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If you want a contour-shaped, breathable upgrade for large oval-cup headphones like AKG, Audio-Technica, HiFiMan, Fostex and Sony models, choose BRAINWAVZ Angled Memory Foam; if you need a direct, tool-free replacement for Bose QuietComfort and SoundLink/SoundTrue around-ear headphones, choose HAOMUK Replacement Ear Pads.
• BRAINWAVZ biggest strength: angled memory foam with different thickness at front and rear, a hybrid mix of PU leather edges, perforated inner section and soft velour top — built for comfort and airflow on long sessions.
• BRAINWAVZ biggest trade-off: it's a universal oval pad, so it fits many models but is not a drop-in clone of any single headphone's stock pad, and you may need to stretch it over the cup.
• HAOMUK biggest strength: model-specific fit for a long list of Bose around-ear headphones, with a simple pull-off, press-on install that needs no tools.
• HAOMUK biggest trade-off: it only fits the Bose models listed — no use on other brands — and it's a white protein-leather pad, so it shows wear differently than a dark velour.
• Pick BRAINWAVZ if you're reviving or upgrading a large over-ear headphone and want a contoured, breathable pad.
• Pick HAOMUK if you own a Bose QC35/QC25/QC15/AE2/SoundTrue/SoundLink around-ear model and just want the original shape back.
The defining feature here is the angle. The pad is thicker at one edge and thinner at the other, which changes how the cup sits against your head. In my view that's the whole point of this pad: it tilts the driver slightly rather than pressing it flat, which can feel more natural over a long listen and can shift how sound reaches your ear. If you've ever felt a flat pad clamp oddly at the top of your jaw, an angled pad is the fix people reach for.
The material mix is unusual and worth understanding. The outer edge is high-grade PU leather, the inner section is perforated for airflow, and the top surface is soft velour. Memory foam sits inside. Practically, that means a cooler feel on the skin than a fully sealed leather pad, plus the slow-springback of memory foam instead of cheap squishy filler. Brainwavz also states these pads are thicker than most standard pads and that they're better quality than most stock pads on high-end headphones — that's the brand's claim, and it lines up with the hybrid construction described.
Who should buy it: owners of large oval-cup headphones. The compatibility list is broad — AKG 701/Q701, Audio-Technica ATH-M50 and its sub-models, Shure SRH440, Koss DJ100/DJ200, Takstar HI 2050 and Pro 80, Ultrasone HF 580/SH 1 Pro/HFI 780, Sony MDR V6 and ZX700, Fostex T50RP/T50, M-Audio Q40, JVC S500S. If your pads are flattened and flaking, this is a genuine revival kit. Who should skip it: anyone with a Bose around-ear, because it isn't made for that mount, and anyone who wants an exact stock clone rather than an upgrade.
HAOMUK plays a completely different game: exact-model replacement. These pads are made for the Bose around-ear family, and the list is long — QC35 II, QC35 I, QC25, QC15, QC2, AE2, AE2i, AE2w, SoundTrue Around-Ear and Around-Ear II, and SoundLink Around-Ear and Around-Ear II. HAOMUK states the fit is the same as the original, and the design is white protein leather over foam.
The install is the selling point. You rip the old pads off, peel a backing sticker, apply the new dust covers, then align the new pads with the tabs and press them in with a little force. HAOMUK puts the whole job at about five minutes and says no tools are needed. If you've replaced Bose pads before, you know that's the standard method — and it's the reason these are approachable for a first-timer.
The material story is foam plus protein leather, described as durable and resistant to deforming over time, as soft as the originals but with added thickness for better noise isolation. That added thickness is the one real change from stock, and it's the part I'd weigh: a slightly thicker pad can seal better, but it can also feel snugger. Who should buy it: Bose QC and around-ear owners whose pads are cracked, shiny or flat, who want the familiar shape and a quick swap. Who should skip it: anyone whose headphones aren't on that Bose list — this pad won't adapt to another brand's mount.
• Best for angled, contoured comfort → BRAINWAVZ Angled Memory Foam. Front-to-rear thickness difference is the entire design idea.
• Best for a tool-free, few-minute install → HAOMUK Replacement Ear Pads. Pull off, press on, done — no stretching over an oval cup.
• Best for breathability → BRAINWAVZ Angled Memory Foam. Perforated inner section plus a velour top surface is built for airflow.
• Best for a specific Bose fit → HAOMUK Replacement Ear Pads. Model-matched to QC35/QC25/QC15/QC2/AE2/SoundTrue/SoundLink around-ear.
• Best for reviving a large oval-cup headphone → BRAINWAVZ Angled Memory Foam. The compatibility list covers AKG, ATH-M50, Shure, Koss, Takstar, Ultrasone, Sony, Fostex, M-Audio and JVC.
• Best for extra noise isolation via a thicker pad → HAOMUK Replacement Ear Pads. HAOMUK states added thickness over the original for better isolation.
• Best when you want a color/material choice → BRAINWAVZ Angled Memory Foam. The pad line is offered in various colors and materials; HAOMUK lists white protein leather.
• Best if you're unsure about fit → whichever matches your headphone model. Confirm your exact model before buying; these two barely overlap in compatibility.
In my opinion, the deciding factor is your headphone, not the pad. If you own a Bose QC or around-ear model, buy the HAOMUK — it's built for that mount, and the swap is quick and tool-free. If you own anything on the BRAINWAVZ list, buy the BRAINWAVZ, because the angled memory foam and vented velour are a real design upgrade rather than a like-for-like replacement.
Neither is "better" in the abstract; they solve different problems. Match the pad to your cup and you'll be happy either way. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one fits your model before you commit.
No. BRAINWAVZ lists large oval-cup models such as AKG, Audio-Technica ATH-M50, Shure SRH440, Sony MDR V6, Fostex T50RP and others. For Bose QC35, the HAOMUK pads are the model-matched choice.
No. HAOMUK lists Bose QC2/QC15/QC25/QC35 I/QC35 II, AE2/AE2i/AE2w, SoundTrue Around-Ear I/II and SoundLink Around-Ear I/II. Outside that list, you'd need a pad made for your model.
Yes, in shape. BRAINWAVZ uses different thickness at the front and rear of the pad, creating a contoured, tilted fit. HAOMUK's pads are a uniform replacement shape matched to the original Bose mount.
It depends on material and use. BRAINWAVZ uses memory foam with PU leather and velour; HAOMUK uses foam with protein leather described as resistant to deforming over time. Either way, foam eventually compresses and coatings wear, so plan on replacing them again down the road.
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