[4K] How to: Update Ear Pads on Sennheiser HD800 Headphones 

The secret to installing them is to press the entire pad to the frame on at once, which essentially means anchoring it one place while you press down in every other place. Honestly this would have been much easier with 2 sets of hands. I found that pinning the top and bottom down first and then while they're pinned down, moving to the sides kind of like pinching a circular ziplock bag shut worked best for me.

Thank you for your time and effort in making this video as I would have been completely stuck without it. I left the dust covers in place and the job took around ten minutes to complete. My old ear cushions were completely disintegrating into tiny black bits, which had made my HD-800's completely unusable.

I was nervous about changing mine having read how difficult it is. But the pads came off easily and although a little fiddly to attach the new pads it wasn't the nightmare I thought it would be! Good tip to put the dust cover in afterwards too. Changed the headband also which was even easier. This video helped, so thanks.

Very helpful video, just got an HD800s, and was unsure how to do this, the video made it very clear.

thanks for the information. I've just got the new ear pad and wondered if I should remove the plastic cover. I tried to push the ear pad in over and over again just like you instructed and it finally fitted in. this really needs a lot of force lol

Just got done replacing my pair, it was much harder than I thought it would be. It was worth the effort though, comfort and sound has been restored.

As others have noted, tuck in the dust cover between the plastic and ear pad! Otherwise it will be lose with gaps. It definitely helps to have a 2nd set of hands help press the new pads into place due to the new plastic.

I replaced my 518's Ear Pads with the next version up, so they are slightly rounded as they sit on the side of your head instead of the complete flat and they are a smoother material and firmer cushion. Thats a great thing about Sennheisers is that the headphones are really strong and long lasting and you only every need to replace the Pads or Cable. Ive had my 518's for 5-6 years now, still working amazing. Already brought a second pair to store away because they were on sale.

Thank you, from now I'm completely prepared to buy a HD800S.

Thank you so much for this video! K have started replacing the earpads. What an ordeal (and a good workout :) )! So far I've only managed to replace the right pad. The left pad keeps popping out. I wonder if there's a flaw with that pad. Anyhow, in some ways it's quite obscene owning a pair of high-end headphones and then having to apply brute force to replace a its earpads. :)

Always a fun moment when you need to use a bit of tough love to get the pads off and back on. Gets the heart pumping a little fasters for sure. Haha.

Mike thank you so much for this. You’re the best. :)

Awesome video!!! Thank you for the video, I have these headphones.

Very helpful. Mine kept falling off until I watched your video.

great video!

i actually tuck the dust cover between the earpad/plastic first. then i put the earpad back on the headphone

Is it true that there's still HE90 Orpheus ear pads being sold? are those earpads genuine?

are these interchangeable with hd700 pads?

Where do you find them? Their own site forwards you to 6 different retailers. None of them have a listing for pads.

my hd800 pads are crumbling and leaving black bits all over my face lol, thanks for this video on how to change them

how much do they cost

Hey Mike, quick question: do you still feel that the Beyerdynamic T1s are the best sounding headphones you've ever heard?

Thank you! Wow. I think the lesson here is to think twice about replacing the pads.

Thank you very match;-)In my HD-800 the outer soft material in ear pads ,even I do not use them often ,has become worn and starts to fray..Also the foam has not the same elasticity as when it was new.The sennheiser must improve these materials!.I will buy a new set and I will change them by myself, according to your very helpful and accurate video!What are these people with the ''thumbs down'' did not like??...!! I really wonder...

cost 85$ on amazon for new pads 800s. cost 8$ on ebay from china i want to know what is the difference? :D

I wish my city had a place where I can try and experience Hi-Fi audio equipment like this. I am nowhere near being able to afford the HD800 and an amp so an audio show would be my only option. Omaha never has any audiophile-related events :(

Thanks. I was wondering how to do this. Is it exactly the same on the HD800S?

A very common mistake is the final step with the dust cover: both you and Tyll made it. It is actually supposed to fit inside the lip of the thin plastic film surrounding the back of the earpad. Slot it in that; don’t just stuff its edges behind the cushion because that will leave the dust cover loose within the confines of the ear capsule. It may look perfectly fine but it is absolutely not! Otherwise, the dust cover will be prone to vibrations that will add harmonic distortion and cloud the sound. Again, very few people know this. Unfortunately, the manual is not descriptive more than stating simply “to carefully tuck the edges underneath the ear pads.” Well, that clear film is the area underneath where you should be carefully tucking the dust cover in and not in between the cushion and the hard plastic. I suspect one major reason why many people get dissatisfied with the sound of their HD 800’s is from doing earpad cleanings and replacing the dust covers in the way you just showed.

Maybe that is the main difference between the 800 and the 800S!

Wonder why the HD700 pads cost more than the HD800s?

Just got done with this. Not sure I agree with the gently part. Mine took 100+ lbs of force to remove.

At this moment I am rather displeased with Sennheiser. You pay $71 for new ear cushions (both HD 700 and HD 800) and Sennheiser doesn't even put any instructions in the package while the profit margin is at the very least 100%. The very least which Sennheiser could do is to put good instructions on RU-vidor a website (clear pictures and diagrams) and put a link to it on the package. It took me a long while to figure out that the inner plastic part of the old ear cushion is supposed to be on the inside of the new one. For the price of a new ear cushion it should be complete and not lack the inner piece of plastic. What if that broke off somehow? It just is a piece of plastic which probably costs $1 or less to produce. Put a piece of inner plastic on the new ear cushions and nobody will have a problem to put these in. My next cans will be from another company.

****** ATTENTION! ATTENTION! I figured out the EASIEST way. Lay it down flat on the edge of a desk (so that the other driver is left hanging so that you can focus on the driver in question) and press on the edges of the driver HARD with your fingers. This way, you are pressing on the entire driver evenly and you avoid the issue of the other side popping off. It is otherwise humanly impossible to install these stupid pads.

So, China is another word for the term "non genuine"?

im so pissed off my hd800s are now padless and i cannot get new ones on no matter what i do they dont pop into place and they dont stay. fucking rip 2000$ headphones

Firsttttt