Best answer: While you can remove and replace the earpads, Sony doesn’t offer replacement parts for the WH1000XM3. Until it does, we recommend filing a warranty exchange on your headphones instead.
Amazon: Sony WH1000XM3 ($348)
Why would I need to replace my earpads?
Bluetooth headphones are convenient because you can take them with you anywhere — whether it’s the coffee shop, the airport, or the train — and not have to worry about wires. The WH1000XM3’s active noise canceling makes it even better for use in loud environments, and Sony explicitly markets them as travelers’ headphones.
That kind of travel can lead to natural wear and tear, however, and it’s common for earpads on over-the-ear headphones to eventually begin to fray.
Damage isn’t the only reason to replace earpads. Particularly with Sony’s 1000X line, some customers have complaints about the overall comfort of their headphones, and seek out different earpads to change factors like sealing, driver distance, cushioning, and minimizing sweat.
What do I do when my earpads need replacing?
The earpads on the WH1000XM3 can be carefully removed from the headphones by placing a finger or two beneath the cushioned pad and dislodging the locking clips from the plastic retaining ring. Unfortunately, Sony doesn’t sell replacement earpads for the WH1000XM3 anywhere on its site or through online retailers, so your options for finding a new set of earpads are limited.
There are third-party replacement pads on Amazon, like this set from Geekria, but if you prefer to go through Sony directly for a solution, your best bet is to file a warranty exchange on the headphones, provided you’re still within coverage. While not entirely ideal, your headphones will be serviced with Sony parts, just as they came when you bought them.
Our pick
Sony WH1000XM3
$348 at Amazon
ANC all day.
Despite non-replaceable earpads, the WH1000XM3 headphones offer excellent noise canceling, great sound quality, and intuitive gesture controls, and you can recharge them through USB-C.
