Taking a Look at the new Midnight and Jerzee Earpadz with the Sennheiser PC37X - Part 2 - Jerzee

In our previous blog post, we discussed the discomfort found in the PC37X when using the stock pads, and how the Midnight series Earpadz helped to alleviate the pressure with its heat activated memory foam and smooth, grippy texture. Today we'll be looking into the Jerzee pads from Earpadz by Dekoni, a fabric-wrapped counterpart using the same memory foam found in the Midnight series. For those who haven't yet read our post covering the Midnight series, here's a quick briefing on the installation process. Removing the stock pads is simple, as the pads are held to the ear cup by a series of clips. Grabbing the pad at the bottom of the cup with my index finger inside and gently pulling it away from the cup frees the pad. Installing the new Earpadz is just as simple. There's no up or down on these pads, so lining it up with the earcup and pressing on the foam until you hear a few audible clicks is all that's required. It's important to do a visual inspection around the entire edge of the ear cup to ensure that the earpad is seated properly. With installation out of the way, we can now focus on the comfort aspect of the Jerzee Earpadz. Contrasting the smooth, skin-like texture of the Midnight Earpadz, we're met with a cushy, porous-looking fabric. Rather fittingly, it has the same feel as a sports jersey. I found similar levels of comfort as the Midnight pads thanks to the use of the same memory foam, reducing the pressure created by the high clamping force of the PC37X. The Jerzee pads weren't able to grip as well as the Midnight pads, as I experienced some minor shifting if I turned my head quickly. Despite this, I didn't experience any discomfort or irritation from rubbing, and it wasn't a common enough occurence that I needed to readjust the headphones at any point. A quick note about the use of memory foam. The foam helps to create that cushion between you and the earcup, and is what's known as "heat activated". This means that as the pad heats up through contact with your head and the sound vibrations from the headphones themselves, the foam will expand. This reaction is what helps these pads maintain their comfort through even the longest sessions. Despite the supposed heat buildup from the foam, I found these to remain a bit cooler than the Midnight pads, likely thanks to the use of fabric. Back in our previous post we discussed the heat and intensity that comes with sim-racing. This is an area where Jerzee excels relative to Midnight. Beyond the coolness of the material itself, the fabric also manages sweat better than Midnight by keeping it away from your ears, instead of having a layer form between you and the ear pad. So this begs the question: what to choose? The Midnight series helps to create a headphone that's much less likely to move around on your head, while the Jerzee series is able to keep things a little cooler. For me, I feel that Midnight is the way to go with how well it prevents the headphones from shifting on my head. This is especially valuable as I plan to use virtual reality more regularly in future races, which will require those quick movements when looking around to stay aware of nearby cars. That said, it wasn't an easy choice by any means; both had stand-out qualities to appreciate, with my conclusion having been reached only after multiple nights of racing with each. Both the Jerzee and Midnight pads were an improvement compared to the stock pads, so I'm happy to say that you'll find a positive experience no matter which one you choose. - Josh "The Time Wizard" Staffin, Chief Time Officer at Dekoni Audio