[GanChan]

I'm about to buy an AT-A500, and I'm curious about questions of basic maintenance, i.e., keeping them clean. Obviously the pleather pads won't require more than the occasional wiping off, but what about the velour head support pads? I mean, I wash my hair regularly, but let's face it, oil happens, and over years of use, well...

So is there anything you AT oweners do to keep the wings clean? Or is it just a non-issue?

 

[terrymx]

for cleaning earpads, throw them into the washer with my clothes adn they come out softer and cleaner. no damages.

 

[Stoner]

You misunderstood the question. He's asking about cleaning the 2 triangle support pads on top of AT cans. These are glued on from what I can tell (I'm not gonna rip them off just to show an example).

I guess you could use alcohol wipes or high concentration propronyl alcohol to clean them. Because I also put the hood of my sweats over my head before I put the giant cans on, thus I don't really have to clean the cans after use. I'm quite oily, so if I forget to put the hood on, the pads gets a wax.

 

[GanChan]

I think they are made of velour. So maybe I could apply a spot-cleaner for delicate fabrics or something like that.

Alcohol evaporates quickly, which is a good thing. Hopefully it wouldn't be hard on the pads.

 

[bangraman]

They are not velour and they are pretty tricky to wash. What I tend to do is to occasionally dab a sponge which is steeped antiseptic/barbicidal solution and leave it to dry.

 

[GanChan]

Quote:

Originally posted by bangraman They are not velour and they are pretty tricky to wash. What I tend to do is to occasionally dab a sponge which is steeped antiseptic/barbicidal solution and leave it to dry.

Can you tell what kind of material it is? Or is it one of those inexplicable Japanese mysteries....

 

[Tolovana]

From the looks of them, you could buy the larger 'foamies' - the kind that would fit portapros, and slip them over the wings to make a cover. Then you could wash, or throw away the foamies when they got dirty.

I'll check to see if that would work when I get home tonight.

Carol

 

[GanChan]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tolovana From the looks of them, you could buy the larger 'foamies' - the kind that would fit portapros, and slip them over the wings to make a cover. Then you could wash, or throw away the foamies when they got dirty. I'll check to see if that would work when I get home tonight. Carol

And if that doesn't work, I can always wear a dishcloth or something on my head.

A500 + dishcloth = photo op.

 

[D-EJ915]

The 3D-Wings can be removed...you just snap them off...you can take the "inner" thing too...it snaps off. I guess you could take the inside out, but I haven't tried that...

p.s. the pad cover is made of the same material as those water-balls for in the pool...lol

NEW!!...I just took out the inside and they appear to be bicycle-helmet style pads...lol, but they are.

I'm not adventurous enough to try to take off the smooth part (gelly feeling thingy...), but it's probably glued on, so I don't suggest tossing it in the washer.


edit: I just accidentally popped out the silky-type gel thingie...and there's a metal or something thing that holds them in, so you can take them out

 

[GanChan]

Excellent. I hope you can put those headphones back together!

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally posted by GanChan Excellent. I hope you can put those headphones back together!

That 's a good one. LOL

 

[GanChan]

Quote:

Originally posted by Andrew_WOT That 's a good one. LOL

Well, phrases like "accidentally popped out" make me nervous. I don't want anyone to damage their phones on my account....

 

[Takashi]

i just tried with my w1000 and
a)i don't think 3d wing itself should be snapped out. too scary.
b)pad can be removed. it's cotton jersey type cloth wrapping some form, heat glued to thin plastic panel.

showing backside of the pad

you just have to pull it out and snap it back in. just go easy when you wash it.

 

[Tolovana]

I 'popped' them out of my 900's last night - and they're exactly as described above. (and the went right back in)

Personally, I'd put a little Dawn (cause it's so good at cutting grease, and is otherwise non-damaging) in a small bowl of warm water, put the pads in, squeeze them a few times to get them full, and leave them set for a few minutes. Then I'd just do the same, without the dawn, to rinse them out. I don't think I'd put them in the wash with everything else.

A normal foamie ear phone cover is too small to cover the wings.

Maybe someone should design some fashion "wing-booties" to go over them.

Carol

 

[ayt999]

you would think audio-technica would make replacement wing support pads... all of mine seem to come off (I took it off the L3000, but the other ones seem harder to be secured more tightly). I'll try contacting audio-technica when I am there in the summer about this and if they have replacements. after a few washes they would surely become worn out....