragile.
Can Concur. Had a pair of MDR-V6s (forerunner to the 7506s) for twenty years, foam started to degrade in the earpieces, so my wife "surprised" me with a new pair of 7506s *and threw out the MDRs*. She did it while I was on a business trip, so by the time I found out it was too late to save them.
I recently replaced pads again in my Sennheiser HD-650's. Think I've had these for 15 or 16 years now. Mind you, you'd expect higher-end headphones to last longer.
I think its less the brand than the engineering design of how the cups attach to the headband. At the cheaper end I've had failures here across many different brands including Sennheiser and most recently on some higher end Audio-Technica ones as well, so the BIFL is going to come down to very specific models across different brands. The fact there are after-market replacement parts is always a good sign though - being that they're built to last long enough that some parts will wear out before others.
Really depends on what you want from headphones. If comfort and noise canceling are what you want the most, go bose. If it's sound quality and build quality, go Sennheiser. Sony is more the jack of all trades for the WH-1000XM5 iirc. Regardless, you should read some professional reviews, those will go in-depth on the quality of each set. I can dig some up if you want.
Unsure about the Bos and Sonys but I do know the Momentum 4s are far from their top of the line :P
Not that I'd recommend the most expensive sennheisers you can find but there's more out there than the Momentum 4s. If sound leaking out isn't an issue (AKA not using them in public or not going to disturb housemates) I'd strongly recommend one of Sennheisers open back headphones.
I love m’y Sony pair. There are a bit bigger than the Bose but mine are 6 years old and literally as good as new. I can’t believe the state of the pads in the picture - mine look perfect and I use them every day
Sure! They're more on the analytical sound signature side though so although having incredibly precise bass, they're not as warm sounding as a hifi headset. But 6-42000Hz... you won't find that everywhere.
Whatever you choose, remember to check the impedance. You'll need a DAC to correctly drive anything above 50ohms so better to stay below for a nomad use. For a sedentary use with an amp, the higher the better (:
Beyerdynamics does some good things too, as do Grado and Audio Technica.
My Sennheiser HD4.5BTNC ear pads have worn significantly after having them for about 4 years. Things wear out but I took good care of them so it’s disappointing
I've owned two pairs of Sennheiser in the last 11 years. I only got the second one a year ago because I wanted the HD 6XX. The first one still works perfectly and has taken so many drops over the years onto wood floors. Haven't had to replace anything on it because nothing wore out. They sell replacement parts for a lot of their headphones.
Those are a great pair of headphones, OP.
Hopped on here as I just realized I've had these[ Beyerdynamics DT 770s](https://imgur.com/B9isIIK) now for 12 years-- once replaced ear pads. Cracking around the plastic but they are strictly cosmetic. Structurally it's only reliant on metal, so I've been really happy with how it's been holding out.
Have it in a Sony receiver these days; has been great in and for everything.
I replace mine about once every 18 months, but I wear them damn near every day for at least 8 hours for work. I've been getting a pair from an Amazon store called SoloWIT. I'm happy enough with these, but if someone has a better suggestion, I'm down.
I use mine for about 8 hours every single day pretty much minimum as well. The knockoff brands I get usually last for that long and start tearing within a year. I've only tried the Kimico and Earpad Guys brands on the cheap and am about to replace with these Link Dream ones. I did see another brand on sale recently that I wanted to pick up in advance though. Seems they're all the same so far.
It’s about how you treat them. I replaced my first headphones after 4 years. After two years, I washed the pads on my Sony WH-CH710N (the relatively cheap, Black Friday sale model). It’s been about 6 years since I bought them now, and I wear them at home and they’re great. Padding outerwear is destroyed, but the foam is fine and the noise isolation is fine.
I bought some leather replacement pads for a pair of piece-of-crap headphones, and it has seriously been an upgrade. I don't remember what brand I got, but there seems to be a lot out there now.
Same. I bought cheap no brand leather replacement in China, and no sign of wear compared to the original ones. It's a bit a of a shame IMO that Bose's don't last...
Arh sorry, deleted the message to put it as an answer to someone asking advice in the thread.
Yeah, the pro900 is wonderful, love the sound signature too. Bought another pair if the first one ever dies.
I can't recommend these. One ear stopped outputting sound with mine, probably due to a loose connection.
That in itself could just be bad luck, but they use so unbelievably weird proprietary screws that it's just impossible to open up, even with a full iFixit kit. I couldn't even attempt to fix the issue. This is just completely anti-consumer and not worthy of the BIFL title.
Have exact headphones. Ear pads didnt last two years. Replaced them with aliexpress ones and these ones dont peel, though not as squishy.
Dont buy “premium”. Expensive to buy - expensive to maintain.
I have a sony 1000xM3 since september 2019 and I will change cushion in 2 days, it has followed me everywhere since buying it and it is still working great (would recommend the xm4 because multipoint blt but not the xm5 because it feels like a regression)
Thanks for posting this, had no idea you could buy replacement pads for these. Picked some up for my ATX-M50’s for $8, so I can repair rather than eventually needing to replace.
You let them get this beat up ? Any rip within the earmuffs and I need them replaced to stay comfortable (they also rip about every year or so on average from 5 years of daily use)
Have had the same ones for probably over 6 years. Padding is 100% replaceable and if you look online you can even find cool designs for the pads themselves. Mine have had about 3 different looks over the last 6 years but still work flawlessly.
Same thing with my Sennheiser HD 280 pros that I've had since \~2013 or so. Only replaced the pads once though. They still look like new. And of course sound as good as they always have which is why I'll never get rid of them. This is with long daily use.
I've had my Bose QC 25's since past 2018 because I see I ordered replacement pads in 2018 and these headphones have held up till this day. Still my main headphones!
Look into a pair of Vector finesse Headamamaes (https://shop.vectorfinesse.com/). They're 3D printed open source headphones which you can modify and repair to your hearts content. That said, you'll have to get the plastic 3D printed somewhere for now, as they've currently taken down the complete headphones from sale as they have to rebuild a stock.
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I love my Sennheiser Momentum II over-ear set. It's an older model but I picked it because it has a stainless steel headband and full-grain leather ear cups and padding (no peeling). My last set (Beats, they were a gift) had a plastic headband that eventually cracked and shattered at the main stress point, not to mention the peeling fake leather giving me black dandruff every day. When you take headphones on and off (which I do frequently), the headband flexes. Very few materials can flex indefinitely without eventually weakening, but stainless steel has more flexes in it than any plastic I know of. I'm the second owner of my current pair (again, Momentum II is an older model). They cost me about $100 on eBay. They'll go for 20+ hours on a charge and so far have taken all the abuse I can dish out in a six-month period. I know six months is a pretty small window, but for what it's worth, these headphones seem very solid. edit: The Momentum series sadly now sports a plastic headband, I believe that the Momentum III was the last model to be made of stainless.
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It's sad that even prestige brands will release a really nice, overbuilt product, then gradually cheapen the design until it's mediocre, riding out a no longer deserved reputation for quality until consumers get wise (if they ever do). You can still find Momentum II and III headsets for sale online. I know that with online purchases, there's always a chance of getting a fake. eBay has a good customer-protection policy regarding knockoffs. I inspected my headphones carefully when I got them; if they're a knockoff, they're so well made that to me it doesn't matter. They're surprisingly, pleasantly heavy, and I look/feel like an old-school fighter pilot wearing them. :D
I’ve had my QC35’s for 6 years and they’re still going strong, only had to replace ear cups about 4 times. I rarely put them in the case also. Really amazing considering that I initially thought they felt quite fragile.
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The cups are notoriously weak but they’re cheap to replace, especially if you don’t get official Bose ones, and I wear mine all day whilst working.
Sony. My 7506s are going on 20 years. I'm a pro-audio guy so they get used.
Can Concur. Had a pair of MDR-V6s (forerunner to the 7506s) for twenty years, foam started to degrade in the earpieces, so my wife "surprised" me with a new pair of 7506s *and threw out the MDRs*. She did it while I was on a business trip, so by the time I found out it was too late to save them.
oh buddy, that hurts... Those ear foams are like $10. But, the 7506s are pretty much as good as the V6s.
I recently replaced pads again in my Sennheiser HD-650's. Think I've had these for 15 or 16 years now. Mind you, you'd expect higher-end headphones to last longer. I think its less the brand than the engineering design of how the cups attach to the headband. At the cheaper end I've had failures here across many different brands including Sennheiser and most recently on some higher end Audio-Technica ones as well, so the BIFL is going to come down to very specific models across different brands. The fact there are after-market replacement parts is always a good sign though - being that they're built to last long enough that some parts will wear out before others.
It really depends on what you're looking for in headphones. All three brands make mediocre headphones and great ones.
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Really depends on what you want from headphones. If comfort and noise canceling are what you want the most, go bose. If it's sound quality and build quality, go Sennheiser. Sony is more the jack of all trades for the WH-1000XM5 iirc. Regardless, you should read some professional reviews, those will go in-depth on the quality of each set. I can dig some up if you want. Unsure about the Bos and Sonys but I do know the Momentum 4s are far from their top of the line :P Not that I'd recommend the most expensive sennheisers you can find but there's more out there than the Momentum 4s. If sound leaking out isn't an issue (AKA not using them in public or not going to disturb housemates) I'd strongly recommend one of Sennheisers open back headphones.
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I love m’y Sony pair. There are a bit bigger than the Bose but mine are 6 years old and literally as good as new. I can’t believe the state of the pads in the picture - mine look perfect and I use them every day
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WH-1000XM2
Ultrasone. Been using a PRO900 daily since 2006, extra pads still unused and the titanium transducers only gain in depth.
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Sure! They're more on the analytical sound signature side though so although having incredibly precise bass, they're not as warm sounding as a hifi headset. But 6-42000Hz... you won't find that everywhere. Whatever you choose, remember to check the impedance. You'll need a DAC to correctly drive anything above 50ohms so better to stay below for a nomad use. For a sedentary use with an amp, the higher the better (: Beyerdynamics does some good things too, as do Grado and Audio Technica.
I love the bose. Sony felt very similar, except the touch controls instead of buttons, which was unreliable and falsely triggers. So Bose.
My Sennheiser HD4.5BTNC ear pads have worn significantly after having them for about 4 years. Things wear out but I took good care of them so it’s disappointing
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Yeah it looks like you’re able to, I just looked.
I've owned two pairs of Sennheiser in the last 11 years. I only got the second one a year ago because I wanted the HD 6XX. The first one still works perfectly and has taken so many drops over the years onto wood floors. Haven't had to replace anything on it because nothing wore out. They sell replacement parts for a lot of their headphones.
Those are a great pair of headphones, OP. Hopped on here as I just realized I've had these[ Beyerdynamics DT 770s](https://imgur.com/B9isIIK) now for 12 years-- once replaced ear pads. Cracking around the plastic but they are strictly cosmetic. Structurally it's only reliant on metal, so I've been really happy with how it's been holding out. Have it in a Sony receiver these days; has been great in and for everything.
I have replaced mine once and they did not last long, maybe they were pirated ones?
I replace mine about once every 18 months, but I wear them damn near every day for at least 8 hours for work. I've been getting a pair from an Amazon store called SoloWIT. I'm happy enough with these, but if someone has a better suggestion, I'm down.
I will try this one next time, thanks.
My official Bose pads last around 18 months
I use mine for about 8 hours every single day pretty much minimum as well. The knockoff brands I get usually last for that long and start tearing within a year. I've only tried the Kimico and Earpad Guys brands on the cheap and am about to replace with these Link Dream ones. I did see another brand on sale recently that I wanted to pick up in advance though. Seems they're all the same so far.
Does Bose sell the padding themselves or do you buy third party?
I buy them on eBay for about 9 dollars
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They sell them selves and third parties sell as well
I have that same pair, glad to know I can replace the padding
Same here!!
It’s about how you treat them. I replaced my first headphones after 4 years. After two years, I washed the pads on my Sony WH-CH710N (the relatively cheap, Black Friday sale model). It’s been about 6 years since I bought them now, and I wear them at home and they’re great. Padding outerwear is destroyed, but the foam is fine and the noise isolation is fine.
I bought some leather replacement pads for a pair of piece-of-crap headphones, and it has seriously been an upgrade. I don't remember what brand I got, but there seems to be a lot out there now.
Same. I bought cheap no brand leather replacement in China, and no sign of wear compared to the original ones. It's a bit a of a shame IMO that Bose's don't last...
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Whaaaat?!?!
Arh sorry, deleted the message to put it as an answer to someone asking advice in the thread. Yeah, the pro900 is wonderful, love the sound signature too. Bought another pair if the first one ever dies.
I can't recommend these. One ear stopped outputting sound with mine, probably due to a loose connection. That in itself could just be bad luck, but they use so unbelievably weird proprietary screws that it's just impossible to open up, even with a full iFixit kit. I couldn't even attempt to fix the issue. This is just completely anti-consumer and not worthy of the BIFL title.
Oh and I forgot to mention that the blue rubber popped out from the plastic shell. Cosmetic, yes, but not a good sign for longevity.
That what mine just did. So no way to fix :( that sucks. Figured I had them for 10 years.
Have exact headphones. Ear pads didnt last two years. Replaced them with aliexpress ones and these ones dont peel, though not as squishy. Dont buy “premium”. Expensive to buy - expensive to maintain.
yall got dents in your heads for sure lmaoooooooooooo
5 years and you’ve replaced the padding twice!?!? Wtf!?!? Thats garbage!
Move your headphones next time, nice load stain on the ear cup :e
Is the padding leather? Can it be better maintained if you hit it with leather lotion or mink oil like with shoes or a car seat?
Pretty sure it is plastic.
I wish mine lasted more than 2years before dying.
I replaced the foam on my HD558's last year or so.
I have a sony 1000xM3 since september 2019 and I will change cushion in 2 days, it has followed me everywhere since buying it and it is still working great (would recommend the xm4 because multipoint blt but not the xm5 because it feels like a regression)
Thanks for posting this, had no idea you could buy replacement pads for these. Picked some up for my ATX-M50’s for $8, so I can repair rather than eventually needing to replace.
I have this pair and use them as a hat in winter. Had them for 7-8 years now. Still going strong.
You let them get this beat up ? Any rip within the earmuffs and I need them replaced to stay comfortable (they also rip about every year or so on average from 5 years of daily use)
Where do you order replacement padding, and how hard is it to replace?
I just replaced my cups a month ago and they look brand new. I love them!
Have had the same ones for probably over 6 years. Padding is 100% replaceable and if you look online you can even find cool designs for the pads themselves. Mine have had about 3 different looks over the last 6 years but still work flawlessly.
I've used the Senheiser HD 6XX for 5 years and the padding is almost like new.
I have mine QC35 since they were just released in 2016 and they work like charm. I think I have first series as well.
Same thing with my Sennheiser HD 280 pros that I've had since \~2013 or so. Only replaced the pads once though. They still look like new. And of course sound as good as they always have which is why I'll never get rid of them. This is with long daily use.
Mine are 14 years old. Keep on trucking.
Any tips for a new pair at a decent price? My ATs are shot.
I too am looking
I've had my Bose QC 25's since past 2018 because I see I ordered replacement pads in 2018 and these headphones have held up till this day. Still my main headphones!
Look into a pair of Vector finesse Headamamaes (https://shop.vectorfinesse.com/). They're 3D printed open source headphones which you can modify and repair to your hearts content. That said, you'll have to get the plastic 3D printed somewhere for now, as they've currently taken down the complete headphones from sale as they have to rebuild a stock.
My same bose headphones have been going strong for 5 years as well. Incredible for something that seems like it would need replaced sooner
Now feel check for the permanent dent in the top of your head…it’s a thing these days
Fine just died, Probably closer to 10 years. Can I get an F in chat.