[Bag3l]

Hello Head-Fi!
 
So, in absolute despiration, I've come to this forum to beg you all to help me solve my dilemma. Recently, I have been in search for a sturdy set of headphones because I am heading off to college soon. I listen to Electro and Club Music alot, so I wanted a headphone that didn't just have good bass reproduction but was a great set of cans overall. 
 
Therefore, Google yielded the ATH-M50 which I was instantly sold on. Unfortunately, in an attempt to save my parents a few dollars, I scoured the internet for the lowest price I could get. 
I stumbled upon this link:
 
http://www.candysave.com/audio-technica-ear-cup-headphones-ath-m50-close-back-dynamic-studio-monitor
 
Google Product Search yielded this site as the cheapest. Trusting Google, I showed my dad, and he went ahead and purchased it. 
 
All went well, until I saw the tracking info. The headphones were being shipped out of a depot in Hong Kong. But only being slightly worried, I brushed off any fear of them being fakes and waited for them to arrive... boy was I in for a surprise.
 
The headphones arrived wrapped in paper, and tied up with twine. When i opened up the packaging, the box was literally destroyed with the plastic moulding coming out of it. I noticed right away that the printing on the box seemed extreme sketchy with low-quality inking and an off-blue color. I opened up the box only to be greeted with a strong chemical smell (god forbid that it's anything toxic) and I pulled out the headphones. In an instant I noticed certain flaws: the ear pads had scratches and holes in them and the plastic seemed extremely flimsy, not to mention it had a layer of dust on it. I did a bit of research, and it turns out the Audio Technica logo is actually crooked on my headphones and the CE and Crossed out Trashcan symbols do not cross the line formed by the bottom of the screw holes (will find source). 
 
So, I got in contact with a person who owns legit ATH M50's and he said that there is a high chance that they could be fakes, but there is also a chance that they are OEM models, therefore with a design true to the Audio Technica's original manufacturing designs, but not to its quality standards.
 
Of course, I tried the headphones on, and I actually thought the sound was crisp, clear, and better compared to my Skullcandy FMJ (Black) In- Ears.
 
So finally, my final question is, are my headphones fake, or are they possible OEM's?
 
I will upload pictures if you guys want.

 
 
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3330.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3331.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3332.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3333.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3334.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3335.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3336.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3337.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3338.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3339.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3340.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3341.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3342.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3343.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3344.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3345.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3346.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3347.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3348.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3349.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3350.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3351.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3352.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3353.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3354.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3355.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3356.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3357.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3358.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/Ganamon/IMG_3359.jpg
 



 

 
 
Thanks for reading this,
Bag3l

 

[Optimus Praim]

Smells rotten..
Photos please,especially take some with the Audio Technica logo on both ear cups...

 

[alv4426]

I have no experience buying from that website but I have heard of it on Headfi and all mentions of it were bad. BTW shure srh840 and ultrasone 540 are around $120 on amazon right now... and sony V6 is $63. I would seriously consider getting any of those instead of M50 if they are $30 at least cheaper.

 

[Bag3l]

Quote:

I have no experience buying from that website but I have heard of it on Headfi and all mentions of it were bad. BTW shure srh840 and ultrasone 540 are around $120 on amazon right now... and sony V6 is $63. I would seriously consider getting any of those instead of M50 if they are $30 at least cheaper.

But do any of them match its quality? Pics coming up right now...

 

[Bag3l]

Quote:

Smells rotten..
Photos please,especially take some with the Audio Technica logo on both ear cups...

Oh i only have 1 side of the ear cups. What do I need the other side for?

 

[Optimus Praim]

Quote:

Oh i only have 1 side of the ear cups. What do I need the other side for?

I want to see both ear cups next to each other in the same photo..
Usually fake m50 have the logo reversed in one side..
 

 

[Optimus Praim]

These are authentic..
If the logo is facing the same way on both ear cups..

 

[alv4426]

yes. A lot of people say that the shures are better, those particular ultrasones are known as little bit bass heavy, and too me the sony V6 are almost 90% M50 at 1/2 price
Quote:

But do any of them match its quality? Pics coming up right now...

 

 

[Bag3l]

Quote:

I want to see both ear cups next to each other in the same photo..
Usually fake m50 have the logo reversed in one side..
 

Surprise, they don't?!?!
O_O (Pics are uploading, you'll see)

 

[Bag3l]

Pics are up. First few are the box, the rest are links. 

 

[pshhyeahh]

You can barely read the words on the ear cups in your last picture. In the other pictures, you can barely see the words. With the authentic M50s, you can clearly see and read the model name on top and "Monitor Headphones" on the bottom. I think yours is shady as heck, no disrespect. Even if it wasn't fake, it still looks beat up to me. 

 

[Bag3l]

Quote:

You can barely read the words on the ear cups in your last picture. In the other pictures, you can barely see the words. With the authentic M50s, you can clearly see and read the model name on top and "Monitor Headphones" on the bottom. I think yours is shady as heck, no disrespect. Even if it wasn't fake, it still looks beat up to me. 

That may be my fault with the lighting. 
 
EDIT:
 
Jk you're right they don't show up well
(refer to image 3346)

 

[Optimus Praim]

Take a good and clear photo at the plastic where the cable is going inside the driver...

 

[Bag3l]

 
 
As requested

 

[iElmer]

Brother, that has red flags thrown all over it.  Deep down inside I'm hoping I'm wrong.  Who ships packages like that? especially if it's coming from HK?
Always shop from an authorize dealer
Trust your gut instincts, it's usually right
If it's to good to be true, it probably is.