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Your gaming headset is an essential piece of your setup. It places you into the games you’re playing, delivering acoustic immersion and crisp audio cues like player footsteps or bullet-fire direction, and facilitates crucial team communication over Discord. Also, your headset needs to be comfortable to wear for hours. Unfortunately, over time, even the most premium headsets from brands like SteelSeries, Razer, Corsair, Beyerdynamic, and Audeze suffer the same inevitable wear and tear, and one of the first things to go is the cushioned earpads.
Worn, flaking, or compressed earpads don't just look bad; they significantly compromise the sound quality of your headset. If you’re running a set of closed-back headphones, it can compromise the acoustic seal and let the audio bleed out (annoying friends and family) or let outside noise in and lessen your enjoyment of the audio you’re listening to.
Some replacement earpads also offer upgrades to your headset like cooling gel, extra padding, different materials (memory foam instead of normal foam), or even different sizes. I upgraded the ear pads on my Corsair Virtuoso headset, and the larger pads made for a far more comfortable fit. It’s worth noting that Corsair doesn't provide a way of buying official replacement earpads, so I would have had to have binned the headset if it weren’t for the third-party alternatives on Amazon.
The good news? You don't need to shell out hundreds for a brand-new headset. Replacing the earpads is an easy, cost-effective way to restore comfort, improve audio performance, and significantly extend the life of your favorite gear. Some headset manufacturers provide spare earpads as part of the packaging, or maybe provide a choice of leatherette earpads or velour fabric-covered earpads that offer better breathability for sweaty gaming sessions.
Here are some examples of popular gaming headsets, and the availability of replacement earpads on Amazon. This is obviously not an exhaustive list, but a good idea of what options are available to you.
While the exact attachment method varies slightly between brands and models, the general process is fairly straightforward:
This is the most critical step. Earpads are not universal. You need pads specifically designed for your headset model to ensure a proper fit and seal.
Check the headset, look on the packaging or box (if you still have it), or check if the model name is listed in the sound settings on your computer.
Important: If you feel significant resistance, stop and search online for a quick video tutorial for your specific model. Never use excessive force or sharp tools, which could scratch the plastic or otherwise damage your headset.
Most gaming headsets use one of two primary attachment methods: a twist and clip/snap-on, or an elastic flange that stretches over the lip of the earcup. The stretchy earpads are usually the easiest to replace, in my experience.
Once the old pad is removed, you will often see a ridge, groove, and the internal drivers of the headset (possibly under some cloth covering). Use a dry microfiber cloth or a cotton swab dampened with rubbing alcohol (or a gentle electronics cleaner) to wipe away any dust or residue built up on the ear cup rim. You might as well give the headset a good service whilst you're here.
Installation is generally the reverse of removal:
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/headphones-headsets/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/headphones-headsets/extend-the-life-of-your-favorite-gaming-headset-for-less-than-usd25-replace-those-crusty-earpads-and-maybe-get-a-headband-cover#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.