It maybe a good idea to order some new pads, 6 years is a long time.

I usually clean my pads with a cloth dipped in some warm water that has a few drops of washing up liquid added, I then wipe them with a damp cloth (no soap) and then a dry cloth. I don't know if it's the right or wrong way, but it gets rid of any oily buildup.

The trick is don't use too much water, squeeze the cloth before any contact.

 

Last edited: Sep 13, 2015

AT sell replacement pads should that be the only option, check on Amazon etc, or direct to their website ... http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/accessories/47ddd406298c56a7/index.html

 

Last edited: Sep 13, 2015

@ArticStorm

http://headphonespares.sennheiser.co.uk/

 

@ArticStorm Good habit to learn is to rub the ear pads with your t-shirt when you're about to put the headphones aside. What damages the pads most is ultimately human sweat.

 

@ArticStorm - Too bad there's mostly chinese crap leatherete replacement pads (be cautious, sometimes they do not fit ! ). I wanted to get new leatherette pads for my old trusty AKG K240, but both today's AKG genuine and aftermarket stuff was pure crap (both made in China now), which cracked within weeks of use. By far incomparable with the '98 and '06 Austrian ones.
Then I got an idea - have those pads tailor-made from genuine leather. I did just that. They should be ready by the end of this week.

Interested in pictures?

 

Thanks!
They say "don't fix what isn't broken". I say "fix what is broken, if you can". I used them for so long because I can fix things (and I enjoy fixing things as I'm a punk-rocker DIY engineer, sorta).

13 years is a looong time for headphones. I find the phase "break-in time for headphones" funny, now when I think about it.

At the end I just couldn't fix the serious problem they had, so I "threw them out" (burial ceremony stylee, sadly putting them back into the original box they came in) and bought new ones. Yes, new AKG! But this time a newer/better/updated/sturdier model.

Mine were occasionally so dirty (on the insides) that I had to scrape dried-up shit off with a metal ruler or razor. Yuck! After the "rough clean" I just used plain hot water and some soap.

Or you could take them off, put them into a sock (or one pad in each sock) and then tie the sock so that it won't escape. Try 30 degrees Celsius in the washer.
Or you just buy new ones. They are pretty cheap, and they will feel like brand new (like putting fancy/shiny tire rims on a shitty car).

 

Last edited: Sep 16, 2015

It's ready, I'll get them tomorrow. Really excited

BTW @ArticStorm is this what you were looking for?

 

Last edited: Sep 17, 2015