I bought my first pair of studio monitoring headphones on Amazon after a client sent me a gift card. I went with Audio Technica because of the research I’d done. I honestly felt like I could hear much more going on in my mixes. I had no stereo monitors, so I wore them extensively. I would wipe them down with a wet wipe most nights. They weren’t alcohol-based, but I have hot flashes, so I sweat briefly when they are intense.
I don’t know when I first noticed the small cracks, but I didn’t pay too much attention to them. I just kept using and cleaning them. The cracks got worse. Then they started to smell! Ewwww. Like a sock. I was like, WTH is that smell!? It didn’t smell like a locker room, but they did have an odor. I spritzed them with an odor-removing spray they use in hospitals. That kind of helped. Then one day I had a thought: I wonder if you can buy new ear cushions??? One quick search on Amazon and BAM. I read many reviews on different brands and materials, and people talked about how hot or cool their pads were. Some had issues with their close-backed headphones cramping their ears. I never even thought about that—how the leatherette material contributed to my ears being hot or how the outside of my ear would ache if I didn’t situate the headphones properly.
I was excited to find replacements, though I didn’t order them right away. I kind of forgot. Then I didn’t want to spend the money because they cost half of what I paid for the headphones. Months later, I ordered them. They installed easily, and they are soft and cool—well worth the money because my next set of headphones will be either a more expensive model of the Audio Technica or the Slate VSX’s. They are $300 right now. Most of the reviews and comments I read were favorable. I know to protect the pads and headband now. I’m glad they are easy to replace.
