We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-04 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to restore a pair of Skullcandy Crusher or Hesh headphones you already own, choose BRAINWAVZ Earpads; if you need true wireless earbuds for commuting, choose JLab Go Air Pop+. That is the honest split here, because these two products do completely different jobs — one is a comfort and isolation upgrade for headphones you already have, the other is a complete Bluetooth listening setup you wear in your ears.
• BRAINWAVZ Earpads — biggest strength: high grade memory foam and PU leather that slip straight into the existing mounting groove on Skullcandy Crusher Wireless/ANC/EVO/360, Hesh 3/ANC/EVO and Venue ANC headsets, with a 12 month warranty against defects in workmanship.
• BRAINWAVZ Earpads — biggest trade-off: they are compatible earpads only. They fit that specific list of Skullcandy models and nothing else, and they do nothing at all on their own — no drivers, no battery, no Bluetooth.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ — biggest strength: 9+ hours per earbud plus 26+ hours from the USB-C case, Bluetooth 5.3, Dual Connect, three EQ3 sound signatures and a MEMS mic in each bud.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ — biggest trade-off: no active noise cancellation. Isolation comes from the gel tip seal only, and the IPX4 rating covers sweat and light rain but not full submersion.
• Who each pick is for: the earpads suit someone reviving a tired pair of Skullcandy headphones; the JLab buds suit someone who wants a pocketable wireless setup for the commute, calls and workouts.
Think of this as a repair and comfort kit, not a gadget. If your Skullcandy Crusher Wireless, Crusher ANC, Crusher EVO, Crusher 360, Hesh 3, Hesh ANC, Hesh EVO or Venue ANC has flattened, cracked or peeling stock cushions, these pads drop into the same mounting groove the originals sat in. Brainwavz builds them from high grade memory foam wrapped in PU leather, which is the combination that matters most for long listening sessions — foam that gives instead of pressing, and a surface that wipes clean rather than flaking.
Who should buy them? Anyone with one of those exact Skullcandy models whose pads have seen better days and who would rather keep the headphones than replace them. Brainwavz rates them for heavy use and a long life, and backs them with a 12 month warranty against defects in workmanship, which is a reasonable signal for something you will be pressing against your head daily.
Who should skip them? Anyone whose headphones are not on that compatibility list — Brainwavz is explicit that they will not fit other brands or models, so check your headset first. And anyone shopping for wireless audio should skip them entirely. There is no battery, no Bluetooth and no microphone here. This is a maintenance part.
JLab Go Air Pop+: Who It's For
This is the opposite kind of purchase: a full listening system in a case smaller than a credit card. Each earbud runs 9+ hours, the USB-C case adds 26+ hours for 35+ hours total, and a 10 minute top-up gets you roughly an hour of playtime. That combination is what makes these genuinely useful for commuting — you can leave the cable at home for a full workweek of trips rather than planning your day around a charger.
Bluetooth 5.3 handles the connection to iOS, Android and PC, and Dual Connect lets you run either bud on its own. That matters more than it sounds: take a call with one ear free, or keep one bud in while you listen for a platform announcement. Each bud carries its own MEMS mic, and the sound is tunable through EQ3's three signatures — Signature, Bass Boost and Balanced — switchable on the buds or through the JLab app, which also handles touch controls and Be Aware Mode for letting ambient sound in.
The fit story is solid for the category. These are 15 percent smaller than the previous generation, ship with three gel tip sizes (S/M/L), and carry an IPX4 rating for sweat and light rain. A 6mm dynamic driver covers a 20Hz–20kHz range. Voice assistant access is built in, and JLab covers them with a two year warranty.
The honest limitation: noise control is listed as none. There is no ANC, so your quiet comes entirely from how well those gel tips seal your ear canal. On a noisy train that is a real difference. And IPX4 means sweat and drizzle, not swimming or heavy rain.
• You already own Skullcandy Crusher or Hesh headphones with worn pads → BRAINWAVZ Earpads. That is literally what they are made for.
• You want wireless earbuds you can buy and use today → JLab Go Air Pop+. The earpads cannot play audio.
• Best for battery life → JLab Go Air Pop+. 9+ hours per bud, 35+ hours total with the case.
• Best for long-session comfort on over-ear headphones → BRAINWAVZ Earpads. Memory foam and PU leather on the ear, no distortion claimed.
• Best for calls → JLab Go Air Pop+. A MEMS mic in each bud plus Dual Connect for one-ear use.
• Best for workouts and sweaty commutes → JLab Go Air Pop+. IPX4 plus three gel tip sizes for a secure fit.
• Best for tuning your sound → JLab Go Air Pop+. EQ3 gives you Signature, Bass Boost and Balanced.
• If you need active noise cancellation, neither is a clean fit. The earpads improve the seal on ANC Skullcandy models you already own; the JLab buds have no ANC at all.
For commuting, I would buy the JLab Go Air Pop+. The 35+ hours of total playtime, Bluetooth 5.3, Dual Connect and the mic in each bud add up to a complete, genuinely practical wireless setup for the trip to work and back — and at a price you should check on Amazon, the value story is hard to argue with, as long as you accept that there is no ANC and the quiet comes from the tip seal. I would only choose the BRAINWAVZ Earpads if I already had a compatible Skullcandy Crusher or Hesh on my desk with pads that have gone flat, because that is the one job they do, and they do it well.
ANC stands for active noise cancellation, a technology that uses microphones and electronics inside the headphones to actively reduce surrounding sound, on top of whatever passive isolation the earcups or ear tips provide. It is different from simply sealing your ears — the electronics do part of the work. Of these two products, only the Skullcandy models the BRAINWAVZ pads fit include ANC variants; the JLab Go Air Pop+ lists no noise control.
On Bluetooth headphones, ANC means the headset is using its own powered circuitry to cancel ambient noise — the same active cancellation concept, just delivered over a wireless connection. It typically costs battery life because the electronics are always running, which is why ANC models often publish shorter playtimes than non-ANC equivalents. The JLab Go Air Pop+ does not offer it, so its 9+ hours per bud runs without that drain.
It is the noise-cancelling mode you switch on when you want the world turned down — commutes, planes, open offices. On the Skullcandy Hesh ANC and Crusher ANC headsets the BRAINWAVZ pads are designed for, that feature depends heavily on a good seal against your head; a worn, leaky pad undermines it. Replacing tired cushions is one of the cheapest ways to get the most out of ANC you already own.
In my opinion there is no single best answer, because it depends on whether you want over-ear isolation or the convenience of true wireless. What I can say from these two listings is that the JLab Go Air Pop+ is not an ANC product at all, so if active noise cancellation is a hard requirement, look at ANC headphone models instead. If you already own a compatible Skullcandy ANC headset, the BRAINWAVZ Earpads are the practical upgrade for keeping its seal — and therefore its cancellation — in good shape.
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: SIMOLIO Manyshare Series- Kids vs AIAUXAI 3.5mm, Valeton Rushead Max USB vs kamapulo F4, PROHEAR 037 vs Dytole Headset, XIAOWTEK Earbuds vs BEVCEFCC Headset