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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Aurivor's biggest strength: Korean-imported memory foam tuned to sit between "too soft" and "too stiff," plus Japanese protein leather and extra thickness over the stock pads for stronger noise isolation.
• Aurivor's biggest trade-off: It only fits the Bose QuietComfort family (QC35, QC35 II, QC25, QC2). If you own any other brand, it is simply not an option.
• BUTIAO's biggest strength: Slow-recovery high-density memory foam that conforms to your ears over time, with a plastic stick in the box so the swap takes roughly five minutes.
• BUTIAO's biggest trade-off: It is locked to one model — the Sony WH-1000XM4 — and nothing else.
• Who each is for: Aurivor is for Bose QC35/QC35 II owners who want a thicker, softer cushion and a two-year warranty behind it. BUTIAO is for Sony WH-1000XM4 owners who want a fuss-free install and foam that resists going flat.
The Aurivor pads are a comfort-and-isolation upgrade aimed squarely at the Bose QuietComfort line. The memory foam is imported from Korea and deliberately tuned to a middle ground — not so soft that it feels loose on your head, not so stiff that it presses on your ears. The outer layer is Japanese protein leather, which is the part that actually touches your skin, and it is meant to feel smooth rather than rough. On top of that, the pads keep the same shape as the originals but add thickness, and that extra material is what helps the noise-cancelling do its job. If you wear your QC35 for long stretches — flights, open-plan offices, marathon editing sessions — the whole point of this design is to reduce the ear fatigue that builds up with thin, worn-out cushions.
Compatibility is the first thing to check. These fit the Bose QuietComfort 35, QC35 II, QC25 and QC2 over-ear models. That is it. They are white, measure roughly 3.94 x 3.15 x 0.87 inches, and Aurivor backs them with a two-year warranty plus a stated money-back guarantee, so replacement or refund is on the table if something goes wrong.
BUTIAO Replacement Earpads Ear: Who It's For
BUTIAO takes a different approach: this is a refresh kit for one headphone, the Sony WH-1000XM4. The standout design choice is the foam — high-density memory foam with a slow-recovery behavior, paired with an added sponge cushion. Slow recovery matters because the foam molds to the shape of your ear instead of springing straight back, and the description calls out that this long-term thickness is meant to keep the pads from going flat over time. The protein leather is described as high-grade and soft, sealing around your ears to support noise isolation and, per the listing, enhanced bass. In other words, this is about restoring both comfort and the acoustic seal that worn pads quietly ruin.
The second thing BUTIAO gets right is the install. A plastic stick is included in the box, and the description puts the whole job at around five minutes. Anyone who has wrestled a brittle old ear pad off a headphone knows that a simple prying tool is not a gimmick — it is the difference between a calm ten-minute task and a frustrating half hour.
Who should buy it? Sony WH-1000XM4 owners whose original cushions are compressed, shiny or splitting, and who want the headphone to look and feel new again with minimal effort. Who should skip it? Anyone who does not own a WH-1000XM4 — the fit is exclusive to that model. Skip it too if you want a documented multi-year warranty; the stated coverage here is simply replacement or refund if you have an issue, which is a shorter commitment than Aurivor's two years. The color is listed as champagne with a silver design note, so if you wanted a plain black pad, this is not that.
• Best for Bose QuietComfort 35 / QC35 II owners → Aurivor Replacement Ear-Pads Cushions. It is built for that exact fit.
• Best for Sony WH-1000XM4 owners → BUTIAO Replacement Earpads Ear. Same logic, opposite brand.
• Best for stronger noise isolation → Aurivor, because the added thickness over the originals is the design intent behind the better isolation.
• Best for easy installation → BUTIAO, since the included plastic stick and the roughly five-minute install make it the friendlier job for a first-timer.
• Best for long-session comfort → Both, but differently. Aurivor targets reduced ear fatigue with balanced foam; BUTIAO uses slow-recovery foam that conforms to your ear shape.
• Best durability promise → Aurivor, thanks to reinforced sealing, tear-and-wear resistance and a two-year warranty.
• Best for keeping thickness long term → BUTIAO, whose slow-recovery foam is specifically pitched at not going flat.
• Best for a color that hides lint and skin oils → BUTIAO's champagne finish versus Aurivor's white, which shows grime faster on a daily commuter.
In my opinion, the deciding factor here is not quality — both use memory foam and protein leather and both are legitimate replacements — it is which headphone is sitting on your desk. If you own a Bose QC35 or QC35 II, I would buy the Aurivor pads: the added thickness, the imported foam and leather, and the two-year warranty make it the better-supported long-term pick for that model. If you own a Sony WH-1000XM4, I would buy the BUTIAO kit, because the included install tool and slow-recovery foam are exactly what a five-minute refresh should be. Match the pad to your headphone and you cannot really go wrong either way.
can you sleep with over ear headphones
You can, but neither of these pads is designed for it. Both are replacement cushions for specific over-ear models — Bose QC35/QC35 II for Aurivor and Sony WH-1000XM4 for BUTIAO — and the added thickness and memory foam are tuned for upright listening, not for pressing against a pillow. If you want to sleep with audio, a small in-ear option is usually the more sensible route.
how to wear over ear headphones
Slide the headband over the top of your head so the pads sit around your ears, not on them. The Aurivor pads are slightly thicker than the Bose originals, and the BUTIAO pads use slow-recovery foam, so give either a minute or two to settle into shape before you judge the fit. The pads should enclose the ear fully — that seal is what supports noise isolation on both.
how should over ear headphones fit
The cushions should surround your ears completely with even, light pressure and no hot spots. Aurivor deliberately tunes its foam to be neither loose nor stiff, and BUTIAO's foam conforms to your ear over time, so a snug-but-not-tight feel is the goal. If a pad pinches or leaves a gap, it is either the wrong model for your headphone or it needs reseating.
how to wear over ear headphones properly
Center the pads over your ears, adjust the headband so it rests on the crown of your head, and check that both sides sit at the same height. BUTIAO includes a plastic stick to help seat the pads correctly during installation, which is the step most people get wrong. Get that right and the seal — and the bass and isolation that come with it — is where it should be.
If you are weighing these against each other, the honest next step is to confirm your headphone model first, then check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before you commit.
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See also: SoloWIT Replacement Earpads Cushions vs AKHQC Replacement Ear Pads, LTYIVABHTTW Replacement Ear Pads vs JESSVIT Earpads Replacement, BUTIAO Beats Studio 3 vs umvowuxa Replacement Earpads