Well it looks like @cresny had real issues but I had the same kind of headband on previous headphones (including P7w) for many years and never really had issues. Not sure if the one in the pictures was put to heavy use in e.g. a gym or so?
I was gonna talk about this last night. i just noticed yesterday how the underside of the headband was getting wrinkled, and i've not even had them a week. Meanwhile my Shure Aonic 50, which i've had for about 3 years and used quite a bit has no sign of that at all. I had the thought yesterday, maybe I can just smooth it out after using it. That did seem to help it return to form, but now after your post,i'm having doubts about that.When I read complaints of wrinkles in the headband leather I was ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, as mine was starting to resemble a pachyderm. But now it's not just wrinkles... I will probably self-repair with a spudger and maybe a touch of glue, but it's worth noticing that, apparently by design, it's held in by the youthfulness of the leather alone!
sefl-repair
I think the wrinkles are not the issue. The super smooth and thin nappa leather might be the real problem.
I have a feeling B&W'S response may read a lot like this...
Well lets hope not. I had a pair of P7s that I had for years beyond the warranty period and there was a tiny bit of glue residue leaking from between the ear pad and the driver housing. It was not visible unless I took off the pad, and it didnt really affect the sound. B&W replaced with no charge. Excellent customer service. Although this was a few years ago.
Yeah I'm sure this in an extreme example of failure. They should replace with no quarms whatsoever. Mine still look fine to be fair - not even creasing really. Seems like a bit of a crap-shoot.
Yeah i think you're right. This gives me pause about keeping the PX8. just the unknown aspect of how well it will hold up long term.
PX8 are expensive but if youre worried about the build and overall sturdiness of these you will have a hard time finding anything better. Most other headphones, regardless of price bracket, have way more plastic and weak spots in the construction that will fail long before the leather on PX8 becomes an issue. In the normal case - looks like cresny got lambskin nappa from a very thin-skinned little lamb...
This kind of failure would likely happen within warranty, they're defective. I wouldn't worry. My view on the leather remains though - I'd take a thicker less comfortable leather any day.
The runt of the litterPX8 are expensive but if youre worried about the build and overall sturdiness of these you will have a hard time finding anything better. Most other headphones, regardless of price bracket, have way more plastic and weak spots in the construction that will fail long before the leather on PX8 becomes an issue. In the normal case - looks like cresny got lambskin nappa from a very thin-skinned little lamb...
Similar experience here with the Aonic 50s...they are really great in terms of build quality. I have had mine for 2 years and no real sign of significant wear either. Still use mine almost every day and am very happy with them even after getting the Px8. However, they are a bit bulky and ANC is nonexistent so i stopped using them for travel and commuting and got the Px7 S2 for that.
Time have changed...my Px8s are supposedly on their way back to me after opening a case with B&W a month ago for the battery issue (Feb 16). They actually had them for two weeks so far. Hopefully it is a new pair. I have not received any communications from them for over 2 weeks now and the only reason I know something is on its way back to me is because I have alerts set up with FedEx and they send me an email everytime I have a package coming (just got one saying I have a package scheduled for delivery from United Radio). It is currently at the East Syracuse, NY where I originally sent my defective Px8. I have done 3 warranty replacements with B&W now in as many years (2x for the original PI7s and one now for Px8) and I would not say they have been the easiest of experiences.
PX8 are expensive but if youre worried about the build and overall sturdiness of these you will have a hard time finding anything better. Most other headphones, regardless of price bracket, have way more plastic and weak spots in the construction that will fail long before the leather on PX8 becomes an issue. In the normal case - looks like cresny got lambskin nappa from a very thin-skinned little lamb...
i agree, i'd take a better leather as well.
About the Aonic 50s, Awesome! Such a great headphone. yeah I tried traveling with them once not long after i got them, when I ventured out for some time away from the house, i'd gotten them just a few weeks after Covid was becoming a thing. Then tried again last year, and decided I'd probably never travel with the Aonic 50 again. not just because of poor ANC, but also the bulkyness of them.
I hadn't heard of this either, that probably means its rare when it happens which is definitely a good thing.
Thanks. Had them for about 2 1/2 months before I noticed the issue. They were delivered first week of December 2022 and I reached out to B&W support on February 16, 2023. Could have happened before and I just didn't notice since I don't check the battery every day. Tested it for a few days (using different adapters, cables and sources) before reaching out to B&W as well. I do miss them now that I haven't had them for a few weeks though. Will report back once I get them back.
