Your head is important. That's where the brain lives – for most of us, anyway. So your headphones need to sit on your head without feeling like someone's squeezing your skull in a vice. If your Valco over-ear headphones are pressing on the top of your head or feel otherwise uncomfortable, the fix is usually dead simple.
Why does it press on the top of your head?
There are basically three reasons:
- The headband cushion is worn out. The cushion flattens over time, especially if you use your headphones daily. That's normal wear and tear. When the cushion is flat as a pancake, it no longer distributes pressure evenly and your scalp cops the lot.
- The headband adjustment is in the wrong position. The cups are too high or too low, so the headband presses in the wrong spot.
- The headband is still stiff out of the box. New headphones can feel tighter at first. The headband softens up with use over a few weeks.
How to fix it
1. Check the headband adjustment
The ear cups need to be set to the right height. The cups should sit around your ears so that the headband rests gently against the top of your head – not pressing down, just touching. Try adjusting the cups a notch or two downward. A small change can make all the difference.
2. Replace the headband cushion
If the cushion has gone flat or started to crumble, a new cushion works wonders. The headband cushion comes off by pulling – it's attached with clips or a slide-on mechanism depending on the model. The new one snaps into place the same way.
You can find replacement cushions in our online store at valco.fi. Look for spare parts for your specific model. The same headband cushion fits both the VMK25 and VMK25.2.
3. Let the headband loosen up
If your headphones are new and feel tight, you can speed up the break-in by gently stretching the headband. Place the headphones over a stack of books overnight so the headband is slightly spread apart. After a couple of nights, the tension eases up. Just don't force it – the headband can take a lot, but we haven't managed to override the laws of physics just yet.
4. Check the ear cushions while you're at it
Sometimes the problem isn't the headband cushion at all – it's the ear cushions. If the ear pads have gone flat, the cups won't sit properly and the weight distributes poorly. The ear cushions twist off and new ones attach the same way.
If nothing helps
If you've replaced the cushions, adjusted the headband, and it still feels like the headphones are trying to crush your skull, something might be wrong with the headband itself. Get in touch with us at info@valco.fi. Chuck in a photo of the headphones and your order number, and we'll have a look. Our service team in Kajaani will sort it out – that's what they're there for.
And if the headband clip has snapped, that's a replaceable part too. Just let us know which model you've got and we'll check availability.
Your scalp will thank you when the cushions are in good shape. Nothing more to it, really – headphones should feel good, not double as a torture device. Torture devices are a different department, and we don't have that department. Yet.
