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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a replacement pad built around comfort and breathability for large over-ear headphones, choose BRAINWAVZ Replacement Memory Foam; if you need a cheap-and-simple universal cushion sized to fit almost any headset, choose GOWENIC Foam Ear Pad.
• BRAINWAVZ Replacement Memory Foam — biggest strength: hi-grade memory foam with a fully perforated PU leather cover, so it breathes, supports and isolates better than most stock pads.
• BRAINWAVZ Replacement Memory Foam — biggest trade-off: it's aimed at large, oval-cup over-ear headphones, so it isn't a one-size-fits-everything cushion.
• GOWENIC Foam Ear Pad — biggest strength: a fixed 75mm/3.0in universal cushion that's stated to fit almost any earphone, and it installs in seconds.
• GOWENIC Foam Ear Pad — biggest trade-off: the universal sizing means it's a general-purpose cushion rather than a model-specific, shape-matched upgrade.
• Who each pick is for: the BRAINWAVZ pads are for someone reviving or upgrading a big over-ear headphone; the GOWENIC cushions are for someone who just wants a quick, universal replacement.
The BRAINWAVZ pad is the more purpose-built of the two. It's a replacement earpad made with high quality memory foam and covered in perforated PU leather, which the brand describes as taking breathability and airflow "to the next level." In practice, that means a pad engineered for longer listening sessions — the tiny perforations across the whole surface are there to reduce the heat build-up you get with a solid, sealed cover. It's also thicker than most standard pads, and the memory foam is pitched as giving better support, superior isolation and longer pad life.
The other thing that stands out is the mounting design. There's a large flap on the rear, which is what lets the same pad be applied across a range of oval-cup headphones and different mounting systems. BRAINWAVZ lists it as suitable for models such as the AKG Q701, Audio-Technica ATH-M50, Shure SRH440 and Sony MDR-V6, and the brand frames it as an upgrade over stock pads on higher-end headphones as well as a fix for worn-out ones.
Who should buy it: anyone with a large over-ear headphone who wants more comfort, more airflow and a sturdier pad than what came in the box — and anyone into modding or reviving an older pair rather than replacing it. Who should skip it: if you're working with a small on-ear or in-ear set, or a headphone whose cups aren't the oval, large-cup type this is designed around, the fit simply won't be there. It's also available in other colours and materials, so if you want the perforated airflow version specifically, make sure that's the one you pick.
The GOWENIC cushion goes the opposite route: one size, and that size is meant to cover as many headsets as possible. It's a 75mm/3.0in universal replacement cushion, described as suitable for almost all earphones. The build is foam plus protein leather — a soft memory foam core with a flexible cover that the brand says is comfortable for long listening, with the foam also credited for blocking outside noise.
Installation is the other selling point. There's no special mounting system to line up: you take the old pad off and put the new one on. That makes it a practical answer for a pad that's gone flat, torn, or just grimy, and the brand positions it as a way to make a headphone look new again. It ships as a pair of two cushions, in black, and it's a lightweight item overall.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants a straightforward, universal replacement without measuring or matching a specific model — especially for a smaller or budget headset where sourcing original pads is a hassle. Who should skip it: if you own a large over-ear headphone and care about a precise, shape-matched fit, thicker padding or perforated breathability, this isn't trying to be that product. A universal cushion is a compromise by design, so expect it to feel more generic than a pad built for your exact cups.
• Best for breathability and long sessions → BRAINWAVZ Replacement Memory Foam. The perforated PU leather cover is the whole point of this pad.
• Best for a universal, fit-anything replacement → GOWENIC Foam Ear Pad. The 75mm/3.0in cushion is stated to suit almost all earphones.
• Best for large oval-cup over-ear headphones → BRAINWAVZ Replacement Memory Foam. AKG, Audio-Technica, Shure and Sony models are named as compatible.
• Best for noise reduction → GOWENIC Foam Ear Pad, at least on paper — its memory foam is specifically credited with blocking outside noise.
• Best for comfort and isolation on a premium headphone → BRAINWAVZ Replacement Memory Foam. It's thicker than most standard pads and designed for superior isolation.
• Best for the simplest install → GOWENIC Foam Ear Pad. Take the old one off, put the new one on.
• Best for modding or reviving old headphones → BRAINWAVZ Replacement Memory Foam. The large rear mounting flap is made for adapting to different headphones and pad mounting systems.
• Best for a quick cosmetic refresh of a small headset → GOWENIC Foam Ear Pad. It's a low-commitment way to make a worn headset look new.
In my opinion, the BRAINWAVZ Replacement Memory Foam is the better buy for most people shopping this comparison, because it's the one actually engineered as a headphone upgrade — perforated for airflow, thicker than the stock pad, memory foam throughout, and designed with a mounting flap that adapts across a lot of large over-ear models. If you own a big over-ear headphone and want it to feel better than new, that's the one I'd pick. I'd only steer you to the GOWENIC Foam Ear Pad if your priority is a universal 75mm cushion that fits almost anything and takes seconds to install, and you don't need a model-specific fit. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since both sit in very different spots on the value scale.
what is universal headphones
"Universal headphones" isn't a formal product category — it's shorthand for a headphone, or a replacement part, that's designed to fit a wide range of models rather than one specific set. The GOWENIC Foam Ear Pad is a good example: it's a 75mm/3.0in cushion the brand says suits almost all earphones.
are headphones universal
No, not really. Most headphones are built around a specific cup shape and mounting system, which is why BRAINWAVZ names exact models like the AKG Q701, ATH-M50, SRH440 and MDR-V6 for its pads. Universal fit usually applies to accessories and cushions, not the headphones themselves.
are gaming headphones universal
Gaming headsets are not universal either — each one has its own cup size and pad mounting. That said, a universal cushion like the GOWENIC pad is often used as a replacement on gaming headsets, and BRAINWAVZ specifically mentions its pads fitted to a Steelseries Arctis 3 as an example of what they can revive.
Going by the specs, the BRAINWAVZ pad is the one built with longevity in mind: hi-grade memory foam, thicker padding than standard, and the brand explicitly describes it as durable and long lasting with a longer pad life. The GOWENIC cushion is a simpler foam-and-protein-leather pad, so treat it as a functional replacement rather than a long-term upgrade.
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