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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a universal 55 mm replacement pad for a whole family of budget AKG-style headphones, choose Tangxi 55MM; if you need a magnet-mounted, luxury-styled replacement cushion built specifically for Apple AirPods Max, choose Earrock Cushion Pads.
• Tangxi 55MM — biggest strength: a donut-style 55 mm protein-leather and memory-foam pad that fits a wide set of AKG K-series headphones and emphasizes letting sound reach your ear unobstructed.
• Tangxi 55MM — biggest trade-off: it's a plain, functional replacement with no mounting hardware, so you're relying on a standard press-on/glue-in fit rather than a magnetic snap.
• Earrock Cushion Pads — biggest strength: magnets inside the cushion attach it to the AirPods Max automatically, plus a gilded white pattern that's meant to be seen.
• Earrock Cushion Pads — biggest trade-off: it only fits AirPods Max, so it's useless if you own anything else.
• Buy Tangxi 55MM if you're reviving an older pair of AKG-style headphones and want a simple, soft, cheap-to-replace cushion.
• Buy Earrock Cushion Pads if you own AirPods Max and want a one-step magnetic swap with a dressier look.
Tangxi 55MM is a straightforward replacement part, and I mean that as a compliment. It's a 55 mm round earpad made from protein leather over soft memory foam — the same basic recipe most factory pads use. The donut shape matters more than it sounds: because the center is open, the driver fires straight at your ear instead of through a wall of foam, which is why Tangxi frames it as preserving sound rather than muting it.
The pitch here is compatibility and simplicity. The listing names the K450, K430, K420 and K480, so if you own one of those older AKG portable models and the pads have flaked, cracked or gone flat, this is the kind of part you buy to keep a working headphone out of the drawer. The foam is described as upgraded for noise blocking, and the protein leather is there for comfort on long sessions — the copy specifically calls out not feeling pain after extended listening, which is the real reason most people replace pads in the first place.
Who should skip it? Anyone with AirPods Max, or any headphone that isn't in that 55 mm AKG family. There's no magnet, no adapter ring, no model-specific tooling — it's a press-on cushion. If your headphone uses a proprietary mounting system, this isn't the part. And if you care about aesthetics, note that Tangxi sells function, not decoration; there's no styling story here beyond black-ish leather and foam.
Earrock Cushion Pads are the opposite philosophy: one headphone, done properly. They're made for Apple AirPods Max only, and the design leans hard into that single target. The headline feature is the internal magnet — you pull the old cushions off and the new ones snap themselves into place. No stretching, no lining up tabs, no hoping the adhesive holds.
The materials are a step up in description, too. Skin-friendly protein leather over acoustic memory foam with a slow rebound — meaning it compresses gradually and eases back rather than springing — which is what you want for both comfort and sealing. Earrock also claims the softness and sound quality land within roughly 99% of the originals, and that the magnets are stronger than an earlier version. Take that as the manufacturer's claim, not an independent measurement, but it tells you the intent: match stock feel, don't fight it.
Then there's the look. The white gilding pattern is genuinely the differentiator — it's a cosmetic upgrade, and Earrock is upfront that the point is giving your AirPods Max "a completely new look." Protein leather is also described as water-resistant, tear-resistant and easy to wipe clean, which matters on a headphone you wear outdoors.
Who should skip it? Anyone who doesn't own AirPods Max. That's it. If you're on a K450 or a Sony or a Bose, this product simply doesn't apply to you, no matter how good it looks.
• Best for AirPods Max owners → Earrock Cushion Pads. Magnetic attachment and model-specific fit are the whole reason to buy them.
• Best for AKG K-series owners → Tangxi 55MM. The 55 mm size and the named K450/K430/K420/K480 compatibility are the deciding factor.
• Best for tool-free installation → Earrock Cushion Pads. The magnets do the work; Tangxi is a conventional press-on pad.
• Best for a subtle, stock look → Tangxi 55MM. Plain protein leather and foam, nothing decorative.
• Best for a style upgrade → Earrock Cushion Pads. The white gilding pattern is the entire visual pitch.
• Best for open, unobstructed sound → Tangxi 55MM. Its donut design is explicitly about letting the driver reach your ear directly.
• Best for noise isolation claims → Earrock Cushion Pads. Memory foam with slow rebound and a magnet-sealed fit is the stronger isolation story on paper.
• Best if you're unsure → check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding, since the value math differs a lot between a universal pad and a single-model one.
In my opinion, this isn't close once you know which headphone you own — and that's the whole decision. If you have AirPods Max, I'd buy the Earrock Cushion Pads: the magnet mount removes the fiddliest part of pad replacement, and the gilded finish is a real reason to pick them over a plain set. If you're keeping an older AKG K-series headphone alive, I'd buy the Tangxi 55MM — it's the part that actually fits, and the donut design respects the sound you already liked. Buy for the headphone, not the marketing.
No. Tangxi 55MM is a 55 mm round pad aimed at AKG-style headphones like the K450, K430, K420 and K480. AirPods Max uses a different, magnet-based mounting system, so these won't attach.
They're designed specifically for Apple AirPods Max, and the internal magnets are tuned to that headphone. There's no listed compatibility with other brands, so I wouldn't count on them fitting anything else.
Earrock Cushion Pads, clearly. You remove the old cushions and the new ones attach automatically via the inner magnet. Tangxi 55MM is a standard press-on replacement with no magnetic alignment.
They can. Tangxi's donut shape is designed to let sound reach your ear directly, while Earrock uses acoustic memory foam for isolation and claims softness and sound close to the originals. Both are manufacturer descriptions rather than measured results, so treat them as design intent.
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See also: headset ear pads, Miruchertter W820NB vs Hmoke Replacement Ear Pads, GEEKRIA Leatherette Replacement Ear vs Sumugaric Ear Pads Foam