[UtzY]

Hi,
I am in a search of earpads/headband that I can clean easily.
I have 0 cut hairstyle, and sometimes I can say that I have more sebum/oil production than a normal person. (especially the fact that I don't leave my hair to grow at all).
- Or it's my impression

As I am a clean freak, I am interested in which type of earpad is most hygienic -- leather, or Pleather (protein leather?)
I've heard that leather can act like a sponge and it is quite permeable with skin oils and water, but pleather on the other hand feels nicer/cooler and it is not as permeable as leather.

1. Is quality pleather (protein leather) as durable as leather?
2. Is protein leather impermeable to skin oils and can be cleaned easier? With a wet towel?

Currently I am interested in earpads from Dekoni, ZMF, MrSpeakers, etc - Are these made from quality protein leather? They will flake over time?
Or should I go towards genuine leather?

Thanks!

 

[Sovkiller]

IMO and IME pleather tend to be more "user friendly", coming form CD3000, and owing the Edition 9 for years, I can tell you that literally pleather can last as long as leather, on top tends to be more temperature easier, (at least the CD3K and the Foster are) and at the end they are cheaper to replace...but I never replaced any on my CD3K in over a decade....

 

[zach915m]

IMO and IME pleather tend to be more "user friendly", coming form CD3000, and owing the Edition 9 for years, I can tell you that literally pleather can last as long as leather, on top tends to be more temperature easier, (at least the CD3K and the Foster are) and at the end they are cheaper to replace...but I never replaced any on my CD3K in over a decade....

I tend to agree. People buy our Lambskin pads much more than anything, but our protein is top quality and lower maintenance in that you really just need to clean it every year or two. Leather is great, but if it gets used a LOT will dry out and need conditioning every once in a while. The protein we use has a very dry "matte" feel too that doesn't get as warm.

 

[UtzY]

I tend to agree. People buy our Lambskin pads much more than anything, but our protein is top quality and lower maintenance in that you really just need to clean it every year or two. Leather is great, but if it gets used a LOT will dry out and need conditioning every once in a while. The protein we use has a very dry "matte" feel too that doesn't get as warm.

Thanks!
Is pleather impermeable to water and oils? Or it is just as permeable as leather.

I mean the water or oils infiltrate into the earpad's sponge/foam just as easy as with leather?

 

[zach915m]

I am not 100% sure on that as I haven't run extensive water tests with our pads. My guess would be that protein is a little more "closed" to oils etc because it's a man made material.

 

[UtzY]

IMO and IME pleather tend to be more "user friendly", coming form CD3000, and owing the Edition 9 for years, I can tell you that literally pleather can last as long as leather, on top tends to be more temperature easier, (at least the CD3K and the Foster are) and at the end they are cheaper to replace...but I never replaced any on my CD3K in over a decade....

Thanks, Sovkiller!
I fear because I saw many CD3000 with flaking earpads... maybe that's why before I didn't even want to hear about pleather, but later heard that comfort on pleather is superior and feels a little cooler.
+the ability to clean with ease, got me interested again..

 

[Sovkiller]

I am not 100% sure on that as I haven't run extensive water tests with our pads. My guess would be that protein is a little more "closed" to oils etc because it's a man made material.

The pleather is a lot more repellent to water than leather, indeed I would say it will be 100% waterproof, and will hold water completely, of curse we have the seams so it will not be a perfect sealed pad....

 

[Sovkiller]

Thanks, Sovkiller!
I fear because I saw many CD3000 with flaking earpads... maybe that's why before I didn't even want to hear about pleather, but later heard that comfort on pleather is superior and feels a little cooler.
+the ability to clean with ease, got me interested again..

Man what can I say, I owned CD-3K for years, and never need to change any pad, and I say years....almost a decade after they were discontinued....never....Those flaked must be really abused, and neglected. As a comparison, I had to replace though, a felt pad on my HD-600 after washing them, in less than 3 months, and the foam pad on my Portapros. BTW, pleather deteriorates, no doubt, an old friend replaced recently the old pads on a pair of 7906 Sony's, very old, after more than a decade of work, cost around $5.00...as a general rule I will be confident to say, they will last as long a the leather ones...