Koss PortaPro Headphones with Case
by Koss
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List Price: Our Price: Calculated in a shopping cart Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Speakers See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Koss PortaPro Headphones with Case
Customer Review: Wow!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me start off by saying that I went from Grado 80's to these and let me say that I have officially been converted. Don't get me wrong the Grados are great, but they were very uncomfortable to use. I couldn't find myself wearing them any longer than an hour and I would rarely use them because of this. They were bulky and heavy and I couldn't find myself using them while walking throughout my house which is what I really like to do when I'm at home. My opinion is that if you have headphones they should, at minimum, be comfortable enough to wear while you're on your feet and doing stuff around the house. Now as for taking the Grados to the gym that was completely out of the question. Also the bass on the Grados just didn't suit my taste, it just lacked too much bass. So I ended up selling the Grados through craigslist and I got pretty much what I paid for them, which really mad me happy.
Now to the Portapro review. I finally ordered my first pair of Portapros and I was really impressed. Let me start off by saying that when I first got them I was a bit skeptical by the build quality because they do look a little flimsy. However, after I put them on and used them for a few hours I felt that they would be more than suitable for what I would use them for, which is for the gym and for at home use.
The build and look of the Portapro is great. The Portapros have these Princess Leia looking cans that are connected by a pretty thick metal band. The metal band is probably as wide as my pinky's fingernail and looks very solid. This band can be adjusted for people who have pretty large heads like myself and for pretty small children as well (from the looks of customer's images here on Amazon). Anyway I think that these headphones will definitely last plus they come with a "no questions asked" warranty, all you have to do is pay for the shipping costs to get them to Koss and the return shipping costs to get them back to you.
Now let me get to the sound. When I first put them on I literally couldn't help listening to my ipod for hours. It really made my music collection sound really good. I was listening to Miles Davis, MGMT, J Dilla, Bob Marley, Daft Punk, Rancid, and many other musical artists. These headphones were really versatile and sounded so great that I just went through most of my music collection to see if there was any music that didn't sound good with them but I just couldn't find any. (I seriously love these headphones!!!)
Also I don't know what it is about these headphones, but now I don't find the need to blast my music to make it sound enjoyable, I am literally using them connected to my mac on the lowest volume setting and I still find myself lowering the volume on Itunes sometimes.
These headphones are really, really comfortable. I use them for hours and hours on my free time and my head or ears never ever feel fatigued wearing them. The band never squeezes my big old head and the cans where the sound come from sit perfectly on top of my ears.
After about a few days I found that it was necessary to buy a better case than what they came with so I ended up buying a few large sized cases for sunglasses to see if they would fit. I have yet to receive any so I'll let you know how that goes. But the reason I needed to buy a better case was because I knew that I would be using them for the gym and for going to school and I don't think that the soft pouch that it came with would hold up well in my backpack or duffel.
In closing, I would these headphones to any friend of mine as long as they don't mind the "Back to the Future" look that they have. (I literally could see Michael J Fox using these in the movie, with his red puffy vest and blue jeans... maybe he did???) They sound truly amazing and are extremely comfortable..... now all you have to do is add them to your cart and you'll be all good!
Customer Review: Have used these daily for over 20 years
Summary: 5 Stars
5.5 stars
For my 200th review, I thought I'd sing the praises of one of the most useful and wonderful things I've ever owned, the PortaPro. I got these shortly after they came out, as I always longed for bass in my early Aiwa walkman (best of breed back then). These thangs changed my life!
I still love music deeply, but back in school it was everything to me, my solace and balm and ecstatic release, hours and hours every day. I still wear mine daily while running the dog, walking the dog, and during various non-dog activities as well. They have tremendously balanced sound, lots of bass but very open and tight bass, not sloppy. The highs are clean and never harsh, the mids smooth and present. From Bach to the Beatles to Metallica to Charlie Parker, they deliver musical sound in a pleasingly full sound spectrum, top to bottom.
For the money they are a miracle! They turn any mp3 player into a real sound machine, and BLOW AWAY any of the in-ear phones except for the thousand dollar customs (go to the HeadRoom online if you want perfect sound...they sell these alongside the best cans in the world, say no more). They deliver a surprisingly real soundstage and plenty of truly musical detail.
Add to that two great features. They fold up easily and fit in your pocket (make sure to get the folding ones, worth the extra few bucks for sure), making them a perfect companion to tiny mp3 players (they are a perfect match with my Muvo 2gb player, such sound from such tiny devices!).
But THE best feature of the PortaPros is the inestimable LIFETIME guarantee!! And they ain't whistlin' Dixie, folks, they mean it. I would know, as I've bought maybe four of these in the last 20 years, but I've owned about 14 new pairs total! Whenever the cords wear out or pull out of the ear (can happen, it's only thin rubber and wire, happens now and then when you're mountain climbing etc), I send them back to Koss with a six-dollar check (only gone up one buck in 20 years) and in a week I get a BRAND NEW pair. If that ain't taking care of the customer, what is?
So, for coming through on their promises, and for making a truly great-sounding and very cheap-for-the-quality headphone, I give Koss total props and praise for this product, one of the best values I've ever encountered as a music uberlover. This and a Muvo 2gb player will set you back only a hundred bucks and then give you so much musical pleasure everywhere you go. I have enjoyed my PortaPros on mountain tops, inside the Louvre, Prado, MOMA, etc, by the sea, on ski slopes, on trains in the high alps with views to die for as Beethoven's Sixth took me to heaven, in the subways and busses of dozens of lands, in front of literally thousands of sunsets from Big Sur hills to Jamaican beaches to Mallorcan cliffs to Norwegian fjords and so on for twenty-plus years.
I can only imagine how gratifying it must be for the spirits of the great composers to know that their music can now be heard in good sound anyplace on the planet. If we've achieved one useful thing as a species in the last thirty years, this is it: great portable sound that turns any post office line, etc from a nightmare into a dream.
In fact, now that I think of it, no product I've ever purchased has brought me this many hours of joy, except perhaps some of my guitars. The Pros were 25 bucks in the mid-80s and are now only 35; with inflation it should be far more. Thank you Koss for proving that some companies still know what value is. This is a bargain of the highest degree. Whoever invented these, I LOVE you!
Buy some for a friend; I have, many many times. And make sure to buy some for yourself; your life will become a lot sweeter, especially if you know how to let music take you far beyond this mortal coil.
My highest recommendation.
Customer Review: I'm back...the sound can't be beat!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a Portapro enthusiast for the past 4+ years. You've already read the hundreds rave reviews of the Portapro's phenomenal sound and being that I am in agreement with them all, I have little to add. I have several head phones from different manufacturers such as AKG, Sony, and Sennheiser and these beat all the more expensive open air and closed air headphones I have. The only headphones that are better are in-ear variety which I use conditions with a lot external noise such as on planes and working out at the gym.
However, recently I have fallen out of love with my Portapros and I think there are a lot of Portapro users who are in the closet about this particular design flaw that I'm about to elaborate on. First of all, let me explain that I have several mp3 players. Recently, I acquired mp3 players with large amounts of flash memory (16gb). Because of the long battery life inherent in these players (25 to 30 hours), I'm pretty much listening to them all day long, along with my Portapros. I wear these instead of the better sounding isolation earbuds because I need to hear the phone and be able to talk to people while wearing them.
With my extended hours of usage, I've been noticing that when I remove my Portapros, about 7 times out of 10 they pull at least one of my hairs out. I have developed a method of slow removal combined with pushing together adjustable metal frame that reduces the instance of this. This acts to release any hairs that have been captured by the sliding mechanism. However, because many times, I have to answer the phone quickly, I find myself having to pull off the Portapros at more normal speed -- and this results in too many instances of unauthorized hair removal.
Because of the great sound of the Portapro, I have been will to put up with it...until last night.
Last night I was at Office Depot and on a whim I purchased the Sony MDR-E828LP Fontopia Earbuds (with the wind-up case) for about 10 bucks. These are the most generic basic earbuds that Sony makes. Over the years, I have owned several of these and my experience with them was that these were entry-level headphones with entry-level sound. But when I plugged them in, I was in for a pleasant shock. These sounded great. They must of done some design improvements since I last tried them. Excellent full spectrum sound for metal, jazz, classical -- everything I listen to. Tight, natural bass response that, in my opinion, is at least 97% of the greatness of the Portapro -- all for a measly 10 bucks. Better sounding than the other headphones I have that cost several times as much.
Long story short...I've switched to Sony Fontopia's for the time being. The fact that they're not "in the ear" allows me to hear the phone and talk to people. But best of all -- no hair pulling.
I still like the Portapros for their sound. In fact a week ago, I wrote an email to Koss explaining the problem and they politely explained they were working a solution that didn't compromise the positive qualities of the current design.
That's cool. I'll be waiting. For now, I've hung up my Portapros. If there are other folks out there who have a problem with hair pulling like I did, the Sony Fontopia are a nice alternative for the being.
Revision 2/28/2011
In recent months, I've migrated back to using my Portapros. I'm just more careful when I take them off. There's nothing else like the sound on these babies. While I hope you guys fix the hair pulling, you're back to 5 stars.
Customer Review: outstanding value, w/ amazing warranty
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first got these headphones and compared them to the ones included with my Walkman back in 1997, I was amazed at the sound improvement, especially the strong bass these produce. I didn't know much about headphones at the time, but I took a chance on this brand I'd never heard of. Years later it's nice to know they're still considered among the best budget headphones you can buy. And to be fair, I'll mention other options.
Why the PortaPros are great:
- They sound much better than the cheap default throw-ins, especially if you like bass. I actually bought a larger pair of Koss headphones after this, but found out the PortaPros sounded better.
- They're the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. They're very lightweight and the pivoting earpad design accommodates ears that stick out. If not for the music you might forget they're on your head.
- They're conveniently portable. They fold into a little ball that's easily stored in a bag or backpack. I found this very convenient for walking between college classes.
- The price is a steal. Headphones get ridiculously expensive for those with remarkable hearing and wallets, but this is one of those models that will satisfy most people for well under $100.
- The No-Questions-Asked Lifetime Warranty. After years of use, my foam pads were deteriorating and part of my headband had come loose. I just sent my PortaPros back to Koss with a note and my address, and in about 2 weeks I got what looks and sounds like a new pair in the mail! I was so impressed, I decided to write this review.
Other headphones to consider:
- The Sennheiser PX100 seems to be the main competition, so they are worth checking out too. They're similarly affordable, lightweight and portable. I haven't had a chance to try on or listen to a pair.
- At the next level up are the Grado SR60 and SR80, which cost a bit more but are considered by many to be the best sound value out there. I had a chance to listen to some SR80s once; they sounded great but I found them to be somewhat uncomfortable due to the earpad pressure. After a while my ears were sore.
- If you prefer closed headphones (better isolation from outside noise- the previously mentioned phones will be audible to people near you), I'd take a look at the Sony MDR-7506/MDR-V6 and the Sennheiser HD280 Pro. These are also a step up in price, but considered a great value.
- See for yourself at review sites such as headphone.com, goodcans.com, etc.
Who wrote this review:
- I've done a lot of research, but I don't claim to be an expert or hard-core audiophile.
- I bought the PortaPro in late high school, and used them all throughout college to great satisfaction.
- Since then I've come to prefer clarity over exaggerated bass. My current favorite headphone is the Etymotic Research ER-4P. It's an odd comparison since the ER-4Ps are in-ear-canal headphones that cost several times as much. However, for the curious: the PortaPro can't compare in treble clarity, but they do have stronger bass, are slightly more comfortable, less fatiguing, and much cheaper. There are many steps up from the PortaPro, but it's a great, affordable place to start listening to good headphones.
NOTE: I actually have a pair of PortaPro Jr.s. From what I've read they are just PortaPros without the Comfort Zone switch on the temple pads. In any case, I'd assume the PortaPros are the same or a step up, and I'm very satisfied.
Customer Review: not durable enough -- my revised review changes star rating down to 3 stars
Summary: 4 Stars
follow-up comment, June 11, 2007
I ended up sending one of the broken headsets back to Koss, along with a $6 check. Turns out, these have a lifetime guarantee, and for $6, they will repair or replace them for you. I got the new pair in rapid order-- total turn-around was about 10 days. Caution--if you send these in for repair, do NOT include the pouch; they returned only the headphones, without the pouch. Anyway, it was really nice having the new headphones. BUT, this morning, I picked them up to put into the little carry pouch I use for my Nano and headphones, and found that the left earpiece was dangling again, broken at the swivel point.
I really like the comfort of these headphones and the fact that I don't have to crank up the volume to hear. But, I am now actively looking for a replacement to use, as these are obviously too frail for the constant folding and unfolding they get for my commutes to and from work. Sorry to have to do this, but I would change my 4 stars down to 3 (but Amazon is not letting that happen).
If you will not be stuffing these in a storage pouch but will be simply laying them on a desk or table, then these are great. If you plan to fold and open a lot, I now suggest you look for something more durable.
Sorry, KOSS!
origianal review Jan 6, 2007:
Quality good enough to make me get a 3rd pair
I have gone through 1.5 pairs of these things, now (my current pair is nearly ready for replacement). The first pair finally broke apart while folded in the soft bag that comes with it (I had had those about 6 or 7 years) -- I took them out and the left earpiece had broken at the plastic attach point and was left hanging. My second pair is now only 2.5 years old (purchased April 2004), and the wire at the plug end is getting iffy. If the wire moves, sometimes the phones go into single ear mode, so I guess one of the wires inside the very thin cable is breaking at the joint. This plug has a right angle into the player, and it is right at the cord end of the right angle piece where the wire is weakening. I am going to try taping it here to keep it from moving, and see if that solves the problem temporarily.
I do side by side test with this headphone and others used by other individuals. I ask them to put the volume where it won't blow out my eardrums, then I listen using their phones and settings. I then plug in my portapros, and listen. So far, I have not found anyone's setup to beat the quality and clairty and volume delivered by these phones. Usually, I have to turn the player DOWN when I plug in my phones because they pick up so much more than others.
If you are prepared to buy a new pair of these every 5 years or so, then these are definitely a good deal.
I just wish Koss would send a hard case for storage since I do believe that the soft case does not protect them enough when they are stowed. Koss could also thicken the cable a little bit to make it more durable, or do a gradual thickening as the cable nears the plug. When I get a new pair, I will tape that end of the cable to try to postpone this problem -- less than 3 years is too soon for this to happen.
Becasue of these two design flaws, I rate these a 4 intead of the 5 that the quality of sound delivers.
I listen to jazz, smooth jazz, pop, rock, and audiobooks primarily.
Happy listening!