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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-02 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Sqrmekoko WH1000XM4 — biggest strength: memory foam pads with protein PU leather made specifically for the Sony WH-1000XM4, plus a plastic stick tool and a storage bag in the box.
• Sqrmekoko WH1000XM4 — biggest trade-off: it fits the WH-1000XM4 and nothing else, so it is useless if you own a different Sony model.
• Hmoke Replacement Ear Pads — biggest strength: extra-thick, high-density slow-rebound memory foam with soft protein leather, sized for a long list of JBL Tune models.
• Hmoke Replacement Ear Pads — biggest trade-off: the fit is JBL Tune specific, and the pads are thicker than stock, which changes how the headphone sits on your head.
• Pick Sqrmekoko if you own a Sony WH-1000XM4 and want to restore its comfort and noise isolation.
• Pick Hmoke if you own a JBL Tune 700BT through 770NC and want a plusher, thicker cushion.
The Sqrmekoko kit is a direct replacement set for one headphone and one headphone only: the Sony WH-1000XM4. The listing is explicit that these pads are not for other Sony headphones, so this is not a universal part you can squeeze onto something else. If your WH-1000XM4 pads have flattened, cracked at the seams, or started flaking, this is the kind of kit that puts the headphone back into rotation instead of pushing you toward a new pair.
What it does best comes down to materials. The pads use memory foam wrapped in protein PU leather, and Sqrmekoko frames the foam's high elasticity as a way to reduce outside noise and support sound quality. That matters more than it sounds. On a noise-cancelling over-ear headphone, the cushion is part of the seal — a collapsed pad lets sound leak in and out, and the bass suffers first. A fresh memory foam pad restores that seal. The leather is also described as breathable with heat dissipation, which is the spec that addresses the sweaty-ear problem people hit after a couple of hours of listening.
The kit is thoughtful about the install, too. It ships with a solid plastic stick tool for working the new pads into the mounting groove and a storage bag that makes the whole thing easy to pack for travel. Sqrmekoko backs it with a 12-month warranty and a replacement-or-exchange policy for quality issues.
Who should buy it: WH-1000XM4 owners who like the headphone and just want the cushions to feel new again — commuters, remote workers on long calls, anyone who wears them for hours and notices the pads giving out before anything electronic does.
Who should skip it: anyone who does not own a Sony WH-1000XM4. There is no partial compatibility here. If your headphone is a different model, this kit will not fit, and no amount of stretching will make it right.
Hmoke plays a different game. These pads are cut for the JBL Tune family — 700BT, 710BT, 720BT, 750BTNC, 760NC and 770NC — across both on-ear and over-ear versions. Hmoke repeats the same instruction twice in the listing: confirm your headphone model before buying. That is not filler. The brand exists specifically to serve people replacing pads on mass-market headphones, and getting the model wrong is the one mistake that ruins the purchase.
The headline feature is thickness. Hmoke uses high-density slow-rebound memory foam with premium soft protein leather, and the cushions are described as extra thick. In practice, that combination is what makes a pad feel custom rather than generic: the foam compresses slowly, so it shapes around your ear instead of fighting it, and Hmoke's claim is that they stay comfortable through long wear with no swelling and no pain, feeling soft from the first time you put them on. For anyone whose stock JBL pads went flat months ago, that is the whole point.
The pitch is also refreshingly honest about money: rather than buying new headphones, a simple pad swap gives your old pair a brand new look. Hmoke ships a plastic tool to help pry off the old pads and seat the new ones, and says the job takes a few minutes with no special tools required. The pads measure roughly 3.15 by 0.98 by 3.54 inches, come in black, and carry a one-year manufacturer warranty. Support responds within 24 hours if something is off.
Who should buy it: JBL Tune owners whose pads have worn out but whose headphones still work fine. Students, office workers, and anyone who treats headphones as a daily utility rather than a hobby. It is also a reasonable pick if you simply find your current JBL pads too thin and want more foam between your ear and the driver.
Who should skip it: Sony owners, obviously — this is the mirror image of the Sqrmekoko problem. Also skip it if you want your JBL to feel exactly like it did out of the box, because extra-thick pads change the fit and the feel by design.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for Sony WH-1000XM4 owners → Sqrmekoko WH1000XM4. Purpose-built fit, nothing to guess.
• Best for noise isolation → Sqrmekoko WH1000XM4. High-elasticity memory foam is marketed around reducing noise and supporting sound quality.
• Best for maximum cushion thickness → Hmoke Replacement Ear Pads. Extra-thick, high-density slow-rebound foam is the core selling point.
• Best for long-session comfort → Both, for different reasons. Sqrmekoko leans on breathable leather and heat dissipation; Hmoke leans on slow-rebound foam that stays soft.
• Best for travel → Sqrmekoko WH1000XM4. It includes a storage bag alongside the install tool.
• Best for a quick no-tools swap → Hmoke Replacement Ear Pads. Hmoke explicitly notes no special tools are needed, though a plastic tool is included.
• Best warranty coverage → Sqrmekoko WH1000XM4. Twelve months with a replacement-or-exchange policy, versus Hmoke's one-year manufacturer warranty.
• Best for reviving an old pair instead of buying new → Hmoke Replacement Ear Pads. That is the exact use case Hmoke writes for.
In my opinion, the right answer here is decided entirely by which headphone is sitting on your desk, not by which pad is "better." If you own a Sony WH-1000XM4, I would buy the Sqrmekoko WH1000XM4 kit — the fit is specific, the memory foam and PU leather are aimed squarely at restoring comfort and the noise-isolating seal, and the included tool and storage bag make it a complete job. If you own a JBL Tune 700BT through 770NC, I would buy the Hmoke Replacement Ear Pads instead, because extra-thick slow-rebound foam is precisely what a tired, flattened JBL pad needs. Neither is a universal upgrade. Match the pad to your headphone and you will be happy.
FAQ
can you sleep with over ear headphones
how to wear over ear headphones
Put them on with the headband centered on top of your skull and the pads sitting around your ears, not on them. The left and right markings on the headband tell you which cup goes where. For a memory foam pad like these, let the foam settle into place for a few seconds after you put them on — slow-rebound foam takes a moment to shape around your ear.
how to wear over ear headphones properly
Proper fit means the pad fully surrounds your ear with no pinching on the top or bottom of the ear, and the headband adjusted so the cups sit level. If the pads press your ears flat, the headband is too tight. Both Sqrmekoko and Hmoke pads are designed to shape to the ear, so give them a minute to conform rather than forcing them.
how should over ear headphones fit
Snug but not clamping. The headband should stay put when you tilt your head, and the pads should seal against your skull without you feeling pressure points after an hour. That seal is also what makes noise isolation work — a loose or flattened pad leaks sound. If a fresh memory foam pad feels tight for the first day or two, that is normal; slow-rebound foam relaxes into your head shape.
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