CoiL
Member of the Trade: Wood Audio Accessories & Modifications
Maybe it`s just the glue crackling there because they are still new and "unbended"? Mine doesn`t do any cracky sounds while bending.
100ohms for cables lol
I sent back my first-gen X1's with ink-leaking pads, and received a new pair that no longer leaks ink.
The new pair has more detailed highs that now sound very similar to the X2 (when compared side by side). Bass still has the same powerful impact, but the treble is even more crisp than my "old" X1's.
It seems that Philips has fixed the ear pad ink-leaks with this latest batch of X1's, and has tweaked the drivers to improve the treble. They now sound so similar to the X2's that I am no longer going to sell them to upgrade to the X2's.
tl;dr New X1's no longer leak ink from the ear pads, has more detailed treble that now closely resembles the highs of the X2
Never noticed any ink with my X1 and I have removed pads and washed them also without any problems.