ZMF Universe Pads Review: Comfort and Sound Upgrade

Earpads are one of those upgrades that’s easy to dismiss until you actually make the swap. After eighteen months of daily use, the stock Sennheiser velour on my HD 600 had compressed enough that the seal degraded , and replacing them changed the low-frequency presentation more than I expected from a piece of foam and fabric. That experience pushed me toward the ZMF Headphones Universe Earpads for Headphones when I started looking for a comfort and materials upgrade on both the HD 600 and my HiFiMan Sundara.

This is a first-person review , I own these pads and have used them across both headphones. For broader earpad context and other upgrade options, the Accessories hub is a reasonable starting point.

What to Look For in Headphone Earpads

Material Compliance and Long-Term Comfort

The material an earpad is made from determines how it interacts with your head over a long session. Velour breathes well and runs cool, but it compresses over time and loses seal integrity. Leather and leather alternatives hold their shape longer and maintain a more consistent seal, but they retain heat, which matters on warm days or during extended listening.

ZMF offers the Universe pads in several materials , suede, cowhide, and lambskin are the primary options. Suede sits between velour and leather in terms of breathability: softer and cooler than cowhide, but with better long-term shape retention than velour. Lambskin is the premium end, notably soft against the skin, though it requires more careful maintenance than synthetic alternatives.

Material choice here is not purely aesthetic. It directly affects how long a session remains comfortable and whether the pad holds a consistent acoustic seal as it warms and conforms to your head.

Geometry and Acoustic Impact

Earpad shape , specifically the depth of the cavity and the angle of the foam , affects how the driver sits relative to your ear. A shallower pad brings the driver closer; a deeper one increases the acoustic space. Both changes alter the frequency response you perceive, typically affecting upper-bass warmth and treble energy.

The Universe pads use an angled design, meaning the front of the pad is shallower than the rear. This geometry tilts the driver face toward a more natural listening angle, similar to the effect of angled monitors in a studio. The practical result on the HD 600 is a modest shift in soundstage presentation , a small increase in perceived width without dramatically altering the tonal balance that makes the HD 600 worth owning in the first place.

None of these changes are dramatic. Earpad swaps are a comfort and materials upgrade first, with mild sound-tuning as a secondary benefit. Anyone expecting a transformation comparable to a driver upgrade will be disappointed.

Fit, Adhesion, and Headphone Compatibility

Not every aftermarket pad fits every headphone cleanly. Some use proprietary mounting systems; others rely on friction rings, clips, or adhesive tape. The HD 600 and HD 650 use a friction-fit ring system that most aftermarket pads are designed around, and ZMF’s pads fit this system without modification. The Sundara family uses a similar friction mount, and the Universe pads are specifically listed as compatible.

Before buying any aftermarket pad, verify the mounting method for your specific headphone revision. HiFiMan has changed the Sundara’s pad mount across production runs, and older revisions may fit differently than current ones. Owner reports on Head-Fi suggest the Universe pads seat reliably on both the 2020 revision (which I own) and later versions, though the fit is snug and requires a firm press to seat correctly.

Exploring the full range of headphone accessories available before committing to a specific pad material is worth the time , especially if you’re deciding between suede, lambskin, and cowhide without having handled all three.

Top Picks

ZMF Headphones Universe Earpads

The ZMF Headphones Universe Earpads are built to a standard that makes most stock earpads feel like an afterthought. The stitching is even and tight, the foam density is consistent across the pad, and the materials , I’m using the suede version on the HD 600 and the lambskin on the Sundara , feel genuinely premium in a way that the stock pads never did.

On the HD 600, the immediate impression after installing the Universe pads was comfort. The stock Sennheiser velour, when fresh, is already reasonably comfortable , but the ZMF suede is softer and the pad cavity is slightly larger, which moves the driver a few millimeters further from my ear. The upper midrange stays intact, which matters for the HD 600. Owner reports I’ve read on Head-Fi and r/headphones consistently flag that some aftermarket pads push the HD 600’s treble forward uncomfortably; the Universe pads don’t do that in my experience. The tonal balance remains recognizable.

On the Sundara, the lambskin version brings a meaningful comfort improvement over the stock pads. The Sundara’s stock pads are serviceable but thin, and after two hours they become noticeably less comfortable than the ZMF alternative. The lambskin material is noticeably soft against the skin and runs warmer than suede , a relevant trade-off for summer listening or longer sessions. The sound character on the Sundara shifts slightly: bass texture has a bit more definition in owner consensus reports, and the midrange feels marginally more relaxed. The change is subtle enough that I wouldn’t describe it as a sound upgrade , more an acoustic consequence of the geometry change that doesn’t harm what the Sundara does well.

The honest framing here is that these are a comfort and materials upgrade, with modest sound-tuning effects that will read differently depending on the listener’s preferences and the headphone in question. The premium pricing reflects the craftsmanship. Whether that premium is justified depends on how long you plan to own the headphones and how much time you spend wearing them. For someone who uses an HD 600 or Sundara as a primary daily driver, the case for this investment is strong.

Check current price on Amazon.

Buying Guide

Which Material Is Right for Your Use Case

ZMF offers the Universe pads in multiple materials, and the right choice depends on listening conditions and session length. Suede runs cooler than leather and is better suited for warm environments or long daily sessions. Cowhide is durable and maintains a consistent seal over time but retains more heat. Lambskin is the softest against the skin and the most comfortable for extended wear, but it requires more care , it’s more susceptible to moisture and should be wiped down after use.

For most HD 600 and Sundara owners, suede is the practical starting point. It improves on the stock pads’ comfort without the heat retention trade-off of leather.

Understanding What Earpad Swaps Actually Change

Earpads matter more than most buyers expect , and less than some aftermarket marketing implies. The material affects seal integrity and long-term comfort meaningfully. The geometry affects how the driver sits relative to the ear, which produces audible but usually subtle changes in soundstage and frequency balance. What earpads do not do is fundamentally alter a headphone’s character or compensate for a driver’s limitations.

The earpad swap is not an upgrade in the same category as a better amplifier or a headphone with a different driver design. It’s a maintenance and materials decision that also happens to have mild tuning effects. Framing it that way helps set realistic expectations.

HD 600 and HD 650 Compatibility Notes

The HD 600 and HD 650 share the same pad mount and are both well-supported by the Universe pads. The key consideration is material choice and the effect on the treble presentation , the HD 600’s upper midrange is sensitive to pad geometry changes, and pads that reduce the driver-to-ear distance tend to push brightness forward. The Universe pads’ angled design and cavity depth keep that presentation stable.

The HD 650 has a warmer baseline tuning than the HD 600, so the same pad swap will read slightly differently. Owner reports on Head-Fi suggest the HD 650 pairing with ZMF suede pads produces a marginally warmer low end , a minor change that most HD 650 owners will find acceptable or welcome.

Sundara Compatibility and Version Considerations

The Sundara’s pad mount has changed across production revisions, and pad compatibility is worth verifying before buying. The 2020 revision and later versions use a friction-mount system that the Universe pads are designed to fit, but the fit is firm , seating the pads requires deliberate pressure, and it’s easy to think the pad isn’t seated correctly when it is.

The sound change on the Sundara is more noticeable than on the HD 600, primarily because the stock pads are thinner and the geometry change is more pronounced. Bass definition and midrange character both shift slightly. The consensus across accessories forums and buyer discussions is that the Sundara pairing is consistently positive.

Long-Term Durability and Maintenance

Premium leather and suede pads outlast velour in most conditions , foam compression is slower, and the materials hold their shape better over years of use. Lambskin requires the most care: a dry cloth wipe after sessions and occasional conditioning to prevent cracking. Cowhide is more robust and tolerates more casual maintenance. Suede sits between the two , it handles moisture less gracefully than leather but doesn’t require conditioning.

ZMF’s construction quality extends to the durability of the stitching and the foam core density. Owner reports on long-term use consistently note that ZMF pads hold their shape and seal integrity well beyond the lifecycle of most stock pads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are ZMF Universe pads worth the premium over stock Sennheiser replacement pads?

The answer depends on what you’re optimizing for. Fresh Sennheiser replacement velour pads restore the stock sound signature and comfort reliably , and they’re the right choice if your goal is simply maintaining the original HD 600 or HD 650 character. The ZMF Universe pads improve on that baseline in material quality and long-term comfort, with mild geometry-driven sound tuning as a secondary effect. For daily drivers used for long sessions, the comfort case is genuine.

Do the Universe pads change the sound of the HD 600 noticeably?

The changes are subtle rather than transformative. The angled geometry increases the driver-to-ear distance slightly and produces a modest change in soundstage presentation , a small widening that most listeners will find natural rather than artificial. The tonal balance stays largely intact, which matters for the HD 600. Owners who have tried aftermarket pads that push the upper midrange forward will find the Universe pads a more neutral choice.

Which material should I choose , suede, cowhide, or lambskin?

Suede is the practical starting point for most buyers. It runs cooler than leather, is comfortable against the skin for long sessions, and doesn’t require the maintenance that lambskin demands. Lambskin is the premium comfort choice , softer than suede, better for extended listening, but warmer and more susceptible to moisture. Cowhide prioritizes durability and seal consistency over comfort.

Are these pads compatible with the HiFiMan Sundara 2020 revision?

Yes , the 2020 revision Sundara uses a friction-mount system that the Universe pads fit. The fit is snug and requires firm pressure to seat correctly, which can feel uncertain the first time. Owner reports on Head-Fi confirm reliable compatibility with the 2020 revision and later production versions. Earlier Sundara revisions used a different mounting approach, so it’s worth checking which version you own before purchasing.

How do ZMF Universe pads compare to Dekoni pad options for the HD 600?

Both are legitimate aftermarket options with similar comfort goals. Dekoni’s Elite Velour pads are a popular choice for HD 600 owners who want to stay closer to the stock velour texture while improving density and lifespan. The ZMF Universe pads use higher-grade natural materials , suede, lambskin, or cowhide , and reflect that in pricing. The acoustic differences between the two are modest; the primary distinction is material quality, construction finish, and how the leather options perform over multi-year ownership compared to Dekoni’s alternatives.