DIGITALSAND
SHORT NOTE · COMPLETE · SEP 14, 2020

New ear pads for a pair of Sony MDR-V6 headphones from 1994

The original pads have cracked and are shedding flakes. A new pair took a few minutes and saved the headphones.

Sony MDR-V6 headphones with new black ear pads fitted, beside the two original pads, cracked and peeling.
FIG 01The new pads fitted, and the originals after 26 years.

I bought these Sony MDR-V6 studio headphones at Macy’s in 1994, and I still use them. After 26 years the drivers and the coiled cable are fine, but the pads have cracked through and drop black flakes on everything.

Replacing them is the whole repair. Today I fitted a pair of Brainwavz Sheepskin Ear Pads for Sony MDR-7506 (replacement on Amazon), made for the MDR-7506, which takes the same pads as the V6.

The new pads up close, with the stitching around the inner opening.
FIG 02The new sheepskin pads, deeper than the originals.
The headphones from the side, with the original pads in front.
FIG 03The originals, peeling down to the foam.

The old pads pulled straight off. The new ones took a bit of work to get around the ear cups, and I watched a few YouTube videos to see the technique. It’s much easier once you’ve seen someone else do it. The new pads feel much nicer than the old ones did.