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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• GEVO Replacement Ear Pads — biggest strength: PU leather over slow-recovery memory foam, deliberately thicker than the stock Bose pads, with a large-hole porous backing designed for passive noise reduction and a proper acoustic seal.
• GEVO Replacement Ear Pads — biggest trade-off: It is a spare part, not a product. It only makes sense if you already own Bose QC35 / QC35 II (or SoundLink 1&2 AE over-ear) headphones, and it will not fit SoundTrue or SoundLink on-ear models.
• iClever EM01 — biggest strength: Certified hearing protection (ANSI S3.19-1974 and CE EN 352-1) with an SNR of 29dB and reductions up to 46dB in some situations, built for kids, teens and adults who need to block loud environments.
• iClever EM01 — biggest trade-off: It is a passive earmuff, not a listening device. It isolates sound, it does not play music, and it can't remove noise completely.
• Who each pick is for: GEVO for existing Bose QC35 owners fixing worn, flaking or flat earpads. iClever for anyone buying protection for a child with sensory sensitivities, or for loud events like monster jam shows, fireworks and concerts.
GEVO's replacement pads exist to solve one very specific problem: your Bose QC35 or QC35 II still work, but the cushions have gone flat, cracked or lost their seal. The kit gives you two ear pads, two silver dustproof scrims and four alcohol wipes, and the whole install is designed to be done at home — the pads are built to form an important acoustic seal once seated, which is exactly what worn originals stop doing.
What stands out in the specs is the foam strategy. These are slow-recovery memory foam pads wrapped in protein PU leather, and GEVO states they are thicker than the originals specifically so they hold their shape over time rather than going flat. The backing uses a large-hole, porous design instead of the notched mats some third-party pads use — GEVO's argument being that notched mats don't fully cover the QC35's speakers and can dull the sound. Whether that matters to you depends on how sensitive you are to a small change in tone, but the logic is sound: a full-coverage mat plus a thicker cushion means better passive noise reduction and more low-end retention.
The comfort angle is real for long sessions too. Feather-soft, breathable PU leather and memory foam are the standard recipe for all-day wear, and the thicker padding is aimed at people who wear their QC35s for full workdays, flights or study blocks and want the pads to disappear.
iClever EM01: Who It's For
The iClever EM01 is a completely different animal. It's not a headphone accessory or an audio product at all — it's a pair of passive noise-reduction earmuffs, certified to ANSI S3.19-1974 and CE EN 352-1, with an SNR of 29dB and reductions of up to 46dB in certain scenarios. iClever is upfront that earmuffs can't eliminate noise entirely, which is the honest framing you want here.
The engineering behind that number: a 22mm porous sound-absorbing sponge paired with a custom honeycomb acoustic sponge, so the muffs absorb and dampen rather than just block. On top of that sits 18mm of slow-rebound acoustic foam covered in skin-friendly leather, and a headband designed to apply about a third less pressure than typical earmuffs. That pressure detail is the one that matters most in real life — kids and sensory-sensitive wearers will rip off anything that clamps.
It's clearly built around children first. BPA-free ABS and silicone-free earcups, plus a holeless pivot so hair doesn't get caught when the muffs go on and off. The telescopic arms extend up to 38mm per side, so the same pair grows with a child instead of being replaced every few months, and the frame uses 301 stainless steel with 2mm-thick steel bars to survive being twisted and bent. Color is green and pink, and the size range is listed for kids, teens and adults, so a parent can share a pair in a pinch.
I recommend the iClever EM01 for parents of kids with autism or sensory sensitivities, for anyone heading to fireworks, monster jam shows, concerts or sporting events where volume spikes fast, and for teens or adults who need simple ear protection without electronics. I'd skip it if you actually want to listen to music or take calls — there's no audio here — and skip it if you need maximum attenuation in an industrial setting, since passive muffs of this class are aimed at everyday loud environments, not continuous heavy machinery.
• Best for reviving old headphones → GEVO Replacement Ear Pads. If you own QC35 or QC35 II, this is a maintenance purchase, not an upgrade.
• Best for hearing protection → iClever EM01. Certified to ANSI S3.19-1974 and CE EN 352-1 with an SNR of 29dB.
• Best for sensory-sensitive kids → iClever EM01. BPA-free ABS, silicone-free earcups, and a headband with roughly a third less pressure.
• Best for long listening sessions → GEVO Replacement Ear Pads. Breathable PU leather and slow-recovery memory foam aimed at all-day comfort.
• Best for growing kids → iClever EM01. Telescopic arms stretch up to 38mm per side, so the fit adapts instead of being outgrown.
• Best for durability against rough handling → iClever EM01. 301 stainless steel and 2mm steel bars take twisting and bending.
• Best for passive noise reduction on a Bose headphone → GEVO Replacement Ear Pads. Thicker cushions and full-coverage backing mats create a tighter acoustic seal.
• Best for travel and storage → iClever EM01. The muffs fold and store compactly.
• Best if you don't own Bose QC35s → iClever EM01. GEVO's pads simply won't fit other models.
In my opinion, these two products shouldn't be bought for the same reason, and the choice comes down to what's broken in your life. If your Bose QC35 or QC35 II cushions are flaking, flattened or leaking sound, I'd buy the GEVO Replacement Ear Pads — thicker memory foam, full-coverage backing, and a complete kit with scrims and wipes is exactly what a maintenance fix should look like. If instead you need to protect a child's ears at a monster jam show, a fireworks display or a sensory-heavy day, I'd buy the iClever EM01, because certified protection, a low-pressure headband and a frame that survives being bent matter more than comfort specs alone. Different jobs, different answers. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
If your QC35 or QC35 II still work and only the cushions are worn, replacing the pads is the cheaper and simpler route. You get two pads, two dustproof scrims and four alcohol wipes, and installation is designed to be straightforward.
No. iClever states an SNR of 29dB with reductions up to 46dB in certain scenarios, and notes that earmuffs cannot eliminate noise 100%. They significantly reduce loud sound, they don't create silence.
No. GEVO lists compatibility as QC35, QC35 II and SoundLink 1&2 AE over-ear only, and explicitly excludes SoundTrue on-ear, SoundLink on-ear, TP-1, AE1 and QC1. Contact the seller with your model if you're unsure.
The listed age range covers kid, teen and adult, and the telescopic arms extend up to 38mm per side. It's designed with children in mind, but the sizing supports adult wearers too.
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See also: GEEKRIA Comfort Velour Ear vs GEVO Ear Pads Replacement, GEEKRIA Replacement Ear Pads vs GEVO Ear Cushions Replacement, hopopower Replacement Ear Pads vs Duyfioa Replacement Ear Pads