Headphone earpads wear out. It's physics, not a design flaw. Skin, sweat, hair oils, and everyday use do their job—in a year or two the pads usually start to flatten or the coating begins to flake. Good news: on our headphones, the pads are user-replaceable, without tools, in about 30 seconds.
We designed the VMK20 and the VMK25 series so that the pads detach and attach by twisting. Because why would you throw away an entire pair of headphones just because the pads have a hole?
How to replace the pads
Here's how it goes:
- Grab the old pad and twist it counterclockwise. It will come off the bayonet mount with a small movement. No need to force it—if it feels like you have to yank it, you're turning the wrong way.
- Pull the pad off. It comes away easily.
- Place the new pad in position so that the locating tabs line up with the slots.
- Twist clockwise until you feel a click or a slight lock.
- Repeat on the other side.
That's it. The whole operation takes less time than reading this article.
How do I know the pads need replacing?
A few signs:
- The pad has flattened and no longer seals properly against your ear. This directly affects sound quality and noise cancellation—especially on the VMK25 and VMK25.2, ANC needs a good seal to work.
- The faux leather is flaking or cracking. Normal wear after a bit over a year. Not a warranty issue—just life.
- The headphones don't stay securely on your head or sound leaks out. A flattened pad won't keep the cup in place.
The VMK20 has a fabric covering that wears a bit differently than faux leather—it doesn't flake, but it will also flatten over time.
Warranty and pads
Frankly: pads are consumable parts. If you've used the headphones daily for a year and the pad starts to look tired, that's normal. The warranty covers clear material defects—for example, if a pad falls apart in two weeks for no reason.
If the pads deteriorate suspiciously quickly, send us a message at info@valco.fi with a photo. We'll assess the situation case by case. We're not the kind of company that hides behind fine print.
Where can I get new pads?
From Valco's online store at https://valco.fi. VMK25 and VMK25.2 pads are interchangeable, so you don't need to worry about which model you have. VMK20 has its own pads.
And yes—every pad purchase funds our Death Star by about 0.000001 percent. It doesn't do much for Henri's Ferrari fund, but Jasse's insured ears thank you.
