[Kevin Brown]

Interesting ...  I just bought a pair of these (from a US dealer) and also saw that bulk deal from China.  I kind of thought *maybe* they took out the accessories and the box to make them cheaper to ship.  *Maybe* not !!
 

 

[Leee]

Quote:

You know, quite often these days the fakes are produced in the same factory as the originals. That is how they get them to be so authentic. They run the same designs out of hours making a few shortcuts. Either that or someone leaks all the design data to a competing factory.
I had a fake Jabra bluetooth headset off ebay. Confirmed fake by Jabra. The audio quality was almost indistinguishable from the authentic ones and included all the same features and presumably that means the same electronics. Also the box was indistinguishable apart from a tiny bit of a misalignment in the different inks used around the hologram (which was also done perfectly).
You can't trust anything except Authorised dealers really.
 

Really? 
I've got my eye on a similar pair of ATH-M50 from ebay for a similar price. If they are made in the same factory to the same specifications; and most importantly have the same sound, I'm less than concerned about the 'genuineness'.
 
There's the sentiment that 'you get what you pay for' and that 'if it sounds too good to be true, it is' 
 

but I got my AT2020USB mic for 200 from ebay whereas it was selling for 350-400 locally

I got my shure se102s for $70 from ebay when they were selling for $100 locally

And I got my re0 for $100 (from the manufacturer's site) where it was selling for $140 locally

(and I got my E5 for $15 where it was selling for $40 locally)

 
So I don't really believe that you get what you pay for. At least in Australia electronics vendors will attempt to milk you dry based on the fact that there is so little product awareness, competition, and availability. 
 
Anyway I have my eye on the http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260669600896#ht_1637wt_1138, which is $77. A copy with the packing on ebay would cost a min of $150, and locally I've seen these selling for $400 (absolutely ridiculous). 
Has anyone else had any experience with the 'questionable' m50 at this price-point on ebay? BassThor's post gives me hope that even if they are fake/refurbished the SQ is still what you'd expect from an m50.
 
These would make a great first set of cups for me. Any and all input is appreciated!

 

[mcnoiserdc]

Hi!
 
Since you say the screws are already touched... can you dismantle the earcup, and tell us what is written on the drivers back?
 
Quote:

Got mine today, they are NOT new. The screws / some parts of the headphones has bumps/small signs of "I`ve been dismantled". They are not fake though, as sound quality is as fuc*ing amazing as the ones I tried @ the local electro store. 
 
So refurbished headset, authentic drivers/cans. 

 

[Leee]

I just bought a pair from a similar ebay seller (about 80AUD)
 
I messaged a previous purchaser who said they sounded genuine. Also found this link: 
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopic.php?p=582293
which persuaded me to give them a try. 
 
Unfortunately it's the m50s, so I'm planning on chopping off 60% of the original cable, and making an extension cord out of it by buying a male and female gold-plated 3.5mm plug. That way I can enjoy it with portable devices, as well as having an identical quality cable for use at home!

 

[BassThor]

Well I promised you pictures, so here you go..! 
 
http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2277/img0074n.jpg
 
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1103/img0075jo.jpg
 
http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/7125/img0076pm.jpg
 
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6344/img0077v.jpg
 
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6716/img0078yc.jpg
 
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/9148/img0079h.jpg
 
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/3998/img0080lo.jpg
 
http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/221/img0083q.jpg
 
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6965/img0084jv.jpg
 
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/561/img0086ni.jpg
 
Inside looks very fake, low quality screws and plastic comes out when you unscrew them. I`m guessing the real ones have the blue screw-glue like any other quality product with screws in it. 
So I`m opting for my money back.

The headset sounds great but the quality... Very so so..

 

[lie495fc]

ear pad is different than mine. and also my driver has damping surround it.

 

[mcnoiserdc]

in mine there are some letters in the back of the drivers
Like this one:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/484744/crosstalk-on-audio-technica-m50#post_6601078

 

[rhythmdevils]

your earpad looks shinier than mine underneath, and the stitching doesn't show on mine, it's just tucked in neatly. 
also the screw holes look rough
And mine doesn't have blue showing through the baffle holes in the driver. 
 
Hard to tell from pictures though, because the light can make things look different than they actually are in person.

 

[Leee]

BassThor,
 
Based on the build quality and SQ, would you conclude that they are refurbs, or good copies? 
Have you had a chance to make a comparison with another pair of M50s? 

 

[Hordsak]

Just by looking at the pictures of the wires and drivers, I'd say they're fakes. 

 

[lazyjae]

They are really fake. The audio-technica on the headband part is white instead of grey and the letters look a lot more block-ish and thick. Also, on the swivel round part where it says L & R, it looks WAY different from mine. Mine don't have screw holes on the round plastic part with the letters where it's blatantly visible and the plastic holding it looks melted or something.
 
Whoever manufactured those did a very bad job.

 

[mikop]

fit and finish, seam etc as mentioned are all wrong.
 
However, the 3rd pic pretty much tells all...
 
Surprise that no one has noticed it yet.

 

[mcnoiserdc]

you mean the symbol is reversed?
 
Quote:

fit and finish, seam etc as mentioned are all wrong.
 
However, the 3rd pic pretty much tells all...
 
Surprise that no one has noticed it yet.

 

[SwordAngel]

Quote:

You can't trust anything except Authorised dealers really.
 

In China, you can't trust Authorised dealers either.

 

[KuKuBuKu]

When I was in China, there were all sorts of fakes. They had these wonderful "MP5" players that played "MP5" files. Very interesting. There was also lots of real stuff, too and I got myself a nice pair of ATH SJ5s