Dekoni Audio: The Science of Comfort Behind Headphone Accessories
Some companies build cars, and others make tires. And who’s to say that tires are any less important for a driver’s safety and comfort? Spoiler: in their right mind, no one.
When sound engineer Tal Kocen couldn’t find high-quality replacement earpads for his favorite Sony MDR-7506 headphones, he decided to make them himself. That’s how Dekoni Audio was born in 2015 — and today, ten years later, the company is a leader in the premium earpads and headphone accessories market. Now, how did they achieve success?
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Founding and Mission
We already know the why, so let’s get straight to the how. Initially, Dekoni Audio was a subsidiary of Elite Foam, a company that — you guessed it — specialized in all things polyurethane foam. It’s also known as “memory foam,” and it’s long been widely used in acoustics, medicine, and industry.
The Dekoni team, aka Tal Kocen and his business partner Sam Roney, used Elite Foam’s extensive resources to design their earpads to become worthy replacements for any stock pads. And they knew what they were doing.
The company's mission was clear from the start. They wanted to make headphone accessories that would both increase users’ comfort and increase their devices’ sound quality — in other words, make their listening experience far more enjoyable. Dekoni targeted both mid-range models from companies like AKG, Philips, and HiFiMan, but also the top-tier brands, including Audeze, Fostex, and Sennheiser.
At first, Dekoni’s founders only expected fervent audiophiles as their clients, but thanks to their innovative designs and smart marketing approach, the brand became popular among much broader circles.
Tech and Innovation
Dekoni Audio could never have made it this far without some innovations, but thankfully, the then-new brand had quite a few aces up its sleeves.
Of course, memory foam was Dekoni Audio’s main advantage over their many peers: they didn’t just use but they knew all about it. This synthetic material adjusts perfectly to one’s head shape and ear canals and ensures perfect comfort and excellent noise isolation. It’s a whole new level of comfortable and acoustically advanced, as you can see (hear?) for yourself when you try on foam earpads in Dr.Head’s Dubai showroom.
Another big thing going for Dekoni products was their use of high-quality finishing materials. Their full-size earpads featured genuine leather, premium leatherette, velour, and Alcantara, which not only transform the look and feel of headphones but also last a long time with proper care.
Finally, the brand’s earpads stand out from the rest because they actually do alter headphones’ sound signature. The brand offers pads that enhance the bass, midrange, and even high frequencies, which is why sound enthusiasts come to Dekoni to influence their headphones’ character.
Dekoni Products
Earpads
Obviously, earpads are Dekoni Audio’s flagship product: that’s what the company began with, and they still excel at this. Dekoni offers a wide variety of pads for in-ear and over-ear models from countless brands, from Apple and Audio-Technica to Bose and Focal, and many more. In their vast collection, almost every audiophile can find something to improve their experience.
Brand: Dekoni Audio
: 44
Compatible headphone model: Sony WH-1000XM4
Brand: Dekoni Audio
: 44
Compatible headphone model: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe 2023
Brand: Dekoni Audio
Type: earpads
Material: leather, velour
Brand: Dekoni Audio
Type: earpads
Material: polyurethane foam
Brand: Dekoni Audio
Type: earpads
Material: velour
Brand: Dekoni Audio
Type: earpads
Material: leather
Brand: Dekoni Audio
Type: earpads
Material: suede
Brand: Dekoni Audio
Type: earpads
Material: synthetic leather
Brand: Dekoni Audio
: 44
Compatible headphone model: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe 2023
Headphones
Yes, you read that right. Over the years, Dedkoni has started collaborating with some high-profile audio brands to create their own headphones, too.
Dekoni Audio x Hifiman Cobalt
A closed-back dynamic headphone developed in collaboration with HiFiMan, its 45mm driver uses a carbon-coated diaphragm for exceptional sound tuning. These headphones are known for their detailed and clear sound — and thanks to a thick, soft headband and perforated sheepskin earpads, you can wear them for hours on end to fully enjoy it.
Dekoni Audio Blue (Fostex/Dekoni Audiophile HiFi)
This one is a semi-open monitor headphone built on the Fostex T50RP MK3 platform; its regular-phase planar magnetic driver provides accuracy, clarity, and a well-balanced frequency distribution. Speaking of balance, these headphones walk just the right line between the classic Dekoni comfort and high-class Fostex sound engineering, which makes this model suitable for professionals and audiophiles alike.
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Dekoni Audio
Headphone type: wired
Brand: Dekoni Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 15
Modular Cables
Based on the story of Dekoni Audio’s foundation, one can only guess that once, Tal Kocen got frustrated by cable management and decided to fix it. Either way, Dekoni now sells its own modular cable systems. Even if you have multiple devices with different connector types, you can switch instantly between them — all while avoiding a tangled mess of cables on the floor by changing the postsplit module instead of the whole thing.
Other Accessories
At some point, Dekoni just set out on a mission to improve as many aspects of their clients’ audio experience, so they started working on numerous headphone accessories and haven’t stopped ever since.
The Dekoni Audio x SKB Headphone Hero is a travel case made from ultra-durable plastic with a soft foam interior. Its pressure-equalization valve allows you to balance the pressure inside the case without sacrificing its IP67-rated dust and water protection. And if that wasn’t enough, you can also use it as a headphone stand.
The Nuggets memory foam pressure relief pads attach to the underside of a headphone's headband. They adapt to the curves of your head and create anatomically correct points of contact to solve the issue of pressure with the most ergonomic and soft experience.
Type: earpads
Brand: Dekoni Audio
: 46
Dekoni tackles the matters of hygiene, too: the brand offers individually packaged Cleaning Wipes and even a comprehensive Cleaning Set. These accessories allow you to quickly and safely clean any plastic, metal, or carbon fiber components (just be sure to NOT use them on leather, leatherette, or velour).
Brand: Dekoni Audio
Type: wipe, cleaning spray
Country of origin: USA
Final Thoughts
Dekoni Audio gives you a chance to change your favorite headphones for the better in many ways, often providing serious upgrades. In less than ten years, the brand has firmly established itself as a leader in the audio accessory market. Thanks to its innovations and high-quality products, Dekoni keeps the world of personal audio exciting and eager.
It might be hard to believe that a new earpad or cable can prove that much of a difference. That’s why we invite you to test any Dekoni Audio products in Dr.Head’s Dubai showroom — alongside everything else we have in our vast collection. Let’s help you get that perfect upgrade!
