Koss KSC-15 Behind the Head Portable Stereophone

1 Great Phones...But There's a Catch
I've bought two pairs of these headphones, and I love them. The sound quality is superb (particularly for the price), and they are exceptionally comfortable. However, I have encountered a serious flaw in the headphone design. The insulation at the point of separation for the wires tends to become detached, eventually, this means that the sound may cut out from one of the earpieces intermittently. Koss products have a lifetime warranty...but the shipping costs make the warranty a joke for headphones this cheap.

2 Waste of Money
Don't believe the hype about neodymium magnets and good bass sound with these cheap headphones. I think the positive reviewers must have been hired by Koss, because these earbuds (or whatever they are) have NO BASS WHATSOEVER--I mean nothing! I compared them directly to a pair of Sony earbuds (not even the best ones), and while I'm not thrilled with Sony in general, the Sony earbuds blew Koss away in richness and bass, hands down. The Koss sound flat and hollow, like music over the telephone. I also bought the Koss UR-15 headphones at the same time, and they turned out to be garbage also. Do yourself a favor and buy another brand. Even if you have to pay more, at least you'll get something for your money.

3 Awesome
First off, I'm not an "audiophile." I don't have the best ears in the world and I can't tell you if the mids sounds off or the highs are too high or what have you. What I can tell you is that these headphones sound MUCH better than anything I've used before. I've always used earbuds or the included headphones with cd players and such just because I never felt like buying anything more expensive. Well, recently the earbuds on my gmini 400 blew out and I needed a new set. I picked these up because I had heard some good reviews on them, and they were cheap. I put them on, and all I can say is wow. The bass is just amazing, and you can hear everything in the song. I regret not buying these earlier. I feel like every cd player I've previously owned was a complete waste because I didn't have these to appreciate the music! They don't isolate you well, but I consider this a positive because I like knowing if someone is pounding on my door, or yelling at me to move ahead in line, etc. They are also small, a key factor in my headphone buying decision because I like to keep them in my pocket since I normally just wear them to/from class or other people's dorms. So, to sum it up, small, cheap, and they sound simply amazing. If you are looking for some cheap headphones that you can lug around without worrying, these are them.

4 You must try these!
They sound great! I forget I have them on.
There is some confusion. The KSC35 are the ones to get.
The cheaper and jazzier KSC50 with the cloth cords are different
and seem to be bulkier and fall off from activity.
The cheaper KSC75 don't sound as smooth and are heavier.
I have used the KSC35 for 10 years and am happy to buy
a new pair when the old ones are lost. Koss gives a lifetime warranty
on these! ($6 service fee). I adjust the ear clips by heating them
with a hairdryer, BUT do not heat the drivers with the hot air! Place
a barrier between the two. Make an effort to get them comfortable.
Bonus, you can wear a hat with this style.

5 Superior Sound -- Great Price
I'm purchasing my 2nd pair of these. Only one other lightweight headphone that I've owned has beaten the sound quality of these. My general advice on buying lightweight headphones with the best sound (learned through experimentation): 1. Frequency Response: I believe this is the most important specification. The wider the range, the better the sound. I wouldn't even bother with any headphone that starts above 16hz or ends below 23,000hz, because you'll lose some of the high-end and low-end sounds. For instance, when I played the soundtrack from Star Wars on headphones that didn't meet this criteria, I noticed that I couldn't hear some of the background instruments. 2. Gold Plated Plug: The sound from non-gold plated headphones doesn't seem as good. I'd encourage you to read the other reviews here, too. These headphones fit very comfortably for me, but I guess that's not the case with everyone. Also, I wouldn't know how well these headphones handle heavy wear & tear, because I don't use them in such situations.

6 A Nice Headphone
I was looking for a headphone which I could use during work hours, but within a range of $20 - $25. I got this one for $19 and found it to be very good. It easily and comfortably fits into ears, the sound quality is very good and its shape and weight allows me to wear it for hours.

Everything is so well. But I found only one cons with this phone - the length of the chord is to small (I guess that is true for all Sportclips). For workout purpose it is really great, but in work, if you have to do a little move around while sitting in your chair, it may be little distracting.

7 lightweight, comfortable, and affordable
i just got these today, and i was surprised by the lightness of the headphones. i put them on, and started playing from my mp3 player, and i was very impressed. the bass was great, and the sound was rich, not flat. please note, though, that the headphones are shown actual size in the small thumbnail, not the enlarged picture. overall, i would suggest these headphones to others.

8 These are the best value in portable headphones.
There are better headphones than these (Sennheiser HD-580, Etymotic ER-4S, ...), but those cost hundreds of dollars and require amplification to sound great.

For portable use there is no beating the value of these. They use the same drivers as the Koss Porta Pros and sound warm with maybe a little too much bass. There's no reason to keep your trashy bundled headphones anymore.

9 small but mighty headphones
I bought these because I was tired of trying to stick those ear buds in my ears. These are extremely comfortable and the sound is excellent for the price. And after you put them on a few times, you don't have to look at which one is for your left or right ear. You just know by the shape.

10 Very good headphones
These headphones are incredible for the price. The sound is crystal clear and is very well balanced, with any type of music. The headphones are durable enough to be mushed between two books in a bag for quite a while without any problems.

There are only a few downsides to this product. Lots of outside sound is let in while listening which gets annoying, and it lets out lots of sound that other people can hear, at almost any volume. The last downside is that the headphones can pinch your ears and hurt after a while.

Overall, though, these are some of the best sounding headphones I have used, rivaling other much more expensive models and brands.

11 Amazing
I purchased these on recomendation from a friend. I couldnt be happier, I use these with my iPod on a daily basis. The sound is amazing for a set of headphones. The bass is deep and treble is crystal clear.

12 KOSS KSC50
These headphones have good bass, and very portable very portable, the sound quality is very good for the price

My headphone clip broke off after a couple of months, the clip can sometimes hurt your ears when you wear them for a while

i would go for different headphones, like the Sennheiser PX 100

13 Awesome sound, uncomfortable design
For the price (especially on Amazon!!) these are amazing headphones! The sound quality is better than I had expected and they are very well built. That said, they are very uncomfortable for me and I had to return them (after hearing the sound quality, I will definitely be going with Koss again though). I do not have huge ears my any means but the "SportClip" design caused pressure on the tops of my ears and I had to wear them very loosely to keep it from pinching my ears. I imagine this would be the case for many people who have long ears or thick ears (ever had to think about your ears before?! lol).

Like I said the quality of sound and build is excellent but I could not handle the pressure of my ears for more than a few minutes. The bass is not "boomy" but rather very tight and crisp sounding and these headphones brought out nuances, especially in precussion and acoustic guitar, that I had never heard with my Sony headphones.

It suprised me that I do not like these because I bought them to replace well-used Sony MDR-G52s which are the "StreetStyle" behind the ear headphones which have been very comfortable for me, even after long periods of time.

If you don't have sensitive ears, give these a try. However, if you are worried that these may not be comfortable for you just try the PROX1 which is the same exact speakers/drivers in a normal "over the head" design. That's what is in the mail to me as we speak.

14 Almost Amazing
At first, when I bought these headphones, I really did not like the looseness of them. However, I've gotten used to them as extremely lightweight headphones that I use in my room if I don't want my ears to be squished. As a result, I do not recommend these headphones for exercising, but for occassional use. Especially for the price, these headphones are amazing.

15 Don't be fooled by the price!
I've owned a pair of these for about one year until they fell apart just recently. Granted, though, this was after they were put through some serious abuse from exercising and travelling. But that's the beauty of the price of these headphones, you can easily throw out the old ones and buy new ones without spending too much.
They have an amazing sound for such a small size and price. Although, like most reviewers have mentioned about this product, they are not good if you want your music to be completely unheard by the public. Also, on the flipside, lots of outside gets in because of the open-ness of the earpieces. I kind of like being able to hear outside noise when I use these for running on open roads, just so I'm aware of my surroundings.

16 Great Sounding and Durable
I've had these headphones since the fall of 2001, and I must say that for $25 I spent on these, I have not been disappointed. The "SportClip" design is a stroke of genius (Koss had this design before anyone else) and is what sold me: My ears are not compatible with earbuds, but I hate normal headphones with headbands. In college I could listen to the KSC50s for 12+ hour stints in the computer lab, and my ears were never tired. The sound from these is excellent; I never realised how poor the quality of the earbuds that shipped with my MP3 player was until I bought these. I'm no audiophile, but I could definately tell a big difference.
I never treated these headphones with care in the 2+ years I owned them; when I wasn't listening to my MP3 player on these, they spent their time at the bottom of my backpack - with the cord carelessly coiled wrapped around the earpieces. I run regularly with these, and I've never had an issue with the earpieces bouncing off my ears. Even after all the abuse, the KSC50s show very few signs of wear and tear. The only signs of the hard life these headphones have led is the left earclip where some of the silver paint has flaked off and on the nylon braided cable, where the sheathed wires inside are showing (probably cut by something in the bottom of my bookbag). Having said that, the sound has never shorted out. I realise that I'm an abusive customer (probably worst case for this type of product) and I don't fault the product for the cut nylon sheathing. Now that I'm buying a new MP3 player, I'm buying a new set of KSC50s for home and office use. My old ones will soldier on when I run at the gym.
All I can say is this: for the $13 these cost now, it will be very difficult to find a better-sounding pair of headphones for the price!

17 Amazing sound, especially for the price
These are a terrific set of headphones. The sound quality is terrific, though the physical design isn't perfect.

I had a pair of Grado SR60s (not super-high-end, but still 5x what I paid for the KSC50s), and I'd say the KSC50s are neck and neck with them. The midrange might be slightly better in the Grados, but the transparency is about the same, and the KSC50s definitely have better low-frequency response. If you want to hear real low bass sounds and hate the cheesy "Super Bass" effects, these are the phones for you. And best of all, the KSC50s are really easy to drive, so you won't have to drain your portable player's battery by cranking up the volume to hear it.

As far as the form factor goes, it's good and bad. I have a pair of Sony earclips (that list for the same as the KSC50s) that are smaller and lighter, and they have a wire-style clip for the ear that's a lot less bulky than the clip on the KSC50s. The Sonys are more convenient and more comfortable -- the only problem is that the the sound is horrible by comparison. So if you're comparing these with earbuds or other earclips for use during snowboarding or something, the form factor may or may not get the job done. On the other hand, compared to full-size Grados or Sennheisers, these are extremely portable and convenient. I've used these for walking and other activities, and I haven't had any trouble with them. As far as comfort goes, I hated them for the first couple of days, then I got used to them and now they don't bother me -- though I wouldn't go so far as to call them really comfortable. They could definitely be improved on this score.

Another note: these aren't sealed headphones. If you fly a lot and want to drown out the noise of an airplane, go get some Etymotics instead. On the other hand, I prefer being able to hear a certain amount of ambient noise in case something comes up that I need to hear, whether walking around or in the office.

Bottom line: these aren't perfect, but they're the best all-around headphones I've ever owned, and the price is so low it's ridiculous.

18 GREAT sound quality, but...
These KSC50s have great sound quality, just like their predecessors, the KSC35 and Portapros (made from same driver), but there is one thing wrong with these: the comfort level. They SOUND great, but they'll hurt your ears after about an hour or so, especially if you have small ones like me. I would recommend the "outdated" KSC35 instead, because the spring there is located at the side of the earphone, while this one's is at the top, where it hurts your ear. The only difference between the two is price (KSC35 ~ $30; KSC50 ~ $13 at the time of this writing), comfort level (subjective), and style.

19 don't waste your money
These headphones served their purpose, but I'd recommend getting better ones. Here are some reasons I didn't like this product:

-Left ear broke as soon as I took it out of the package; still worked, but the part that hooks onto your ear kept twisting/falling off.
-Uncomfortable, bulky
-Kept falling off
-Unable to take music at high volumes for very long (maybe that was my fault...)

Besides all that, here are the reasons I bought the product in the first place:

-Allowed me to share the music with a friend, or listen to the music with one ear, and hold a conversation with the other.

Well, that's about it. I wanted headphones that would have separate ears, and these were the best for their price. If it's really what you want, go ahead and get them.

20 clunky and uncomfortable
these headphones are uncomfortable. i can't wear them for more than an hour or so without a very annoying pinching sensation. the headphones are a little too heavy for the spring-loaded design they employ to stay on your ears. i was hoping to be able to run with them, but they don't stay on securely enough for that to be possible.

21 Many more highs then lows
The Koss KSC50 headphones are extremely good quality for the price. Contrary to other reviews, these are very comfortable, but its just a matter of positioning them on your ear the right way. Also, the bass is truly outstanding. It matches the bass quality of other much more expensive headphones. I personnally love the bandless headphones, because they don't interfere when you try to lie down, or rest your head like the ones with the band in the back, and they don't have any problems with them fitting or not like the ones with the bands on the top. But there are few lows, which is to be expected from headphones this cheap. They are very thick, nearly one and half inches thick, so people with small ears look like jackasses with these on. Also, the cord is very short and very fragile, it seems to me like they could break easily, although mine haven't broken yet. And they don't stay on very well if you try to excersise with them on. But overall, they are very impressive considering their small price, and with a lifetime warranty, no one should pass these by.

22 Not recommended for runners!
I bought this product because of the reviews about sound quality but primarily based on comments about it being so great for exercising. The sound was okay but for jogging the design is absolutely awful. For one thing, they are huge. The size was way larger than what I expected based on the picture. The headphones aren't heavy but they are big. They clip over your ear and seem to stick out a foot on each side. In reality it's about an inch but their lightness actually goes against you as they seem to "float" up and down if you're jogging. I jogged 3 miles the first time I used them and they almost drove me crazy. I spent my time not listening to my MP3 player but trying to adjust the Koss headphones or put them back on because they bounced off. I never got them to "fit" and at the end of my workout, the top of my ears hurt.

I can't say much about the sound quality as I was so distracted by the size and the design I wasn't able to focus much on the sound quality. If you're sitting on a couch and want a cheap headphone, it may be okay. But if you're planning to be active, or moving at all, then don't waste your money. I used it for about a 45 minute workout and won't use them again.

23 One little annoying problem
My first impression right out of the box was that it sounded great.

I've had this for over an year now, and although it sounds great, I hate hate putting it on.

It's painful if you have it on for even a relatively short period of time. And the discomfort is much worse when you wear glasses. The little plastic keeps digging into the back of my ears, and it's really irritating.

If you don't mind the discomfort, by all means, buy it. It's a great little headphones for the price. But if comfort is of paramount value to you, and if you wear glasses, then stay away from it.

24 Great Sound, but beware the cord
I love these phones. My ears are too small to do ear buds -- they never stay in and they hurt when they do, so I'm stuck with the over-the-ear kind.

The quality is amazing. I didn't realize how bad my computer speakers were until I started using these.

One bad thing though: the protective cord is fabric. Well , some kind of fabric-y cord thing. And the wires can get pulled out of the fabric with hard wear. I take mind everywhere, in and out of backpacks and such, and the wires are exposed the way a knit sweater will peel (and I mean the red and blud wires that have just a very thin protective coating). It doesn't affect the sound -- yet. But it's not pretty.

Koss has a similar pair that have black plastic coating around the wires rather than the cord. I'm upgrading to that.

25 KSC50 is average
I thought these stereophones were uncomfortable to wear and bought these due to the reviews on this site. Also since they are open air, everyone around you can hear what you're listening to. If you are fine with those two things, these headphones are for you.

26 Great value and sound
This is great product considering I found it for 13$. the bass sounds are really well amplified, this brand never disappoints in general, and once again, they delivered a good product. nice design too, really light and you can sleep on it, lay your head back, there are no constraints, since of the smart design.

27 great sound, if a bit bass-y; needs a volume control
I bought these because of the excellent reviews that the sound received, and was not disappointed: these little headphones provide very full sound, albeit a bit heavy on the bass. I found that if I set my iPod equalizer to 'treble boost' the result was eminently listenable for those times when I want headphones without the isolation of my Etymotic ER-6s. The ear clips are a little strange at first, but if they pinch when you put the headphones on, try rotating them a bit so that they settle in. Too bad that these don't have a volume control on the cord like the KSC-55s do; they'd be five-star headphones for me if they did.

28 hmm whats the purpose here
Well the things hug my ear well but the actual ear buds dont stick in your year. They might if you have holes in your ear the size of a quarter. So since they dont fit the sound quality isnt that good. its nice because im a mountain biker and they dont fall off but i would pass if i were you.

29 Overall good product
I have purchased these headphones because they are recommended everywhere. They have excellent sound. But I do not like the fact that it hurts my ears after more than 30 minutes. Luckily enough I will not use them for indoor everyday listening.

30 Won't hold for long
For the while I had these guys, they did me well, pretty good sound quality. I'll just summarize pro's and cons:

Pro-
-Descent sound quality
- relatively [inexpensive]

Con-
-Will fall apart if you're semi active, or will fall apart on its own in a half a year.
- Open ear, so if you play your music loud, you're going to get a lot of complaints.
- Not the best sound quality

If you don't have a high budget, then these will do for a while.
But if your looking for better sound quality, look at some sennhieser headphones ( px100's)

31 Broke them in less than a month.
I needed headphones I could take to the gym, but after having Sony Street Style headphones w/ volume control for a long time, I really wanted headphones with volume control. Well, the loss of sound quality was just barely noticeable in the Koss headphones, they were half the price, and they do have volume control. However, they hurt the backs of your ears after a while, and whatever you do, don't wear them at the gym. I was using a stationary bike, got a little sweat in them, and the left ear stopped working. Oh well...back to Sony for me.

32 Music in combat
I Purchased these headphones before i left for Kuwait then Iraq,
i was looking for somthing small portable and disposable in case they got lost or blown up. for being stuffed in a medical bag being bounced around and thrown about i can say its a very durable dependable pair of headphones, I was not expecting much for sound but i was suprised on how well these headphones delivered, before the war, we had tons of down time and listened to music on a cd player, to me they have a good bass response, and clean highs with little distortion.
they survived the war beat to hell but still working and sounding as good as the first time I put them on, if you are looking for a dependable good sounding pair of headphones with out spending too much money these headphones might serve you well, they have survived in combat and will survive any domestic abuse.

33 great value and sound
These simple, light phones have always been the highest rated in their class. Good: surprising bass response and suitable for active lifestyles. Bad: maybe a little dorky looking and may leak too much sound for cubicle or public transport use.

34 good sound. not very comfortable.
The sound quality is good, especially in this price range. I however find it quite uncomfortable to wear. When I wear it for more than half an hour my ears really hurt. It could be different for other people though.

35 For pounding lows. Againts so-so mids, hiss on highs
After hearing about numerous recommendations for this contraption from friends, I finally got the KSC 35 last week. Already have a pair of Grado SR80. Never mind the unsurpassed sound quality, Grados are simply too impractical to carry around, too bulky and noise leaks in due to open air design. For the size, it's kind of puzzling that the KSC 35 has a thumping bass that would clobber even the most bloated headphones out there, including the Grado. It does overwhelm the meds, but depending on your tastes, this could be good or bad. Unfortunately, the good news ends here. The lows are indeed powerful, but they lack the depth and dimension you probably would expect from a renowned brand like Koss. Same goes with the meds. Although more profound than the lows, it's still dry, grainy, totally lacking of warmth. The highs are sharp hisses galore, a typical compromise for a good base. The meds fare better than your avg Sony headphones, the bass is amazing but at the cost of the treble and the overall character of these phones. For [the price tag], I guess that the KSC 35 is worthy, but nothing ground braking as the hypes suggest. Take it from me: if you buy these with that kind of expectations, they would simply leave you wanting more. Buy them for what they are.

Oh and they are also kind of annoying to put on.

36 Good Value
I just received them today. Here are some pros and cons:

Pros:
1. Good sound quality. Decent bass.
2. Low noise.
3. Fairly comfortable. The clips goes behind the ears like the legs of a pair of glasses. So, if you are used to wearing glasses, you will probably find the clips pretty non-intrusive. Since the headphones are fairly light, you will probably not notice them much.
4. Decent fit. They will probably stay on if you were to bike or walk with them. You may be disappointed if you were to expect much more.

Cons:
1. Cheaply constructed. They are made of plastic, not metal. I think they will stand up to normal use. I doubt if they will withstand any kind of punishment.

Overall, I am happy with this purchase. I believe that they will serve me well until the first time I accidentally sit on them.

37 Crystal Clear
I bought these head phones for my portable dvd player and the sound was crystal clear, the great design lets for comfortable listening

38 Great sound, but not the most comfortable headphones.
These headphones sound terrific, and for the price, can't be beat. I just wish they were a little more comfortable. At least on my ears, they tend to pinch a bit and feel a little uncomfortable. My 12 yr old thinks they are "really cool". No denying, they sound great. I did alot of research, even on sites devoted solely to headphone technology and product reviews. I bought them on the basis of glowing reviews from the experts. I think if Koss modified the design with some padding on the earclips, they'd be perfect.

39 They trick me.
I bought this stereo long times ago, i have paid for that but until now I didn't receive it. When I sent them an email to ask my order, they just told me to wait. I think it's atrick. Don't believe or buy anything from them.

40 Nice but the PX 100s are better.
Recommend all look at Sennheiser PX100s. Five Stars for them.

41 Not very impressive - especially bad for smaller ears
Bought these based on the glowing reviews here, but I could not keep them on my ears to save my life. If you are a woman, or a teenager with small ears, they will not stay on. I wore them at the gym and my workout partner said she could hear them from the next treadmill. Just not impressed with these. I let my husband try them to run in, but they fell off his ears also when he went on his run.

42 I'm pleased with the KSC-50
I go through headsets for my walkman about every three months, so the price is right. I jog in an urban area, so the very wide open design is fine with me. (Incidentally, trying to block outside noise with open headsets is a shortcut to permanent hearing damage. Buy closed headsets or good ear buds if you want to isolate yourself from outside noise.) They fit my ears fine and one can secure them with croakies. I basically only listen to NPR with them cuz my Grados have spoiled me as far as music, so the KSC-50 is adequate for me and I gotta say they have robust sound for the price. They are very very light, which is nice for jogging.

But they are very open and there are a lot of situations where it would be rude to put these on and play music at high volume. If you want to be isolated within your own musicscape, you'll need a very quiet room to do this in cuz the KSC-50 lets all the ambient noise in. The material is kinda cheap, which is fine if you buy headsets often like me, but I don't see the cord lasting very long without some careful handling.

43 good and bad
These headphones are both really good and really bad at the same time. The sound quality is amazing with good bass and everything. The bad part is that they come off really easy. Also, I hope the person next to you likes the same music. The reason I said this is there is a lot of sound leakage. So if your like me and travel on a plane a lot you either keep the sound really low or not buy these.

44 Great Product
Thanks to everyone that wrote a review stating how good these sterophones sounded. I just purchased a 230.00 mp3 player and was so disappointed how it sounded. I tried several headphones but the sound quality was still terrible. Out of panic I decided to buy a pair of Koss KSC-50 SportClips base on the positive reviews. Wow, these cans sound really great. For the price you won't find anything better out there. I find the clips to be fine. Maybe for some people they may make your ears a little sore if you wear them for several hours a day. In summary, if you want good base and sound and don't want to spend a fortune, buy these sportClips. If you are like me, you will be very, very happy.

45 Total disappointment, regardless of sound quality
After reading numerous reviews on the site, I decided that these headphones must be the ones for me. Wow, how I was wrong! Anyone who has a concern about annoying people around them (which should be everyone) should steer clear of these headphones, as they sound almost as loud to others as they do in your ear. While the fit is fairly awkward, they do stay on your ear as long as you are not doing a lot of bouncing up and down (i.e. jogging). The sound quality is OK, not great. I also tried the Sennheiser MX-500s, which are an improvement on the sound leak issue, but utterly uncomfortable. You are better off just spending the money and getting a much better product with the Sony Earbud Headphones (MDR-EX70LP). My advice is to search around for a good price. I hope this review saves others from the headache that these caused me.

46 An awesome bang for your buck!
I got these KSC-50's to replace my aiwa HP-A091's which broke, as well as my panasonic headphones. I must say, these cans ROCK!!

--comfort--these things are really nice. They have a spring in the connector to easily slip them on. Once they're on, you'll soon forget them. I have heard that these will not work for people with big ears. I have normal medium ears and they are a bit loose. The pads are thick (without going beyond reason) and are VERY soft and comfortable. The clips are also flexible. I personally wouldn't use these for exercise. They are a bit loose, and I think they would fall off. It's better to get something more secure like the Labtec Curve-495's.

--sound--Well, these things are unbelieveable when it comes to sound. Literally, I can't believe they're under 20 bucks. Even though the speaker itself is farther away from your head than most headphones, they're still loud and proud. They literally require less volume from the device or computer and put out a lot of sound. In addition to the highs and mids being VERY clear, these cans have BOOMING BASS. The bass in these headphones is almost excessive, so I can't imagine what the closer fitting KSC-35's were like. Even thouugh the bass is loud, the range is still very low, and is still as clear as the rest of the range.

If you're looking for inexpensive headphones that don't just get the job done, these are the ones for you. You won't be returning them. If they're right for exercise and your size ear is up to you.

This is an edit to my review: Unfortunately, I took these to school today in my pocket in my pants. I don't know how, but they got dented very easily. I will be returning them. You might want to try somethign more durable for school environments, other than that they're still good for exercise.

47 About disappointment
Hi,

I bought the KSC-50 SportClip from Amazon.com after reading several reviews about it and after checking with KOSS.COM

I received them in time, so Amazon.com did its job perfectly !

But what a surprise when I opened the package (nicely opened, you never now if you may return it or not). The nylon-covered cord what instead a PVC cord !!!

I checked with Amazon and KOSS. Now they have both changed the information concerning the product.

So overall, they are nice, comfortable but have a fragile PVC cord...too bad, they missed the 5 Stars.

48 Inexpensive But...
These are very inexpensive headphones and though their sound is clear and crisp and the bass good, I find them a bit too much on the harsh/tinny end of the sound spectrum. It hurts my ears to listen to these, especially with higher notes. Save your money and get something better. Sennheiser MX 500 earbuds or Sennheiser PX 200 would be good choices.

49 Nice Sound, Comfortable to Wear.
These headphones are very nice.
I haven't had them very long so I could not tell you yet how durable they are.
The sound quality is very good, but unfortunately, unlike some other ones, they do not block out most of the outside noises. By holding them firmly against your ears, the sound is incredible, but who is going to do that?
They are very VERY comfortable. They kind of hang on your ear but are not heavy at all. There is nothing annoying sticking inside your ear. And most notably, there is no head-band piece at all - not on top, not behind the head, nothing but a wire. This makes these phones especially comfortable if you like to put on your music and then lay your head back to relax, like on an airplane, for instance. They don't get knocked out of place easily, either.

I just went back to find my old review of this item, and I see it is more than a year ago (March of 2003). I can tell you I am *STILL* using these headphones, and they are my favorite pair. They are obviously very durable, since I use them constantly and tote them along with me, shoving them in and out of my bag with my CD player, not necessarily being very careful with them at all. Now I see I said previously that they are very comfortable, but now I have started wearing them for hours at a time, and I find that after 3 or so hours, the ear clip does start to pinch a little, but not horribly. The sound quality is still really good, and I will repeat: they are by far my favorite pair of headphones.

50 Can't beat these for the money!!!!
All I can say is these head phones will not disappoint you, they have "excellent" sound quality, and you cannot go wrong for the money. They are comfortable but fitting them on properly & the feel once they are on the ears does take a little getting used to. I read the reviews well before buying, especially the one where the guy said they were better than the many more expensive Sennheiser models. I have a a pair of Sennheiser HD-202's and they they do not have nothing on the Koss KSC-50 as far as sound quality. You will find big sound and great range in these little head phones. I would have given them 5 stars if Koss had provided a belt pouch for them, they are a little clumsy to handle and store when not on your head. Buy these with confidence.

51 G R E A T
These are really great headphones, and they are very comfortable. Although, do NOT get these if you have a big head, or ears that stick out. THEY WILL NOT WORK. Amazing sound quality, (even better than the sony ones that were 30 bucks)and great bass.
If you are having trouble putting them on, here is some advice:

a) Pull the clip thing away from the headphone gently, and stick it on your ear, pushing the headphone against/behind your ear, as you do so.

Or, if that doesnt work, (Or they wont stay on)

b) take the rubber end of the clip and pull it over the other side of the headphone and then pull it back. THEN stick them on your ear. (This works if you want them tighter, like for working out laying down)

Buy this pair of headphones if you want some really inexpensive ones that sound amazing

52 Great Sound
The sound is superb, especially for the price. Unfortunately, I found them a little lacking in the "stay in place on your ear" department when working out (especially running). So I returned them and bought the KSC-55, which uses the same driver as the KSC-50, but uses a behind-the-head strap to hold them in place on your head. Now I'm a happy camper.

53 a bit disappointing
For the past few years, I've had a struggle to try and find the best kind of headphones. I've had in ear ones, with headbands, and with out, and I've had many basic over ear ones with headbands, but these would be my first over-ear without a headband. The second they arrived, and I took them out of their packaging, the left ear piece came out of it's casing, speaker, foam and all. Now it pops out every so often, and I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed. As for the feel, they are very comfortable, except for when you're laying down, because they tend to slip off your ears. I guess that's why they say that they're for active use. The sound is fine, but I usually like to have music straight to my ears, so it can block out what ever else is going on. These block everything out, but since they're hanging loosely on your ears, the sound isn't as full as I would have liked. All in all I give them 3.5 stars.

54 Great sound, great feel, easily breakable
Pros:
* If you are one of those people who like to listen to music with a lot of bass, these headphones will do fine in giving you a sufficient amount.
* These headphones are very good for on-the-go listening and can be easily shared with friends without having to break a connector band.
* They look really cool!

Cons:
* The soft ear buds aren't totally connected to the rest of the head phone. This means that if you are an active user that won't dedicate significant time to make sure you treat them adequately, they will BREAK OFF. Mine did and I fixed this by taping them back on, but they look a little corny.
* The cord is like a peice of yarn that is easily tangled. When it does get tangled to an extreme, the part of the cord that is kinked will partially unwind leaving the inside metal wire to come out. If the inner wire comes out a lot, your sound quality may decline and it is hard to get the wire back in. The worst case scenario of this happening is where either the wire connects to the rubber plug or where the wire connects to the headphones, leaving it near impossible to get the inner wire back into the outer wire.

Overall:
YES * If you take good care of them and enjoy its better than average sound quality, BUY THEM NOW!
NO * If you won't take good care of them and don't care too much about having good bass, DON'T BUY THEM NOW!

To Koss:
* If you ever plan on making modifications to these head phones...
- Choose a different cord material (rubber or metal wire like sony)
- Make the ear buds more connected to the rest of the headphone rather than leaving a crack in which the average consumer can break them apart.

55 go with the KSC-35s
... These are bigger and doesn't stay on your ears ... I prefer the KSC-35s as they sound better and hug your ears. The the KSC-50s are good, decent, cheap ... but I reccommend the KSC-35s instead

56 Not for running...
I bought these a few months ago because I had been pretty satisfied with other Koss headphones. Unfortunetly these are not worth the price. The sound is ok, but it doesn't block out outside noise even on full volume. The foam covers kept coming off, and , though my ears my be smaller than average, when running on the treadmill they would not stay in my ears. Over all I would not recommend these headphones.

57 Quality, inexpensive purchase. Great for runners.
I disagree with the previous reviewer. Part of the reason I purchased these headphones was to use them while running. I've had no problems with them falling off and in fact, hardly even notice I have them on while using them. As a college student, I run on campus and have also haven't noticed any outside sound leaking in. Unlike bulky "behind the head" headphones these are light-weight and portable with excellent sound quality. Pretty long lasting too, have had them for a few months and no problems thus far. I recommend them as being a quality, inexpensive purchase.

58 sounds good, doesn't block out noise
I agree with some of the other reviewers that the sound quality is quite decent. It's true that the behind the ear clip takes a little getting used to, but generally holds on okay. The problem is that it doesn't keep out any external noise whatsoever. I bought these because I fly a lot, but I find myself needing to crank up my CD player to block out the jet noise.

59 There Are Better Alternatives
I'm going to make this review as simple and straight-forward as I can.

PRO'S: The sound quality is quite good. It's got great bass and sounds pretty crisp.

CON'S: Everything else. They will NOT stay on your ears if you so much as sneeze. They leak a LOT of sound so everyone within 5 feet will hear your song well enough to recite the words. It's pretty cheaply made - the chord split open, exposing the wires, at 4 different spots. These were just spots where the chord was bent or wrapped up. How are you going to put these in your bag/purse without slightly bending the wire??

Bottom line = Get other headphones, of better quality, for the same price. These are disappointing to say the least.

60 Great Sound Quality, Except On The Go
If you are just sitting around the house and wanting something small and compact that sounds good to listen to your portable CD player with, these are great. Clean sound and good bass overall, not to mention very comfortable.

But I really hope you don't plan to use these while walking down a sidewalk with traffic on the street or on a bus. They are virtually unusable with any outside noise as it drowns out the sound from these headphones very easily. And by the time you turn up the volume enough to hear them somewhat anybody near you can hear your music nearly as much as you can. Chances are pretty good that the person sitting next to you on the bus doesn't have the same music tastes as you, so this is definately not a good thing (not to mention it really is just plain rude to have headphones this loud).

If they would just find some way to get these things to block out external noise to even a small degree these would be great portable headphones. But you have to be in a quiet environment to really use them, and when being used portable that isn't going to happen often. They just aren't very good for their intended use.

61 Headphone heaven for the hyper!!
I love the sound of music through headphones, but hate the headphones themselves. That's because I never sit still, and headphones were always sliding around or falling off my head, which drove me nuts. After about an hour of wearing these headphones, however, I forgot I had them on, and am now so used to them I take them everywhere I go. They're incredibly comfortable once you get used to them. I am amazed at how good they are for the price.

The sound quality definitely improves with use, and they have greatly enhanced my delight in owning my Rio 800 mp3 player, which I must admit I wasn't using very much (the headphones that come with that item are abysmal.) These two items put together, though, make a great combination--easy and lightweight to use and carry around with you. Highly recommended.

62 For the price they're OK
Don't get me wrong, for the price, these are OK headphones. The sound is decent and they are fairly portable. However, there are some drawbacks.

1) They hurt your ears a little bit. Maybe I just need to give them more time.

2) Since they are open air headphones, other people can hear your music too. If you're going to use them while riding a bus or on a shuttle, then you might make others angry. If you're going running with them, then they should be fine.

One of the pluses to these headphones is that they hold very well. So if you like to run, they'll be very good.

63 For the price they're OK
Don't get me wrong, for the price, these are OK headphones. The sound is decent and they are fairly portable. However, there are some drawbacks.

1) They hurt your ears a little bit. Maybe I just need to give them more time.

One of the pluses to these headphones is that they hold very well. So if you like to run, they'll be very good.

64 Just Might Be Perfect
These are the best headphones that I've ever owned. What's so great about them?

1. Lightweight - you don't feel like you're wearing them
2. Comfortable - they don't stick in your ears and they don't have the annoying headband
3. Solid - you'd have to try hard to break them
4. Good fit - great for working out
5. Great sound, especially bass

Add in the low price and these are a must have

65 Awesome product!
The best features about this product ... the sound ... it's amazing ... I could be listening to Limp Bizkit and it's kick tush or I could switch over to Britney and it still rocks ... it's lightweight and it's great for when I'm walking / jogging / working out. It allows ambient noise to filter in so you're not totally drowned out from the outside world. The only drawback and that's why it's not FIVE stars is ... it takes about 3 - 4 hours to get used to the damned things lol ... after that ... it's smooth sailing!

66 Bad product, good service
Similar to other reviewers, I found the earpieces to fit awkwardly. Despite that, the sound quality was good, out of the one earpiece that consistently worked. The biggest problem was that one of the earpieces didn't produce sound for long stretches.
I must say, however, that I am impressed with Amazon's returns department. The process was very simple (they even provided a shipping label). Anyway, I'll be receiving another pair of these headphones, bad fit and all. The sound quality and low price probably make up for that flaw.

67 Great Sound for a Great Price
I decided to buy this pair of headphones because I broke my Philips pair, I didn't really trust the Koss name, but when they arrived I was astounded. These headphones are very comfortable and low profile. They have great sound and are loud enough to be considered a full stereo system. They work great on all the things I have tried them on and best of all, they sound great at high volumes (for those people who like to rock). I must warn you though, dont turn these things up too loud, they could impair your hearing------lol. Recommended to everyone----best set of headphones I've ever bought.

68 Good sound, but bad fit
I agree with some of the other reviews that the sound is actually very good in comparison to other in-ear headphones, but that's when I'm pushing them up to my ears with my fingers. I'm giving them 2 star's because I can't get them to stay in my ears. The ear pieces don't conform well enough to my ears to keep them in place.

69 good headphones
I like these headphones but the only problem that I have is that the wire comes through the cord. Also the ear clip broke on one of the headphones. But everything else is good.

70 It is BAD!!!!
One product I never will recommend to anybody is this one. Sure, a 4-foot cord is a nice little feature, but that only counts if the product works. This unit never worked. When I took it out and plugged it into my cd player, it only played out of one ear, and never fixed. Nothing really worked to tweak this thing back to normal, so DON'T BUY IT!!! IT IS JUST A WASTE OF MONEY!

71 Buy it. Buy it now.
I looked up Opinions on epionions and am glad that I got them. I have had mine for over a year now but they still sound sharp and clean. They are comfortable and don't hurt my ears like the Sony ones did. And since they are two earpieces, I can share music with other people (and they are great for planes cause two people can listen to the movie and you don't have to pay 5 bucks for headphones that you have to give back!)

72 You will hate these phones...
if you don't take the time to burn them in first. I bought these headphones based on all the glowing reviews here. And I can now add mine too. You will be shocked at how good phones in this price category can sound.When I first took them out of the package and plugged them in, however, I couldn't believe how awful they sounded. Within the first half hour, I was ready to send them back, but I let them run for awhile and after about 3 hours there was a noticeable improvement in the sound. After about 6 hours I was delighted with the sound. I would have never expected to have to burn in inexpensive phones but the difference is amazing.After you let them burn in for at least 6 hours get ready for a listening experience you never thought possible at this price point. And no, of course, they won't compare to high end phones but they sure will give medium priced phones a run for their money. The sound stage is suprisingly full and well balanced, even at low listening levels. Vocals are a bit forward but not tiringly so. Cymbals are just a tad muddy (particularly high hats). But I really am picking nits for this price.These are not noise cancelling phones but they do a great job of blocking out external noises without having to turn them to deafening levels. But never fear, you can still hear things you need to remain safe or just work (traffic, telephone, etc.).The one problem I am having is getting the phone to fit comfortably on one ear. It fits perfectly on one side and is so comfortable, I barely feel it. But the other side digs slightly into the top of my ear. I am hoping, with time, I am able to figure out the placement. Which is the other caveat I offer, it does take some practice to get these on correctly and if you have long hair, pull it back before you try to put them on. But on the whole these are comfortable and secure phones, and you won't believe the sound.

73 This review is for the KSC-5 model...
...the KSC-5 Earbud Stereophones buy Koss are of very poor design and quality. They do not fit on the ear properly enough to be comfortable and the sound is just horrendous. Using these headphones is comparable to listening to an AM radio and will make even the best sounding cd players sound terrible. There is no bass and the highs are sorely lacking. I suppose if it has any strengths at all it would be the midrange, but that is something that many cheap headphones do not really lack in the first place. Stay away from the KSC-5 headphones and spend a little more money for better headphones.

74 they are good
I do not like traditional style headphones and the plugin-style ones are too painful for my ears, so I decided to try these. They are very good, no complaints. It is hard for me to judge sound quality as some other reviewers do, these are the headphones for a person on the move, not at home, and while on the street you usually are not in a silent environment, which means external sounds provide some interference. So whoa cares about 20 kHz frequency bans? Also, the cord is quite long which I like.

75 A great buy.
These headphones have great sound with a lot of bass and a clear high end. However, the main problem with these is that they really do look a bit odd when worn because of their size and design. Another problem is that because they aren't held tightly against the ear some of the bass is lost when compared with the ktx-pro headphones. Also I think these headphones would have been better if the cord were to go behind the head instead of having the standard v-cord because it can get in the way sometimes. Overall I feel that these headphones are still a great buy, however I think the KSC-55 headphones with the band behind the neck is a better buy because it does not have the same major problems.

76 Great!
I've tried several headphone sets, searching for The Great One. I've found it at last; I love these earphones! Their treble is crisp, the bass vibrant and powerful. Ear clips keep them solidly (and comfortably) in place, whether I'm jogging, biking, even sleeping. You can't go wrong with these.

77 GREAT HEADPHONES!!!!
These are great great great headphones. They have wonderful bass and they fit very convieniently on your ears. they have very good sound! these are the best headphones that you can get under 15 dollars! lol, well i would hightly recommend buying these. youy will be very very happy about your buy when you recieve them! BUY THESE!

78 Good sound, but don't stay on
I bought these for use with my Nike psa[play mp3 player which I got for xmas. The phones that came with the thing had abs. no base at all and hurt my ears as they pushed in to make sure they stayed on. I got these on the basis of reviews I had read. Indeed they do sound great, almost as good as my sony's, but they just wont stay on while running. I don't know if its my ears or just the deisgn itself, but the things keep moving and eventually fall off, and jsut rip them off and run listening to the music in my head. I would'nt suggest getting these for running unless you can try them on somewhere first and make sure they won't come off.

79 Pretty fly for a small fry
They're cheap, they're small, and they have impressive sound for their price. The only way they could be improved even slightly is if the main cord were one-sided (with the cord to the second earphone going around to the back of your head, perhaps). The cord could also stand to be maybe a foot longer, in my opinion. But that's a minor quibble, and at this price they're a steal.

80 Great portable sound
Koss makes some of the best priced and sounding headphones. The KSC-50s are great for travel with amazing bass response. The overall frequency response is very good for such a wide range...

81 i like
it sounds great.
it feels great.
bass is pretty good, and the sound is clear.

82 Fabulous Sound for The Money
These KSC-50's have great sound quality for a cheap set of 'phones. They aren't at all uncomfortable, and while some sound does leak out, you don't need the volume too loud to hear well anyway. The bass is amazing for portable headphones- the only ones I've heard better are my studio 'phones. I would recommend these 'phones to anyone!

83 the best cheap headphones I've owned
Well, after clipping them on (much less annoying than you would think, so don't let that dissuade you from buying them) and listening to about ten seconds of one of my favorite CDs of all time (Horsedrawn Wishes by Rollerskate Skinny), I proclaimed them to be the best cheap headphones I've ever owned. Of course, I've never bought headphones over $20, but I once owned a pair of some cushy vintage 70's things with separate volume controls on each side and soft ear cushions, and these Koss ones are the closest thing I've heard to those. For years I've used those stick-in-the-ear type, which are good for what they are, but I really never knew what I was missing. Now I do. The bass is tremendous. I don't know the technical term for it, but the "presence" is so much better. Dynamic range, maybe. Full and rich, with a lot more impact. So, yes, I am very, very pleased. The only thing I can complain about, and it's a very small thing, is that I don't feel that the treble is as good as it could be, but then I like a lot more crisp treble than some people I know.

84 One of the best steals in audio!
I am an admitted "audiophile" -- my main headphone system is over $3,000. However, these are one of my favorite headphones ever (and I've heard a lot of them, from $10 to $1000!). (...) These are one of the best-sounding headphones under a hundred bucks, and they are also one of the most versatile. They have three things going for them: 1) SOUND. The KSC-35 have balanced sound, including impressive bass, good midrange and good detail. That's a rare combination in headphones under a hundred bucks. They sound good enough that good sources really do sound good, but they are also enjoyable on lower-quality sources such as MP3 players and computers (another rare trait -- many headphones do one or the other, but not both). 2) COMFORT. The unique "earclip" design of the KSC-35 provides a very lightweight headphone that is also quite secure. These are without question the BEST exercise headphone on the planet, and they are also all-day comfortable. I should add that a few people don't like the clip design because of their ear shape, but most people will often forget they're wearing them. 3) EFFICIENCY. Unlike many high-quality headphones that need a juicy headphone amp to sound good, the KSC-35 sound great on anything, from the wimpiest portable CD player to the best dedicated headphone amp. I can't recommend this headphone enough. It's WAY better than anything else for the price, and competitive with headphones costing many times as much. If you're looking at (...) headphones under a hundred bucks, get these first and give them a try. You can return them if you don't like them, but my guess is you'll keep them ;)

85 Execlent, samll, and sound great
These are some of the best headphones i have ever heard. I have some gigantic 'full size' sony headphones, and they are like, i don't know, uhhh Fiddy bucks, and they have good sound quaility. I truley believe these are better. And i listen to lots of metallica, so i headbang to it, and these stay in place. Another thing, the Sony Neakphones, cost more money, and they hurt! After a while, they really cause pain. These don't. they are awesome.

Recomended without Reservation (really really good)

86 Why I didn't like this headset.
at first i thought it was spectacular. great sound, great idea. then after about the end of one audiobook it shorted out. i had to spend money on a new headset. i was very disappointed. i thought everything i would need for my mp3 would be sent and usable. i feel that even though i got a great deal on my mp3 and audiobook membership that i was cheated.

87 Giant Killers
The Koss KSC-50s, along with the other Koss headphones that use the PortaPro drivers are truly giant killers. These include the KSC-50, KSC-55, KSC-35, Porta Pro, Sporta Pro, KTX Pro, and also some Radio Shack models.

Most cheap headphones sound terrible, but I find these quite enjoyable. I use them when I don't want to take my Sennheiser HD600s out, and while they don't compare to the Senns, they are very plesant to listen to.

First comes the bass. Bass is very good for an inexpensive headphone. While they won't play as deep as a good subwoofer, they play much deeper then most cheap headphones I have tried, and the upper bass is not very boomy (Most cheap headphones have exaggerated upper bass to make them sound like they play deeper, many more expensive headphones do too, such as the Sony MDR-V600).

The midrange is probably the KSC-50s biggest weakness, in particular the lower mids - they just don't have the presence my HD600s have. They also seem to sound slightly colored, which is bad, but it isn't as bad as I make it out to be, I am comparing them to my HD600s. This isn't a fair comparison at all, comparing some (dollar amount) headphones to some (dollar amount) headphones, it is like comparing a Hyundai to a Ferrari.

Highs aren't very airy, but treble is played up fairly high (Most cheap headphones barely play upper treble), and it isn't overpowering at all.

Comfort: These are relatively comfortable headphones, sometimes the earclips can be annoying, but they are extremely light and you usually barely feel them on you.

In short, everything sounds pretty good on these headphones. You really can't compare to them at anywhere this price range. They literally sound better then every Sony headphone from the MDR-Vxxx line which goes from the (dollar amount) V-150 through the V-900s, yes, they sound better then all of them, also they sound better then the Sennheiser HD490 and 500. If you are looking for something under (dollar amount), one of this series of headphones is your best bet. The next real step up from them would be the Grado SR-60 around (dollar amount) and the Sennheiser HD495 around (dollar amount), or the Sony MDR-V7506 around (dollar amount).

The one potential drawback is that these are an open design, which leaks sound out, and lets sound in. The problem is that most cheap closed headphones like the Sony MDR-Vxxx and CD-xxx series sound terrible in comparison. If you are willing to let some sound leak out, and have no isolation from outside noise, these are the headphones for you at this price. The only closed headphone of the above three I reccomend are the Sonys, both the Grados and Sennheisers are open. Most high end headphones other then monitors like the MDR-v7506, or Beyerdynamic DT831 are open. These include the Sennheiser HD600, the AKG K1000, Beyerdynamic DT931, Sony CD3000, and the rather expensive (At (dollar amount)) Sennheiser Orpheus.

As always, be careful with volume levels when listening on headphones, you can damage your hearing very easily. If you can't hear someone at all when they are talking to you, or screaming at you, I would highly reccomend you turn the volume down some, unless you want to wear a hearing aid later.

88 Headphones are good but not very personal...
I had recently bought these headphones because of the great bass people had been talking about. Yes, the bass is incredible, so I had turned up the music to feel the bass. The only problem was that everyone within 3 feet of me could hear the music I was listening to. Maybe it was because I am not used to these clip-on style of headphones because I had the plug in kind earlier. Also, the style of these headphones is not the best. My friend had ridiculed me of how ridiculous I had looked. Other then the loud stereo like music and the style of these headphones, these headphones are great for the price. You might want to consider the ear-plug style of this company.

89 Light and cheap!
Koss makes high-quality, high-bass, and light headphones.

These headphones don't have as much bass as the Porta Pro, but they certainly have good sound quality.

In addition, they are light and they clip on to your ears very nicely. I am planning to use them while running.

Lastly, they are very cheap. Great deal!

90 Great Quality for $20
My last pair of headband headphones snapped and I needed a replacement pair so I could continue listening to mp3's at work. I managed to snatch a pair of KSC 50's at a nondescript local personal electronics store near my office building- and I've since held no regrets.

The soundcard on my laptop is mediocre at best, and I have electrical grounding problems when it's locked in its docking station. Once I received my new Archos Jukebox Studio 20 mp3 player, everything changed. The range is excellent without balance problems or a soggy bass range. The drivers on the KSC-35 speakers are the same as their more expensive counterparts, the KSC 50's though these probably aren't as sharp or dynamic. Nonetheless, you can do much worse for $20.

The only drawbacks I can imagine could be a prolonged pinching at the top of your ears if your wear them to tight. I've also heard a few remarks out a 'star trek' appearance when I wear them. If you don't mind the Lieutenant Ohura aethetic as a compromise for sonic perfection, then click "Add To Shopping Cart"

91 KOSS is Greatness
Koss is truly setting itself in the headphone world. I already owned one prior to buying these, and I'm just as satisfied with these as I was with the previous. The bass is just incredible with these. You should just compare them to a pair of regular "earbud" headphones, and you'll notice the difference right away.

The best part of these is that they are very inexpensive for the quality. Many other companies, like Sony, charge about 10 bucks more for their "clip-style" headphones.

Note: Some of you may experience discomfort the first couple times you wear the headphones, but, after a while, you get so used to them that you won't feel anything but the bass.

92 superb sound!
OK I can believe that maybe if you have big ears these things might not be comfortable. But bad sound? No way! If you think these things don't sound good, ya got something wrong with your ears or your equipment, or both. I plugged them into a portable MP3 player and the have very smooth natural sound with better bass extension than many large over the ears phones. I'm an audiophile used to high-quality tube amplifiers - so I'm a hard one to please when it comes so sound. I'm particulary sensitive to overly bright and harsh sound. Not here - these guys are ssssmooooooth! Oh, and they're so light you hardly notice they're on and you can't get them to fall off even if you shake your head - provided they fit your ears of course :) Highly recommended.

93 Surprisingly good!!!
I bought these (and I paid more than here) and am surprised at the excellent sound quality. Even bass is half way decent. The fit on me is very secure and I can move all around and they will never come off (almost...).

Three minor gripes: cord is a bit thin (could get snipped easy), and is just a bit too short. (However, the 4'/1.2m length is fine when listening to a portable music device.) Ear cushions would be nice, but they don't stick into your ear too far so this isn't really an issue.

If you need just a cheap, basic headset and want something better than the standard earbud, this is for you.

94 Uncomfortable and over-rated
I bought these headphones largely on the strength of the reviews offered here. Unfortunately, the clips that hold these phones to your ears are not adjustable. One size does not fit all. I wore these for less than half an hour, and my ears are still sore 20 minutes after removing them. On the other hand, my wife wore them and found them quite comfortable.

The sound quality is over-rated here, even when you consider the relatively low cost. The sound is thin and scratchy. They would be adequate for audio books and similar material, but I wouldn't enjoy listening to music with them.

95 The absolute best (sounding) in its price range!
Overall, this is the best overall value, IMO, for a portable headphone. Small and lightweight, the KSC-35s also sound better than any of their competitors, including the S/Portapros. They have OVERALLY bloated bass, the kind that gives me headaches. The KSC-35s would, too, if it wasn't for their very interesting design. Unlike usual headphones which go over your head, or even the neck-band types, the KSC-35s have no headband whatsoever! They hang around your ear - clip is the word most people use, but that sounds painful, and the KSC-35s are the most comfortable headphones i've ever worn. Ever.

To the most important part: Sound. These things ound great. With only 32 ohms of resistance, they will be driven easily from any portable, including MP3/MD players with low output strength. The clip design, as i mentioned above, changes the acoustic properties of the KSC-35s. They are no longer exerting pressure on your ears; they instead simply drape the earlobe. Because of this "loose" grip (when compared to the S/Portapros), they lose some of the boominess in the bass department. They do, however, have a peak in frequency response favoring bass, so bass lovers will truly enjoy these headphones. I prefer the mid-range, and the KSC-35s have a decent midrange presentation, as well a good treble presentation. The excessive bass, while less than the S/Portapros, is still too much to allow the the other frequencies to shine.

All in all, a very active-use friendly design, excellent sound for minimal price, and a superiority over other models in the same price range BY THE SAME COMPANY (KOSS), won me over. These headphones are perfect for an active listener who wants to get great sound out of his portable.

NOTE: I have been constantly comparing the KSC-35s to the Sportapro and Portapro models because all three models have the same drivers. In fact, the S/Portaprose tend to be highly reccommended, while actually their sporty-looking cousin, the KSC-35, sound better! For less! The only draw-back being a slightly unusual design, which I have grown to love!

96 The best portable headphones
These sound great and are MUCH more comfortable than ear buds. I don't know about you, but I can't keep ear buds in my ear. Besides that, most of them sound terrible. The KSC35's will sound a lot better than whatever came with your portable. Besides the good sound, they will stay on your ear if you use them when jogging, exercising, etc.

97 These headphones are perfect!
They sound great, and they fit perfectly. They are easy to get on and off. I've looked a long time for headphones that really fit and work. I highly recommend them!

98 While I can't complain about the sound...
Before I bought them, I thought they would fit snugly inside of my ear as others I have bought that were similar to this. The plugs are way too big and fit outside of the ear dangling. I can't seem to get them to fit correctly no matter how hard I try. Like i said the sound is good for a cheap headset, but I expect them to at least fit.

99 Oh, dear...........
This is the worst headphone I have ever bought.

It's actually quite sad. The sound is great. Problem is - on your ears, the little 'phones stick away from your ears.

So there is: - NO MUSIC THAT U HEAR - NO ISOLATION - LOTS OF AMBIENT NOISE - NOT HIGHLY EFFICIENT

All in all, great headphones that refuse to let u listen. QUITE ANNOYING. And I shelled out $10 for these. Oh, well........

IF YOU HAVE A HUGE HEAD - the problem of the speakers jumpin away from your ears at an akward angle is non-existent. My sister uses these phones, and she loves em. If you're like me, and have an average-sized head, or have an average-to-small sized head without any hair hanging down, these probably won't fit on you very well.

100 Awesome Cheap Headset
This headset is very versatile, cheap, and lightweight. Best of all, it won't fall off your ears while you jog, run, or play pretty much any sport. The sound is good, loud, and it has decent bass. Of course there are better headphones out there, but not at this price. Great for on-the-go students who work out at the gym.