Are the earpads on your headphones getting scuffed? Do you wish to replace them but don't know how to? Well, you have come to the right place because we are going to show you all the ways you can easily remove your headphone pads and replace them with new ones without the need for any special tools.
How to Replace Headphone Pads
Earpads are a significant part of your headphones because they make using your headphones a comfortable experience. And so when these pads get worn out over time, it becomes quite uncomfortable for you to wear your headphones for long periods. Therefore it is important to change your headphone pads frequently. And the process through which you can do that is mentioned below.
Why Should You Replace Your Headphone Pads?
When you use your headphones constantly, the parts that go through the most abuse are the ear pads and your headphones can get quiet too. This is because these are constantly being pressed against your ears and rubbing against your skin; they might even get snagged on your earrings if you wear a pair. Therefore over time, the earpads are bound to get worn out or flatten up. This not only makes them quite uncomfortable for you to wear for prolonged periods but also messes up the way the headphones fit over your ears.
Wearing your headphones without any breaks also generates a lot of sweat on your ears, which is then absorbed by the earpads' foam. Because of this, they can also start to feel dirty and start giving off a bad smell. And so, you need to change your headphone pads frequently so that their comfort and freshness is maintained.
Also, If you have purchased a good quality headphone, but the earpads are not comfortable enough or too hot for the climate you live in, then it can be quite heartbreaking. Therefore, to prevent your headphones from being rendered useless or to save you from discomfort, it is a good idea to replace the earpads with a pair that are much more suited to your needs. And we will show you how to replace headphone pads below.
Methods to Replace Your Headphone Pads
Not all headphone pads are similar, neither are they attached to your headphones in the same way. This is why the first thing you need to do when replacing the pads is to find out the type of earpads your headphones have and the way they are attached to them. You also need to find out the exact measurement of your ear pads. And after you have all the information, you can go ahead and buy the replacement pads that fulfill these criteria for fitting in your headphones.
Another way you can find the perfect replacement earpads is by looking up your headphones' model and searching the ear pads that are made specifically for them. And if you are not shopping online, then you can go to your nearest electronic store and ask for the earpads of the exact model of your headphones.
After you have your replacement pads, you need to remove the old ones from your headphones first. There are different ways to do that because different headphones have different ways through which the pads have been attached to them. For some headphones, it is easy to remove the earpads, while for others, it is a little complicated.
Replacing Easy-to-remove Headphone Pads
To check if the earpads are easy to remove, you need to pinch the fabric on the base of the headphones, right where it tucks into the plastic groove, and tug at it. If the fabric pulls out easily from the inside, you can simply pull the whole thing off. After that, using a cloth or an old toothbrush, wipe off the dust or dirt accumulated on the speakers under the old earpads.
To install the new earpads on your headphones, firstly, you need to gently pull at the fabric that is going to be tucked inside the plastic groove. This is to expand the fabric a little bit so that it is easy for you to slide the pads on the speakers. After you have stretched the fabric all the way through, place the pad over the speaker, hold one part of it, and tuck it into the plastic groove.
Make sure that you are holding it firmly over the speaker so that it does not slip off as you are pulling the sides in. Once one corner of the pad is tucked inside, using your finger, pull the rest of the fabric inside to groove around the speaker. There might be some adjusting required after you have pulled the pad on to the speaker to fix any wrinkling or air bubbles, but that is easy to do.
Replacing Glued-on Headphone Pads
Some headphones have the earpads glued on them. It is usually easy to tell if this is the case because the earpads are glued on top of the speakers without their fabric being folded in the sides. But if you are not sure, then all you have to do is pull on to the edge of the earpads. If the fabric that comes out is quite short and there is resistance as you further try to pull it off, then the earpads are glued on.
Once you have confirmed that the earpads are attached to your headphones through an adhesive, then you can move on to the process of taking them off. First, you need to locate the seam between the ear pad and the speaker housing of the headphones. If there is still any fabric folded in, tug it out using your fingers. Then insert a pry tool or a blunt butter knife in the seam and gently scrape away the adhesive. If your headphones are a little old, then the adhesive would be quite loose and would come off easily.
Once the earpads have been separated from the headphones, clean the speaker using a cloth or a small brush to remove any dirt or dust left behind. This is so that once you are ready to attach the new earpads, the adhesive can stick to the plastic properly. If there is still some adhesive residue left on the speaker, then gently scrape off with your knife.
When all that is done, place a double-sided ear pad tape on the inside of the new earpads; if you don't have that, you can also use any other adhesive appropriate for the job. Some replacement ear pads that need to be glued on the headphones already come with tape attached on their inside, so you need to be mindful of that.
Once the adhesive is on, carefully align the ear pad with the speaker and gently place it there. Then apply some pressure on the earpad to make sure that it is tightly attached to the headphones. And so you have successfully replaced the earpads on your headphones.
Replacing Fixed Headphone Pads
For some headphones, the earpads are fixed on the headset by being folded inside the speaker housing. And so, you need to open up the speaker housing if you wish to replace the ear pads. This method is a little complicated and requires a gentle hand, but if you are careful enough, you would be able to replace the pads without any problems.
Firstly, you need to pry open the headphone speaker using a flathead screwdriver or a blunt kitchen knife. You need to gently insert your tool in the headphones' seam where the fabric of the ear pads is tucked into the speaker. Then gently move it back and forth to loosen up the inner tabs that hold the speaker housing together. Once they are loose enough, the compartment will pop open.
Then, being very careful of the delicate wiring, you need to remove the ear pad from inside the compartment. Sometimes the pad would be attached using an adhesive, and so you would need to use your tool to scrape it off the speaker. Once it is off, you must carefully clean the mesh behind it and scrape off any excess adhesive residue. Then, place your new headphone pad over the speaker, ensuring that no wires are getting caught under the earpad.
Once you have fit the new earpad perfectly over the speaker and have applied an adhesive, if necessary, to keep it in place, then you can close up your speaker. You need to be very careful of the placement of the wires and make sure that they haven't twisted over themselves. To close the speakers, all you have to do is align the tabs perfectly and press the two parts together until you hear them click. And so you have successfully replaced the earpads of your headphones.
Related Guides: Making your Headphones last longer | Headphones that don't leak Sound
FAQs
When should I replace my headphone pads?
You should replace your headphones when they are worn out or start to smell and feel dirty.
It is difficult to replace headphone pads?
No, most of the time, replacing headphone pads is an easy task. But if you have a pair of headphones with fixed earpads, then replacing them can get a little complicated.
Wrapping Up
It can be expensive to have your headphone pads replaced by a professional as not only do they charge you for the headphone pads but also their installation. But replacing the earpads is an easy enough process that you can do at your home without the need for any special tools. All you need is a pair of replacement ear pads, any sort of flat tool, and an adhesive if necessary. Therefore, knowing how to replace headphone pads is a great way to save money and a trip to the electronic store.
