We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a memory foam over ear headphones upgrade that fits a huge range of large, round-cup headphones and rebuilds worn-out pads, choose BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid Memory; if you need replacement cushions for AirPods Max 1 & 2 with the same mesh-and-magnet mounting system, choose G GVOEARS Cushions.
• BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid Memory — biggest strength: a memory foam core wrapped in velour on top and perforated PU leather on the edges, built as a universal XL replacement pad for a long list of large over-ear models.
• BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid Memory — biggest trade-off: "universal" is not "fits everything." You're relying on a large rear mounting flap and your own judgement about your cup size and mounting style.
• G GVOEARS Cushions — biggest strength: a drop-in replacement for AirPods Max with a high-density memory foam core, mesh surface and silicone gel layer, held on by strong magnets.
• G GVOEARS Cushions — biggest trade-off: it fits AirPods Max and basically nothing else. If you own any other headphone, this cushion is irrelevant to you.
• Who each is for: BRAINWAVZ for people reviving or upgrading a pair of large round-cup headphones; G GVOEARS for AirPods Max owners who want to refresh the part that touches their head.
The XL Hybrid is a replacement earpad, not a headphone. The whole product is the cushion: a high-grade memory foam core, a soft velour top, and perforated PU leather around the main edges. That perforated section is the detail I keep coming back to, because it's the part that decides whether your ears feel clammy after two hours or fine after six. Velour against the skin, breathable leather on the sides, memory foam underneath — that's a comfort-first recipe, and it's aimed squarely at long sessions rather than quick commutes.
The second thing it's built for is breadth. Brainwavz lists compatibility across AKG (K550, K612, K712, Q701, K7XX and more), Audio-Technica (ATH-R70X, ATH-AD700X, ATH-AD1000X), Beyerdynamic (DT770, DT880, DT990, Tygr 300 R), HiFiMan (HE4XX, HE-560), plus Superlux, Samson, JVC, Philips-adjacent models, Monoprice and others. There's also a large mounting flap on the rear, which is what lets one pad shape work across so many different attachment systems. If your stock pads are flattened, peeling, or just uncomfortable, this is the part that brings the headphone back rather than the headphone itself.
G GVOEARS Cushions: Who It's For
G GVOEARS makes one thing here, and it makes it for one headphone: the AirPods Max. Compatibility is limited to the Apple over-ear (the listing targets the 2024 model, with support for AirPods Max generally). There is no list of twenty brands. There's one. That narrowness is the point — these are shaped, sized and mounted specifically for Apple's cups.
What's inside is more interesting than the compatibility list. The core is high-density memory foam, and G GVOEARS positions it as a noise-blocking layer — denser foam seals better against the head, which is what actually keeps outside sound out and bass in. The surface is mesh fabric, the same family of material as the original AirPods Max cushions, and the claim is that mesh is more breathable and longer-lasting than protein leather. Under the mesh there's a silicone gel layer, added so the cushion stays full and doesn't flatten out over months of wear. That's a real design answer to a real problem: foam compresses, gel pushes back.
Mounting is by strong magnets on the back of each cushion, which is how the originals attach, so installation is a matter of aligning and letting them snap into place. G GVOEARS also notes two practical details worth reading twice: distinguish the L and R cushions, and make sure the light sensor hole on the headphone isn't covered, or the connection is affected. The kit includes a pair of cushions, four wipe pads and a user manual, and the brand lists a 180-day warranty.
Who should skip it? Anyone who doesn't own AirPods Max. There is no adapter story here. Also skip it if you're chasing a leather or velour feel — mesh is a different texture entirely, and that's deliberate.
• Best for AirPods Max owners → G GVOEARS Cushions. Magnetic mounting, correct shape, mesh surface matched to the originals.
• Best for large round-cup headphones → BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid Memory. AKG, Beyerdynamic, HiFiMan, Audio-Technica and more are explicitly covered.
• Best for hot, sweaty ears → BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid Memory. Velour top plus perforated PU leather edges is a breathability-first build.
• Best for blocking outside noise → G GVOEARS Cushions. High-density memory foam with a silicone gel layer is designed to seal and stay sealed.
• Best for reviving old headphones → BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid Memory. It's a restoration part; you're replacing worn pads, not buying a new headset.
• Best for a no-guesswork fit → G GVOEARS Cushions. One headphone, one cushion shape, magnets do the aligning.
• Best for long listening sessions → both, for different reasons. Velour and breathable leather on one side; mesh and gel on the other.
• Best for anyone who wants a leather-look finish → BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid Memory. The hybrid material mix is visible and intentional.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to what's already on your desk. If you own AirPods Max and the cushions are the weak link, I'd buy G GVOEARS Cushions — the mesh-plus-gel-plus-memory-foam stack is a direct answer to the two things that go wrong with that headphone over time: flattened foam and a mounting system that only works with magnets. If you own a large round-cup headphone from AKG, Beyerdynamic, HiFiMan or Audio-Technica, I'd buy BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid Memory, because it's the rare pad that fits a whole category of headphones instead of one model. For most people reading this, the honest answer is that only one of these two products fits the headphone you already own — so let that decide it.
can you sleep with over ear headphones
You can, but it's about the cushion as much as the headphone. A softer, breathable pad is more forgiving against a pillow. The BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid pairs a velour top with perforated PU leather, which is the more breathable combination of the two here. The G GVOEARS mesh surface is also designed to reduce sweat. Neither is marketed as a sleep product.
how to wear over ear headphones
Slide the cups over your ears so the cushion surrounds the ear rather than pressing on it, then adjust the headband until the clamp feels even on both sides. With G GVOEARS, G GVOEARS specifically asks you to distinguish the L and R cushions and to keep the light sensor hole on the headphone uncovered, or the connection is affected.
how to wear over ear headphones properly
Proper fit means the pad seals against the skin around your ear, with the foam compressed slightly but not flattened. That seal is what the dense memory foam in the G GVOEARS cushions is there to create. On the BRAINWAVZ XL Hybrid, the large rear mounting flap is what keeps the pad seated correctly on the cup.
how should over ear headphones fit
Snug but not tight, with the cushion touching your head all the way around and the ear sitting inside the opening. Because both of these use memory foam, they should feel firmer on day one and settle into shape as the foam takes on your head's contours — G GVOEARS adds a silicone gel layer under the mesh specifically so the cushion doesn't flatten out over extended wear.
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See also: G GVOEARS Cushions vs COMPLY TrueGrip MAX, defean Earpads vs G GVOEARS Solo 2: Memory Foam Over Ear, BlueFire Gaming Headset vs BRAINWAVZ Angled Memory Foam