Headset Odor Issue and Earpad Replacement | Razer Insider
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Headset Odor Issue and Earpad Replacement

  • June 16, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 143 views
greatCarrotOrangevine191

Hi everyone,
I’d like to get your thoughts on a common issue that many Razer headset users might face. After extended use—especially in warm weather—the earpads can start to develop an unpleasant odor due to sweat. I'm currently dealing with this issue and had a few questions:

  1. Earpad replacements are usually an option, but I’m having trouble finding original pads for my specific model. What should I do in this case? Are there any alternative pads that are known to be compatible?

  2. In some cases, the price of replacement pads is almost half the cost of a new headset. For Razer users in this situation, what would you recommend? Is buying a new headset more reasonable, or is there a better solution for pad replacement?

  3. Does Razer offer any kind of warranty coverage or support when it comes to this kind of wear-and-tear issue? If anyone has experience with Razer’s support on this, I’d love to hear about it.

I’d appreciate any suggestions or feedback from both Razer staff and users who’ve had similar experiences.

Thanks in advance!

1 Reply

greatCarrotOrangevine191

Hi again,

After posting about the odor issue with my Razer headset pads and not getting any replies, I decided to find my own solution. I’m sharing it here in case it helps others facing the same problem.

First, I tried cleaning the earpads with dish soap. I was careful not to bend or fold the synthetic leather to avoid damaging it. When the smell didn’t go away, I washed them again using bar soap. During this process, the foam inside the pads absorbed water and soap. To rinse them out, I held the pads under running water and gently squeezed and released them for about 15–20 minutes. Then I let them air dry for around 24 hours.

After all that, the smell was reduced but not completely gone. I also noticed an oily or greasy feel developing on the surface of the synthetic leather. Wiping it with a dry tissue helped temporarily, but the issue kept coming back. I’m still not sure what’s causing it.

I looked online and found that replacement pads cost anywhere from $20 to $70. Since I’ve had the headset for less than a year, I wanted to find another fix instead of buying new pads. I washed them one more time—this time using regular hair shampoo—and that finally resolved the odor issue. However, the greasy surface problem persisted.

To address that, I came up with another idea:

I took an old pair of socks and cut them into covers that could fit over the earpads. To secure them on the inner side, I made two oval plastic rings that fit inside the earcups. These rings are made of a soft, flexible material that doesn’t harm the headset or my skin. With these DIY covers:

  • I no longer touch the greasy leather surface,

  • The slippery feel is mostly gone,

  • I can simply wash the sock covers when they get dirty.

It’s a temporary but practical solution—and might be helpful for those who can’t find affordable replacement pads or want a washable alternative.

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