There was some kind of black powder on the shoulder of my white T-shirt.

Dirt?

Brushing it off removes it.

But before I knew it, it was there again.

Where on earth does this stuff come from?

Dandruff?

No, dandruff would be white.

Then what?

Has my body finally started producing something black?

A little scary.

The culprit was the headphones

While thinking that, the culprit was soon revealed.

...The headphones?!

The ear cushions of the BOSE AE2 had disintegrated with age and were raining down on my shoulders as black powder.

I was just listening to music, but looking only at my shoulders, it's a bit of a crime scene.

My long-loved BOSE AE2. The BOSE logo on both ear housings, a 3.5mm jack on one side and a microUSB port on the other
This is the “culprit” this time. The BOSE AE2 that has worked hard for years; the unit itself is still going strong.

Come to think of it, SONY took the same road

Come to think of it, a few months ago I also replaced the ear pads on my SONY headphones.

So this one has reached that time too...

It can't be helped after years of use.

If anything, I want to pay my respects to the BOSE AE2, which has listened to so much music with me.

Two old BOSE AE2 ear cushions, with cracked surfaces shedding black powder
Once removed, they were in quite a state. They crumble when touched. This is the source of the powder on my shoulders.

The unit itself is still going strong

Only the ear pads were done for.

The unit itself is still healthy.

Then just replace them, right?

So, to rescue the BOSE AE2 that was scattering black powder, I went straight to replacing the ear pads.

The BOSE AE2 with new ear cushions installed. The mesh driver is visible in the center
Replacement done. The mesh inside looks oddly fresh.

The sound is still active.

It's too early to retire.

BOSE is great, right?

KAZUKIN

やっぱりイヤークッションか～！

KAZUKIN Rating

  • 🕵️ Noticing the black powder on my shoulders — ★☆☆☆☆ (ignored for quite a long time)
  • 🎧 Durability of the unit — ★★★★★ (undamaged except the ear pads)
  • 🔧 Ease of replacing ear pads — ★★★★☆ (doable myself)
  • 😮 Déjà vu with SONY — ★★★★★ (a road I took a few months ago)
  • 💰 Reluctance to invest more — ★★★★★ (decided instantly)

This article is a personal opinion and record of use. KAZUKIN LAB has no relationship with BOSE or SONY. I'm just an audio-loving customer. Ear pad replacement is done at my own risk. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.

The illustration is an image based on KAZUKIN's experience. It may differ from real stores and products. It is not an official manufacturer image.