We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-26 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want replacement earpads built specifically around the Sony WH-1000XM3 with thicker memory foam and a proper install tool, choose SOULWIT Earpads; if you need fresh cushions for an Anker Soundcore Life Q30, Q30BT or Q35, choose Actpe Earpads.
• SOULWIT Earpads — biggest strength: Added-thickness high-density memory foam wrapped in soft protein leather, sold as a single-model fit for the WH-1000XM3 with a plastic stick included for installation.
• SOULWIT Earpads — biggest trade-off: It fits the WH-1000XM3 only — it will not fit the WH-1000XM2 or WH-1000XM4, so it is useless if you own a different Sony model.
• Actpe Earpads — biggest strength: Covers three headphones in one pad — the Soundcore Life Q30, Q30BT and Q35 — with high-density memory foam and protein leather, plus a one-year warranty.
• Actpe Earpads — biggest trade-off: The fit is limited to the Soundcore Life family, and it is a straightforward snap-in refresh rather than a thicker, re-engineered cushion.
• Who SOULWIT is for: Sony WH-1000XM3 owners who want to restore the seal and comfort of a headphone they already like.
• Who Actpe is for: Soundcore Life Q30/Q35 owners whose original pads are flattened, peeling or simply worn out.
SOULWIT makes exactly one promise here, and it makes it narrowly: these cushions are cut for the Sony WH-1000XM3 over-ear headphone and nothing else. The listing is blunt about it — they do not fit the WH-1000XM2 and they do not fit the WH-1000XM4. That narrowness is the point. Instead of a universal pad that roughly lines up with a dozen headbands, you get a cushion shaped for one earcup.
The materials are the other half of the story. SOULWIT uses high-density memory foam under softer protein leather, and deliberately adds thickness. Thicker foam matters on a noise-cancelling headphone because the pad is part of the seal — a pad that presses flat against your head is what actually keeps outside noise out and keeps bass from leaking away. SOULWIT frames the thicker build as the balance point between comfort and isolation, which is a reasonable way to describe it: more foam generally means a better seal, but also a slightly different feel on the head than the stock pad.
Then there's installation. You get the pads, a user guide, and a small plastic stick to help you work the new cushion into the mounting channel. SOULWIT estimates the job at about five minutes, which lines up with how these Sony pads are normally swapped — no soldering, no tools beyond the stick.
Actpe Earpads: Who It's For
Actpe takes the opposite approach: one pad, three headphones. These cushions are listed as compatible with the Anker Soundcore Life Q30, the Q30BT and the Q35, so if you own any of those, you're covered without hunting for a model-specific listing.
The construction is familiar territory — protein leather on the outside, high-density memory foam inside. Actpe leans hard on comfort in its description, describing the foam as soft, flexible and built for all-day listening, and the leather as breathable. The pitch on sound is straightforward too: the foam cushions the gap between your ear and the driver, which is claimed to sharpen the alto and bass end while blocking outside noise. That is the same physics SOULWIT relies on, just described differently — a good seal helps both isolation and low-frequency response.
Installation is the part I'd highlight. Actpe says the cushions align with the mounting posts inside the earcups and snap into place, and the description mentions a self-adhesive backing where you peel off the old taped-on pads and press the new ones down. Either way, it's a peel-and-press job rather than a project.
The real differentiator is the warranty: Actpe lists one year. For a wear item like an earpad — the part of a headphone that degrades fastest — that's a meaningful detail, and it's the clearest structural difference between these two products.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Own a Sony WH-1000XM3 → SOULWIT Earpads. It's the only one of the two built for that headphone.
• Own a Soundcore Life Q30, Q30BT or Q35 → Actpe Earpads. SOULWIT won't fit your headband at all.
• Want a thicker, seal-focused cushion → SOULWIT Earpads. The added thickness is the whole design idea.
• Want the widest model coverage from one purchase → Actpe Earpads. Three compatible models versus one.
• Want included install help → SOULWIT Earpads. The plastic stick and guide ship in the box.
• Want a stated warranty → Actpe Earpads. One year, versus none listed for SOULWIT.
• Care most about noise isolation and bass retention → either, honestly. Both rely on high-density memory foam and protein leather; the deciding factor is which headphone you own.
• Buying as a gift and unsure of the model → check the earcup first. Neither pad is universal, and getting the model wrong means a return.
In my opinion, the honest answer is that these two products barely compete — they serve different headphones, and the "better" one is simply the one that fits yours. If I owned a Sony WH-1000XM3, I'd buy the SOULWIT Earpads: the single-model fit, the added thickness and the included install stick make it the more purposeful replacement, and it's aimed at exactly the headphone it's sold for. I'd only steer someone to Actpe if they own a Soundcore Life Q30 or Q35, where SOULWIT isn't even an option — and there, the one-year warranty is a genuine point in its favor. Match the pad to your headphone first, then decide.
FAQ
No. SOULWIT states these pads fit the WH-1000XM3 only and specifically do not fit the WH-1000XM2 or WH-1000XM4. If you own an XM4, you need a pad listed for that model.
No. Actpe lists compatibility with the Anker Soundcore Life Q30, Q30BT and Q35 only. It's a Soundcore-specific pad.
Both are designed as no-solder swaps. SOULWIT includes a plastic stick and a guide and estimates about five minutes; Actpe says the cushions align with the mounting posts and snap in, with a self-adhesive backing on the pads.
Both use high-density memory foam and protein leather, and both makers describe the pad as isolating noise and supporting bass. That's consistent with how earpads work — a good seal is what preserves both isolation and low-end response. Which one sounds better to you will come down to the headphone it's fitted to.
Whichever you pick, confirm your exact headphone model before ordering, and check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
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