Pads falling off. A classic. This is by far the most common reason VMK20 owners reach out to us – and that's a good thing, because there's an easy fix. Nobody has to bin their headphones over some pads. Not on our watch.
Why do the pads come off?
The VMK20's fabric-covered pads are durable, but they're not immortal. No pad material is. After about 1–2 years of active use, the adhesive starts giving up, the fabric wears down, or the edges begin to peel away. This is normal wear and tear – same way the soles on your trainers wear out.
A few typical causes:
- Time and use. Pads are wear parts. Daily use, sweat, and skin oils do their thing.
- Heat and moisture. As a nation of sauna-goers, we know that heat and moisture aren't exactly best mates with adhesive. Storing your headphones in a hot car or a humid room speeds up the wear.
- Removing and reattaching. If you've been twisting the pads on and off multiple times, the fit loosens up.
Our warranty covers material defects for 24 months. If the pads fall off after a couple of months, that's clearly a defect and we'll sort it under warranty. But if your headphones have served you faithfully for a couple of years, that's natural wear – and it's not a disaster either.
How to fix it
Swapping the pads is dead easy. You don't need to be an engineer or even particularly handy.
- Remove the old pads by twisting them off the ear cups. They come off with a gentle rotating motion. No need to yank them off.
- Get new pads from the Valco online store at [valco.fi](https://valco.fi). Search for "VMK20 pads" – you'll find them.
- Attach the new pads by pressing and twisting them into place. Align the groove first, then press evenly all the way around.
The whole operation takes about 30 seconds. Maybe a minute if you're having a coffee at the same time.
What if I need other parts?
The VMK20 is designed to be repairable. If your problem isn't just the pads but something else has broken – a hinge, the headband, the cups – we've got our own repair shop in Kajaani. Jasse and the rest of the team will sort it out.
Here's what to do:
- Take a photo of the broken bit
- Dig up your order number (it's in your order confirmation email)
- Send both to info@valco.fi
We'll then let you know whether it's a warranty case or if you need a repair kit. A repair kit costs a few tens of euros, but it's still cheaper than new headphones – and less rubbish for the planet.
For German and other international customers
Same deal works anywhere in the world. You can order pads from the online store, and repairs are handled by post. Write to us in English or German – we'll understand just fine, though the tone of our reply might catch you off guard.
Pads are wear parts, but headphones aren't. Swap the pads, keep listening, and remember that every purchase funds our Death Star by 0.000001 percent. Thank you for your contribution to galactic peace.
