Koss "Porta Pro" On Ear Headphones

Product Information

The acclaimed Koss Porta Pro® hascaptivated audiophiles and music enthusiasts for decades and continues to be one of the most popular headphones worldwide. The high-frequency reproduction is resolving enough to provide a decent feeling of detail, and the KPH30i are reasonably articulate. They don’t extend to the top-most highs, and the treble remains polite and non fatiguing. This sound profile works great for long listening sessions (especially with audiobooks). If your budget stretches further, we’d still suggest opting for the AKGs: they’re a more serious sounding product that improve on each element of performance – as headphones more than double the price should. Let’s be honest with each other. The KSC75 look and feel every bit of their oh-so-low price tag. Shiny silver plastic never seems premium or expensive. And yes, one can draw unfortunate parallels with the free headsets offered on airplanes. The clear rubber-covered metal ear clips are the highlight of the design, as they are smooth and sturdy. Koss eventually branched out into creating home theaters, DVD players, portable media players, tabletop stereo systems, and boom boxes but has since closed the “Koss Electronics” line. Koss Corporation now focuses on what they do best, manufacturing both dynamic and electrostatic headphones and microphones. Technical Specifications

Like the Porta Pro® Classic headphones, the Porta Pro® Wireless Bluetooth headphones have adjustable temporal pads to relieve pressure on the ears. Its lightweight, open-air cushions for hear-through sound keep listeners aware of their surroundings while delivering exceptional sound performance. Oxygen free copper voice coils and dynamic elements allow the Porta Pro® Wireless Bluetooth headphones to deliver rich bass and a remarkably wide frequency response. If you want a cheap pair of frills-free headphones that get to the nub of a performance, the Koss Porta Pros are a product we can fully get behind, and have a lot of fun while doing so. Without repeating myself too much, the 35 mm, 60 Ohm driver is what makes this range of headphones so special. According to Koss, the “computer-optimized neodymium, iron, and boron rare-earth magnet structures deliver amazing clarity at any volume” and the “oxygen-free copper voice coils improve signal transmission and conduction for cleaner, clearer sound.” Brittain, Blake (25 July 2022). "Apple, Koss settle wireless-headphone patent fight before trial". Reuters. There’s also a surprising amount of bass weight, without skewing or muddying the balance, and while their treble is perhaps not the sweetest we’ve ever heard, it is far from coarse or distracting.While similarly voiced, the Porta Pro are the deeper and more bass-heavy option, with the KHP30i sounding a bit more balanced and even. This comes somewhat at the expense of fun, and I find the Porta Pro more exciting to listen to. The limited treble extension and smooth reproduction is surprisingly fairly similar sounding between the two, regardless of the differences in measurements. Where to Buy

Shout out to my current listening and reading obsession, the superb (and unbelievably voluminous) Wandering Inn series by the mysterious pirateaba. Treble The KSC75 can be driven sufficiently from any device with a decent headphone output, and pairing them with a source that is many magnitudes of cost more expensive doesn’t seem to improve the sound significantly. A close look at the KSC75. Bass And I’m not going to argue with them. This driver has been a budget audiophile favorite for almost 40 years. Did I mention that I broke 2 of the 3 pegs trying to get the KPH30i open? Only the bottom right side still has the original snap peg. Blue tape seems to be holding them together just fine. Midrange frequencies are the star of the KSC75 show and are reasonably balanced. Vocals stand out in the mix, and voices sound consistent and natural if a touch thinner and less warm than is my ideal. The detail is really quite good, and things sound clear and clean. Treble Having a dual entry connection also has it’s benefits, in that it makes it more convenient to rewire them, and turn them into a balanced headphone, to use them with a balanced DAP/DAC, in case that’s what you want to do down the road. Portability

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Originally introduced in 1984, the Koss Porta Pro® has stood the test of time due to its impressive performance and portability. Equipped with dynamic elements that deliver a wide frequency response and deep bass, Porta Pro® offers remarkable sound reproduction producing a rich, detailed audio experience that enhances the enjoyment of music across various genres. These headphones are not that hard to drive, at 60Ω, and 101dB SPL, I can even drive them off a smartphone. You won’t get the best of them through your phone though, as driving them with better gear does have its benefits. My biggest gripe with the Porta Pros was their headband adjustment. What’s left of my hair always seems to get caught in them and their headband adjustment doesn’t seem to be able to stay in place.

The Koss Design and Engineering teams collaborated to create the perfect wireless configuration using Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX™ to ensure the Porta Pro® Wireless Bluetooth headphones maintained the classic Sound of Koss® profile listeners have been enjoying since 1984. The Porta Pro share the same cable as the KSC75, but in every other way, they are better built, more attractive, and offer greater comfort than their ear-clipped relations. If you prefer the Porta Pro sound but want a midrange price point and ear clips, the Bluetooth KSC35 are a viable option. Many have extolled the virtues of these headphones that cost about the same as a lunch for two at your favorite fast food joint. It’s time to find out if the KSC75 are the giant killers they are said to be. Do they really sound good enough to put headphones many times their price to shame? How do they compare to their numerous brothers and sisters sharing the same driver?The design keeps them lightweight, ideal for commuting or using while you exercise. You can toggle between a light or firm fit – though firm does not mean clamped – as well as collapse them down to fit tidily in your bag. Again, no surprises here. The sound quality of the KPH30i punches way above its weight class. They more than hold their own in the budget Koss lineup and absolutely deserve distinction from their peers.