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If you want replacement pads for a Sony MDR-XB950BT or MDR-XB950B1 and you care most about plush, noise-isolating comfort, choose Krone Kalpasmos Replacement Ear Pads; if you need pads for a Skullcandy Crusher, Hesh3 or Venue and you want an included install tool plus a one-year manufacturer warranty, choose Hmoke Replacement Ear Pads.
• Krone Kalpasmos — biggest strength: memory foam wrapped in skin-friendly protein leather, sized and shaped specifically for Sony's MDR-XB950BT and MDR-XB950B1 over-ears.
• Krone Kalpasmos — biggest trade-off: it only fits those two Sony models, and it explicitly does not fit the Sony MDR-XB950N1, whose pads are larger.
• Hmoke — biggest strength: a much wider fit list — Crusher Wireless ANC/Evo/540, Hesh3/ANC/Evo and Venue ANC — plus a plastic removal tool in the box and a one-year manufacturer warranty.
• Hmoke — biggest trade-off: the fit list is broad but specific, so if your headphone isn't on it, these pads aren't for you.
• Buy Krone Kalpasmos if you own a Sony MDR-XB950BT or MDR-XB950B1 and want a red, comfort-first refresh.
• Buy Hmoke if you own a Skullcandy Crusher, Hesh3 or Venue and want a black, tool-assisted swap on multiple headphone models.
Krone Kalpasmos is a leather-goods brand — ear pads, wallets, card cases — and the ear pad line is the core of what it does. This particular pair is built for two Sony models and only those two: the MDR-XB950BT and the MDR-XB950B1. That narrowness is the whole point. Instead of a "fits many" compromise, these are cut to one headphone family, so the mounting and the shape line up with the original cups. The brand is also explicit about the one popular model these do not fit — the MDR-XB950N1 — because its pads are bigger than the BT and B1. If you own an N1, stop here.
The materials are the story: flexible memory foam under skin-friendly protein leather, with a smooth surface and soft touch. Krone Kalpasmos frames this as long-wear comfort, to the point where you forget you still have the headphones on. The memory foam core is also pitched as a passive noise isolator — it molds to your head shape and sits close to your ears, which cuts down surrounding noise and, in the brand's framing, improves the listening experience. Note that's isolation from fit and foam density, not active noise cancellation.
In my opinion, the most useful thing Krone Kalpasmos says is the maintenance advice: change your headphone pads roughly every 7–8 months. The reasoning is sound — sweat accumulates in worn cushions and that's not great for ear hygiene, and fresh foam seals better. It's the kind of detail that tells you this brand thinks about pads as a wear item, not a one-off purchase.
Who should buy it: Sony MDR-XB950BT or MDR-XB950B1 owners whose original pads are flattened, flaking or uncomfortable, especially if red is the look you want (it also comes in black and blue). Who should skip it: anyone with a different headphone model, and specifically Sony MDR-XB950N1 owners.
Hmoke plays a different game. This is a store that specializes in replacement pads for all kinds of headphones, and this pair covers a genuinely wide spread of Skullcandy over-ears: Crusher Wireless ANC, Crusher Evo, Crusher 540, Hesh3, Hesh ANC, Hesh Evo and Venue ANC. That's a lot of headphone generations under one pad. The trade-off is obvious — a broad fit list means you must confirm your exact model before buying, which Hmoke repeats in its own copy for good reason.
The build is high-density slow-rebound memory foam with soft protein leather. Slow-rebound foam is the interesting spec here: it compresses gradually and eases back rather than springing, which is what gives that "shapes to your ears" feel, and Hmoke claims no swelling and no pain even during long wear, soft from the first time you put them on. Hmoke also states the cushions match the originals in shape and fit, so the headphone looks refreshed rather than modified.
Two practical extras stand out. First, a plastic tool is included to pry off the old pads and seat the new ones — no special tools, a few minutes of work. Second, a one-year manufacturer warranty, which is a real confidence signal for a consumable part. Hmoke also says support responds within 24 hours if you hit a problem.
Who should buy it: anyone with a Skullcandy Crusher, Hesh3 or Venue over-ear whose pads are worn, and anyone who wants the install made as foolproof as possible. Who should skip it: Sony owners — this pad isn't designed for Sony cups — and anyone who hasn't checked their model number against that fit list.
• Best for Sony MDR-XB950BT / MDR-XB950B1 → Krone Kalpasmos Replacement Ear Pads. It's designed for exactly those two models.
• Best for Skullcandy Crusher / Hesh3 / Venue → Hmoke Replacement Ear Pads. It covers Crusher Wireless ANC/Evo/540, Hesh3/ANC/Evo and Venue ANC.
• Best for passive noise isolation → Krone Kalpasmos. The memory foam core is built to mold to your head and seal close to the ear, which cuts surrounding noise.
• Best for an easier first install → Hmoke. It ships with a plastic removal tool and needs no special tools.
• Best for long-session comfort claims → a tie, leaning Hmoke. Both use memory foam and protein leather; Hmoke specifies slow-rebound foam and stays soft from the first wear.
• Best for warranty coverage → Hmoke. One-year manufacturer warranty versus Krone Kalpasmos' satisfaction/refund promise.
• Best for color choice → Krone Kalpasmos. Red, black or blue; Hmoke lists black.
• Best for a hygiene-driven replacement schedule → Krone Kalpasmos. The brand recommends swapping pads every 7–8 months.
In my opinion, this isn't a quality contest — it's a fit contest, and fit decides it. If you own a Sony MDR-XB950BT or MDR-XB950B1, I'd buy the Krone Kalpasmos pads: they're purpose-built for that cup, the memory foam and protein leather are aimed squarely at comfort and isolation, and the 7–8 month replacement guidance is a genuinely useful habit to adopt. If you own a Skullcandy Crusher, Hesh3 or Venue, I'd buy the Hmoke pads instead — the wider fit list, the included install tool and the one-year manufacturer warranty make the swap lower-risk. Match the pad to your exact headphone model and you'll be happy with either.
No. Krone Kalpasmos states these fit the MDR-XB950BT and MDR-XB950B1 only, and explicitly says they don't fit the MDR-XB950N1 because that model's ear pads are larger.
That depends on the exact model. Hmoke lists Crusher Wireless ANC, Crusher Evo, Crusher 540, Hesh3, Hesh ANC, Hesh Evo and Venue ANC. Check your headphone model against that list before buying.
Krone Kalpasmos says no tools are needed and points to pictured steps. Hmoke also says no special tools are required, but includes a plastic tool to help remove the old pads and seat the new ones.
Krone Kalpasmos advises changing pads every 7–8 months, on the grounds that sweat builds up in worn cushions and that's both a hygiene issue and a sound-quality one. Both pads here are wear items meant to be replaced periodically. For current pricing on either pair, check the price on Amazon using the button on this page.
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