How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want replacement earpads for your JBL Live 500BT and want a one-year warranty behind the purchase, choose Sumugaric Live 500BT; if you need replacement earpads for Skullcandy Hesh or Hesh 2 Wireless and want noise-isolating memory foam with a printed install guide, choose SOULWIT Earpads Replacement.
• Sumugaric's biggest strength: purpose-built for the JBL Live 500BT / Live 500BTNC, with memory foam, a faux-leather cover, and a stated 1-year warranty.
• Sumugaric's biggest trade-off: it only fits that one JBL family, and it's a repair part — the headphones themselves aren't included.
• SOULWIT's biggest strength: high-density foam plus protein leather tuned for noise isolation, and a user guide that makes installation a roughly 3-minute job.
• SOULWIT's biggest trade-off: it only fits Skullcandy Hesh and Hesh 2 Wireless, and the manufacturer lists no warranty.
• Who each pick is for: Sumugaric for JBL Live 500BT owners who want a warranty-backed refresh; SOULWIT for Hesh/Hesh 2 owners who want a quieter, more sealed fit with less install guesswork.
This is the pad set for one specific problem: your JBL Live 500BT or Live 500BTNC cushions have flattened, cracked, or started flaking, and you want the headphones comfortable again without replacing the headphones. Sumugaric designs these as a compatible replacement for that exact model family, so the shape and mounting are matched to the headset rather than adapted from something else. The materials are memory foam under a faux-leather cover in red, which is the combination that matters most for long listening sessions — the foam compresses where your ears and head press, then eases back instead of staying crushed.
What it does best is straightforward: it restores the fit of a headphone you already like. If you wear your JBL Live 500BT for hours at a desk, on commutes, or through long work blocks, worn pads are usually the first thing that makes an otherwise fine headphone feel bad. New foam brings back the snug, sealed feel around the ears and takes pressure off the spots that get sore first. The 1-year warranty is also a real differentiator here — it's the one element in this comparison that gives you something to fall back on if a pad fails early.
Who should skip it: anyone who doesn't own a JBL Live 500BT or Live 500BTNC. There's no cross-compatibility claimed here, and the package is two ear cushions only — no headphone, no tools, no extras. If you're on a different headphone, this isn't your part.
SOULWIT's set targets the other half of the replacement-pad market: Skullcandy Hesh and Hesh 2 Wireless owners. The build is high-grade protein leather over high-density foam, and the stated goal is a pad that seals around your ears brilliantly — which is what gives you the noise isolation. In practice, that matters most in the situations Hesh owners actually use these headphones: buses, open offices, shared rooms, anywhere outside noise creeps in through a bad seal. When pads go flat, isolation is the first thing you lose, and the sound gets thinner and more distant along with it.
The second thing SOULWIT does well is get out of your way during installation. A user guide is included in the package, and the listed install time is usually about three minutes. For anyone who has ever stared at a loose pad wondering which way the lip tucks in, that's worth more than it sounds. SOULWIT also states that the pads are precisely modeled so they won't affect the sound performance of the headphones — the point being that the pads restore the original feel and look rather than changing the tuning.
The trade-offs are real, though. Compatibility is limited to Hesh and Hesh 2 Wireless, and the manufacturer lists no warranty, so if something goes wrong your recourse is contacting the seller for a replacement or refund rather than a formal coverage period. Who should skip it: JBL Live 500BT owners, and anyone who wants a written warranty on the part.
• Best for JBL Live 500BT owners → Sumugaric Live 500BT. It's the only one of the two made for that headphone.
• Best for Skullcandy Hesh / Hesh 2 Wireless owners → SOULWIT Earpads Replacement. Same logic in reverse.
• Best for noise isolation → SOULWIT Earpads Replacement. High-density foam and a protein-leather seal are the stated design focus.
• Best for warranty coverage → Sumugaric Live 500BT. It carries a stated 1-year warranty; SOULWIT lists none.
• Best for easy first-time installation → SOULWIT Earpads Replacement. A user guide is in the box and the job is listed at about three minutes.
• Best for a colored accent → Sumugaric Live 500BT (red) or SOULWIT (blue). Each comes in one color, so pick the one that matches your taste.
• Best for long-session comfort → both, on their own headphones. Memory foam is the shared core of both designs.
• Best for restoring sound you thought was gone → SOULWIT Earpads Replacement. Its stated aim is precise modeling that preserves the original sound.
In my opinion, this isn't a close call — it's a compatibility call. If you own a JBL Live 500BT or Live 500BTNC, I'd buy the Sumugaric Live 500BT pads, mainly because they're built for that exact headphone and come with a stated 1-year warranty. If you own Skullcandy Hesh or Hesh 2 Wireless, I'd buy the SOULWIT Earpads Replacement, because the foam-and-protein-leather seal is aimed squarely at isolation and the included guide makes the swap quick. Buy the one that fits your headphones, not the one that sounds better on paper — a great pad on the wrong headphone is still the wrong pad. Before ordering either, check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page.
can you sleep with over ear headphones
Yes, physically you can, but it's rarely comfortable. Over-ear pads press against your head and the pillow, and the clamping force that makes a good seal for music is the same force that makes side-sleeping awkward. Fresh memory foam like the pads here does ease pressure, but these are still full-size over-ear cushions, not sleep-specific designs.
how to wear over ear headphones
Put them on with the headband centered across the top of your head and the ear cups sitting over your ears, not on them. The pads should surround each ear completely so the foam can seal. If the band sits too far forward or back, the cups won't seal evenly and isolation drops on one side.
how to wear over ear headphones properly
Adjust the sliders so the headband rests flat on your crown with no hot spot, then let the cups settle over your ears. Properly worn, the pads compress slightly around the ear without pinching the outer edge. If you feel pressure at the top of your head, the band is too tight — extend the sliders a notch.
how should over ear headphones fit
They should feel snug but not clamping, with an even seal around each ear and no gaps at the jaw. You should be able to wear them for a long session without soreness behind the ears. If the pads feel loose or you hear outside noise leaking in, the cushions are likely worn — which is exactly the problem both replacement sets here are designed to solve.
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: Veemoon Gaming Headset vs XANAD Headphone Headset Case, BULYPAZY 2-Pack vs Cevinily Bone Conduction Headphones, earbuds clip, TOPOINT Sleep Mask vs Micool Open Ear Headphones