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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
• AHG Accessory House Global Ear Pads Cushions — biggest strength: premium sheepskin leather and AHG FlexiSoft high-density foam that revive the comfort and sound of Beoplay H9 3rd Gen and Beoplay HX headphones you already own.
• AHG Accessory House Global Ear Pads Cushions — biggest trade-off: it is not a standalone product. It only works if you already own compatible Beoplay H9 3rd Gen or Beoplay HX headphones, and it is explicitly not compatible with the original H9 or the H9i.
• Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active — biggest strength: a complete wireless package with adjustable 4-mic active noise cancelling, IP67 waterproofing, multipoint pairing and up to 48 hours of total battery life.
• Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active — biggest trade-off: it is an in-ear design, so it will not deliver the over-ear feel, natural sheepskin comfort or the premium headphone character of a Beoplay setup.
• Who each pick is for: the AHG pads are for the Beoplay owner who wants to keep a premium headphone alive; the Sesh ANC Active is for the buyer who wants a rugged, feature-packed pair of earbuds for training, commuting and everyday use.
This is a repair-and-revive product, and I want to be blunt about that. The AHG Accessory House Global Ear Pads Cushions are replacement ear cushions built for two specific Bang & Olufsen models: the Beoplay H9 3rd Gen and the Beoplay HX. That is the entire compatibility list, and it matters more than anything else on this page. If you own an original H9 or an H9i, these pads are not for you — the listing says so directly, and I would not gamble on a fit that the manufacturer already ruled out.
What they do best is restore a premium headphone that has physically worn out before it has technically worn out. Over-ear pads are the first thing to degrade on any headphone: they flatten, they crack, and they start to smell. The electronics inside a Beoplay H9 3rd Gen or HX can keep going for years, but the part touching your head gives up much sooner. That is exactly the gap this kit fills. The sheepskin leather outer and AHG FlexiSoft high-density foam are chosen for a soft, luxurious feel against the ear, and the design intent is to bring back the comfort and the natural sound character the headphone was built around.
The build details are worth a look too. The pads use seam stitching specifically to resist splitting at the stress points, which is the failure mode that kills cheap replacement cushions. Each set ships with an insert that points you to a QR code and YouTube search terms for installation, so the swap is presented as a straightforward job rather than a repair project. There is also a 1-year warranty, which is a reasonable safety net for a consumable part like this. One honest caveat from the listing: these pads are black, and they are not the "black anthracite" tone of the official Beoplay HX, so there is a visible color difference if you are matching a single worn pad against the other. If you are replacing both pads at once — which you should — that is a non-issue.
Buy these if you own a compatible Beoplay headphone, the pads are flat or smelly, and you are not ready to abandon a headphone you like. Skip them if you do not own a Beoplay H9 3rd Gen or Beoplay HX, or if you are shopping for your first pair of headphones — this is not that product.
The Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active is the opposite kind of purchase: a complete, self-contained listening solution with no prerequisites. Nothing needs to already be in your bag. It is a set of true-wireless in-ear buds with a rounded-tip fit, a charging case, and a feature set aimed squarely at people who move around a lot.
The headline feature is the adjustable 4-mic active noise cancelling. Because it is adjustable, you are not locked into one level of silence — you can dial in how much of the world you block out, and you can switch to Adjustable Stay-Aware Mode when you want to hear traffic, a training partner, or an announcement without pulling a bud out. That combination is genuinely useful for running, cycling and gym work, where full isolation is sometimes the wrong choice.
Durability is the second pillar. The IP67 rating means the buds are waterproof and sweatproof, so rain, sweat and dust are all covered rather than merely tolerated. Battery is the third: up to 48 hours total, split as 12 hours in the earbuds plus 36 more in the case. Rapid Charge is the detail I like most here — 10 minutes of charging returns about 2 hours of listening, which is the difference between a dead commute and a working one. A full charge takes roughly 3 hours, and the audio side runs a dynamic driver with a 20 Hz–20 kHz range, 16 ohm impedance and 99 dB sensitivity.
Software is where this product separates itself from basic budget buds. The Skullcandy App offers Personal Sound by Mimi, adjustable hearing modes, EQ fine-tuning and Low Latency Audio, plus Google Fast Pair, Spotify Tap and multipoint pairing so you can stay connected to a laptop and a phone at the same time. The controls run through the app rather than purely on the buds, which is either convenient or annoying depending on how much you enjoy app-based tuning. A 1-year USA limited warranty is included.
Buy these if you want one purchase that covers workouts, commutes, calls and casual listening with noise cancelling and real waterproofing. Skip them if you specifically want an over-ear experience or you are trying to keep an existing premium headphone going — that is what the AHG pads are for.
• Best for reviving a premium headphone you already own → AHG Accessory House Global Ear Pads Cushions. It exists purely to bring a Beoplay H9 3rd Gen or HX back to comfortable, listenable condition.
• Best for a first-time, complete purchase → Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active. Earbuds, case, cable-free setup and every feature are in the box.
• Best for noise control → Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active. Adjustable 4-mic ANC plus Stay-Aware Mode gives you control the AHG pads simply do not address.
• Best for long battery life → Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active. Up to 48 hours total, with 12 hours in the buds and 36 in the case, plus 10-minute Rapid Charge for 2 hours of playback.
• Best for sweat, rain and rough use → Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active. IP67 waterproof and sweatproof is a hard spec the pads do not compete with.
• Best for material feel and over-ear comfort → AHG Accessory House Global Ear Pads Cushions. Sheepskin leather and FlexiSoft foam are aimed at the plush, premium over-ear sensation.
• Best for multi-device switching → Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active. Multipoint pairing handles two devices at once with seamless transitions.
• Best for a specific compatibility need → AHG Accessory House Global Ear Pads Cushions, but only for Beoplay H9 3rd Gen and Beoplay HX owners. Not H9, not H9i.
In my opinion, the right answer depends entirely on what is already on your desk. If you own a Beoplay H9 3rd Gen or Beoplay HX whose pads have gone flat, I would buy the AHG Accessory House Global Ear Pads Cushions — replacing a worn consumable is far smarter than replacing a headphone that still works, and the sheepskin-and-FlexiSoft build is aimed at keeping that premium sound and comfort intact. If you are starting from nothing, or you want noise cancelling, waterproofing and 48-hour battery in one purchase, I would buy the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active instead. They are not rivals; they are two different jobs.
FAQ
That is a personal call, and I would not pretend otherwise. If you already own a Beoplay H9 3rd Gen or HX, keeping it alive with AHG sheepskin ear pads is, in my opinion, a smarter move than replacing it. If you want a premium-feeling everyday set with noise cancelling and waterproofing, the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active fits that role well.
The Sesh ANC Active pairs over Bluetooth with Google Fast Pair, and multipoint pairing lets it hold two devices at once. There is no wired option — it is wireless only, with no headphone jack. For the AHG pads, there is nothing to connect; they are physical cushions that fit onto your existing Beoplay headphones.
Then the AHG Accessory House Global Ear Pads Cushions are not an option, because they are compatible only with Beoplay H9 3rd Gen and Beoplay HX. The Skullcandy Sesh ANC Active works with any Bluetooth device, and you can check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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