How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-05 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• YDYBZB Earpads Memory Foam — biggest strength: Purpose-built replacement pads for the Sony MDR-RF985R / RF985R / RF985RK, with memory foam that conforms instead of pressing, plus faux leather that preserves the original sound isolation.
• YDYBZB Earpads Memory Foam — biggest trade-off: It only fits those Sony models, and the package is one pair of pads only — the headphone itself is not included.
• SINOWO Ear Cushions — biggest strength: Cooling gel under a breathable ice silk top layer, so ears stay cool and dry during long listening or gaming sessions on AirPods Max 1 & 2.
• SINOWO Ear Cushions — biggest trade-off: It is locked to AirPods Max 1 & 2, and the magnetic attachment means it is not a fit for any other headphone.
• Who YDYBZB is for: Someone repairing an existing Sony RF985R-series headphone who wants a simple, quiet, comfortable fix.
• Who SINOWO is for: An AirPods Max owner who runs hot, sweats in the summer, or games for hours and wants a cooler pad.
The YDYBZB Earpads Memory Foam is a repair part, and it is honest about that. It exists for one family of headphones: the Sony MDR-RF985R, RF985R and RF985RK. If you own one of those, you already know the problem — the stock cushions flatten, crack, or start flaking after a couple of years, and suddenly a perfectly good headphone feels like a cheap one. This is the replacement that fixes that. The foam is memory foam with a soft, high-elasticity feel, and the outer layer is faux leather, so it cushions rather than presses.
For elderly listeners in particular, that "conforms instead of presses" detail matters more than it sounds. A lot of the discomfort older users report with headphones is not the sound — it is pressure points around the ear and the top of the jaw after 30 or 40 minutes. Memory foam that gradually takes the shape of the ear spreads that pressure out. The listed dimensions are 3.94 x 3.54 x 0.39 inches per pad, and the whole pair weighs just 4.54 grams, so this is a light, slim cushion rather than a bulky overstuffed one. The design also claims to preserve the original acoustic performance and sound isolation, which is the right goal for a replacement pad: you want the Sony to sound like the Sony again.
Installation is described as a simple slip-on job with no professional help needed, which is the other reason this suits an older buyer or the person setting it up for them. There is a one-year warranty description on the listing, which is reassuring for a wear item.
Who should skip it? Anyone who does not own an MDR-RF985R, RF985R or RF985RK. This pad is not universal — it is molded for that headphone and nothing else. And if you are shopping for new headphones rather than fixing old ones, this is not your product. It is also worth checking the current price on Amazon, since a repair part only makes sense if it costs meaningfully less than replacing the whole headphone.
The SINOWO Ear Cushions take the opposite approach. Instead of restoring an older headphone, they upgrade the one you already have — specifically the AirPods Max 1 and 2. The headline feature is the cooling gel layer sitting under a breathable ice silk fabric top. That combination is aimed at a very real problem: over-ear pads on a metal-and-mesh headphone get warm, and warm ears sweat. SINOWO's pitch is that the gel absorbs that sweat and the ice silk keeps the surface cool even after a long stretch of use.
Underneath the gel layer is high-density memory foam, which is what actually shapes the seal around your ear. The brand describes ergonomic cushions that block outside sound and hold a quiet space when you are in a noisy environment — the same physics as any good closed pad, but the memory foam density is what determines how well that seal holds. The reinforced, glued-and-stitched inner seams are a genuine durability detail worth noting; the most common failure point on replacement pads is the seam splitting where the pad meets the frame, and the extra stitching addresses exactly that.
Installation is the part AirPods Max owners will appreciate most. There is no stretching, no tucking, no wrestling a lip over a plastic ring — the pads attach automatically via an inner magnet. You pull the old ones off, drop the new ones on, and you are done in seconds. The listing also mentions a 180-day warranty description, which is shorter than YDYBZB's stated one year.
The obvious limitation is compatibility. These are AirPods Max 1 & 2 pads and nothing else. If you own a Sony, a Bose, or anything wired, this product cannot help you. The unit count is one, meaning you get a single set of pads, so if you are rotating between multiple pairs you would need more than one order.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for repairing an existing Sony headphone → YDYBZB Earpads Memory Foam. It is built specifically for the MDR-RF985R / RF985R / RF985RK and nothing else.
• Best for cooling and sweat control → SINOWO Ear Cushions. The cooling gel plus ice silk layer is the whole point of the design.
• Best for elderly listeners who dislike ear pressure → YDYBZB Earpads Memory Foam. Conforming memory foam spreads pressure instead of concentrating it.
• Best for long gaming sessions → SINOWO Ear Cushions. Cooler ears stay comfortable longer, and the reinforced seams hold up to repeated wear.
• Easiest installation → SINOWO Ear Cushions. Magnetic attachment versus a manual replacement process.
• Best for sound isolation on a wired TV or radio headphone → YDYBZB Earpads Memory Foam. It is designed to preserve the Sony's original isolation.
• Best for AirPods Max owners specifically → SINOWO Ear Cushions. Compatibility is limited to AirPods Max 1 & 2.
• Longer stated warranty → YDYBZB Earpads Memory Foam. One year versus 180 days.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: are you fixing a headphone or upgrading one? If you own a Sony MDR-RF985R, RF985R or RF985RK and want to make an elderly listener comfortable again without replacing the whole unit, I would buy the YDYBZB Earpads Memory Foam. It is purpose-made, light, and designed to keep the sound you already like. If you own AirPods Max 1 or 2 and your ears run hot — especially during long gaming or listening sessions — I would buy the SINOWO Ear Cushions for the cooling gel and magnetic install. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since both are wear items you may end up buying more than once.
No. YDYBZB pads fit only the Sony MDR-RF985R, RF985R and RF985RK. SINOWO pads fit only AirPods Max 1 & 2. Neither will work on the other brand's headphone.
Both help, but for different reasons. YDYBZB's memory foam reduces pressure around the ear, which is the usual complaint on wired over-ear headphones. SINOWO's cooling gel helps if heat and sweating are the issue. Match the pad to the headphone you already own.
Worn, flattened pads hurt sound because they lose their seal. YDYBZB states its pads maintain the original acoustic performance and isolation of the Sony, and SINOWO states its memory foam helps block outside noise. Either way, a fresh pad generally seals better than a collapsed one.
YDYBZB includes one pair of replacement earpads — the headphone is not included. SINOWO's unit count is one set of pads for AirPods Max. Neither includes a headphone.
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: HyperX Cloud Mini Kids vs Redragon H730: Game Headset, PROW TV Headphones vs ANSTEN Headphones, erjigo KZ ZST X vs WUYUEGE Open Ear Clip, Skullcandy Riff vs BRAMMAR Trucker: Multipoint Pairing