We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a mesh-and-memory-foam refresh that keeps a pair of AirPods Max feeling light and breathable, choose Earrock Replacement Ear Cushions; if you need a soft protein-leather pad that re-seals a pair of Sony WH-1000XM3 and protects their noise cancelling, choose Elecphbo Replacement 1000XM3.
• Earrock Replacement Ear Cushions — biggest strength: a skin-friendly knit-mesh cover over slow-rebound memory foam, with magnets that snap the pads onto the AirPods Max automatically.
• Earrock Replacement Ear Cushions — biggest trade-off: mesh is breathable and cool, but it is a different feel from leather, and it only fits one headphone model.
• Elecphbo Replacement 1000XM3 — biggest strength: high-density memory foam wrapped in soft protein leather, deliberately thickened to seal your ears and preserve noise cancelling.
• Elecphbo Replacement 1000XM3 — biggest trade-off: leather traps more warmth over long sessions, and the six-tab fit is specific to the Sony WH-1000XM3 mount.
• Who each pick is for: Earrock for AirPods Max owners who want a cool, breathable, tool-free swap — Elecphbo for WH-1000XM3 owners who want a leather feel and a tight acoustic seal.
The Earrock cushions are built around one headphone and one idea: keep the AirPods Max comfortable without making you fight the hardware. The pad is a knit-mesh canopy over memory foam with a slow rebound effect, so it compresses gradually against your head instead of fighting back. The mesh is the part I find most interesting. It is skin-friendly, breathable and designed to dissipate heat, which matters on a headphone you might wear for a full workday or a long flight. Mesh also resists tearing better than a thin coated film, so the surface should hold up to daily on-and-off handling.
Installation is the other standout. There are magnets inside the pads, so you set them on the AirPods Max and they attach themselves — no tabs to line up, no prying, no risk of cracking a plastic clip. For anyone who has ever stared at a pair of earpads wondering which way is up, that is a genuinely nice piece of design. Each pad measures 3.8 x 3.1 x 1.3 inches and weighs 0.64oz, so you are not adding meaningful bulk, and the pair ships as a single set in green mesh. Earrock backs it with a 12-month warranty, which is a reasonable signal for a wear item.
The trade-offs are honest ones. It only fits AirPods Max, so if you own anything else, stop here. The mesh finish is also a texture choice, not a universal upgrade: some people love the cool, fabric-like feel, and some people prefer the slicker contact of leather. And because mesh is porous by nature, it will not create the same sealed, suctioned feeling around the ear that a leather pad does — the noise isolation here comes from the memory foam and the fit, and Earrock describes it as dulling external noise rather than blocking it outright.
Buy it if you own AirPods Max, you want a breathable pad you can install in seconds, and you like the idea of a fabric surface against your skin. Skip it if you own a different headphone, or if you specifically want a leather-wrapped pad with a heavier seal.
Elecphbo takes the opposite approach. This is a black protein-leather pad with high-density memory foam, and the whole design brief is sealing. Elecphbo states the foam is increased in thickness specifically so the cushion conforms to your ear and closes the gap that lets outside noise in. That is the right instinct for a WH-1000XM3, because the noise cancelling on that headphone depends on a good passive seal — a worn, flattened pad is the single most common reason a pair of ANC headphones suddenly sounds less quiet than it used to.
The leather surface is soft, flexible and smooth, and Elecphbo says it will not squeeze your ears. The pads are also described as durable and highly flexible, which is what you want from a part that gets compressed every time you put the headphones on. Elecphbo is explicit that the replacement should not compromise sound performance or noise cancelling, and given the material list — protein leather plus dense foam — that is a plausible claim rather than a marketing flourish. The company also frames these as a direct replacement for worn-out earpads, ear covers and ear cups, which is exactly the job.
Installation is a tabbed process rather than a magnetic one. You align the pads with the headphone mount, note the six tabs on the earpad, press down, and listen for a tick that confirms the pad has seated. It is a few minutes of work and it rewards a little patience — press evenly and check that all six tabs have engaged before you move on. One pad set ships as a single count, sized 6.22 x 4.06 x 1.54 inches, in black leather.
The trade-off is the mirror image of the Earrock set. Leather does not breathe the way mesh does, so if you run hot or wear headphones for hours at a stretch, you may notice more warmth around your ears. And the fit is specific: this is for the Sony WH-1000XM3, not the XM4 or XM5, so check your model before ordering.
Buy it if you own a WH-1000XM3, your current pads are flattened or cracking, and you want to restore the seal that makes the noise cancelling work. Skip it if you own a different Sony model, or if breathability is your top priority.
• Compatible with AirPods Max → Earrock Replacement Ear Cushions. The magnets and dimensions are built for that headphone only.
• Compatible with Sony WH-1000XM3 → Elecphbo Replacement 1000XM3. Six-tab mount, sized for the Sony ear cup.
• Fastest, tool-free install → Earrock Replacement Ear Cushions. The pads self-attach by magnet; no tab alignment needed.
• Most secure acoustic seal → Elecphbo Replacement 1000XM3. Thickened high-density foam plus protein leather is designed to close the gap around your ear.
• Coolest, most breathable wear → Earrock Replacement Ear Cushions. Knit mesh with heat dissipation beats leather for long, warm sessions.
• Best for preserving active noise cancelling → Elecphbo Replacement 1000XM3. A tight passive seal is what lets the XM3's ANC do its job.
• Material preference, fabric vs leather → mesh and slow-rebound foam on the Earrock; smooth protein leather on the Elecphbo. Pick the texture you actually like against your skin.
• Covered by a stated warranty → Earrock Replacement Ear Cushions, which lists a 12-month warranty. Elecphbo does not state a warranty term in its listing details.
If I owned a Sony WH-1000XM3 and my pads were flat, I would buy the Elecphbo Replacement 1000XM3. The entire reason to own that headphone is the noise cancelling, and noise cancelling lives or dies on the seal — so thickened memory foam under protein leather is the choice that protects what you already paid for. If I owned AirPods Max instead, I would take the Earrock Replacement Ear Cushions without hesitating: the magnetic install is genuinely easier, and mesh is the more pleasant surface for all-day wear. Match the pad to the headphone you own. That is the whole decision.
FAQ
what are high end headphones
what are the best luxury headphones
That is a personal call, and it depends on what you value: build materials, noise cancelling, comfort or sound signature. What I can say factually is that both the AirPods Max and the Sony WH-1000XM3 are widely treated as premium over-ear models, and both use replaceable earpads rather than a sealed, disposable design. If you own either one, a fresh set of pads is the cheapest way to keep it feeling premium.
what are considered high end headphones
Headphones generally get that label when they combine over-ear construction, premium cushioning materials like memory foam and leather or mesh, and features such as active noise cancelling. The AirPods Max and WH-1000XM3 both fit that description. Notably, both rely on dense foam in the earpads for isolation, which is exactly the part that flattens first with age.
what are some high end headphones
Two common examples are the Apple AirPods Max and the Sony WH-1000XM3 — the two models these replacement pads are made for. Earrock makes mesh-and-memory-foam pads for the AirPods Max; Elecphbo makes leather-and-memory-foam pads for the WH-1000XM3. If you own one of those two headphones and your cushions are worn, one of these sets is the direct fit.
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