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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-27 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• SOULWIT Earpads Replacement — biggest strength: high-density memory foam wrapped in soft protein leather, made exclusively for the Sony MDR-M1.
• SOULWIT Earpads Replacement — biggest trade-off: it is a spare part, not a headphone. You need an existing MDR-M1 for it to do anything.
• QILIAN QH3 — biggest strength: a complete wired in-ear monitor with 10mm true copper ring drivers, a detachable 0.78mm 2-pin cable and a USB-C adapter in the box.
• QILIAN QH3 — biggest trade-off: no microphone, and passive noise cancellation only, so it is not built for calls.
• Buy SOULWIT Earpads Replacement if your MDR-M1 pads are worn, flattened or peeling and you want to restore comfort without replacing the headphones.
• Buy QILIAN QH3 if you want a plug-and-play IEM for music, gaming and laptop listening with upgrade-ready cabling.
This is a maintenance product, and it is honest about that. The SOULWIT pads are made exclusively for the Sony MDR-M1 Professional Reference Closed Monitor Headphones, and the listing itself tells you to verify your model before purchasing. If you own anything else, this is not the product for you. If you own an MDR-M1, it is exactly the product for you.
The materials matter here. High-density memory foam holds its shape instead of collapsing into a flat pancake, and soft protein leather covers it. In my opinion, that combination is what keeps a closed-back reference monitor comfortable through long sessions — mixing, tracking, editing dialogue, gaming marathons. Worn pads change how a headphone sits on your head, and a fresh set of cushions is a low-effort way to make an aging pair feel and look new again. SOULWIT also ships a clear installation guide, which matters more than people admit, because wrestling pads onto a closed-back monitor without guidance is a good way to tear a seam.
QILIAN QH3: Who It's For
The QH3 is a different animal entirely: a wired in-ear monitor, not a pad. It runs a 10mm true copper ring composite PET diaphragm dynamic driver with a 20Hz–20kHz frequency range and 16 ohm impedance. That low impedance is the practical detail — it means a phone or laptop can drive it without a dedicated amp. The tuning is described as balanced: tight bass, detailed mids, crisp highs. QILIAN also notes accurate positional cues, which is the gaming angle, and it is a legitimate one for an IEM with this driver design.
Connectivity is where this thing earns its place. You get a 3.5mm cable and a USB-C adapter in the box, so a headphone-jack-less phone or a modern laptop is not a problem. The cable is a 4-core braided shielded design that resists electromagnetic interference, with internal anti-break fibers for tensile strength. It terminates in a standard 0.78mm 2-pin connector, which means you can swap to a balanced cable, a Bluetooth adapter or an aftermarket option later. The package includes the headphone, the 3.5mm cable, a Type-C adapter and ear tips, and three sizes of soft silicone tips are mentioned for fit.
Comfort is handled with a lightweight in-ear shell and passive noise cancellation — that is isolation from the tips, not active circuitry. Battery life is listed at 16 hours with a 1.5-hour charge time, which is odd for a wired IEM but is what the sheet says, so I will not pretend to know how it is implemented. There is touch control with a touch-and-button controller, and the model name explicitly says "without mic." Teen and adult age range, one-year warranty, black plastic housing, ear-hook shape. Who should buy it: phone, laptop and gaming listeners who want one wired set that moves between devices. Who should skip it: anyone who needs to take calls, and anyone who wants over-ear isolation for a noisy open office.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Restoring an existing MDR-M1 → SOULWIT Earpads Replacement. It is the only one of the two that touches a Sony monitor at all.
• Buying your first proper wired IEM → QILIAN QH3. It arrives complete: headphone, cable, USB-C adapter, tips.
• Long mixing or editing sessions on an MDR-M1 → SOULWIT Earpads Replacement. Memory foam and protein leather are built for extended wear.
• Gaming positional audio → QILIAN QH3. The 10mm dynamic driver is explicitly pitched for accurate cues.
• Future cable upgrades → QILIAN QH3. The 0.78mm 2-pin detachable connector opens the door to balanced or Bluetooth options.
• Noise reduction while commuting → QILIAN QH3. Passive isolation from silicone tips; the SOULWIT pads are a comfort part, not a noise solution.
• Calls and voice chat → neither. The QH3 has no mic, and the SOULWIT pads are not a device.
In my opinion, most people searching this comparison should buy the QILIAN QH3, because it is a complete, working product that connects to the devices you actually use today — 3.5mm, USB-C, phone, laptop, gaming — with a detachable cable that keeps it useful for years. I would only send you to the SOULWIT Earpads Replacement if you already own Sony MDR-M1 reference monitors and want to bring the comfort back. If you own the MDR-M1, the pads are the smarter buy. If you do not, the QH3 is the one that plays music. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
what is studio monitor headphones
Studio monitor headphones are over-ear headphones voiced for accurate, neutral playback rather than boosted bass, so you hear a mix closer to how it was recorded. The Sony MDR-M1 in this comparison is described as a Professional Reference Closed Monitor Headphone, and the SOULWIT pads are made specifically for that model.
what are reference studio headphones
Reference studio headphones are built to reproduce audio faithfully across the frequency range for mixing, editing and critical listening. Closed-back designs like the MDR-M1 are common for tracking because they isolate the wearer. The QILIAN QH3 is an in-ear monitor, a different form factor, but also tuned for balanced, detailed sound.
what are studio monitor headphones
The short answer: headphones designed for monitoring rather than casual listening, with a flat-leaning signature and durable build. The MDR-M1 plus SOULWIT memory foam pads is a monitoring setup; the QH3 with its 20Hz–20kHz dynamic driver is a monitoring-adjacent IEM for phones and laptops.
can you connect headphones to monitor
Yes. Studio monitors are speakers, not outputs for headphones, so you connect your headphones to your audio interface, mixer or headphone amp instead. The QILIAN QH3 plugs into a 3.5mm jack directly or uses its included USB-C adapter for Type-C phones, tablets and laptops.
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