Doc Octopus
New Head-Fier
My Penroses also broke in the same place. Is there a way to repair the headphones or do I have to throw 300 euro headphones in the garbage that lasted 3 years?
Audeze Penrose X and Penrose
- Thread starter Audeze
- Start date
is there any fix for the flaking peeling crumbling black plastic headband and cushions? it happened to stock ones, and the unobtanium cooling gel pads.
Is there something to spray-on that would stop the crumble?
Is there something to spray-on that would stop the crumble?
You'll have to replace the earpads, and try and maintain any replacement by wiping them down:
As for the headband, unfortunately those are not replaceable, and we suggest getting an aftermarket headphone headband strap to wrap around it:
Like THIS.
For cleaning/maintenance:
We suggest wiping down earpads, headbands, and exterior parts with a clean dry cloth for regular maintenance. You can use a little water if it's needed for mild cleaning.
For deeper spot cleaning: you can moisten a clean, lint-free cloth or cotton swab with a little water mixed with a very small amount of mild soap (such as dish or hand soap). Once cleaned, wipe with a fresh cloth moistened with water until no soap residue remains, then dry with a clean dry cloth. You can also use a little rubbing alcohol followed by a dry cloth. Be aware that these treatments will leach oils from leather, so you should follow up with some leather conditioner to replenish and moisturize.
If you have real leather pads, you can use any quality leather conditioner a few times a year to rehydrate, but we suggest using this very sparingly to avoid buildup.
We don't recommend spray cleaners or deodorizers since it's hard to control where they spray, and they may contain chemicals that can harm the diaphragms or other parts. Be careful to prevent getting any liquids inside the driver elements or on the bare metal parts, since that can cause damage not covered by warranty.
For those who live in humid environments, we recommend wiping down the headphones to dry them after each listening session, and storing them with a de-humidifier nearby. You can also store them in their case with silica gel packets, just be sure the headphones are completely dry before storage, and remember to change the gel packets occasionally.
As for the headband, unfortunately those are not replaceable, and we suggest getting an aftermarket headphone headband strap to wrap around it:
Like THIS.
For cleaning/maintenance:
We suggest wiping down earpads, headbands, and exterior parts with a clean dry cloth for regular maintenance. You can use a little water if it's needed for mild cleaning.
For deeper spot cleaning: you can moisten a clean, lint-free cloth or cotton swab with a little water mixed with a very small amount of mild soap (such as dish or hand soap). Once cleaned, wipe with a fresh cloth moistened with water until no soap residue remains, then dry with a clean dry cloth. You can also use a little rubbing alcohol followed by a dry cloth. Be aware that these treatments will leach oils from leather, so you should follow up with some leather conditioner to replenish and moisturize.
If you have real leather pads, you can use any quality leather conditioner a few times a year to rehydrate, but we suggest using this very sparingly to avoid buildup.
We don't recommend spray cleaners or deodorizers since it's hard to control where they spray, and they may contain chemicals that can harm the diaphragms or other parts. Be careful to prevent getting any liquids inside the driver elements or on the bare metal parts, since that can cause damage not covered by warranty.
For those who live in humid environments, we recommend wiping down the headphones to dry them after each listening session, and storing them with a de-humidifier nearby. You can also store them in their case with silica gel packets, just be sure the headphones are completely dry before storage, and remember to change the gel packets occasionally.
Tuscany
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2016
- Posts
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- Likes
- 7
Mine got the crack on the hinge/bracket as well ... Which is very unfortunate. Fortunate is however the fact that I had 40 days more of warranty and was able to get full refund - kudos to the store I bought them from.
But that whole thing made me wonder - it should be that all Penroses (at least with the original sharp corner) should be broken by now. I bought mine in October 2022 (apparently old stock) and while waiting for them to arrive, I started reading and I stumbled on the issue with them breaking. So, when they finally arrived I was already aware that I need to me extra careful with them.
I am a young father of two with little to no time to play. I know for a fact that for those 2 years I had them, they were on my head for roughly 150h, in total. The rest of the time they were handing on a stand. Normally I would put them on my head, play for some time and then take them off. I am certain that I put them on my head like 100 times during that period. I would always stretch them just about the size of my normal head, trying to hold them as high as possible. Darn, I imagined that the headband will break first. When I take them off, I would slide them backwards instead of opening them.
All in all, I am sure I didn't make anything to accelerate the issue.
My point is - I used them so little and I was so careful that I really don't understand how it happened. Could it be also something with the plastic aging?
I will now buy Maxwell, as I want to be wireless, but I liked the Penrose so much (both look wise, sound wise and feel wise) that I don't know if I will like the Maxwell.
But that whole thing made me wonder - it should be that all Penroses (at least with the original sharp corner) should be broken by now. I bought mine in October 2022 (apparently old stock) and while waiting for them to arrive, I started reading and I stumbled on the issue with them breaking. So, when they finally arrived I was already aware that I need to me extra careful with them.
I am a young father of two with little to no time to play. I know for a fact that for those 2 years I had them, they were on my head for roughly 150h, in total. The rest of the time they were handing on a stand. Normally I would put them on my head, play for some time and then take them off. I am certain that I put them on my head like 100 times during that period. I would always stretch them just about the size of my normal head, trying to hold them as high as possible. Darn, I imagined that the headband will break first. When I take them off, I would slide them backwards instead of opening them.
All in all, I am sure I didn't make anything to accelerate the issue.
My point is - I used them so little and I was so careful that I really don't understand how it happened. Could it be also something with the plastic aging?
I will now buy Maxwell, as I want to be wireless, but I liked the Penrose so much (both look wise, sound wise and feel wise) that I don't know if I will like the Maxwell.
Last edited:
Hello
Care has nothing to do with it as I feel it's a design flaw only lightly exaggerated by poor handling
My first pair with the weak point in the design practically broke by themselves.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that I never stretched to get on my noggin... having bought mine after the flaw already started to show itself in the Maxwells I incorrectly assumed that with care I could make them last. I preemptively always handled the headphones using the solid part of the headband itself rather than say holding the cups to put on my head.
But still they broke at that weak point.
Fortunately hifheadphones were able to quickly sort me another pair, and those have a new mold widening the load point that previously would've been concentrating all forces in one spot
To date they're still okay so for now I'm both happy with the headphones and how the supplier/ audeze are dealing with it.
Care has nothing to do with it as I feel it's a design flaw only lightly exaggerated by poor handling
My first pair with the weak point in the design practically broke by themselves.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that I never stretched to get on my noggin... having bought mine after the flaw already started to show itself in the Maxwells I incorrectly assumed that with care I could make them last. I preemptively always handled the headphones using the solid part of the headband itself rather than say holding the cups to put on my head.
But still they broke at that weak point.
Fortunately hifheadphones were able to quickly sort me another pair, and those have a new mold widening the load point that previously would've been concentrating all forces in one spot
To date they're still okay so for now I'm both happy with the headphones and how the supplier/ audeze are dealing with it.
P.s. That several of us all had same issue but none of us screaming and shouting, suggests to me that Audeze / their suppliers are taking care of us all.
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