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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want an exact-fit, factory-direct mesh fabric replacement set for the SteelSeries Arctis family with a 12-month warranty behind it, choose defean Earpads; if you need soft protein-leather memory foam pads for JBL's over-ear ANC line that hold their shape over time, choose SOULWIT Earpads.
• defean Earpads — biggest strength: a wide compatibility net across the SteelSeries Arctis line (1/3/5/7/7+/7P/7P+/7X/7X+/9/9X/Pro/Prime), a fabric mesh cushion surface, and a 12-month warranty from a maker that specializes in ear pad acoustics.
• defean Earpads — biggest trade-off: it does not fit any Arctis Nova model, and it's black fabric only — no leather, no gel, no color choice.
• SOULWIT Earpads — biggest strength: softer protein leather over high-density memory foam, with stitched and glued inner seams built to resist splitting and flattening.
• SOULWIT Earpads — biggest trade-off: it only fits JBL's over-ear models (E65BTNC, Live 650BTNC, Live 770NC, Live 660NC, Duet NC), and the sheet lists no warranty.
• Who each pick is for: defean for SteelSeries Arctis owners who want a breathable fabric pad that snaps in without tools; SOULWIT for JBL over-ear owners who want a plusher leather feel and long-term shape retention.
The defean set is a compatibility play first and a comfort play second. It's built for one ecosystem: the SteelSeries Arctis line. If you own an Arctis 1, 3, 5, 7, 7+, 7P, 7P+, 7X, 7X+, 9, 9X, Pro or Prime, this is a direct match. If you own anything in the Arctis Nova family, it is not — the sheet is explicit about that, so check your model before you buy anything.
Where it earns its place is the surface material. This is a mesh fabric cushion, not leather, and that matters for long sessions. Fabric breathes. If you wear headphones for hours of gaming or calls and you're tired of that warm, sticky feeling leather pads develop, a fabric cover is the practical answer. The pad's foam is described as high-density and noise-cancelling, so it's meant to seal around the ear and block some outside noise while keeping the material breathable.
Installation is genuinely tool-free — pull the old pads, seat the new ones in the ear cups, and snap them in. The rubber ring on the back of each pad lines up with the groove on the earpiece, and defean provides video guidance for the process. You also get a 12-month worry-free warranty, which is unusually solid for a consumable part like this. The package is one pair of pads; the headphones themselves aren't included.
SOULWIT Earpads: Who It's For
SOULWIT's set targets a completely different headset family — JBL's over-ear ANC models. It fits the E65BTNC, Live 650BTNC, Live 770NC, Live 660NC and Duet NC wireless headphones. That's a narrower list than defean's, but for JBL owners it's the one that matters.
The material story here is the opposite of defean's. SOULWIT uses softer protein leather over high-density foam, and the design intent is spelled out: ultra-comfort plus rugged durability, with the claim that the pads won't go flat and cause discomfort over time. That's the classic argument for high-density foam in a leather wrap — the foam recovers and the leather surface keeps a consistent feel rather than breaking down into a squashed ring.
SOULWIT also puts real engineering attention into the seams. Each earpad gets added stitching and strong glue on the inside seams specifically to stop them from splitting. That's the failure point on cheap replacement pads: the seam blows out long before the foam dies. If you've had a pad tear open at the edge before, this is the detail worth noticing. Installation is described as a few-minute job with a precise fit.
One thing to be clear about: the sheet lists no warranty for these pads. That's not a dealbreaker, but it's a real difference from defean's 12-month coverage, and it should factor into how you think about value. The sound argument SOULWIT makes is that old, worn pads degrade your headphone's sound, and fresh pads restore it — reasonable reasoning, since a collapsed pad changes the seal between driver and ear.
Buy it if: you own a compatible JBL over-ear model, you want a leather feel with memory foam that holds its shape, and you'd rather not deal with splits at the seam. Skip it if: you're on SteelSeries hardware, or a warranty is a must-have for you.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for JBL over-ear owners → SOULWIT Earpads. It's built specifically for the E65BTNC, Live 650BTNC, Live 770NC, Live 660NC and Duet NC.
• Best for breathability in long sessions → defean Earpads. Mesh fabric over foam beats leather when you're wearing headphones for hours.
• Best for a plusher, leather-style feel → SOULWIT Earpads. Protein leather over high-density foam is the softer, more cushioned option.
• Best for durability against seam splits → SOULWIT Earpads. Stitching plus strong glue on the inner seams is a deliberate anti-tear design.
• Best for warranty peace of mind → defean Earpads. A 12-month worry-free warranty is listed; SOULWIT's sheet lists none.
• Best for tool-free installation → either. Both are described as quick, tool-free swaps, though defean adds video guidance.
• Dealbreaker to check first → your headset model. defean won't fit Arctis Nova; SOULWIT won't fit anything outside its JBL list. Confirm before ordering.
In my opinion, this isn't a close call once you know your headset — it's a compatibility decision, not a quality contest. If I owned a SteelSeries Arctis 7, 9 or Pro, I'd buy the defean Earpads, mainly for the fabric surface, the straightforward snap-in install and the 12-month warranty. If I owned a JBL E65BTNC or Live 660NC, I'd buy the SOULWIT Earpads for the protein-leather comfort and the reinforced seams that fight the one failure mode that kills replacement pads fastest. Pick by your headphones first. Everything else is a distant second.
can you sleep with over ear headphones
You can, but it's not ideal. A full-size over-ear pad like either of these creates a seal and pressure around the ear, and side-sleeping pushes that pressure into your head. Both pads are designed for listening sessions, not overnight wear, so treat them as daytime gear and use earbuds if you want to sleep with audio.
how to wear over ear headphones
Slide the headband over your head so the pads sit around your ears, not on them — the ear should sit inside the cushion opening. Then adjust the sliders so the headband rests evenly with light pressure on top. Both defean and SOULWIT pads are designed to be worn this way, with the foam sealing against the side of your head.
how to wear over ear headphones properly
Properly means centered and sealed. Set the pads squarely over each ear, adjust each side to the same length so the headband isn't tilted, and let the pads rest flat against your head without clamping. On the defean fabric pads, a light seal is what lets the mesh foam do its noise-isolating job; on the SOULWIT leather pads, the same seal is what keeps the memory foam from being crushed off-axis.
how should over ear headphones fit
Snug but not tight. The pads should fully enclose your ears with no pinching on the outer ear, and the headband should sit with even, gentle pressure. If you feel a hotspot after 20 minutes, loosen the sliders. Because SOULWIT's pads use high-density foam that the maker says won't go flat, they should keep that fit consistent over time; defean's mesh pads stay breathable so the seal doesn't turn into heat buildup.
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