Where to order ATH-A700 replacement pads? Anyone know? Mine are starting to flake.

Want to share my story today on my testing of the ATH-M50 and M50LE, subsequent purchase of the M50 and the return of it in a span of 45 minutes.


A bit of history, I was already interested in the M50 when it received rave reviews online but I held back my itchy hands because it was expensive for me plus I still have my 1st love the ATH-A700 closed cans which were my first audiophile (entry level) headphone which is still working very well after 3 years of constant usage. Only had to change the ear pads recently.

So anyway, the story of my excitement came when a SG store was having a promotion started in Nov and on offer was the ATH-M50CWH which is the fully white version of the M50, (different from the normal white version which had light grey earpads, these CWH are completely WHITE!). These set cost the same as the M50LE (Limited Edition, latest M50s with slight difference in sound signature) version on retail at SGD268 but is basically the same specs as a coiled M50. The offer was at SGD198 nett, a whopping SGD70 off retail while stocks last.

I called the store to ask if there was still stocks available and after getting the 'Yes', I planned my trip this morning to visit the shop later in the evening after work.

I arrived at the shop, walked past all the headphones hanging around and approach the counter regarding the promotion. This was an online promotion, so there was no large SALE signs posted anywhere, so only people who knew of the promotion mentioned online would ask them. Evidently the only visible M50 CWH on the shelves still has the retail price sticker on.

So I sat down at the testing counter and the sales assistant handed me a M50 test set to let me try out the sound with my own handphone. As I put the test M50 (black ; coiled) on I realise Audio Technica has really excel in comfort department of the headphones. My A700 felt like nothing when first worn even for its size and this was no different. Easily adjusted and no clamping feeling, no feeling of something touching or pressing at the top of my head. It was very comfortable and snug for my head.

I ran through a few usual tracks I love such as Karma Police by Radiohead, Trust in You by The Offspring, Radio by Rancid, Rape Me by Nirvana, and Soldier of Fortune by Deep Purple. At the same time while I was running through these tracks the sales assistant started putting un-opened boxes of M50s in front of me which include the full white M50CWH, the regular black M50 and the limited edition 50th Anniversary M50LE which is tuned differently from the regular stock. Instinctively, he also set down an iPod which include a lot of different tracks for me to test with the sound. It was great as I immediately plug the test M50 in and started listening to Adele, Coldplay and the last song, the famous live version of Hotel California by Eagles.

Peculiar

I noticed one thing as I was going through all the tracks from my phone before I migrated to the iPod. The test set I was using seemed to my amateur ears as though it was slightly louder in the left earcup in vocals compared to the right cup. I switched sides once just to test it and I can say it wasn't my ears for sure. It was probably my tracks in my phone which I normally listen with my stock earphones that came with it. It's just that the vocals doesn't sound like it's in the middle of my head. It was harder to notice when I switched to the iPod so I forgot about it.

The M50 I would say is not a bass headphone, thats for sure. I would say the bass was abit uhmm ...short? Like there was no longevity to the bass. I'm no basshead or anything but the bass was not pronounced or something. It's like at the back of the stage you know? This was very evident in Hotel California when the bass drum comes in after the intro guitar solo. At that point, I switched to the M50LE and was like "WOW!". Definitely a different tune this one. THe M50LE has more depth in the bass and also the vocals sound much more uhmmm lively? Can't put the word to what I heard. I switched back to the regular M50 and hear it again to make sure I wasn't imagining it. Then switched back to the M50LE again and listen the entire song by Eagles. Wonderful. I love the M50LE, but unfortunately there was no super promotion for it.

Decision

So as the sale assistant looked at me, I told him while I like the LE a lot, my target was the regular M50 CWH which was on offer. So happen also was that it was their last set. So I just told him I will take the CWH and proceeded to the counter to pay. As I paid and got the receipt, I informed the salesguy that I wanted to test the purchased headphone as well, so we went back to the test counter, and as he was opening up the box for the beautiful all white M50, I was so excited to test it I made sure the iPod was already on the Hotel California track and ready to roll. And as I took the headphone from him to inspect it before plugging it in to the iPod, I noticed it.

Disaster
The earpads was beautiful, the wire was good, then I look at the top of the headband and notice a streak of slight yellow color. I thought it was the lighting and shadow in the shop that was causing it and lifted it up into the light to make sure. I also blinked a few times to ensure it wasn't my eyes playng tricks on me. Damn. It was discoloration. Reminds me of the sneakers on display in a Nike store where after a few months on display, the display shoe is slightly yellow compared to it's twin in the shoebox hidden in the store. I was disheartened and and showed the salesguy what I saw. He was surprised too and was doing the same thing I did, and rub it a bit and move it to the light to see clearer. But it was obvious. A check by him with another salesguy which I assumed was his supervisor confirmed that this dis-color is likely permanent and can't be cleaned.

There was no other stock in the shop, so he called a nearby branch for any stock available but they sold out as well. He checked again in their own store room and the shelves but to no avail. I was so sad and for a while thought that it's only the color, what I wanted was the sound right? Should be no problem right? WRONG. I looked at it and realise it was spoiled goods. It took the beauty away from this ALL WHITE product. It's like the Arctic kena oil spill. There was no consolation.

The supervisor mentioned since it was spoiled, he offered a refund or a slight discount for the other models like the LE which I liked and gave me some time to think about it. But it would be over my budget already and there was no way I would buy this headphone even though they are fantastic at the retail or slight discount price. I came because it was SGD70 off retail, it was cheap and it's likely an one time offer. I asked if the Audio Technica Service centre would changed it for me if I claimed warranty on it but the supervisor doubt it since only manufacturing defects can be claimed. This was more like shelve wear and tear.


The return
Dejected, I told him that I can't accept the fault and ask for the refund and he obliges. As he was giving me back my money, he gave me his card and I also left my name and number just in case some fresh stocks come in. He doubts any new ones will be coming because these type of promotion is normally to clear stock and are one time offers. But he did tell me that the offer for the discount for the LE still stands if I decide on it later and asked me to call if I changed my mind.

So as I was about to return home empty handed, sad and nothing to cover my ears. I happen to walk past a Daiso branch and bought something that I planned to use for my headphone. Well at least I did not go back empty handed.



Only SGD2 in Daiso. It's a Banana Holder and it's great for holding headphones as well.



This post has been edited by Skidd Chung: Nov 5 2012, 12:28 AM

Yeah thought about it but decided not to get it. Though I loved the sounds coming from the M50LE and how it's different from the regular M50, can't decide whether it's worth the price at the moment. I would actually say the M50LE are only same in terms of physical sense to the regular M50, but it's a different headphone altogether when it comes to sound.


Yeah, the store is in ION ORchard.

Thanks for the tip, first time I'm using it. There was another plastic kind of banana holder but the hook was shorter than the one I bought. I would think if a heavier headphone was resting it's entire weight on the thin hanger frame, it would for sure like you said would cause a permanent crease on the headband.