System for fakes?

[funniecow]

I was browsing threads and I noticed that a lot of people are afraid of fakes, and it can be understandable why they are. I mean paying 600$ for something that's not the right quality will make anyone turn red.

I've also read that people are apprehensive when they have to buy their gear from China, and since I don't have trained ears or exp sampling head phones/buds/IEMs. I'd like to see if there is a system where you can verify things. I think even buying items of brand name from retail is a risk. Prescription drugs from China that got into the US pharmaceutical system anyone? (they were all fake pills that caused deaths, and bad side effects, lead paint was involved)

I'm not bashing people from China, but when I buy something I hope that it doesn't have lead paint on it. I mean I'm pretty sure that other countries produce fakes as well, but I havent' heard of any stories about that yet. Especially when it's close to my brain/head/ear region.

So how do you determine fakes?(is there a specialty thread?)
Should you avoid items made in china for this reason?
Are the items in the FS forums safe?(I really care for this question)
Is retail more safe?
Is looking for a bargain asking for trouble?

I'm mostly asking because I want to buy items, but I'm on budget. So I've been hunting sites and the FS forums. Then I became a little apprehensive after reading threads asking if said items were fake. Or when reading threads saying how the headphones quality differed too much, I thought that one of them had fakes or a defective pair. I guess I'm just a worry wart.

BTW sorry if this is in the wrong section.

[Duggeh]

Fake headphones are of the lower cost and/or higher visibility products. Things like the Sennheiser CX300s and the B&O A8 earbud. I've never heard of an example of a fake $600 headphone.

There are guides on ebay, and some here as well, regarding the differences in fake vs real CX300, A8, PX100 headphones. There may be others too. I wrote on the differences in real/fake PX100 myself but forget in which thread I did so.

A central resource for this sort of information would though be useful. It could be accomplished by pooling the existing information together along with some buyers guidelines.

[funniecow]

Yeah that's what I was wondering. Is there a central thread, like how they did a portable amp round up. Because when I did a search it was mainly a "hey are these fake?" "ionno the prices look etchy" and that would be the end of the thread, or the only answers.

That way it'll save people with small wallets from getting scammed. So pool information?

[frozncore]

Originally Posted by funniecow

Yeah that's what I was wondering. Is there a central thread, like how they did a portable amp round up. Because when I did a search it was mainly a "hey are these fake?" "ionno the prices look etchy" and that would be the end of the thread, or the only answers.

That way it'll save people with small wallets from getting scammed. So pool information?

Well there's really no way off knowing whether its fake until you get it since there aren't picture of the actually item in detail. We can conclude that the item probably is fake due to the same pictures being used and the very cheap prices. But when you get it there are guides on spotting fakes for some of them. The best thing to do is to avoid buying headphones notorious for being faked. But if you really want those headphones, don't buy off ebay. Buy from a authorized dealer or second hand on this site. In my opinion its just not worth the risk buying on ebay and hoping for an authentic product.

[funniecow]

Originally Posted by frozncore

Well there's really no way off knowing whether its fake until you get it since there aren't picture of the actually item in detail. We can conclude that the item probably is fake due to the same pictures being used and the very cheap prices. But when you get it there are guides on spotting fakes for some of them. The best thing to do is to avoid buying headphones notorious for being faked. But if you really want those headphones, don't buy off ebay. Buy from a authorized dealer or second hand on this site. In my opinion its just not worth the risk buying on ebay and hoping for an authentic product.

That's what I'm saying, how do we even know that a person from the FS forums is unwittingly pass off a fake one?

I mean most people sale their gear because they don't want it or like it, so they would say "like new" who knows, maybe they don't like it because it's fake.

[captian73]

I might get a slap wrist for this, but i felt it's time that we all got to grips with this problem, so i started this, in an attempt to collate information that's scattered about the internet.

fakeheadphones.com

The thing is that I've had some frightening conversations with a few manufacturers. Unfortunately until I've got the go ahead, I've can't quote any details of the conversations I've had, but the problem is dire.

You're right about being people using the FS section to sell on their fake stuff. The only advice is, stay away from the popular counterfeited headphones altogether. Now before I start a panic, there was a hint that there are more manufactures affected than we first though, but until i can confirm this, I'd say: buy from the source if you can or from an AUTHORIZED dealer, not a REPUTABLE dealer. Pony up the money, and get the real thing. This applies mainly to the obvious offenders but at $600, you might be safe.

[krmathis]

I live by a simple rule.
If it looks too good to be true (ex. price wise) it probably is. Then stay clear.

[boxedfish]

are there any fake Shure SE530 in the market as of current? Got mine from ebay at a much lower price than the recommended retail price.

[captian73]

Originally Posted by boxedfish

are there any fake Shure SE530 in the market as of current? Got mine from ebay at a much lower price than the recommended retail price.

got any pics please?

[boxedfish]

Originally Posted by captian73

got any pics please?

no pics but from what i see and compared from website, everything is included from the aluminum box to the accessories which are made in good quality

[jinx20001]

Originally Posted by boxedfish

no pics but from what i see and compared from website, everything is included from the aluminum box to the accessories which are made in good quality

well cant you take pics? i know its difficult getting pics on head fi, ive had problems myself from trying but if you can get them up we on head fi are pretty good at spotting a dud.

usually with shure phones its wise to look at the shure logo on the phones, look carefully at where the R joins the E. if theres a clear gap between them they are certainly fakes. the R must contact the E.

another tip is to look at the cable joints for the date code. this is another place fakes can slip up.

these are obvious ways to spot shure fakes but as of yet i have not came across fake e500/se530, could be the price, fake manufacturers usually copy cheaper phones such as cx300's because they are easier to mimic and sell plenty more due to price

[funniecow]

Originally Posted by captian73

I might get a slap wrist for this, but i felt it's time that we all got to grips with this problem, so i started this, in an attempt to collate information that's scattered about the internet.

fakeheadphones.com

The thing is that I've had some frightening conversations with a few manufacturers. Unfortunately until I've got the go ahead, I've can't quote any details of the conversations I've had, but the problem is dire.

You're right about being people using the FS section to sell on their fake stuff. The only advice is, stay away from the popular counterfeited headphones altogether. Now before I start a panic, there was a hint that there are more manufactures affected than we first though, but until i can confirm this, I'd say: buy from the source if you can or from an AUTHORIZED dealer, not a REPUTABLE dealer. Pony up the money, and get the real thing. This applies mainly to the obvious offenders but at $600, you might be safe.

That's what I'm talking about, have any of you read about the PX-100? It's almost impossible, and to pick it up means that you'll need near god-like attention to detail. On another note, aren't counterfeiters aware of this site too? I mean how much does it cost to make a new stamp for the Shure logo?

This was an issue that I wanted to bring up in the "headphone loaner program" but the guy was just so dedicated that I didn't want to burst his bubble.

[captian73]

Originally Posted by funniecow

On another note, aren't counterfeiters aware of this site too? I mean how much does it cost to make a new stamp for the Shure logo?

This was an issue that I wanted to bring up in the "headphone loaner program" but the guy was just so dedicated that I didn't want to burst his bubble.

In answer to your question and in my limited experience of looking into this problem, i think you're right. The counterfeiters aren't going to sit on their hands. However, it's people who are 'headphone savvy' that will suffer, people like Louise. Unfortunately she wasn't aware that i had an interest in headphones, but believe me she's more than happy with her new AGK K 518's.


as a head-fi member though, there seems to be a lot of apathy on my behalf. Having said that hands up i started headphonedeals after saving £50 on my Ultrasone's and i though many others would like to ow where the good deals are.

Now looking back at some of my posts, they are now bitting me in the backside. deals that i thought were good, are no good at all...but I'm still learning.

....Anyway let mt give you an example of the ...Pioneer blah, blah, blah, 1000 dj headphones, with the silver swivel joint on the real set, and black swivel joints on the fakes.

Now, it ain't rocket science, and do you think the counterfeit market won't cotton on, and change the defect? Of course they will. Something simple like the colour of a swivel joint, i should imagine is easy to replicate. why they didn't make it sliver in the first place is another thing.

fakeheadphones.com » Blog Archive » Picking Out The Fake Pioneer HDJ 1000, From The Real Thing

The same with the info collated about CX300. Apparently the first batch of fakes were easy to distinguish. cable length and the grill were a dead giveaway, now it's getting much harder, if not impossible to tell.

Popular products will be copied, it doesn't matter what it is, handbags, shoes electronics, if it sells, it will be copied.

The other problem is how do you get rid of fake headphones? Well, you put them on ebay, call them 'genuine' and hope for the best. If that's not bad enough, people will sneak on here and give it a go. But on the other hand, there are genuine reasons for people getting rid of the genuine stuff.

Having said that, I've accidentally ordered a pair of fake white CX300's. I thought i'd ordered a Cypress Hill album. I must have click the wrong buttons ...i don't know how it happened. But now I've got a pair of fake CX300's that i don't really want. So how do i get rid of them?

Actually I might keep them!

[funniecow]

That's what I don't understand, a good way to thumb a fake is by looking at the price, but wouldn't it be easy to just sell fake headphones at full price, or just 5$ below the FS forums price?

Seriously, are there fakes for pk-1 pk-2 and etymonic er-4p??

[BushGuy]

Don't have a cow!

All of my headphones, and IEM's have been purchased via eBay, or the HEad-Fi Forums (additionally, Headphile). Not a single fake, fraud, or phoney amongst any of them.......nor has anything ever been faulty in any way whatsoever. Hate to total how many that comes to in terms $.........and that does not even count amps purchased from Head-Fi folks. It comes to a lot. Still have 6 IEM's, and 11 headphones, 3 home amps etc, etc. (despite what I have sold from time to time).
If you are at all prudent - it shouldn't happen at all. Your fears remind me of global-warming gibberish - fears far-outpacing factual data.