This is not easy. I feel like I don't have a chance to give this an honest review because, technically it was stated that these were not for the model I have. The problem is, there are no other options for me and this is the closest that it's going to get.

I've seen videos and photos of people successfully replacing these, but I have to tell you, this is probably one of the most difficult replacements I've ever had to attempt. As a drummer with no tech, a custom PC builder, and an overall DIYer, I've done my fair share of replacing parts in a variety of situations. Scrapes, cuts, and burns come with the territory, but when you hear someone say, "I need to replace the ear and head cushions on my headphones," you don't think that will lead to injury.

As I was, you'd be wrong.

The ear cushions on this job were challenging, but once I got past the fear of ripping them, I got the job done. The head strap was a whole 'nother story. I stretched. I heated. I pulled. I pushed. I failed.

I was able to get them on about 97% of the way, but just wasn't able to get the final bits at the end to close. Because of the imperfect sizing, if you don't complete the ziploc-like seal, it will fail over time.

Once the blister on my thumb heals, I'll give it another go.

I have two sets of the Sennheiser HD280s, one from before 2016, and the other bought afterwards. This kit is meant for the newer headphones, and goes on much easier and much faster than trying to do the same with the older HD280s. Thanks, Sweetwater!

My headphones worked fine and still sounded great but were getting a little worn out around the ears. A lot of reviews sites these as difficult to install. It was only through deep breaths and slow movement( I really mean it) that I could get these on. It wasn't bad you just have to take your time. Now they're good as new.

These worked great to refurbish my pre 2016 Senheiser hd280s, as seen in the photos. Hairdryer, check. Screwdriver, check. Patience, check. The ear muffs have to be stretched over the sides while retainer the opposite side position, watch a YouTube if youve never done it before. The headset is the most difficult as stated before but is still feasible with a hair dryer and 5-10 minutes of efforts. Make sure the headband is lined up symmetrically on both sides before snap/securing it. You have to stretch from one side while pulling to meet it from the other. Its not as easy to adjust once its finalized so make sure youre happy with the placement at the start.

These brought my 280's back to life - no doubt about that, but it was slightly difficult getting the ear pads on; had to slightly stretch them out but they went on and they fit great. Took me about 10mins to get them on

This is a perfect replacement. It's still a cheap thin material though. It seems a different material than 20 years ago. I would give it half of one star for ease of replacement. I would give it 5 stars if the fabric were better.

Makes your sennheisers like new again.

My original earpads wore out and all that remained was the foam. So, I decided to buy these earpad replacements July 7,2025. I originally bought my headphones in 2009. I was able to get these earpads on my set within less than a minute on each ear. I put it on the bottom first, held it down, then stretched it over the rest of the ear. Just make sure to remove all traces of the previous ear pad. I am happy with my purchase.

First of all this is NOT an exact replacement. The original earpads have a semi rigid part that is not present on the replacement. This can make it hard to know exactly which part you should be pulling off, and once you pull them off your headphones are not very usable until get the replacements on, which requires hours of trial and error trying to stretch it just enough without tearing it. The replacements also are not as cushioned as the original. The online videos from 15 years ago are not only low quality but poorly shot. The parts you need to see are often out of frame.

This replacement pad set made my HD 280's comfortable and desirable again - Would highly recommend. Yes, the ear pads will require some concentration to get them on, but it took me 10 mins to do the entire set.

Thank you Sweetwater! Restored my headphones and they feel brand new again.

I have had my HD 280 pro headphones for about 5 years. I m a drummer and use them instead of a stage monitor. They really save the ears, rejecting noise outside the headphones. But the pads started to peel away. Ordered the new set. I wouldn't say changing them out was easy, but not super hard either. Just be patient. Watch when you remove the old pads to see how the new pads go on. Glad now to have a headphone set just like new.

I ordered a pair of alleged HD280 pro replacement pads from Amazon. They were reviewed as being 5 star. I received them and put them on and they sounded absolutely horrible. They were not at all the same as the original pads, they lacked the foam surround inside around the transducer, and this is integral to the sound of the headphones.
I then saw these on Sweetwater site and took a chance despite a lot of complaints that they don't fit, etc.
With a bit of effort, both the ear pads and the headband fit perfectly on my HD280 Pros from 2008. And the headphones now sound the way they were meant to sound

I DO NOT recommend the original from the manufacturer (Sennheiser - HD280) model AT ALL!... Be careful. It seems like they drop their quality tremendously. I had exactly the same problem like the guy (shown in the link below), PLUS the same issue about peeling-off disintegrating badly with the head-pads, even without using them so often and without sweating, etc. I also kept them in a good case to protect them. This exact issue I have experienced has been reported by another guy in YouTube in detail under the title: Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Peeling Ear-pads Fixed

The ear pads on my new Sennheiser HD280s disintegrated within 5 years of very modest use in a climate controlled environment. The headphones were mostly just stored. They fell apart anyway. I can't figure out why anyone would pay money for replacement pads from the same manufacturer.

I've been using my headphones at work religiously for sound editing and love their quality so much I didn't want to give them up when the pad were getting cracked and flaky. So, I ordered from Sweetwater this replacement pad set from Sennheiser and I'm thrilled that my HD 280's (the beloved silver version) are back to like new condition.

I get the struggle that some people have had with attaching them to an old set, but it is possible and does work just fine with some patience. I found the YouTube video from Sennheiser service (Find video zUtC-MatRD8) and their tips of streching them first and fingernail tucks did the trick.

Thanks also to Sweetwater service for letting me know that my package shipped and checking to see if I had any questions. This is top notch service!

The headband is nearly impossible to install. The closure needs to be re-designed. Otherwise the set seems to be well built.

I have two pairs of HD280 Pro headphones, one older style and one newer style. These do fit both pairs however, the older pair has a thicker headband and you will need to stretch the headband cover a bit. Also the older headband has a solid cushion as opposed to the two piece cushion on the newer version. I noticed some people were struggling to fit these and I am wondering if they were trying to fit the foam and the vinyl into the slot. You only need to fit the vinyl into the slot and it takes literally seconds to fit these. Start on an oblong end then gently stretch the vinyl into the slot with one hand while holding the vinyl in place with the other hand and work your way around. Afterwards you may need to adjust them a little to make sure they are centered on the ear cup and voila you're done!

Great kit for giving your HD280's a few more years of service. These went on a 15 year old pair and now it looks new.

It does require some patience to get on properly, but these have lasted years now.

They are very hard to install but once u get it on there, it looks like u brought a brand new pair of 280 pros

I'm an hour into trying to get these ridiculous things onto the headphones. I'm about to throw everything out the window. Do not buy these if you value your time and sanity. Someone in the reviews said you have to stretch these past the point where you think they would break to get them on. That just snaps the other side out of the channel.

I wish I could give these no stars. Way overpriced for the terrible quality. Cushions didn't even last one year of very light use in my home. Already peeling and falling to pieces. Nothing like the old German made headsets and parts. The German made lasted several years of heavy use. These are now made in China, and it shows by how fast they wear out. Very disappointed. Good thing I bought two sets of cushions, but never again. I'm looking for some true professional cans that will last.

I'm glad they have replacement pads so I didn't have to replace the entire headset. I'm happy to not have little black flakes falling all over my gear anymore and they look brand new. However, they're stiffer than I remember them being when I first got my headphones. I'm hoping it's just a question of breaking them in. When attaching them, be prepared for a lot of stretching out the cuff first. They were pretty fiddley to get on.

Not the easiest to install (work just a little bit at a time and they'll slot right on - make sure they're aligned properly, very hard to rotate once on). Once installed however, they hold on nice and tight - exactly how it should be.

The best part is how much of the perceived frequency response you get back with the replacement. My old pads were falling apart and the headphones sounded reaaaallly flat, I'm talking super flat. Once I replaced the pads, the bass and low mid came right back. Really digging how these sound now.

Ear pads do not fit no matter how much stretching or profanity is involved.

It takes a little wiggling to get them on and it's not obvious exactly how to do it at first but they're fine. This was helpful:

These OEM replacements are supposed to be a good fit, but I found them extremely difficult to put on as the flexible ring doesn't stretch enough to get it into the slot on the ear pads, and the headband doesn't have enough stretch to press close the two sides of the fastener. I have 6 pairs of these headphones for my studio. C'mon Sennheiser, can't you do better?

Took about 10 minutes to put everything on, and now they look new again!

The HD280 Pro is my go to pair of headphones for daily use. Bought them in 2016, so needed to replace the foam pieces. Anyway, it took me 2 hours (literally) to put them on. I thought I was going to rip them apart while installing. Not sure how long they'll hold. We shall see...

Ready to take a hammer to the headphones and buy a new pair.

There are no directions with the package or online. They will not fit without damaging the cushions or the headphones.

This replacement set will save your headphones and make them like new again. My only reason for not giving it a full five stars is the lack of any instructions. They come in a bag...and that's it. After reading so many reviews of replacement being so difficult I found YouTube to have "how to" videos that gave me a bit of head's up. On arrival I decided to time how long it took for the replacement. From start to finish it only took me seven minutes and a bit of patience in the stretching and aligning part, but no big deal. The key is to pre-stretch a bit the rubber lip that fits around the earpiece. Once it is stretched completely around the entire earpiece, inching it back down into the fitting slot happens pretty much by itself. I didn't have difficulty at all and needed no tools.....just a bit of patience is all that is required. The headband locked perfectly with no need for "heated" methods mentioned in reviews at all. Keep in mind they are advertised for models from 2016 to present. Perhaps having older than 2016 is the reason so many have difficulty with the headband fitting and locking. Google up the how to videos on YouTube and you'll have a great start. The materials and quality are very good. I'll spend $ to save a $ set of headphones any day. And as always......Sweetwater is over the top in service and delivery.

If you're like me and can't bring yourself to throw away equipment for simple cosmetic and comfort reasons, then this review is for you. This kit is designed for 2016 and later year HD280 Pro headphones. But with a lot of patience and a microwave oven or heat gun, you can make these work. Pour yourself your favorite beverage and get in the right frame of mind and prepare for about 30 minutes of swearing. The ear cushions are fairly straightforward, but it will take a while to slide the edges into the grooves. It will take a bit as you really have to stretch and pull to get the edges outside of the diameter of the headphones. Take your time... It will go, but it's not easy. Tearing the cushions appears to be easy if you're not really careful when stretching the material.

As for the headband replacement, you will need to heat it up in a microwave or with a heat gun. I ended up using the microwave in 20 second intervals. I had to heat it up twice. This heating up the headband allows you to be able to stretch the headband enough to get one end started in the locking groove. The pre-2016 models have two raised ridges that makes it even more difficult to stretch the headband. Once you get it pulled tight enough to get one end locked into the groove, you can work your way up and around the band. I needed a pair of small pliers to pull the final end close enough together to finish sealing the grooves together.

Not fun, but doable and your headphones will look close to new again. Good Luck!

I used these to replace the pads on my 10-year-old headphones, this is my second time replacing them. I went for these because reviewers said they would fit the older ones (the head pad was a stretch, but it all fits), because I could get all three parts in one place, and because I knew I'd get decent service from Sweetwater. I'm satisfied, but the newer design of the ear pads isn't as comfortable as the old design. I might try to look for the older style if I need to replace the pads in another 5 years.

My Headphones Look Like New. I've Got Three Pairs of Sennheiser's HD 280Pro And Was Ready To Through Them Away. I'm Ordering Two More For Back-Up. The Next Time I'm In Guitar Center I'm Thanking Them For Recommend You. You Are Unmatched!

Gave up after 25 minutes of trying to make the head cushion fit. Blasted it with a hair dryer, barely was able to get 2 corners snapped together that promptly became unsnapped when I tried to do the same on the other corners. Super annoyed at the reviewer who posted pics saying it took him 10 minutes and his breath alone. I literally bought this bc of that review, but seems to me someone was just trying to feel superior over the other reviewers.

I'm sure it's possible and will give it another attempt later when my frustration has subsided. If not I will return these. But case and point: If you have the ability to get the older cushion for your older model: DO IT. Don't let the deceptive reviews stop you from looking for the older model cushion like I did.

Just came in today. Fits great even the headband. Should have done this sooner. Have two pairs I have used from 2007 till today. Sorry to all my clients who had to suffer for so long. Thanks Sweetwater!!

I was also wary of buying this product for my older model HD 280 Pros after reading some of the negative posts. I'm glad that James posted his review and pictures. With just a little effort, the new ear cups and headband are now replaced on my old HD 280 Pros. Total installation time was under ten minutes...and that was with a cat on my lap during the procedure.

I was reluctant to buy these pads after reading comments regarding their fit on the old 280 headphones. There is a lot of feedback saying, "I couldn't get them on," or, "it was so hard I could barely bare to finish the job!"

That is crazy and dramatic.

The ear pads went on fast and easy in literal seconds, having never done anything like this before. It honestly seemed like they were the right factory replacement. Totally seamless. 10 being difficult 1 being easy... 0.2.

The headband went on tight, but no, I didn't need tools. I warmed them up with nothing but my breath and stretching gently. The process took 10 mins from opening to wearing in my head. 10 being difficult 1 being easy... 2.2. Lol

It's ridiculously easy and takes a super small amount of patience. Buy them for your old or new set. They work great.

I have an older pair of HD 280 Pro's from 2005- ordered this primarily for the headband- stretching and pulling the ends won't meet-about 3/8" apart. Tried stretching it, warming with hair dryer- no luck. Had a few friends try-no luck. The older model has two raised notches to keep headband from sliding which contributes to the difficulty getting the new headband on. I see in other reviews some got it on others didn't. Sweetwater needs to specify the headband won't fit older models.

Really Sennheiser? ...they do not fit my older set of Hd280 Pros. Good thing I only ordered one set first to see what I was getting. I have 2 more sets that need replacement. No more Sennheiser's in my studio.

I had recently bought a pair of old HD 280 Pros and was looking to replace the crusty 5-year old ones of the previous user. I came across these as I was searching sellers for them and these seemed to be some of the cheapest for both the headband and the earpads. Looking further into the product it also seemed like these were the official replacements for the headphones.
I ordered them and was pleasantly surprised by the customer service. I didn't expect the sales representatives to inquire about the product and how I ended up here, but it was a nice exchange.
I got my package in about 2 days and I can't complain about the product. It's very tight, especially when installing the headpads. I had to use small pliers I had lying around to properly stretch them across the headband. The earpads were also tight, but not as difficult to put on. The rubber in the replacements is flexible compared to the rigid original. I suggest starting with the tip of the ear and stretching the rubber as you go while using your thumb to ease the rubber into the groove to hold it in. As some other reviewers have mentioned, the material is a bit different than that of the original and slightly thinner in terms of padding and foam, but they're still plenty comfortable and block the sound from escaping the cups very well. They also seem to be sweat resistant too. Great stuff, and thanks for the candy from the delivery!

True that the headband is different from the original but with a little stretching they fit and are very comfortable. The ear pads took maybe 2 minutes to put on (watch the video from Sennheiser).
The customer service from Sweetwater is outstanding. I've never had a representative call me to let me know that my order was being shipped! A great experience!!!

These ARE genuine Sennheiser replacement parts. No complaint there. And maybe the headphones are built differently now from when I bought mine (probably more than 10 years ago)? But.... the padding is different than on my orig. You can see in the photo's. The orig. had a solid band of padding across the top, nice and comfy. I can wear these things for 8 hours and never feel uncomfortable. The replacement has two spots of padding with a gap in the middle that has no padding. One can only assume it was a cost saving measure ($.02 at most, I would assume)..... but nonetheless... it's there and it's noticeable. Not nearly as comfy as the original (which unfortunately is flaking and needs replaced. Kind of a shame... but it is what it is. Just a heads up.... maybe a similar non OEM replacement would be more like the original? Not Sweetwater's fault.... but still a little disappointing (I'm looking at you Sennheiser). Ear muffs seem to be not as thick as the orig. either.... but mine are still good so I'm not going to change them to find out for sure.

This kit is for the newer (Made in Germany, assembled in USA) sets - the plastic headband it covers is completely smooth. The older set I purchased this for, circa 2005, assembled in Ireland, has the shorter headband pad that fits between two wider bands that it nestles between. In summary, the headband component will not fit/wrap around all the way (1/4" gap), but the ear pads fit fine it seems, as that part of the design likely stayed the same.

So these are the right pads for the headphones, and they are competitively priced. The are VERY difficult to put on and they didn't come with any instructions. Took me about ten minutes to examine and figure out how it works, and then another 20 minutes or more to actually get it on, and I'm only talking about the top headband.

Once I got it on, it's been great and comfortable. An improvement over the factory headband pad.

Perfect fit for the headphones, but it's a pain to get them on.