Koss KSC75 Portable Stereophone Headphones
by Koss
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List Price: Our Price: $10.40 You Save: $9.59 (48%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Koss KSC75 Portable Stereophone Headphones
Customer Review: Great for on the go.
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased a pair of these on 11/2/2006 to replace the ear buds that came with my Creative Labs Zen Nano Plus mp3 player. I was looking for something that did not have a head band, could collapse and fit into a small space, was also not an ear bud or other in-the-ear style of headphone, that did not block out ambient sound so I could still be aware of my surroundings, and I wanted something that sounded good but was also not expensive. For me, the Koss KC7S met my criteria perfectly. I have found that I personally do not like wearing in-the-ear style headphones but have gotten used to wearing clip-on style. For a pair of headphones that only cost around $19.99, the sound from the Koss KC7S is pretty good, even with the volume turned up high. Koss doesn't list the driver size on their packaging or on their website but they are probably somewhere between 30-35 mm. The KC7S definitely sound better than the headphones that came with my Zen Nano Plus and I have found them to be significantly better than the Sony MDR24's that came with my Sony portable CD player. The Koss KC7S have also replaced my Sony MDR10's, a sports style folding headphone, as the headphone of choice when I'm listening, on the go, to any of the portable devices that I own. While it took some time getting used to wearing the KC7S, I have found them to be more comfortable than my Sony MDR10's, which would slowly work their way into my ears and needed to be readjusted every so often. The KC7S also fit into the same side pouch, on my CD traveling bag, as the MDR10's did when folded. The Koss KC7S headphones seem to be able to take a lot of abuse. Not that I purposely try to abuse my headphones, but I can be rough on them by cramming them into my work bag, getting my arm or foot caught in the cord when working around the house, working on the yard, or whatever. The only problem I have had with my Koss KC7S headphones is when the speaker separates from the ear clip. These headphones do not have a Left or Right channel marking on them so when reassembling them, the Right and Left channels can get mixed up. To remedy this I took a black sharpie and wrote an R on the right one and an L on the left one after listening to a stereo test CD and identifying which one was which. I have not had a problem getting them mixed up since.
Customer Review: Used for running
Summary: 3 Stars
I have no background for the detailed analysis of sound quality with these -- my experience simply allows me to say the sound was fine, as expected, and not an overall issue with regard to my enjoyment of these. I will confess that my version may have been something other than the KSC75's -- but for the purposes of my review the internal components are moot.
What I am searching for is the perfect headphone for running. From the perspective of functionality toward this pursuit, I think these are average to good.
First, the independent nature by which these are connected is a plus. No hard plastic connector between the two earphones that adds weight or assumes that every one has the same size head -- Nike is awful at this, as they seemingly assume every runner has the head of a 5'4" woman. I also prefer the over-the-ear style as ear buds never stay put after 45 minutes and you have a good sweat going. I don't need music to carry me through a 30 minute workout -- it's the 15 mile runs in preparation for a long race where I want my music, and if I can't hear it after 4 or 5 miles it makes the whole routine even worse. The plastic clips for these were fine. I won't say overly comfortable --perhaps a rubber version would be better -- but they did not cause any irritation or discomfort -- the real key.
The cord is a little short if you use with an iPod on a treadmill and you set the iPod on the shelf or in the treadmill bin. If it's strapped to your body or in some pocket of clothing, it was fine for me, and I'm a little over 6 ft tall.
Unfortunatley, these headphones are now suffering the same fate as all headphones eventually do... moisture and sweat are creating inconsistent audio and I fear they are on their last couple of runs. I have rotated headphones, but can estimate that these lasted about a year perhaps -- maybe a little less. I admit I am not hyper vigilant at cleaning or drying them off after workouts, so if you're better at that discipline they might last longer for you.
It's a matter of reconciling yourself to the idea these are disposable -- and given the testimony on the audio from others, I would buy these again.
Customer Review: Don't get the ones with volume control, they break
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been using this headphone for 5 years now. The first one lasted me 3 years and broke because of my own fault. It was great. The sound quality was great. It took beating after beating. The second one lasted me half a year before the volume control broke and rendered the speakers soundless. I wanted volume control so I bought another one. It broke within 6 months (same problem). Needless to say, I decided to get one without volume control.
I thought I was fine - but now, less than 2 months after I purchase it, I get this buzzing in the left ear whenever I play music. I took great care of these headphones and they've never left my desk, never been thrown around or anything. This was the last straw.
Yes, Koss has a lifetime "warranty" on these things. There's fine print. First, you have to mail it to them. The envelope to contain these costs a few bucks, not to mention postage. And after that, Koss requires that you mail them a check ($7 last I checked) for return shipping costs. There's not even a guarantee you'll get one back, and if you do, it may not be new. Getting it replaced costs almost the price of a new one. What a crappy policy. It's just there to trick consumers into a false peace of mind, and when you actually need it, you realize that it's an empty claim.
I have always recommended this headphone to friends and family. It used to be the ultimate in quality for what you pay. But now, I've spent $50 on replacements in the last 2 years. I could have bought a higher quality headphone for that much and it would have lasted longer. These KSC-75s are no longer a good investment. It's time to move on. If you've got a good alternative I'd love to hear it. Until then I'll keep searching.
KSC-75. You used to be the best, until Koss ruined you, just like it ruined its predecessor. Goodbye.
EDIT:
My latest pair of buzzing headphones was fixed per Thomas Paine's recommendation (see comments). So the 2 star rating is only for the ones with volume control. Amazon is selling ones without, so I will change the rating back up to 4 stars. My recommendation against the volume control ones still stands.
Customer Review: Great value, good sound
Summary: 5 Stars
Most people that have gone through a lot of headphones, both for home and portable use, can agree that these are the best value anywhere. The sound quality is very good for the price, the clips have pros and cons, and they are genarlly quite durable.
These are open-ear headphones. This means that outside noise comes in quite readily, so it's not good for airplanes but will work pretty much anywhere else. Usually it's good to be able to hear something. The open-ear design also allows for better sound quality (anyone with Grado Labs headphones knows this). Outside noise issues aside, the sound quality is excellent (for the money).
Detail is present throughout highs, mids and lows. The bass is not especially strong (as with, say, most Sony headphones) but it is certainly present enough for you to hear the detail. For comparison I have Sony EX-51's and 81's. Those Sony earbuds sound pretty good and provide more sound isolation, but the Koss's blow them away in a side-by-side comparison in terms of detail and soundstage.
The clips that keep these on your ears are not especially comfortable at first, as many reviewers have commented. But on the upside, they do a very good job of keeping the phones in place. I wear glasses, which is annoying in combination with the clips. Usually I put the headphones on before I put my glasses on, or else the glasses' temples get caught between the clips and my ears.
As for durability, I just got my second pair after some wiring issues at the connector caused the left channel to work only intermittently. I bought the previous pair in December of last year. They would have lasted much longer, but I abused the hell out of these on a daily basis.
So for $15 (or less) these are an amazing deal. I use them daily, on a 25-minute walk each way to/from work, and they have served me well in every way. The only downside is wearing them with my glasses, which may be a bigger deal for other people, but I've been able to deal with it just fine.
If you need some new portable headphones, you can't go wrong here.
Customer Review: Typical Koss Sound without the nuissance of the old Plastic around head Band!
Summary: 3 Stars
These are typical Koss sounding phones, aka, loads of bass emphasis with fine enough mids/highs...ala, non-fatiguing. I do love that Koss used this newer design vs. the headband style where the plastic really annoyed and forced me unable to wear them (specifically where the plastic wraps around the ears). Though I have felt the plastic or whatever material it is on my ears a bit too much at times, it is never a problem where I need to take them off like the older types.
Pros=
-Cost to performance is Koss's motto or at least should be.
-Absolutely non-fatiguing unlike many others out there.
-Sensitivity seems to have gone up with these which is obviously a pro vs. the older ones particularly w/portable devices.
-Anyone w/cheap earbuds should toss them in the trash now and buy these or something similar like the Porta Pros.
Cons=
-Typical bass heavy junk, though at least the bass is tighter and not overly boomy like the older ones were. Lacking a better balance into the mids/highs.
-Absolutely non-fatiguing which cannot be said of many other phones including mega buck ones!
-Can be a little strain on ear from plastic clip, though nothing at all compared to older Koss ones and absolutely not a problem for extensive listening periods.
I don't know how anyone could fault these especially for the price, but especially for those that own multiple sets of phones/cans and wants to take ear fatigue away and just lay back and enjoy the overkill bass, but at the same time, not get overly tiresome from their mains.
I rate these as "ok" overall. They are nothing special other than the mega bang-buck factor and some other pros listed. This said, most other phones I have listened to have done nothing for me other than present a nicer soundstage/details/ambience/etc. etc...but they all suck even compared to a decent two channel home system. If one is going for a cheap on the go phone, get these or something similar like the Portapros. If one is going for something for in the home, go for a $200-$5K phone of choice.