MB Quart QP 805 (High Solid)

[Laudanum]

Hope it's OK to post this here ...

I posted a heads up on the forum several years ago regarding a clearance sale on the MB Quart QP 805 and some other Quart phones.  I remember that some of the members bought them.
I haven't used mine in a while and went to grab them a couple days ago.  The cable jacket was literally disintegrating in several different spots along the cable length.  Breaking off in small chunks.  Really surprised me.

Just wondering if anyone here has these headphones and if you have experienced the same problem. 

 

[Doc B]

That's interesting. We had a 94 Mercedes C220, which were notorious for failed wiring harnesses. The reason was that the harness wire was required to have biodegradable insulation which crumbled after some time.  Don't have anything at all to back this notion up, but it would be interesting to find that similar wire was used in the MB Quart cable.

 

[Laudanum]

Interesting Doc.  Those Quarts had a very stiff cord which is one reason why I didn't use them much.  But when I grabbed them the other day, I noticed that the cord was a little tacky feeling before realizing that it was actually falling apart.  The insulation on the internal wires was in perfect shape however.  So, if it's related to using some "green" material for the jacket, at least they didn't go green with the wires inside the jacket. 

I've got a pair of 35 year old AKG K-141's.    I sent them in for refurbishing because the external stuff was falling apart ... except for the cord.  They didn't replace the cord and it's still fine after 35 years. 

I'm all for a cleaner earth but not at the expense of making things like headphone/audio cables intentionally perishable.  Stuff doesn't last long enough as it is.  I don't think they need to make a cable out of oatmeal in order to save the planet.