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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 universal, angled upgrade that reshapes comfort and sound across a long list of large over-ear headphones, choose BRAINWAVZ Sheepskin Leather Angled; if you need a precise, drop-in replacement built only for the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, choose WC PadZ NC700.
• BRAINWAVZ biggest strength: Real sheepskin leather over memory foam with a thicker, angled profile that adds comfort and can shift soundstage on compatible large over-ear models.
• BRAINWAVZ biggest trade-off: It is a universal-fit pad with a PU pleather inner core, and it only fits the oval-cup models on its compatibility list — not every headphone.
• WC PadZ NC700 biggest strength: A model-specific kit for the Bose NC700 with softer PU leather, added thickness, and reinforced seams meant to resist splitting.
• WC PadZ NC700 biggest trade-off: It fits the Bose Noise Cancelling 700 only, so it is useless on any other headphone.
• Who each pick is for: BRAINWAVZ for tinkerers reviving or upgrading large oval-cup headphones; WC PadZ for Bose NC700 owners who just want their pads back to comfortable.
This is the pad for someone who treats headphones as a project. The BRAINWAVZ Sheepskin Leather Angled is built around real sheepskin leather and memory foam, and the "angled" part is the whole point: the pad is thicker at the rear than the front, which creates a more contoured, natural fit around the ear. In my opinion, that angled geometry is what separates it from a flat stock pad — it changes both how the headphone sits on your head and how the driver fires into your ear.
The material story matters too. Real leather is softer against the skin than PU (faux) leather, and it can help with perspiration, which is why people reach for it on long listening sessions. Inside, high-grade memory foam gives the pad its shape and its lifespan. The one caveat: the inner core uses PU pleather for shape stability, so this is not 100% leather through and through. Its compatibility list is broad but specific — AKG Q701, Audio-Technica ATH-M50 and its sub-models, Shure SRH440, Koss DJ100/DJ200, Ultrasone HF 580/SH 1 Pro/HFI 780, Sony MDR-V6 and ZX700, Fostex T50RP/T50, M-Audio Q40, JVC S500S, and generally many oval-cup designs.
Buy it if you own one of those large over-ear models and want a thicker, angled, leather-feel pad — whether you're replacing worn-out stock pads or upgrading a pair you already like. Skip it if your headphones aren't on that list, or if you want a pad that matches your original profile exactly. This one deliberately changes the fit.
This is the opposite philosophy: one headphone, done right. The WC PadZ NC700 is made by Wicked Cushions specifically for the Bose Noise Cancelling 700, and it fits that model and nothing else. If you own a Bose NC700 and your original pads have gone flat, cracked, or started splitting at the seams, this is the direct answer.
The design choices target the exact complaints people have with worn OEM cushions. The PU leather is a softer formulation paired with memory foam, and the claim is that there's no break-in period — soft from day one. The padding is thicker than stock, which helps the cushion conform around your ear and keep a seal, and a good seal is what lets noise cancelling do its job. The seams are the other headline: they're reinforced with extra stitching and glue to stop the splitting that plagues old pads. Wicked Cushions also backs it with a 365-day full warranty and includes a step-by-step installation guide, and no special tools are needed.
Buy it if you have Bose NC700 headphones and want a comfortable, durable replacement without measuring or guessing. Skip it if you own anything else — this pad will not fit other Bose models or other brands. It is a single-target product, and that's a feature, not a flaw.
• Best for a specific headphone model → WC PadZ NC700. It's engineered for the Bose NC700 only, so fit is guaranteed if that's your headphone.
• Best for broad compatibility → BRAINWAVZ Sheepskin Leather Angled. It covers AKG, Audio-Technica, Shure, Koss, Ultrasone, Sony, Fostex, M-Audio and JVC oval-cup models.
• Best for a genuine leather feel → BRAINWAVZ. Real sheepskin leather is the outer material, with a PU core for stability.
• Best for seam durability → WC PadZ NC700. Reinforced stitching plus glue directly targets the splitting issue on worn pads.
• Best for changing your sound signature → BRAINWAVZ. The angled, thicker profile alters the ear-to-driver relationship rather than copying stock.
• Best for a no-guess install → WC PadZ NC700. It ships with a step-by-step guide and needs no special tools.
• Best for noise-cancelling seal → WC PadZ NC700. Its thicker, conforming cushion is designed to help the NC700 block noise effectively.
• Best for reviving old large over-ears → BRAINWAVZ. It's positioned as an upgrade or replacement to bring worn headphones back to life.
If I owned Bose NC700 headphones, I'd buy the WC PadZ NC700 — it's built for that exact model, the reinforced seams and softer PU leather target the real failure points, and the 365-day warranty backs the durability claim. If I owned any of the large oval-cup models on BRAINWAVZ's list, I'd buy the Sheepskin Leather Angled instead, because real leather over angled memory foam is the more interesting upgrade and it fits a much wider range of headphones. In my opinion, the deciding factor isn't which pad is "better" — it's which headphone you actually have on your desk.
can you sleep with over ear headphones
You can, but it's not ideal. Both of these pads use memory foam that compresses under pressure, and the WC PadZ NC700's added thickness is designed for a snug seal rather than lying on a pillow. Side-sleeping pushes the cup and can break the seal.
how to wear over ear headphones
Put them on with the headband centered on top of your head and the cups fully surrounding your ears, not resting on them. For BRAINWAVZ's angled pads, the thicker edge goes toward the back of your head so the pad contours naturally.
how should over ear headphones fit
The pads should sit flat against your head with even pressure and no gaps, and the cups should cover your ears entirely. A thicker pad like the WC PadZ NC700 or the angled BRAINWAVZ changes that fit, so adjust the headband until the seal feels even.
how to wear over ear headphones properly
Make sure the left and right cups match your ears, then slide the headband until the pads seal gently around each ear without clamping. If the seal feels loose after fitting either pad, the headband needs adjusting — not the pads.
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See also: BlueFire Gaming Headset vs BRAINWAVZ Angled Memory Foam, WC PadZ vs Zerodeko 11pcs: Luxury Headphones, WC PadZ Crusher Evo vs QCY H3: Wireless Headphones with ANC