[yborg]

$69 to replace the earpads, which is the most consumable part for me on cans.

I have a pair of Audio Technica A700s, about $150 new that are now 12 years old; I'm on my 3rd set of earpads. AT gave me a new set free the first time I asked, and it cost me $10 with shipping to get new ones out of warranty. The current ones are 3rd party that are much better than the OEM pads and cost me ~$20.

[redisman]

Same - my Audio Technicas are over 10 years old and when the earpads started to wear, they dug up some new earpads from the archives and it was definitely under $30 total.

[jschwartzi]

Same but with my Sennheiser HD280s. I can still buy brand new earpads and a band pad online.

[spike021]

I'm sure there will be 3rd party knockoff pads. Just look at the "fancy" Apple Watch wristbands with clasps that are IMO way more expensive than they have any business being. A plethora of 3rd party replacements exist, many much cheaper than Apple.

[ebg13]

> I have a pair of Audio Technica A700s, about $150 new that are now 12 years old; I'm on my 3rd set of earpads.

So you buy a new set of earpads on those every 4 years. But we can also compare with the same-market-segment-as-AirPod-Max (wireless+ANC+mic) Bose QC35, where many people have to replace their earpads _every_ _year_⁰ at $35 a pair (or $20 for third party ones that might last longer but definitely feel worse). So the question I think will be how long the pads last on these. Do you have to replace them every year like with the Bose ones or only every 4 years?

⁰ - QC35 ear pad extreme comfort but lack of durability is basically a meme among owners now.

[gaebn]

Could you share the link to these 3rd party earpads please? Maybe they have earpads for my K702's as well, I couldn't find anything with good reviews on Amazon.

[yborg]

https://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-Hybrid-Memory-Earpads-Headp...

Price went up I see, but I've had them for 2+ years now, no complaints. The velour is comfy.

[JKCalhoun]

Pretty sure 3rd party will step in here.