We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-19 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want fresh pads for your Beats Solo 2 or Solo 3 on-ear headphones, choose Cypher.V Replacement Ear Pads; if you need replacement cushions for your AirPods Max over-ear headphones, choose SINOWO Ear Pads Replacement. That's the whole decision in one line, because these two products don't actually compete for the same buyer — they fit completely different headphones.
• Cypher.V's biggest strength: It's built specifically for Beats Solo 2 and Solo 3, with protein leather over memory foam, adhesive-backed mounting, and a kit that includes a storage bag, spare adhesive, and an installation booklet.
• Cypher.V's biggest trade-off: It's a glue-on install, which means you have to strip old adhesive and let the surface dry before pressing the new pads on — get that prep wrong and the bond suffers.
• SINOWO's biggest strength: Magnetic attachment. The pads snap onto AirPods Max automatically, no adhesive, no tools, no cleanup.
• SINOWO's biggest trade-off: It only fits AirPods Max, and the mesh textile surface is a very different feel from leather — not everyone prefers it.
• Who Cypher.V is for: Beats Solo 2/3 owners reviving a headset with cracked, peeling or flattened pads.
• Who SINOWO is for: AirPods Max owners whose original cushions are worn out or compressed.
The Cypher.V pads exist for one job: making a working pair of Beats Solo 2 or Solo 3 headphones feel and look usable again. The pitch is straightforward — instead of retiring a headset because the cushions cracked, peeled or flattened, you swap the pads. The materials are protein leather over memory foam, which gives you a smooth contact surface with supportive cushioning against the ear. That's the classic on-ear feel, and it's the reason people reach for this style of pad in the first place.
What I like about the kit is that it acknowledges how the install actually goes. Adhesive-backed pads live or die on prep: you remove the old cushions, clean away every trace of leftover adhesive, let the surface dry, align each new pad, then press firmly around the edge. Cypher.V includes a spare set of double-sided adhesive and an installation booklet, which tells me they expect people to need a second attempt or a later re-stick. That's honest design for a glue-on product. You also get a cloth storage bag, which is a small thing but genuinely useful if you toss the headphones in a bag.
Who should buy it: anyone with Solo 2 or Solo 3 headphones whose pads are visibly worn, and anyone who wants to keep a familiar on-ear feel rather than change the character of their headset. The memory foam is also described as helping block external noise and isolate sound, so if your flattened old pads were letting the world in, fresh foam is a real improvement.
Who should skip it: Studio owners, first and foremost — this is explicitly not compatible with the over-ear Studio models. Skip it too if you want a tool-free, magnet-based install, because this is not that. And if your Solo headband or drivers are already failing, new pads won't fix a broken headset.
SINOWO's pads are a completely different animal. These are for AirPods Max only — no other model. The design mirrors the original approach: a custom mesh textile wraps the cushions, and there's an inner silicone layer intended to preserve the headphones' noise-canceling performance. That detail matters. On AirPods Max, the pads are part of the acoustic seal, so a replacement that ignores the seal will quietly wreck your ANC. SINOWO at least addresses it head-on.
The install is the headline feature. There's no adhesive, no booklet, no drying time. You set the pads on the earcups and the inner magnet grabs them automatically. If you've ever spent twenty minutes picking glue residue off a headband, you'll understand why that's appealing. The high-density memory foam is there to fit your ears and hold its shape rather than flatten out over a day of listening, and the ergonomic fit is aimed at blocking outside noise so you get a quieter pocket for your music.
Who should buy it: AirPods Max owners with compressed or worn cushions who want the closest thing to the original feel without a fiddly install. The silver finish matches the headphone's look, and the mesh surface is the same family of material you're already used to.
Who should skip it: anyone who doesn't own AirPods Max — it simply won't fit anything else. Also skip it if you specifically want a leather feel, because mesh textile is a different sensory experience. And note the dimensions: roughly 3.84 by 3.08 by 1.28 inches each, so these are proper over-ear cushions, not something you can adapt to a smaller headset.
• Best for Beats Solo 2 / Solo 3 → Cypher.V Replacement Ear Pads. It's the only one of the two that fits those headphones.
• Best for AirPods Max → SINOWO Ear Pads Replacement. Same logic in reverse.
• Easiest installation → SINOWO. Magnets, automatic attachment, no tools, no adhesive, no cleanup.
• Most complete kit → Cypher.V. You get the pads, a storage bag, spare double-sided adhesive and an installation booklet.
• Best if you want a leather feel → Cypher.V. Protein leather over memory foam.
• Best if you want to match the original surface → SINOWO. Custom mesh textile designed to echo the stock cushions.
• Best if you're worried about noise-canceling performance → SINOWO. The inner silicone layer is there specifically to protect that seal.
• Best if you're handy and don't mind prep work → Cypher.V. The adhesive install rewards patience.
• Best for long-wear comfort in both cases → whichever matches your headphone. Both use memory foam; the fit is the deciding factor, not the foam.
In my opinion, this isn't really a contest — it's a compatibility check. If you own Beats Solo 2 or Solo 3, I'd buy the Cypher.V Replacement Ear Pads, because the kit covers the awkward parts of a glue-on job and the protein leather keeps the on-ear feel you already know. If you own AirPods Max, I'd buy the SINOWO Ear Pads Replacement, because the magnetic install is genuinely easier and the silicone layer shows they thought about your noise canceling. Match the pad to your headphone and you'll be happy either way. Buy the wrong one and neither is usable.
No. Cypher.V states these are made for Beats Solo 2 and Solo 3 on-ear headphones and are not compatible with the Studio over-ear models. If you have Studios, keep looking.
No. SINOWO lists compatibility with AirPods Max headphones only. The magnetic mounting is designed around that specific earcup, so don't expect it to work on other brands.
The SINOWO pads. They attach automatically via an inner magnet with no tools required. The Cypher.V pads use adhesive, so you need to remove the old pads, clean off leftover adhesive, let the surface dry, then press firmly around the edge.
Check your headphone model first. Beats Solo 2 or Solo 3 means Cypher.V. AirPods Max means SINOWO. Once you've confirmed fit, compare the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before you commit.
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