Koss 60 Ohm Sound Review (PortaPro, PortaPro Wireless, KSC75, KPH30i, KTXPRO1, UR40)

[@mmjackk]

How can you not love KOSS? High quality sound for the masses.

[@theft-ant9684]

He is deaf and dump

[@Farpun]

love the 60ohm Koss, and love metal 571 reviews, couldn't ask for a better combination

[@antoinep9733]

- Farpun - Took the words out of my mouth, really enjoyed this one.

[@brydon10]

I use my headphones to listen to reviews about headphones.

[@metal571]

And that is why I have prioritized mic quality

[@brydon10]

Your mic sounds damn good.

[@metal571]

Gotta love the Rode NT1. Almost perfectly flat frequency response and nearly imperceptible 4.5 dBA self noise for a reasonable price. Someone recommended it to me years ago and I've never regretted it

[@these_go_to_11]

@@metal571 that’s why you’re a fckn legend mate I’m fed up of the earape that is the majority of YT audio editing/recording etc

[@trollmustard]

Lmao

[@Bradum]

9/10 review. -1 point for not having beige KPH30i. If it doesn't look like it's out of a 90s call center, I'm not interested.

[@riseuplight]

Bradum try late 80’s foreign language lab

[@marcusbryant8857]

Your wishes have been granted: www.amazon.com/dp/B07SFK2K17/ref=twister_B07PNK7Q7Q?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[@Tlanesi]

Isn't beige like ugly? I have the 3 colors, and blue looks the best followed by grey.

[@Bradum]

@@Tlanesi -1 point for you too

[@hadiffnazhan862]

@@Tlanesi that's the charm of it dude. Its that retro plastic toy kinda vibe

[@DanPrattles]

It takes a while but the KPH30i's clamp does eventually ease. When it does it really is a sweet little headphone. Love mine

[@eschultzz]

Proud owner of the porta pro wireless here. The cable makes a lot more sense if you put it behind your neck when you wear it. It's the perfect length. The battery is tacked onto the wire, I agree, but it's crazy how long it lasts. Absolutely CRAZY. And I can't tell the difference out of my iphone between this and the wired version.

[@HiCZoK]

I love Porta Pro so much. it's just so relaxing sounding

[@lordluisluzi2771]

The porta pros was my fist headphone in the 80`s. Still a great headphone!

[@davidbcg286]

Loved the conclusion, I may get a Porta Pro this year

[@ronaldwergin6719]

Whoever thought watching a guy discuss headphones for more than twenty minutes could be so interesting but your videos really do make for a fascinating watch. Of all of the headphones with the Portapro driver that I think are the most comfortable (and one of the best sounding) are the metal headband Radio Shack Pro 35’s. They are probably super hard to find but if you can find a pair give them a try. They did revise it as the Pro 35a but they were simply the uncomfortable KTX-1 with the Realistic name brand. I really like these comparison reviews. Thank you for your excellent reviews.

[@metal571]

Yeah that's one reason why I didn't hunt down some of the other 60 ohm models, pretty tough to find. I'm aware of the KSC35 for example, but I thought I'd cover the stuff most used and then slightly less used instead. And thanks, I really don't know at this point what I'm doing to keep anyone's attention here, and assume you all watch at 1.75x or 2x to get through it all lol

[@bluebutterfly4320]

Another great group review. New changes of your room are awesome. It feels more lively.

[@LAUGHINGMANWILL]

Great video feel like your reading my mind with your description of the Porta Pros, Ksc75, and Kph30i. There is another titanium variant that isn't sold anymore but can be found in new old stock. The Pro3AA are closed back but similar in size to the UR-40. Definitely worth a listen

[@Derpderpson123]

These reviews are great! Keep doing this, you're pretty good at it

[@lilth501]

I've had my koss portapros for almost 30 years and I have lost them..... turn the house upside down can't seem to find them

[@doctoranthonyf]

What are you waiting for? Buy another pair.

[@Azimandozi]

Great review! I own the porta pro ktxpro1 and love both. Thinking of getting the ksc75s. Btw I do like your reactions to things and how you laugh at certain things and little jokes you make it makes you so warm and likable. Keep up the good work.

[@ducciboi]

Yeah good position is pretty detrimental for the Porta Pros. I used to think they weren't anything special and were kinda muffled because they were a bit too pressed up against my ears. Decided to flip the comfort switches and suddenly I was getting a lot more treble and an actual soundstage which was like magic. You should also try the Kramer mod with Yaxi pads which really brings out their potential.

[@marcusbryant8857]

Alternate view KPH30i: Great bang for the buck - surprising bass. Can easily bend band without breaking - just take your time and do it slow. Ultra light and comfortable.

[@hazi5961]

Can't beat the price to performance of the porta pros. I own ZMFs and Audezes, but still have my porta pros.

[@spizzlo]

I think the KPH30i wins that battle actually. I know it's preference, and people go either way. The fatal flaw of the KPH for me is comfort. It feels a treat until it doesn't and I have to take them off.

[@escapetherace1943]

@@spizzlo porta pros also fit on the cheap headband the ksc75's do in this video, and with it they don't become uncomfortable

[@brianm2850]

The Porta Pro w/Yaxi, KSC75 w/Yaxi+HB, and probably the new KPH40 (haven't tried) are endgame comfort for me. My first ever adult headphone purchase was a $300 headphone going in somewhat blind (I used Rtings). However, if had I known these existed I had would have been just as happy (and "richer") with a purchase of a Koss.

[@TheNeers71]

I just stretch the kph30is over my studio monitors when I'm not using them and the clamp has greatly improved

[@ericmoss6110]

Great video! I have wondered about the UR40 for a while.

[@fishylogic222]

KPH30i plus Yaxi Pads are 🔥🔥🔥

[@PhilBushay]

Was wondering how the UR40 sounded as an over-ear with the KSC75 drivers. Now I know, though I wish the loose connection didn't happen with the drivers, would have been very interesting to see what the FR looked like. I use the SportaPro as my walking headphone and it sounds nearly identical to the PortaPro but even cheaper construction and I like the look a bit more. A bit dark for my tastes but still really fun sounding and a relaxing listen. Thanks for the review! I've always wondered what the less popular ones sounded like.

[@supernova1976]

I have bought alot of headphones 100, 200, 300 USD, and always heard people say Portapro and KSC75 , so i decided to get them both cheaper than a pair of new pads for my other headphones. now the portapro is permanently my daily driver, i like warm sounding headphones i find it way less fatiguing and feels weightless. the only thing i would change is create one with less sound bleed but then again it would change the sound characteristics :) .

[@Vishmaw]

The KPH30i is such a stupid good value. It sounds a lot like a HD 650 with the upper mids EQed down, to the point that I just sold my 650 as the KPH30i fulfilled its role of warm headphone adequately enough. 650 is still much better than it of course, but considering the price difference its crazy how similar they are. You are right about the comfort though, it does get irritating after a hour or two, I intend to pick up some more Yaxi pads for it in the future and see if it helps. its ended up being my favorite of the cheap Koss headphones surprisingly. You should give the Yaxi pads a try with the Porta Pros, I found they cut the midbass just a bit and make them sound slightly airer/more open as well as improve the comfort. Really nice improvement for 12 bucks. I still prefer the KPH30i to it personally as I actually like the more intimate presentation, but Yaxi Porta pro is real good for a more speaker like experience. The KSC75 is probably the most detail you can get in a headphone under 100 bucks but man isnt it ear murder at times. I made the mistake of listening to one of the Dark Country albums with it and had to rip it off my ears when they started using a harmonica, could feel it scratching the inside of my ear. Lot of fun with guitar heavy music though.

[@carlos2004]

oh wow, wouldn't expect anyone would actually sell the 650's over the kph's. well, to fair they the headphone i regret buying the most, the only reason i keep mine is because of computer use as i have no other use for them at this point. and in that regard, the hd58x would be a better option.

[@daburabu308]

Not really, they break in few months while good headphones last for years or decades. Value for sound quality? Sure I can see newbies interested in what good headphones sound like buying it once, other than that zero value here.

[@metal571]

It's annoying, but they have a lifetime warranty like every wired Koss product

[@metal571]

It's annoying, but they have a lifetime warranty like every wired Koss product

[@no-man_baugh]

Thank you for showing your ksc headband mod! I have both the ksc-75 and very long hair, and those phones get tangled up in it constantly and a proper headband will really escelate them to ghetto grado territory

[@martinvaxjo]

This review was great. Well done, man! I own the Porta Pro with a mic and a 3,5 mm plug, and I bought them because of the cartoon review and the fact that I needed to have something that would fit under my helmet, for music, and for chat over Jitsi Meet, without having all kinds of different ones. I did my own review about them, but not as good as yours. As you say, they are lovely for the price, and you can plug them into anything and listen a very long time without getting tired of them.

[@AndyBHome]

I have the UR40 and I actually really like them. I have had mine for a few years with no problems and have actually replaced the earpads on those ($5 from Koss direct), although I totally agree that they are too shallow. I use the PortaPros every day as a headset for my cellphone. I also listen to music on it a lot. KTXPro1 - I think they sound fantastic, really not easily distinguishable for me from the PortaPro, but I haven't really done a methodical assessment of them. I just listen for a while and say, "oh, yeah. Those sound good!" and later do the same with something else. Better than all of them though, and one of my absolute favorite CLOSED headphones, are the Sennheiser HD380s that you're wearing to make this. It seems like they discontinued those - booo : (. Of course they are a totally different type of headphone from all of these open on-ear budget models, but I think those are spectacular. To me the amazing find here is the KTXPro1 - for under $20 they sound incredible to my ears, even if they do look and feel pretty junky.

[@turbomustang84]

Metal571 First let me say I've had issue with a couple of the reviews you've done over the years because I can be an opinionated asshole at time's But now that you have stepped back from doing Reviews I really miss your thoughtful and well worded reviews ... So I hope you know that a lot of us in the Headphone/ Audiophile hobby appreciated your contribution and I for one would definitely support you if you choose to continue .

[@metal571]

We're all opinionated or the hobby wouldn't be interesting. Nowadays I prefer to provide tact with my opinions however, something that's severely lacking in the community at large. Or at least I try

[@turbomustang84]

@@metal571 90 percent of the time I agree with your conclusions.... I can not say that about most of the KZbin reviewers

[@ahmadhusaini8420]

Do you know what kind of iem/ieh that carries the same signature of ksc75? I do have my endgame with desktop setup, rocking hd800+eq so far. But hardly find something that i like for portable use, i want iem, not headphones for portable, office use basically. I tried a lot of iems and none of them has the same airy sound of ksc75. I do like ksc75 a lot but i need something that is more comfortable to use and better quality i guess.

[@davidhodgin8900]

every video your space looks renovated

[@GjbMcN]

Hi came across from New Record Day after the Mezze review and found your Koss-arama section I have the 75 and the Porta Pro and like both. I like the ear clips especially if you wear a straw hat (summer) or beanie ( deep winter) both of which I do anyway I concur on view these Koss ARE good value

[@Joe-yi8xj]

GjbMcN the koss actually sound better over the beanie. Don’t knock it till you try it

[@SianaGearz]

I come here via KZbin's recommendation bar from Z's review who managed to ecstatically gush about KPH30 without saying ANYTHING specific about them for 20 minutes. I must say i find your review significantly more informative and more satisfying! I'm currently wearing SONY MDR-110 :D Lightweight comfort, sound without too many annoyances, low-end starts rolling off around 80 to 100 and you can still about hear 30Hz, at the high end i'd say start dropping around 12, but you can still just about hear 15 or 16. There's a bit of emphasis around 3 and 7 KHz, and they're not exactly low-distortion but not any worse than you expect from a driver this size. I'd say i prefer them to both the Koss and even similar Walkman-ish Sennheiser headphones, but the bass isn't very prominent, but overall sound is much less annoying, so it's not a direct rival. The headband - not sure what it's made of but it's a very soft and durable plastic, i can coil it up into a 1-inch circle and it will spring back just fine. I wonder if KPH30 headband is similarly durable - it's possible, depending on the plastic choice. I didn't find Koss PortaPro enjoyable, and i've listened to them many times over the years, first around 2004 and then recently because my friend fell in love with them. They're OK but not better than that. I prefer Urbanears Plattan to them, and i don't terribly like those either! Plattan, once worn in or bent out, are just somewhat mid-heavy and warm to bassy and with little excitement and a strong roll-off up top, but definitely less irritating than PortaPro. My daily wear is Urbanears Zinken which sound like they have a subwoofer that rattles your skull due to a quite resonant sub-bass emphasis somewhere south of 50Hz, but the advantage is that there isn't an explicit midbass hump, still maybe a bit much midbass, but it's not murderous, and they have an overall smooth high end that plays well past 16 KHz with a bit of a wider emphasis around 4 KHz. They EQ pretty well, i just suppress the bass and 4KHz band a little bit. They're actually popular with DJs in Europe due to the universal cable which is one way smartphone cable, turn it around and it's a 6.3mm coiled mixer cable, and due to incredibly good isolation, better than HD-25, and because headband doesn't snap and give up with time which was an issue on AIAIAI TMA-1, but they lack much of the snare and sibilance emphasis typical of DJ headphones, so i'd say they're more suitable for general listening than one would expect. They support super high excursion and the linear excursion range is pretty good. I used to have a few pairs (different colours!) on me and while waiting in line at a party entrance, i'd chain them all up and have random people waiting with me put them on, and the smile on the faces is just something, because of how the hard hitting bass and the overall response combine for techno/house music, but they also don't ruin other less bass-heavy genres because those just summarily almost avoid the sub-bass hump. But then i'm among those people who couldn't care less about soundstage, i suspect it's largely an illusion (please do prove me wrong, in case i am) and not necessary to perceive all the constituents of the sound and the musical performance. Would you please make that video on acoustic impedance and MiniDSP EARS? I'm really curious. Because from Z there was no measurement plot and no demo or anything, he said they didn't play well with EARS, and it's like a puzzle i want to understand, it's killing me! Because i was thinking of getting EARS together with a friend or a few to share, for various purposes, in part because i want to understand headphones and headphone sound better. Something i always use at home is the cheap Yoga CD-68 from Taiwan. Not quite as much high end extension as Zinken, not horribly efficient, need some gain, but smoooooth! Very speaker-like to me. Never felt the slightest desire to EQ them. Comfort can be an issue but you can just bend them into shape. Pads are junk and became brittle quickly but softer $3 ones from Aliexpress do just fine. Glued-on trim pieces sometimes fall off and the processing on the plastic pieces isn't the greatest, but it's not super noticeable from a distance and do i even care about that when they're on my head? On one pair the wire became super stiff after a couple years, but it still works so whatever. They're widely available here in Europe at just about every music instrument store under various brands, but on your continent you might be somewhat out of luck, though i did find some eBay seller that ships from no idea where worldwide quite affordably. Do you think you'd like to review them? Because i don't think anyone from Americas reviewed them and this might be part of the issue why their availability there is so terrible. I ran into them at my local music instrument store and i was listening to numerous headphones, many very expensive, and i hate most headphones, and then i put on these $20 cheapies and was like HOLD ON, and i changed through a bunch of music and became ever more convinced, and i looked at a guy who works there and he just smiled and put his thumbs up. I am pretty hard to please. I don't like ATH-m50 for example because of a piercing sharp sound somewhere in the sibilance region, while the rest of the sound is fine, it killed them for me, and so many other headphones too! I have a number of headphone sound pet peeves, and these manage to trigger none of them and sound enjoyable with whatever i throw at them. I'll certainly go watch your past videos. I noticed you reviewed Steelseries Siberia 2 and i have the predecessor that i got super cheaply. Definitely not enough bass on mine, i think they improved the successor in this regard. Plus a bit of harshness across the treble, and a sibilant emphasis. They're certainly not horrible as headphones, not even close, especially compared with the bulk of gaming stuff, because i sometimes take a stroll through gaming peripheral section and just try on random headsets, and mostly other gaming headsets like the Razers and Turtle Beaches and whatnot just make me want to violently vomit, but Siberia (1) are just kinda mildly irritating and i think they can reproduce music mostly well enough - there might not be much between them and the famed Superlux, which i feel have a similar somewhat irritating character but hide it a tiny bit better. Also interesting solution with separate 9mm lapel microphone, but i think kinda misses the mark on the gaming use. Due to separate microphone and cable which is split into two sections, a 120mm headphone cable and a long extension cord with volume control, they were definitely aiming for daily wear dual kind of use, so people could just use them on their phone or MP3 player on the go, don't have to deal with two ends on the cable or cable being too long, and i mean they certainly look the part too, stylish and tasteful! Beautiful white and grey, beautiful flow of lines. Cord can get stained by fabrics on touch, happened to mine - doesn't wash off. But it is certainly robust!

[@doctoranthonyf]

Either a very expressive person or just maybe, the Adderral is working. Good post.

[@fuffy442]

Nice to see you again!

[@yaboitint.9944]

kph30i ae the king of this group when using either Yaxi porrta pro pads or using grado pads to turn them into over ears

[@-ANJ.]

Wish you were still in the game man!! Love your opinion.

[@metal571]

I'm still hanging out on Twitter

[@-ANJ.]

@@metal571 Oh heck ya!! See ya there man.

[@yonicozac]

Thanks for another great review. My island pair would be either the porta pro or the beoplay H6

[@Audfile]

When did Zeos do the face reveal?

[@BlackChrome3000]

Never.

[@turbomustang84]

There is a face reveal at most post offices . It has to do with his little Japanese girl fetish I can send you a copy 😉

[@toastersmaketea937]

@@turbomustang84 oh no

[@spizzlo]

Not to go on a rant here, but when you hear knowledgeable reviewers, it really makes you wonder how Zeos has the following he does.

[@tmmtmm]

@@spizzlo The problem with Zeos is that he doesn't know how to objectively describe what he is hearing haha. You know when he thinks something is good/bad but have no idea why half the time. Still entertaining to watch his extraneous rants and I think he is passionate about it for the right reasons. The guy I don't like watching is Joshua Valour - comes across to me as a shill for the industry and speaks almost exclusively in audiophile wankery.

[@exodia275]

hi metal can you please review the koss kph30i with grado 1000 replacement foam pads and the original foam removed? People have said that the audio gets better but I wanted your opinion on them. Much obliged and keep up the good work!

[@cjcq7]

If you think the PortaPros are warm and dark. You should try out the Sennheiser PX-100ii. Holy jeeze, those are probably the darkest headphones I have ever tried. You can barely hear any treble. That's coming from a person who finds the DT990pro 250 ohm's treble to be piercing and can hear treble extensions from the HD650, despite being a dark headphone.

[@doctoranthonyf]

Strange, no one talks about the PX-100’s anymore.

[@cjcq7]

@@doctoranthonyf I think they discontinued them. That may be why no one is talking about them anymore.

[@metal571]

Always wanted to try those but they're long gone and discontinued yep

[@tromick]

PX100's high-ends are much much balanced when it's compared to PX100-II.

[@cjcq7]

@@tromick good to know. Sounds like the original 100 is kind of different compared to the ii's.

[@MikeHawke410]

I miss the old school headphones in the early 80's they were big had a cord that would let you walk into the next room and had high bass and great treble.

[@camelCased]

Wondering if UR40 are any better than Samson SR850. My SR850 is breaking apart after 3 years of use, all the plastic thingies have broken around screwholes, so I'm looking for a comfortable open-back replacement for under 100$. I'd like headphones that I can use when working from home all day long and also enjoy movies and music after work. So, maybe not necessarily open-back but something that doesn't isolate me and doesn't make my ears feel hot and sweaty. It's sad to see how few decent open-back headphones there are under 100$. Ten years ago I had open-back Beyerdynamics for about 50$ but now there are no such models.

[@ejyu88]

Have you tried the Porta Pros with Yaxi pads? It's the number one most recommended thing to buy by many people, but I don't know if its worth the $12 for a pair, considering the headphone itself is only around $30.

[@metal571]

That's just Z. From what I hear they're just a comfort improvement so if they're already comfortable, not really a necessity. That's a very pYtHoNiC lOgO bRo

[@antoinep9733]

metal571 Thrilled you did this review, there’s a lot of love out there for these little guys. They are a great complement to my HD-6XX set-up and lots of fun at the cheap end of the hobby. I own Porta-Pros and a couple of KSC75s, with a KPH30i currently on the way to me from Massdrop, so your video was timely. I found the PP headband a touch clampy (even on the Light setting) until I switched to Yaxi pads, it was a big improvement. PP headband, KSC75 drivers and Yaxi pads is my favourite setup now. Bringing the driver closer to the ear by using the PP headband (more clamp than the Parts Express one) helps with the bass response, so good!

[@Vracer111]

@@metal571 False, the Yaxi pads noticeably improve the sound quality. Bass is less boomy and you gain more subbass, mids are more forward, treble is a little bit improved, and you get more separation, a more open sound, and better clarity . You need to try them, and I'm willing to send you a pair.

[@escapetherace1943]

@@Vracer111 I agree you get a bit more treble and it opens up just a bit and sounds a tad "wider" literally turns them into 40 dollar hd650s

[@klaud7311]

How do I mod the KTXPro1's to fit better? That swivel is weird

[@wnose]

12:45 look up Kramer mod - basically you remove the foam, and drill 4 holes in the outer rim of the plastic cover to get more bass. 4 holes in the middle ring to improve mids.

[@turbomustang84]

The flashing blue light is an anti-zeos device which is wonderful at any Canjam for it's usefulness.

[@michaelkelly7379]

Wait.. You took the KSC75 OFF the clips??!?! The clips absolutely make the product. I took my porta-pros off their headband to toss it in the trash and put on those clips. The clips are the best product Koss makes.

[@metal571]

Can't stand the clips, mainly because of the fit. I actually use both the Porta Pro and KSC75 on that parts express headband now

[@GinsuSher]

Dude. The clips are the first one to go for most people.... I even have a pair of ksc75 on a porta pro headband.

[@duchesspecson1379]

@@GinsuSher how’s the fit and sound? did it change anything?

[@DanielGrand]

liked your vid as soon as I saw the PE headband

[@spizzlo]

I'm not an audiophile, but when I listen to the KPH30i and Porta Pro back-to-back, the Porta Pro sounds muddier. For me, KPH30i is king between these two. I can play around with eq, but Porta Pro is never quite right, whereas I can dial in the KPH perfectly. I'm using an LG G8.

[@metal571]

I ended up using Porta Pro with Yaxi pads and the parts express headband in the end. Much less bloom in the bass that way

[@spizzlo]

@@metal571 ok thanks I'll try those.

[@turbomustang84]

I think the ktxpro1 is a more cheaply made version of the Optimus Pro 25 which was my favorite portable from the 90s

[@TimpTim]

Listening on my ksc75's! Love the porta pro too. Have 4xx and like them, but go to the 75 or 58x for vocal detail. The 75 also has a nice soundstage. Plan to try yaxi pads espec. on the 75's. Thanks fo this. PS new camera is great, tho background is a bit bright...and stark.😁

[@coyote2297]

And what about the pro 4s..???

[@SB-pf5rc]

You're missing out with the khp30i. Prop the ear pads over a 4" object and use a hair drier/heat gun on the upper part of the band. 4 minutes to make them stupid-comfy and remove that excessive midbass.

[@metal571]

Ended up swapping for Yaxi pads which already helped a lot

[@SB-pf5rc]

@@metal571 Cool. I have some grado GS pads on a different set of khp30s, and they're a good fix too. (they don't work right on the low clamping pressure pair) Was neat to get a reply. Good vid, good channel.

[@SB-pf5rc]

@@metal571 old.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/o01ufu/two_different_khp30i_mods/?ref=share&ref_source=link Yaxi look like a much better solution than the big 'ol mammajammas i tried.

[@the_sea_wants_to_take_me]

Tysm for this!!!! Super helpful fr!

[@danmoore1088]

Enjoyed this review. Love my Sportapros, and I've always wondered about the UR40s. Would love to see you review some of Koss's newer models (without this driver), since I never see anybody talk about them.

[@CokesF]

You could pop off the speakers on the KSC75 ear hooks and put them into the portapros headband if the portapro drivers crap out or if you dont like the ear hooks they come with. Thats what i did. it's a cheap fix too to just keep the headband off the portapros and just keep replacing them with the cheaper KSC75's. if that all makes sense to you.

[@metal571]

I ended up putting both the Porta Pros and KSC75s onto parts express headbands, seems to work well

[@CokesF]

@@metal571 I bought the parts express headband last week. Ill just keep it around for back-up headband.

[@kedarkedar1520]

@@metal571 on which you love to hear music between ksc75 vs porta pro?

[@metal571]

My two favs now are Porta Pro on stock headband, high clamp, with Yaxi pads, and KPH30i with Yaxi pads

[@antonzinn2293]

You fixed your white balance!

[@metal571]

A combination of changing all the lights to daylight color temp and changing the webcam completely seems to have helped

[@cedrictheM]

Any idea what the difference is between the porta pros and the sporta pros? In Canada sporta pros are like half the price.

[@metal571]

Same driver but I think Sporta can be worn as neckband? That's one of the only ones I haven't tried

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

KSC75 was my first high detail headphone, entry drug as they say. Tried out the Porta Pro ONCE, and it had a big dip somewhere in the lower treble, making a certain quiet synth portion of a favourite song almost unhearable. Also 75 has better overall bass(why did I write this? not editing though). JUST bought KPH30i, looking forward to hopefully not be disappointed.

[@HM-dm3qg]

How is it?

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

@@HM-dm3qg 1 year ago, something broke and I sent them back after only a few days. . 1 year LATER (now), I got myself KPH Clear, and I am glad I did. The PortaPro dip is still there, but there is no foam, so the sound is more CLEAR. Also, this goes to Mr Metal: apparently KSC75 used to have better bass, but the drivers are made WORSE now, so they have the roll-off. It used to not be there.

[@EM-ke1ic]

@@NotOrdinaryInGames is ksc75 not worth it now?

[@gonkong5638]

@@EM-ke1ic Yes. Even without the bass. I would take KPH30i clear over them.

[@ArturdeSousaRocha]

The PortaPro is like that warm, comfortable sweater. Not for all occasions but it's home. The only two artists whose recordings don't work that well with it for me are Peter Gabriel and Katie Melua. Also, it seems to sound slightly clearer with older gear like my 20-year old discman. I'm hoping for a 40th anniversary edition next year.

[@gabrielgavril3435]

Hi! It would be great if you could do a review of the superlux HD 681F headphones, the ones with black and white. I've had them for a few weeks now, and they sound much more balanced and good than the Koss ksc75

[@DroidLocks6971]

The KPH30i (Not Clear Version) Has To Me The Best Sound .

[@metal571]

I switched mine out with Yaxi pads and overall I think that's the best sound now

[@DroidLocks6971]

@@metal571 they sound and feel better with YAXI PADS yes sir .

[@stanisawszczypua9076]

You forget about other models with this driver: SportaPro and KSC35

[@metal571]

I'm well aware. This is the selection I decided to review

[@stanisawszczypua9076]

@@metal571 Just wonder do you know if those bottom of the barrel Koss KPH7 are worth anything? www.amazon.com/Koss-KPH7-Lightweight-Portable-Headphone/dp/B006T9ZKAQ/

[@austinstrickler5967]

If the kph30i's were sitting on the back of your ears there's a good chance you were wearing them backwards.

[@carlos2004]

wearing them backwards makes it unbearably worse but even in the correct orientation, they still clamp the back of the ear. most likely what he is talking about and he had them on correctly

[@metal571]

Lol I kinda know about how to tell which side is left and right after 5 years of reviewing headphones...

[@austinstrickler5967]

Glad u got a chuckle out of my comment. Carlos said it better than I could but all I wanted to do is shed light on how it is noticeably worse backwards and that your review didn't fall prey to something very simple that could've been overlooked (talking from my own human error and experience). That said, the clamping you're talking about (while in the correct orientation) I probably just don't notice because I have a small-ish head and don't wear them for more than 2 hours at a time.

[@metal571]

@@austinstrickler5967 for me it was more of the stiffness of the rubber resisting the ear "cups" from resting at an angle that was bugging me. I think switching them to Yaxi pads would probably fix the issue completely. Already using a pair of those on PortaPro and they don't change the sound too much, but they do add the much needed extra padding

[@austinstrickler5967]

Honestly I may have to try out those yaxi pads, ill report back too if I do end up picking them up for sure.

[@Sigillum88]

Can someone explain me the EQ settings? Kinda losing myself in stats there

[@khalil7011]

Late reply, and I'm no expert but a lot of people have expressed Sonar Works EQ is great with the porta pros (not sure on the others I'm afraid).

[@Sigillum88]

@@khalil7011 Managed with APO EQ ^^ sonarworks is pretty expensive :)

[@khalil7011]

@@Sigillum88 I've gotten the early access app on my phone (android) and it is free afaik. Glad you're enjoying the APO however, a far superior equalizer ;)

[@Sigillum88]

@@khalil7011 I searched something for PC... Immediately when I saw the price it was a turndown. APO is a little strange to setup, but when you get the hang of it, it's pretty nice and free as well. Already got the profile for Porta Pros, HE4xx and Superlux Hd669

[@iseeyou9488]

Does Koss ksc75 has better timbre than Porta Pro? After my gramps listening with Koss, he fell in love and he wants a pair too! And I'm thinking if I want to get another ksc75 or try something new.

[@metal571]

I still don't know how to define timbre. Just try it both and see what you like

[@bitterbuffalo8997]

Great review on those models. I have a Porta Pro and a Kcs75 with Yaxi & PE headband. I'd say my listening is 80% done with those two. I use my LCD2 when I want a larger soundstage, but I'm really starting to think those two Koss can do the job just fine and sell the LCD. Am I crazy?

[@metal571]

Not really. I use my PE/Yaxi Porta Pro all the time, and LCD2 when I want to hear a song a second time and get everything out of it

[@bitterbuffalo8997]

@@metal571 exactly how I use mine! LCD let's me jump into the recording just a bit more.

[@tromick]

What about PX100 and PX100-II?

[@Unconventional03]

Listening using my KSC75 with yaxi.

[@Callatis]

Porta Pro, Samson SR850, Superlux HD 681 or AKG 240? Which one has better sounding?

[@dnalekaw4699]

you need to do another og webcam review

[@andreasbill2083]

It looks like you are going to put the PortaPros on backwards all the time =)

[@ResolveReviews]

You been working out? You look good man

[@metal571]

Trust me, it's definitely the different lens lol

[@Catkat2907]

@@metal571 lmao

[@JOlivier2011]

@@metal571 Heavy lens?

[@metal571]

You could say it's a wiiiide angle

[@nonenothing4412]

with new graphics card he gets more fps and dosn't use stretched 4:3

[@francobellomo9979]

Interesting review, I was thinking of acquiring the UR 40 since the porta pro in my country are not there and seeing this disappoints me a lot, it is strange because other people say that it sounds very good or even better than the Porta PRO. I do not know what to do :(

[@metal571]

I mean the KSC75 is still good too

[@francobellomo9979]

@@metal571 yeah but impossible, the only models available in my country are UR40 and UR55 (for triple the value).

[@OkieDokieSmokie]

KPH30i are my favorite so far. I've tried the 30i clear and portapros too. They just aren't as fun.

[@metal571]

30i with Yaxi pads is my new fav

[@brianm2850]

@@metal571 Clear or the ones with the foam backing?

[@JTB--]

I just returned the Porta Pro because the headband just kills after a while. Got the KPH30i with the Vever Grado pads that many say are great. We shall see if they're comfy. That's the only real negative I can find about the Koss budget headphones

[@metal571]

Yeah I don't use the Porta Pro without that parts express headband now, it's compatible with it and not just the KSC75

[@buildyouup838]

This was a really good discussion. I like the KSC 75/Parts EXpress headband better than the Portapro, KSC75 sounds clear and more natural. Portapro is like a 650, rich and smooth, but too rich and thick, too much of a good thing. Plus with the parts express headband, it almost seems like you’re not wearing headphones, the music is all around you

[@buildyouup838]

Sportapro and ksc75 with headband, I have both, they sound the same, so you’re not missing out by not reviewing it.Sportapro pushes a little harder on the ears, so you might get more low-end

[@carlos2004]

@Ruby Badilla www.amazon.com/Parts-Express-Stereo-Lightweight-Headphones/dp/B0002KQZJS/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=parts+express+headband&qid=1568075910&s=gateway&sr=8-1 just throw the original headphones away and clip on the 75's.

[@sammodog]

KSC 75 with parts xpress headband and yaxi pad is a total winner!

[@michaelkelly7379]

I don't understand this madness. The ear-clips are god tier. Literally the best thing ever made in terms of comfort. The porta pro headband was straight to the trash for me.

[@sammodog]

@@michaelkelly7379 Depends on the ears. I have very small ears and they just didn't stay on right even if bent. My brother, nephew, and co-worker all have the KSC75's and prefer the clips, but they all have big ears! I

[@stuka78]

Is it worthwhile to change the cable of Kph30i or ksc75 with a braided one, maybe balanced?

[@metal571]

Balanced isn't gonna do much, they're not that hard to drive. Upgrading the cable to a nicer material and making it detachable though is a pretty common mod

[@antoinep9733]

A question for Koss fans out there... Are the different coloured Chinese Porta Pros on EBay all fakes? (Some also have a different style cable). Has anyone had a bad experience with eBay Porta-Pros?

[@Damien_N]

Antoine P not all of them are fakes, but there’s a large number of dubious ones on eBay - I’ve seen Real Porta Pros in red plastic with black rings, blue plastic with yellow rings, black plastic with red drivers among others. I’ve had problems with the cables on all of them. The best ones you can get are the Massdrop Porta Pro - it has an improved cable and a single button in line mic.

[@antoinep9733]

Damien N Thanks, good advice. I have bought two pairs (one a gift) from Massdrop and agree about the cable, it’s just they are soooo boring looking, was going to go for some variety for my 2nd pair. Might get the classic colour combo off Amazon, just shipping pushes up the cost for those or us not in the USA.

[@KossStereophones]

We occasionally have some non US versions in many unique colors that we sell periodically here in the US. Always be sure you're purchasing authentic Koss Headphones!

[@doctoranthonyf]

Buy ONLY from an authorized dealer! No need to risk it with the great low price.

[@Avryg00]

Metal you should check out the pioneer hrm 7. I think it has best closed Soundstage under 200.

[@wcg66]

The new lens and lighting highlight the need to decorate the room! How about throwing up a few metal posters? :)

[@metal571]

I'm very minimalistic. May add back acoustic foam, if anything

[@p.z.6712]

ZO said KPH30i outperforms most of the flagship HIFI headphones... LMAO... I like his ''humor'' and appreciate your rigor.

[@metal571]

It's pretty damn good because it has the same driver as the Porta Pro. But it tires my ears due to the clamp force, so now I actually use the PP on the parts express headband

[@KojiCO-ConvinceM]

Hey mate of all the headphones you have tested can you tell me which has the same sound signature and maybe EQ as the KSC 75? Just to eliminate some headphones I have 12 LOL, HD 650, HD 700, HD 800 S, ether c flow K712 Pro p9 to name the top five Don’t worry about budget, anything between $1000-$4000 should be more than fine,

[@SteelyDanUnofficial]

Well ksc75 hooks break so now im gonna buy this headband

[@metal571]

Should work well

[@74neverlast]

what about the mic ?

[@Xirpzy]

I love the AKG y30. Sadly they stopped producing those and their new headphones in the y series are completely different and much too bulky for outdoor activities. I feel a bit betrayed to be honest because the y30 had many good things about it.

[@LingatsuDesignAndDev]

Is there a sound difference between the original porta pro and the massdrop version?

[@metal571]

Shouldn't be

[@LingatsuDesignAndDev]

@@metal571 You're right. I have an other question about the comfort if you don't mind. Do you think yaxi pads can make the porta pro really better in term of comfort (particularly for the people who complain about ears hurting) or the pads only are not enough ?

[@metal571]

@@LingatsuDesignAndDev it definitely helps because they are thicker so there's more cushion

[@LingatsuDesignAndDev]

@@metal571 I see thank you

[@reinhartfrais2434]

Hello and thank you for your great work. I like the koss Porta pro I lot but the hurt my ears.i am willing to spend up to 500us can you reccomand a headphone similar in sound but comfortable. Thank you reinhart

[@metal571]

Try the Yaxi pads first. A lot more plush

[@reinhartfrais2434]

metal571 thank you Is the LCD 1 close to the Porta ?

[@metal571]

@@reinhartfrais2434 it's leaner in the bass, more of a reference/slightly aggressive headphone. I find it essentially perfect in FR after Audeze Reveal correction however

[@reinhartfrais2434]

metal571 thank you again how about the AKG K317 ?

[@reinhartfrais2434]

Or the HD 569 ? I live in Thailand if you need anything fro her I am happy to send it to you free of charge. Thanks for your help Metal .

[@Farpun]

On Josh Valour's review he said how the soundstage is really wide and one of the best features of the portapro. So would you disagree with that? Great review, I was pleasantly surprised when it came up in my suggestions

[@metal571]

I meant what I said. Next to the 6xx it just wasn't wide

[@Farpun]

@@metal571 thanks for replying, I'll go with your opinion

[@Autotrope]

Can you explain the FR chart a bit? There seems to be a huge chasm around 3 or 4k. Why doesn't this negatively affect it?

[@metal571]

That's because it's a minidsp ears and is highly inaccurate, especially for on ear headphones. I hope I said that in the video. But if not, check out rtings.com, they have Porta Pro measurements that are pretty accurate

[@Autotrope]

Thanks. That dip is still there in their measurement, albeit smoothed a bit more but it dips down like 20dB. I haven't heard these headphones so I have no reference it just looks weird intuitively. Maybe all on-ear measurements are a bit hard to make clear

[@metal571]

@@Autotrope yeah it looks pretty weird but in practice I don't really notice it. Probably some kind of resonance, they usually appear as sharp discontinuities. I still use and love Porta Pro regularly despite the graph

[@nonenothing4412]

but zeos said that kph30i is best headphones in the world!!! wtf!!!

[@metal571]

You must be new to this channel lol

[@ahmadhusaini8420]

dont listen to zeos that much, just take a pinch of salt and read other reviews. Zeos has nothing to do with headphones review. No lows, mids, highs review at all

[@nonenothing4412]

it was a joke guys..)))

[@bibliusz777]

Are porta pro/sporta pro comfortable after many hours and will they be suitable for running?

[@metal571]

They should clamp tight enough for that to work. You may want to try the Yaxi pads for them to give a little more cushion though for longer term use

[@akajeetv6100]

Hi metal, what better for prgressive and heavy metal? k701 or 612pro?

[@giovanbattistafichera8439]

will the ksc75 lower frequencies become more present if you bend the arch and press the driver on your ear more?

[@metal571]

A bit but not as much as using the Porta Pro version of the driver without the titanium coating. I've compared both with the same clamp force and that was my conclusion. Some prefer the KSC75 on the Porta Pro headband, some the Porta Pro on the parts express headband, and then preferred clamp force may change again with the use of Yaxi pads etc

[@gabrielgavril3435]

The koss ksc75 are the Best. I have them ❤

[@metal571]

I still have a pair also, and my Porta Pro, KPH30i, and KTX Pro 1

[@gabrielgavril3435]

@@metal571 also the superlux HD 681 are amazing for the money. You should check them out

[@gabrielgavril3435]

@@metal571 the superlux HD 681 have amazing mids , very flat.

[@rhalfik]

Titanium coating stiffens the diaphragm and consequently rises the driver's resonance. this is why the sound is warm and bass is shallow.

[@leyo5]

Would you recommend the same EQ for the Kph30i as well?

[@KonradSkowronski]

It's a pitty you missed Sporta Pro, same family but huge difference in sound signature vs Porta Pro. I use to like Porta but they are very uncomfortable for me and I can't stand this 150Hz bump that goes to low midrange and makes sound muddy. Also they are very dark, not so much details in high frequencies, apart from 5,5 kHz not so welcome peak there is no upper treble at all. Anyway sometimes I like to watch your channel.

[@metal571]

I know I definitely still want to try sporta pro and there's the KPH40 now as well. The Yaxi pads for these models help with the upper treble but they also introduce a bit more of that 5k peak too. You can see that on oratory1990's graphs

[@dougreimer2912]

I'm on 4th pair of PP since 1988. Luv the sound but replace them once a decade as the cables/wires wear out to the bear copper wiring after steady use. At this price tho there worth it. I keep thinking I'll drop a few hundred on some higher quality cans but these r just too good as a daily driver. The base extension can't be duplicated for under $50.

[@metal571]

They still have a lifetime warranty so next time it wears out you don't even need to buy a whole new pair

[@deuswulf6193]

@@metal571 Or just mod them to use mmcx sockets. It's cheap and easy.

[@Pwnisification]

metal have u listened to the kph40s?