1st gen replace/fix
I have a pair of 1st gens that the mesh has worn out on. I do not have AppleCare so it will be $329 to fix the headband through apple mail-in or $189 in store, but the closest store is 3 hours away. I have tried the silicone + memory foam DIY fix and it doesn't do much.
For those who have run into this issue, AKA everyone, have you found a better pair elsewhere or should I just suck it up and buy them again + AppleCare so that 2 years from now when this happens again I can get them replaced for free?
Considerations:
I work in the legal field editing transcripts with full audio so I am a daily heavy user.
Sound quality needs to be top of the top as I'm often getting audio from 900 yr old courtroom speaker systems
These are the best and most comfortable headphones I've owned until now, including Beats, AP Pros, and Bose. Someone recommended Soundcore but I haven't tried them yet, heard complaints about sweaty ears after several hours.