Greasy Ears, Sweat and Dead Skin coating your Drivers?

[cide]

Well, Suffice to say. This is not the most... Nice topic name.

However, There is a purpose.
I am currently conducting double-blind tests with Audio-Technica ATH-W1000's, To determine if use in hot weather, During physically stimulating events (Riding a bike, walking in summer, Hot springs...) etc... Or having ears that give off a thick shed of sweat and dead skin byproduct.......... Contribute to sound coloration of cans.


Before I get down and dirty; so to speak, I want some personal opinions on this matter.

I will explain my case and point in doing this:
I currently own and have been using ATH-W1000 for a total of about 12,000 Hours, on one pair. Through various weather, Winters, and even during Bike Riding (Lots of sweat!)

I know, Who would do this with their cans? Well, I paid good money for them - They should be able to withstand such abuse. (For example, Look up IPhone Torture Test on youtube, see what I mean about enjoying good money..)

Anyway... I am looking to buy a new, Unused pair and compare the two.
What have your experiences been when _well using you're cans?


Look forward to some insight,
Cheers
-Cide

 

[PortaDiFerro]

Wow, 12k hours! And those things still work great?

Haven't used anything for anything near that long, and generally use IEMs when doing physical activities and haven't really noticed anything in those..

 

[b0dhi]

You would need to buy about a dozen, measure them all, get an average, and establish a measurement error margin. Then measure your used pair and, assuming the error margin is smaller than the difference between the averaged new phones and the old phone, you could make some comparisons. All of this is assuming that each measurement itself is done multiple times and within a certain error margin, ofcourse, due to the uncertainty inherent in headphone placement between each measurement.

Unfortunately, simply buying a new pair and comparing them to your old pair will not prove anything, as the new and the old pairs may simply sound different due to manufacture differences.