Review: Dekoni Audio Elite Sheepskin Ear Pads for Audeze Maxwell.

Audeze has released one of our favorite Xbox headphones in recent years. It’s the Maxwell, whether in Ultraviolet form as we examined in late 2023, or in the new Wasabi flavor. It’s an excellent headset that looks and sounds great, with the exception of a cheap detachable mic boom.

But can the Audeze Maxwell be improved? Dekoni Audio definitely believes so, as they introduce the Audeze Maxwell Elite Sheepskin ear pads to the market. While not a necessary purchase, these ear pads provide an improvement for those seeking improved comfort and sound quality, making them worth considering if you have some spare cash or require replacement pads.

Dekoni Audio’s Sheepskin pads for Maxwell Audeze

The Dekoni Audio Audeze Maxwell Elite Sheepskin earpads aren’t game changers. To accomplish this, they would need to be able to take an already excellent product to new heights. However, they do not do so because they are primarily intended to replace the conventional ear pads that come with the Maxwell, as Dekoni seeks to improve both comfort and sound quality. Again, we found the Maxwell to be among the most comfortable headsets on the market, with superb sound right out of the box.

The Dekoni pads are an all-black pair of ear pads made of high-density, heat-activated memory foam and coated in luxurious lambskin leather that are ready to be fitted to your Maxwell headset. They accomplish so by precisely clipping and twisting into position (clockwise to remove, anti-clockwise to reattach), with the right and left pads clearly discernible.

From there, while the Dekoni pads look comparable to the conventional Audeze Maxwell ear pads, they provide a little increase in comfort. The plush cushioning and memory foam provide a delightfully soft feel, ensuring hours of pleasant usage. While not much different from the regular product, the increased comfort may almost be felt.

The same goes for the audio. Dekoni Audio promises that they will improve the sound delivered by the headset they are connected to. And if you’re a true audiophile, you might be able to notice even the smallest differences. For over a year, we’ve been gaming with the Maxwell and have been constantly impressed by the sound quality. That has not changed with the Dekoni Audio Elite Sheepskin cushions in place, either positively or negatively.

A suitable replacement set of ear pads

With a delicate cloth covering the Maxwell’s internals, there’s nothing to prevent the best gaming audio from being sent directly to your head. There’s also very little leakage; we’ve played with high volume settings and had no complaints from others in the room. Perhaps this is due to the memory foam in the Dekoni pads conforming to our heads and ears.

It all means that, while it’s great to see Dekoni Audio allowing gamers to customize their headphones, they are far from vital pieces of kit. In fact, a purchase should be based on what you want out of life and your gaming experiences. If you have some spare cash and want to upgrade your Audeze Maxwell or have found yourself smashing current pads through wear, fill your boots and be confident that you will be satisfied with your purchase. But don’t worry if you prefer to run standard; these are a nice option to have, but not necessary.

In fact, if you didn’t know you had Dekoni Audio Audeze Maxwell Elite Sheepskin ear pads inserted, you’d have a hard time telling. Whether this is a good or negative thing, given the brilliance already in place with the Audeze Maxwell, will be a personal decision.

Many thanks to Dekoni Audio for donating their Maxwell Elite Sheepskin ear pads for evaluation. Get a set from Dekoni directly. Expect to pay approximately $79.99.