Slate VSX - BUYER BEWARE - Hardware issues.
- Thread starter Daniel James
- Start date
kgdrum
“Making a mess & calling it Art is where it’s at!”
Hi Daniel,
I haven’t used the headphones & don’t have them but I’ve seen lots of people complaining online (it might have been @GS)
I am more than a bit ambivalent with anything Slate, I consider Slate a great salesman with highly skilled marketing abilities but I don’t totally trust his motives,judgment or QC skills.
With that being said I reluctantly bought the Mimic Pro drum module in July when my old Vdrum module finally bit the dust. The Mimic Pro is a joint venture between Slate and Pearl so I’m hoping Pearl is more thorough than Slate normally would be if this wasn’t a joint venture.
i‘m using it primarily to trigger pads on an eDrum kit and replacing the sounds with Toontracks SD3. I’m keeping my fingers
hoping this will at least be a good vehicle for midi triggering.Slate from my perspective is ambitious with advancing technology and selling products but from my experience QC has never really been his strong suit or priority.
Would be cool of you to update us about your experience on this thread after, I don't know, a few months or so.
OP
OP
Daniel James
o_0
Interesting that you are getting 23xxx and they only offered me 22xxx as replacements. I really hope they have it figured out for your version, they are great headphones when paired with the software. I just didn't want to keep acting as quality control I need a pair that will last me a while.
Do let us know how it goes though! Really interested to see how you get on!
-DJ
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I've also had quite a bit of problems with them, I'm currently on my 3rd pair (2100). Apparently, they had issues with their Chinese manufacturer, who consistently screwed up the 'recipe' for the material of the headband. They say that it's now fixed with the latest version of the headphones (2300) as demonstrated here, but they said the same thing about previous versions so I'm still a bit skeptical...
I do really hope they are right though, because apart from this these headphones are just incredible. By far the best headphones I've ever had and worth every bit of hype they get.
Slate customer support is also really quite excellent. When my 2nd pair broke, I received my replacement pair only 4 days later here in Germany from the US.
I was also able to 'fix' my second pair with some tape and a piece of metal. It actually feels way more robust now than an unbroken VSX. Of course you can't adjust the headband any more, but since I'm the only one using them there isn't really a need for that anyway.
Still, it's a good feeling to have these as a temporary backup, in case my 3rd pair breaks and I have to wait for my 4th. At least I can continue working uninterrupted.
I do really hope they are right though, because apart from this these headphones are just incredible. By far the best headphones I've ever had and worth every bit of hype they get.
Slate customer support is also really quite excellent. When my 2nd pair broke, I received my replacement pair only 4 days later here in Germany from the US.
I was also able to 'fix' my second pair with some tape and a piece of metal. It actually feels way more robust now than an unbroken VSX. Of course you can't adjust the headband any more, but since I'm the only one using them there isn't really a need for that anyway.
Still, it's a good feeling to have these as a temporary backup, in case my 3rd pair breaks and I have to wait for my 4th. At least I can continue working uninterrupted.
OP
OP
Daniel James
o_0
I've also had quite a bit of problems with them, I'm currently on my 3rd pair (2100). Apparently, they had issues with their Chinese manufacturer, who consistently screwed up the 'recipe' for the material of the headband. They say that it's now fixed with the latest version of the headphones (2300) as demonstrated here, but they said the same thing about previous versions so I'm still a bit skeptical...
I do really hope they are right though, because apart from this these headphones are just incredible. By far the best headphones I've ever had and worth every bit of hype they get.
Slate customer support is also really quite excellent. When my 2nd pair broke, I received my replacement pair only 4 days later here in Germany from the US.
I was also able to 'fix' my second pair with some tape and a piece of metal. It actually feels way more robust now than an unbroken VSX. Of course you can't adjust the headband any more, but since I'm the only one using them there isn't really a need for that anyway.
Still, it's a good feeling to have these as a temporary backup, in case my 3rd pair breaks and I have to wait for my 4th. At least I can continue working uninterrupted.
They sent me the exact same video before they sent my 4th pair to assure me they had figured it out. Then seemingly decided to send me the faulty design twice more. That is entirely on them. If they figured out the formula, perhaps they should have sent a pair of those instead of dicking me around for 2 more units. Outrageous!
-DJ
Yeah, I was also a bit annoyed to have received a 2100 unit again (2300 was apparently already available at that time). But at least I can count on them to send me a replacement ASAP if this one breaks (which then hopefully will be the 2300), and I have my taped up 2nd pair to bridge me over.
This whole ordeal is really unfortunate, but I like these headphones too much to give up on them...
Pixelpoet1985
Senior Member
Sorry for you guys, that’s curious!
I have a version starting with 1900… Does this mean it’s an older model? At least I don’t have any issues. I‘m very happy.
I have a version starting with 1900… Does this mean it’s an older model? At least I don’t have any issues. I‘m very happy.
OP
OP
Daniel James
o_0
19xx seems to be going strong for some. I bought mine around launch and got the 20xx. Which makes me wonder if the 19xx were designed stronger, with more expensive materials, perhaps for pre-release review units to ensure no breakages? Then perhaps the 20xx units were cheaper to produce at a mass level? totally conjecture, but its odd that the 19xx seems to be fairing better than the launch 20xx and the redesigned 21xx versions.
Regardless this experience has completely decimated any trust I have in Slate hardware.
-DJ
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In the UK mine finally arrived at the beginning of the week and they were 2200. So far so good but we'll see if that changes. I can't see myself going back after these headphones so I'll have to put up with whatever
btw because slate based these headphones off of an existing headphone design I assume they are limited to what changes they can make to the design without having to completely redesign them from scratch
OP
OP
Daniel James
o_0
Yeah if they figure out a build that works down the line I may jump back in, as I said in the video the concept and execution software side works great.. But for now I need something I can use for longer than a few weeks without having to wait for another replacement before I can work into the night.
-DJ
absolutely, and I hope they continue to support once they are out of warranty
jcrosby
Senior Member
This is eerily similar to issues that have plagued a few Focal headphone models.. It's actually so reminiscent of it I kind of have to wonder if they outsourced the design of the cans to Focal (or whatever 3rd party was responsible for the shitshow that ensued) ...
If you decide to go down the search rabbit hole linked below you'll see the Focal issue goes back about 4-5 years, but more interestingly it's uncomfortably similar; in that the the same defect constantly shows up - the headband snaps...
If you decide to go down the search rabbit hole linked below you'll see the Focal issue goes back about 4-5 years, but more interestingly it's uncomfortably similar; in that the the same defect constantly shows up - the headband snaps...
M. vDiva Fabbiani
New Member
Same here, Daniel. My 3rd pair snapped after 1 month (just like the previous two) and it’s 2100. Waiting now for an answer from the support about it.
I really love them and I hope they find a solution ASAP.
jcrosby
Senior Member
So were these prone to the headband snapping?
Personal Audio | RBH Sound
rbhsound.com
this is the original design
they were only around for a few years before being discontinued in 2018. Hard to find many reviews for them at all, and didn't see anything about snapping. But feedback all seems very positive
jcrosby
Senior Member
Thanks. Different design obviously... Unfortunately the problem appears to be the same, even if for totally unrelated reasons...
