How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Audio Technica HP-EP Replacement — biggest strength: it is the official Audio-Technica earpad, listed as compatible with a long run of M-Series models, from the ATH-M20x all the way up to the ATH-M50xBT2 and the M50xSTS headsets. In my opinion, that breadth is the whole point of buying it.
• Audio Technica HP-EP Replacement — biggest trade-off: it only fits Audio-Technica M-Series headphones. If your headphones aren't on that list, this pad is simply the wrong shape.
• Niukeke Replacement Ear Pads — biggest strength: high density memory foam paired with soft leather, which the brand says is durable and resistant to deforming over long use. It's also sold in Red, so you can change the look, not just the feel.
• Niukeke Replacement Ear Pads — biggest trade-off: it is locked to Beats Studio 2.0 and Studio 3.0 only. The brand explicitly warns it does not fit wired headphones, Solo 2, Solo 3, or on-ear models.
• Who each pick is for: Audio-Technica HP-EP for anyone reviving an M20x, M30x, M40x or M50x-family headphone; Niukeke for anyone reviving a Beats Studio 2.0 or Studio 3.0.
This is the pad that belongs on a working pair of studio headphones. The Audio-Technica HP-EP Replacement is listed as compatible with the ATH-M20x, M20xBT, M30x, M40x, M50, M50s, M50x, M50xBT, M50xBT2, M50xSTS and M50xSTS-USB. That's the M-Series family in one part number — the same basic pad shape carried across a decade of monitoring headphones.
What it does best is match the headphone it was designed for. Because it's the manufacturer's own replacement, it keeps the fit, the mounting and the profile of the original pad, which matters on a headphone you use for long sessions. It comes in Black, weighs 2.88 ounces, and carries a one-year warranty description. In my opinion, that warranty line is the real argument here: it's a supported part from the company that made the headphone.
Who should buy it? Anyone who owns one of the listed M-Series models and wants to put the headphone back to its original configuration — mixing, tracking, editing, or just listening for hours at a desk. Who should skip it? Anyone whose headphones aren't on that compatibility list. This pad is not a universal fit, and it isn't trying to be. If you're on a Beats, a Bose, or anything else, the HP-EP is the wrong part.
Niukeke Replacement Ear Pads: Who It's For
The Niukeke Replacement Ear Pads are a third-party alternative aimed squarely at Beats Studio owners. Compatibility is Beats Studio 2.0 and Beats Studio 3.0 — and the brand is unusually blunt about what it does not fit: wired headphones, Solo 2, Solo 3, Solo On-Ear, and any other Beats model. So before you buy anything, confirm your model number. That single step saves the whole purchase.
What it does best is materials. Niukeke uses high density memory foam — described as slowly rebounding and extra thick — wrapped in soft leather, with tight stitching meant to resist deforming over time. The pads are also designed around good sound sealing, which the brand frames as keeping noise out and preventing sound leakage. On a pair of active noise cancelling headphones, that seal is doing real work: a worn-out pad lets the seal break and the noise cancelling has less to work with.
Installation is pitched as a few-minute job with simple steps, and the Red colorway lets you change the appearance of the headset rather than just replacing black with black. The brand also notes that colors can look different from monitor to monitor, which is a fair heads-up if you're matching a specific shade.
Who should buy it? Beats Studio 2.0 and Studio 3.0 owners whose original cushions have gone flat, cracked, or stopped sealing properly, and who want a memory foam pad in a color other than the original. Who should skip it? Anyone with a different headphone. The compatibility list here is narrow on purpose, and the brand says so twice.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for studio headphones → Audio Technica HP-EP Replacement. It's the manufacturer's own pad for the M-Series line, which is exactly the studio-monitoring family it's named for.
• Widest model coverage within one brand → Audio Technica HP-EP Replacement. Eleven listed M-Series models, from M20x through M50xBT2 and the STS headsets.
• Most material detail given → Niukeke Replacement Ear Pads. High density memory foam, soft leather, tight stitching, and an explicit sound-sealing claim.
• Best if you want to change the look → Niukeke Replacement Ear Pads. It's offered in Red, not just Black.
• Best if you want a warranty line to point to → Audio Technica HP-EP Replacement. One-year warranty description, direct from Audio-Technica.
• Best if you're unsure of your model → neither, until you check. Both pads have narrow, specific compatibility lists, and neither is a universal fit.
• Best for a quick refresh on a beat-up daily pair → Niukeke Replacement Ear Pads, if and only if you're on a Beats Studio 2.0 or 3.0.
• Best for restoring an original configuration → Audio Technica HP-EP Replacement. Same shape, same fit, same brand as the headphone.
If you're buying for actual studio headphones, I'd take the Audio Technica HP-EP Replacement. It's the manufacturer's own part, it covers the whole M-Series run, and it comes with a one-year warranty description — for a headphone you mix on, staying with the original fit is the safer call. I'd only pick the Niukeke Replacement Ear Pads if I owned a Beats Studio 2.0 or 3.0, because in that case the HP-EP isn't even an option. Work backwards from your headphone model, not from the pad. Whichever way you go, check the current price on Amazon before ordering.
How to connect studio headphones
Connection depends on the headphone, not the pad. The Audio-Technica HP-EP fits M-Series models including the wired M20x, M30x, M40x and M50x, plus Bluetooth variants like the M20xBT, M50xBT and M50xBT2. The wired models plug in with their cable; the BT models pair wirelessly. Swapping earpads doesn't change how any of them connect.
how to test studio headphones
Play a familiar track and listen for a balanced left and right response, then check that the pads seal evenly against both ears. A worn pad — flattened foam or cracked leather — breaks that seal, which is exactly the problem both of these replacement sets are designed to fix. The Niukeke pads are specifically described as improving sound sealing and preventing leakage.
how to bluetooth studio headphones
Only the Bluetooth models in the M-Series support wireless — the ATH-M20xBT, M50xBT, M50xBT2, and the M50xSTS-USB — and you pair them through your device's Bluetooth menu. The standard wired ATH-M20x, M30x, M40x and M50x do not have Bluetooth. The HP-EP pad is listed as compatible with both wired and wireless M-Series versions, so it doesn't limit your choice.
how to pair beats studio headphones
Put your Beats Studio 2.0 or Studio 3.0 into pairing mode and select them from your phone or computer's Bluetooth list. If the fit feels loose or the seal is weak, that's usually the cushions, not the pairing. The Niukeke pads are made for exactly those two Studio models — and the brand warns they don't fit wired headphones or the Solo line, so confirm your model first.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: BASN Bsinger BC100 vs JCANOL Personal, APETOO 3.5mm vs Sidpro USB C Headphones, L LTGEM Hard Case vs VISOUND Air Skin Tones, Matast Earbuds vs OLLSPAKER Sport Earbuds