VMK25 headband padding is worn out – how to fix it?
Does your headband padding look like a cat's been using it as a scratching post? Welcome to the club. This is one of the most common things people contact us about with the VMK25 – and luckily, it's also one of the easiest to fix.
Why does the headband padding wear out?
The headband cushion is made of protein leather, which is in daily contact with sweat, skin oils, and hair products. That's a pretty brutal ordeal for any material. After about a year or a year and a half of active use, the surface starts flaking and peeling. This happens with all headphones – Valco, Sony, Bose, every single one. Physics and chemistry don't play favourites.
If you work out with your headphones on, the process speeds up even more. One customer suspected they were sweating acid. Not quite, but salty sweat packs enough punch to eat through protein leather.
This is normal wear and tear, not a manufacturing defect. Warranty covers clear material defects, but padding falling apart after a good year is just the circle of life. The good news: unlike with the big-name brands, you don't have to bin the whole thing because of one worn-out part.
How to replace the headband padding
The swap is dead easy. All you need is new padding and two hands.
- Order the parts. Drop us a message at info@valco.fi and ask for VMK25 headband replacement padding. Include your order number so we can find your details faster.
- Remove the old padding. It comes off by pulling – there's a plastic clip underneath that holds the cushion in place. Take it easy so the clip stays intact.
- Snap the new padding into place. Line up the clip attachment points and press the cushion firmly into place. You'll hear a click when it locks in.
- Done. The whole operation takes maybe two minutes. Faster than brewing a cup of coffee.
While you're at it, check the condition of your ear cushions too. If they're flaking as well, swap everything at once. The ear pads come off by twisting counter-clockwise (bayonet mount) and the new ones go on by twisting clockwise.
If the clip is broken or a part is missing
Sometimes that plastic clip breaks – especially if the padding was ripped off a bit too enthusiastically. No worries. We've got spare parts for those too. Send us an email (info@valco.fi), attach a photo of the situation and your order number. We'll figure out which part you need and send it your way.
If your headphones have been through the wars and you'd rather have a professional handle it, you can send them in for service to Kajaani. Jasse and the rest of the team will sort your cans out. For out-of-warranty cases, the repair package price is reasonable – way cheaper than buying new headphones.
How do I keep the padding in better shape?
A few practical tips:
- Wipe the padding after use with a dry or slightly damp cloth, especially after a workout.
- Store your headphones in the case or in a dry place. Baking them on the car dashboard does no material any favours.
- Avoid alcohol-based cleaners – they dry out protein leather and speed up wear.
Padding is a consumable part. It wears out, you replace it, life goes on. The important thing is that the headphones themselves last for years – and that we absolutely guarantee.
Got questions? Drop us a message at info@valco.fi. Every spare part order funds roughly 0.000000001% of our Death Star, so cheers in advance.
