BOSE QC35 I Leather Ear Cups Deteriorating Coming up 2 Years

knobbs on 20/03/2019 - 11:17

Hi Ozb BrainTrust,

Since about the start of this year my BOSE headphones are starting to see some wear and tear over the rear side of the ear cups. It seems to be eating through the top leather layer with bits coming off. This is a little strange as I would of though real leather would last longer than that and I only use them every second day or so at work. I did get them in the shop_monk sale through eBay in 2017 and have been weary they could of been fakes but maybe they just last 2 years. Can someone recommend me some replacement cushions? For the people that have gone through previously is pleather/fake leather fine or you need the real deal again?

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • fatal on 20/03/2019 - 11:26
    +4

    It's very easy to purchase replacement ear cushions, either directly from BOSE or just Ebaying some after market ones.

    As a FYI though, the QC35's don't use "real" leather - it's actually a synthetic protein leather which is made from egg shell proteins.

    • knobbs on 20/03/2019 - 11:28

      Ahh that might be why they are already failing in less than 2 years haha.

      With ordering from eBay are there terrible fakes leathers and then egg shell protein ones? Or are they all the same

  • HighAndDry on 20/03/2019 - 11:31
    +2

    I'm not sure Bose QC35s use real leather - I'm pretty sure it's a synthetic.

    Quick search shows replacements available on Amazon (off-brand) or on eBay (authentic Bose?).

  • Seraphin7 on 20/03/2019 - 11:33

    I've recently had the same problem. The issue is not that it's fake (I bought mine direct from Bose), but that this appears to be a known issue with plenty of internet chatter on the topic. It's pretty disappointing, but I've just purchased replacement ones direct from Bose. Can't vouch for the quality of non-genuine parts.

    • HighAndDry on 20/03/2019 - 11:39
      +1

      I'm not sure that it's that disappointing - it's a soft pliable piece of (protein-derived?) material that's designed to be replaceable. I can see it being more like a consumable, like tyres on a car(?).

      • Seraphin7 on 20/03/2019 - 13:07

        Eventually, yes, but from my perspective they haven't lasted as long as I would expect (both in terms of time and use) and it would appear OP is of a similar mind.

        To use your analogy, I've expected to get more mileage out of my tyres (ear pads) than I have. It doesn't destroy the value proposition, but certainly means greater than expected expense over the journey.

        • HighAndDry on 20/03/2019 - 13:07
          +1

          True, fair enough.

  • Presence on 20/03/2019 - 11:56
    +5

    It's worth a shot asking Bose for free replacements. Not sure what the warranty is, or if it's reasonable wear and tear but no harm in asking politely.

  • knobbs on 20/03/2019 - 11:57
    +1

    Thanks for the tips and education guys. It seems from reading reviews on Amazon that the 3rd party ones are a tad smaller and not as comfortable as the originals. Seeing as the comfort of these is one of the best things I have found I might have to go with the almost $40 originals.

    • doweyy on 20/03/2019 - 13:32
      -1

      I ordered 3rd party ones from eBay and don't notice any reasonable difference at all to originals, for 1/4 of the price, I thought it was just better to get them and it has worked out well.

  • Taita on 20/03/2019 - 12:21

    I bought replacement cushion parts for the bose off ebay. They dont fit perfectly like the original but I had no choice as the originals were peeling off everywhere.

  • uppitt on 20/03/2019 - 12:24
    +1

    I bought these earlier this year, easy to fit, and don't seem to be any different than the originals that came with my QC35 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Replacement-Ear-Pads-Cushions-fo…, less than $10

  • Illian on 20/03/2019 - 13:07

    *have.

    Definitely not real leather so wouldn't expect them to last much longer than that.

  • LV-426 on 20/03/2019 - 13:30

    same happened to mine. curiously was only around where they sat on my glasses or beard..so yes def not leather and i figured [for myself] 2.5 years of use monday-friday approx 2-3hours each day [not including air travel trips in that time] worse things could have happened to them then needing to replace ear pads. suggest for the price to use legit Bose ones not others

  • hotphil on 13/08/2019 - 11:56

    Does anyone know where I can get real leather ones from?

  • End3vour on 22/05/2020 - 13:38

    Same happened to mine also around the two-year mark. I contacted Bose via Whatsapp (see their website for details) so I could include some photos (ear cups look dreadful) and asked them whether I should purchase replacement ear cups or a pair of Sony's. ;) They ended up taking forever to reply and for that reason gave me a free replacement set which is on its way now. Even if they do reply on time you might be able to talk them into sending you a free replacement set?

  • Jason1072 on 22/05/2020 - 13:42

    if you're purchasing directly from Bose, you can take them in-store and they'll replace the old ones with the new and give your headphones and the case a free clean.

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