How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want to restore the noise cancelling and sound of Bose over-ear headphones you already own, choose Krone Kalpasmos Professional Replacement Bose; if you need an affordable wired headset for calls and online meetings on a PC or phone, choose Wantek USB Computer Headset. These two products solve completely different problems, and that is the whole point of this comparison.
• Krone Kalpasmos Professional Replacement Bose — biggest strength: it is a direct replacement ear pad set for a long list of Bose QuietComfort and AE2/SoundTrue/SoundLink models, with memory foam and protein leather designed to preserve the original noise cancelling and sound.
• Krone Kalpasmos Professional Replacement Bose — biggest trade-off: it only makes sense if you already own one of the compatible Bose headphones. It is not a standalone headset.
• Wantek USB Computer Headset — biggest strength: a plug-and-play wired headset with a boom microphone, in-line volume and mute controls, and dual USB plus 3.5 mm connectivity for calls, webinars and softphone apps.
• Wantek USB Computer Headset — biggest trade-off: it is an on-ear wired office headset with sound isolation, not active noise cancelling, and it requires a USB port for the microphone to work.
• Who each is for: Krone Kalpasmos for Bose owners whose pads are worn, flaking or flat. Wantek for anyone who needs a cheap, reliable talk-and-listen headset for work or study.
This is a maintenance part, not a gadget. Krone Kalpasmos makes replacement ear cushions for a wide spread of Bose around-ear headphones: QuietComfort 35 II, QC35, QC25, QC2, QC15, AE2, AE2i, AE2w, SoundTrue Around-Ear and SoundLink Around-Ear. The pads use high-density memory foam wrapped in protein leather, with a dust-proof mesh layer inside to keep the driver area clean. The leather is treated for resistance to sweat, oil and cosmetics, and the company rates it as anti-scratch and durable for roughly 12 months or more of normal use.
The claim that matters most here is the one about noise cancelling. Krone Kalpasmos states the pads were tested across multiple Bose models and are designed to restore the original sound quality and maintain the headphone's noise cancelling behaviour. That is exactly what you want to hear if you are replacing pads on a QC35 or QC25, because a worn, flattened or leaking cushion is one of the fastest ways to kill both bass response and passive isolation on an over-ear headphone. The memory foam is meant to wrap the ear closely and seal against the head, which is what lets the active circuitry do its job on top.
Who should buy it: anyone whose Bose pads have gone shiny, cracked, or lost their spring, and who wants to keep using headphones they already like. Installation is described as a few minutes with the included tools and replacement parts, and there are installation tutorials included. The brand also backs it with a three-year manufacturer warranty description. Who should skip it: anyone who does not own a compatible Bose model, and anyone expecting a full headset with a microphone. This is cushions only.
If you are unsure about price, check the current price on Amazon with the button on this page — the cost of a pad refresh is usually the deciding factor between repairing and replacing.
The Wantek USB Computer Headset is built for talking, not for music on the train. It is a lightweight on-ear wired headset with soft memory foam ear cups and an adjustable headband, and Wantek describes the fit as comfortable for extended wear with reduced pressure on the ears. The housing is ABS plastic, the ear cups are rounded, and the whole thing weighs about 220 g — noticeably heavier than a set of replacement pads, which is an odd comparison, but it tells you there is a headband, a boom mic and a cable in the box.
Audio comes from 40 mm dynamic drivers with a 32 ohm impedance and a stated frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Wantek talks about real-time audio calibration and clear, authentic sound for online meetings, and the boom microphone is designed to suppress background noise like crying children or barking dogs — useful if you take calls from a busy home. The headline convenience is the 3-in-1 plug: it works over USB or a 3.5 mm jack, and Wantek lists compatibility with Windows 2000/7/8/10/XP/Vista, Mac OS X, iOS, Android, tablets and phones. The cable runs about 5 + 4 feet with an in-line remote for volume and mute, plus mute indicators, so you can stand and stretch mid-call.
One spec you must not miss: connecting to a PC requires the USB port for the microphone to function. If you plug only into a 3.5 mm jack on a laptop, you may get audio but not necessarily the mic. Who should buy it: call centre staff, remote workers, students in webinars, and anyone using MS Teams or Skype who wants a wired headset that just works. Who should skip it: people who want wireless freedom, or who need genuine active noise cancelling rather than the passive sound isolation this headset provides. Warranty is listed as 45 days money-back plus 24 months via the manufacturer's support email.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for reviving Bose noise cancelling → Krone Kalpasmos Professional Replacement Bose. The pads are explicitly designed to maintain the ANC behaviour of QC35, QC25, QC15, QC2, AE2 and related models.
• Best for comfort during long sessions → Wantek USB Computer Headset. Memory foam on-ear cups and an adjustable headband, described as designed for extended wear.
• Best for a sealed, isolating over-ear fit → Krone Kalpasmos Professional Replacement Bose. High-density memory foam that wraps the ear closely is the foundation of both passive isolation and good ANC performance.
• Best for cross-device flexibility → Wantek USB Computer Headset. PC, Mac, iOS, Android, tablet and 3.5 mm devices are all covered.
• Best for durability against daily wear → Krone Kalpasmos Professional Replacement Bose. Protein leather rated anti-scratch and resistant to sweat, oil and cosmetics.
• Best if you own nothing yet → Wantek USB Computer Headset. The Krone Kalpasmos pads are useless without a compatible Bose headphone.
• Best value for a specific job → depends entirely on the job. Pads fix a headphone you already love; the Wantek adds a headset you do not have.
In my opinion, most people searching these two names together are Bose owners trying to avoid buying a whole new pair of headphones — and for them, the Krone Kalpasmos Professional Replacement Bose is the smarter buy. It targets the exact models, uses memory foam and protein leather, and is designed to preserve the noise cancelling you paid for in the first place. I would only steer you to the Wantek USB Computer Headset if your actual need is a wired microphone headset for calls, webinars or a softphone setup, in which case the plug-and-play USB and 3.5 mm design makes far more sense than a set of ear cushions.
how to replace ear pads on bose noise cancelling headphones
On most QuietComfort and AE2-style models, the cushion is held by a thin plastic lip that tucks under a ridge on the ear cup. You peel the old pad away, align the new one, and press the lip back under the ridge until it seats evenly all the way around. Krone Kalpasmos includes the necessary tools and replacement parts plus installation tutorials, and describes the job as taking a few minutes.
what is the best noise cancelling over ear headphones
I cannot declare a single winner, and the data sheets here do not rank products. What I can say is that over-ear noise cancelling depends heavily on a good seal: the Krone Kalpasmos pads use high-density memory foam and protein leather to wrap the ear closely, which is what lets an existing Bose headphone's ANC work as intended. If your current pads are worn flat, replacing them is often the cheapest way to get your noise cancelling back.
what are the best noise cancelling over ear headphones
Same answer, honestly — "best" depends on whether you already own a capable pair. If you do, the Krone Kalpasmos replacement pads are designed to restore sound quality and maintain the Bose noise cancelling feature across QC35, QC25, QC15, QC2, AE2 and SoundTrue models. If you do not own a noise cancelling headphone, a pad set will not help you; you need headphones, not cushions.
what are the best noise cancelling in ear headphones
That is a different product category, and neither item here is an in-ear model. The Wantek USB Computer Headset is an on-ear wired headset with sound isolation rather than active noise cancelling, and the Krone Kalpasmos item is a set of over-ear replacement cushions. If in-ear noise cancelling is what you want, neither of these is the right purchase.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: ciciglow Earbuds Cordless Headphones vs Xixian Mini Earbuds, ZYHKON Earbuds vs MUSICOZY Sleep Mask, HyperX Cloud III vs CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active, gorsun Kids Headphones vs Jimonyer Kids Headphones