Frequency Response: 15Hz25kHzDynamic element design for deep bass performanceComfort zone setting on temporal pad for comfortable secure fitMulti-pivoting earplates and adjustable headband for added comfortCollapsible folding design for maximum portabilityStraight dual entry 4 cord with 3.5mm plugIncludes carrying pouch and 1/4 adapter plugShipping package dimensions: 9x6.75x3.25 (len x wid x dep)
The Koss PortaPro collapsible stereophone combines high-quality sound reproduction with a unique design for the ultimate in convenience and comfort. These over-the-head headphones have a dynamic element design for deep bass performance and a frequency response of 15 to 25,000 Hz to ensure the music comes through clear and bright.
Also designed for comfort, these headphones have two adjustable temporal-comfort zone pads to shift the pressure and perfectly balance the ear plates on your ear. The open-earphone ear plates are multipivoting and, together with the adjustable headband, allow for maximum comfort.
The PortaPros are collapsible and come with a carrying case, so it's still easy to take them with you even when you're not wearing them. A 0.25-inch adapter is included to ensure they will fit with any system.
Koss offers a lifetime warranty on its PortaPro stereophones.
1 It's OK...and by the way, not that ugly
1. The headphones are not that ugly. I was expecting some really kitschy, USSR-esque object. I have an all-black Sony headphone, and although they look different side-by-side, when you put them on, they don't look THAT different. No one has said anything or even noticed. (Actually, I really wanted these Koss headphones to be ugly because I think ugly = cool, and I was somewhat disappointed that they weren't!)
2. The sounds is decent, but not that much different from my $7 Sony headphones. The Koss does sound a bit richer, especially in the bass...but I would say it is 20% better. Too bad it's almost 5 times more expensive.
Not a bad pair of headphones, but I was expecting more for the $35.
2 portapro family, your best choice for the price
I listened with portapro in J&R 9 years ago, and I was pretty surprised for the sound, and bought it
since then, I fell in love with portapro family series (PortaPro, SportaPro, KTX Pro)
they all sound excellent, full bass with its power, clean human voice and crisp treble, and they're all well-balanced
they're pretty good headphones for portable (portable CD/MD players, mp3 players, pdas, laptops, even radios)
I often suggest other customers to buy portapro, and let them hear themselves, and they're happy with the sound
the only weakness is: the cable, it breaks easily
for KTX Pro users, you can order PortaPro earpads to get same great sound as PortaPro
3 Not bad for cheapy cans!!!
As a means for comparison, I own Westone's Um2, Shure's e3, Sennheiser's HD202 and PX200. My favorite is Westone's Um2, but at a pricepoint average of about 300 big ones, they are an unfair measure for comparison. Koss's portapros offer good sound and are well worth the purchase price of about 40 bucks. The packaging boasts incredible bass...euphoria for bassheads indeed. I, however, find the bass to be a tad bit overwhelming. Even after the "burn-in period," the bass is still to thick and unbalanced for my taste. I'm not so certain the phenomena of the "burn-in period" is an actual physical state that transpires after hours of usage. I think it's more a psychosomatic state...one becomes accustomed to the sound quality eventually as one continues to listen. Since these cans are engineered to deliver more bass, I can't really fault them on that principle. The portapros are certainly far better than Sennheiser's px200 which lack bass altogether. As for comfort and build quality, not very on both fronts. The adjustable pressure points on the headband are a nuisance after some time. Perhaps because I'm proned to headaches, but they really do squeeze tight at some point regardless of the setting. Build quality is 40 dollar build quality. I'm sure they'll go the distance with proper care. Be mindful of your hair, I've lost some by the root with the portapros. If you like a lot of bass, these cans are for you. For a much more balanced sound, give Sennheiser's HD202 a shot and of course my favorite, Westone's UM2. I didn't really mention Shure's e3 in this review because I fell out of love with them.
4 Awkward-Looking, But Great Sound!
I've had my PortaPros for several years now, and they've served me very, very well.
Pros:
- Best sound I've heard in a small portable headphone. (My Grado SR-80s sound better, but there's no way you'd walk down the street in 'em)
- Fold reasonably well into a coat-pocketable clump
- Durable as heck (other than the replaceable foam earpiece covers). I use the heck out of these, and they take it in stride.
Cons:
- Look pretty un-cool.
- Foam earpiece covers need replacing every 50 or so uses - cheap and readily-available from Koss, takes a minute to do.
5 Amazing
I just purchased an ipod and really enjoy music so I wanted something much better than the earbuds that come with it. I began my research and read a number of reviews on various headphones. I also wanted to be able to use them on my home stereo. I read a number of reviews on Sennheiser, Grado, Koss, etc. There were pros and cons to all of them. However the Senn PX100 and Koss Portapro rated consistently well. I decided to go with the Koss Portapro. I was not disappointed. The Portapro sound very rich, with excellent bass and good response in the mid and high range too. Because the phones use a metal band, they can feel a bit tight on the head. There is an adjustment, but even on the "light" setting it still felt tight. So I decided to "manually" adjust the band and they feel much beter. The bottom line is that they sound awesome, especially for the money!
6 Blast from the 1980s future
Yes, they look strange. Yes, they look like a futuristic design from the 1980s--and indeed, they are from the 80s.
However, for the price-range (under $60 or so) there is no comparison. Still none. These things have been on the market for ages, and folks still rightly rave about them.
I remember using these babies on an old Sony Sports Walkman (tape) and the sound was amazing--big, fat bass, and loud. These are unmatched for bass, period, in portable headphone in this price range. They put the others to shame.
Yes, they are bizarre-looking, and slightly awkward to fold up, and the metal clip in the middle might rip out a hair or two. But if you're more concerned with the best sounding portable headphones for a Discman or an iPod rather than looking cool on the street with cooler-looking (but inferior) headphones, these things are perfect. Highly recommended. No accident that Koss (an American company, no less) hasn't changed up the design of these in ages--they don't have to. If you want something a little 'sportier' and smaller, try the SportPro. Not as powerful, deep, or loud, but excellent in their own right.
7 Best headphones for under $60
Most cheap headphones claim they can reproduce bass down to 20 Hz but these are the only ones that even come close to matching that claim. The clarity and durability of these headphones is also amazing.
8 Actually to listening to them while writing this review!!
I've had these headphones for nearly 5 months now. I must say they are capable of dishing out some superb sound. B.B. King's Live at the Regal with these badboys on is absolutely phenomenal. Like actually being there! I highly doubt you can buy headphones with this sound and portabilityness within this pricerange.
Only negative thing I have with them is that after extended use (2 hours plus) they do start to become exceptionally painful to the ears. They are too tight on the head, although there are some adjustments you can make with them to loosen them up.
One minor complaint can't prevent me from saying these things ROCK!
9 Extraordinary
I've gone through two pairs of these so far, and am presently in the market for a third. These headphones, for lows, highs and mids, absolutely destroy anything else in and well above their price range. They're very light, very comfortable, have great bass and can handle serious volume. They're not the most solid units around--in fact they feel like they're going to come apart in your hands--which they will do after two years of intensive use--and they're pretty ugly, but the sound more than makes up for it. These things are miraculous.
10 Great sound, at least to the nearly tin ear
I bought these from Amazon (and, I would add, the Amazon experience was excellent as it always has been for me), based on the reasonable price and the rave reviews here and at goodcans.com. Up front I will say that, while I am a lifelong (50+ years) listener of music and can distinguish the difference between so-so audio equipment and good stuff, I am definitely not an audiophile.
I have a new Creative Zen Micro and wanted an upgrade from the earbuds supplied, as everyone claimed you "have to get a good set of cans" to replace them, and, well, I just had to see for myself. On my initial session with the PortaPro's I convinced myself that they were indeed stereophonically superior, though they did not blow me away as I had hoped.
Now, while many self-proclaimed audiophiles (and that's not a put down--more power to you) claim headphones have to be burned in before they sound their best, I have trouble comprehending how that can be. I'm not saying it isn't so, only that I, due to my own ignorance in that area, cannot accept it at face value until someone can show me reasonable evidence of the phenomenon. In short, I am a skeptic who believes nearly nothing I hear and only half of what I see. Anyway, after 3 weeks I have not noticed any difference in the quality. How long does this burn-in take, I wonder?
I have little recent history in headphones and little to compare the PortaPro's to, but I did visit Best Buy and try the Bose TriPorts ($150), which likewise sounded good but did not knock my socks off, though I will say I found them far more comfortable than the PortaPro's. I went back after getting the PortaPro's and listened to the Bose again and still feel the Bose is not worth the extra $$$.
After 2 weeks of listening, I had occasion to more conveniently use the earbuds that came with the Zen, and then was more or less blown away by the fact that I could not believe how good they sounded in comparison, frankly not noticing any significant loss of stereophonic quality! I didn't use the earbuds very long, so perhaps with more experimental comparisons I would change that opinion.
I question that it was necessary for me to purchase the PortaPro's at all, which are something of a hassle to deal with, trying to stuff them into the undersized pouch provided. Also, while everyone raves about the comfort, I find they grow somewhat uncomfortable for me after about an hour or so, though it is not enough to keep me from using them. The earbuds are quite comfortable, have better sound quality than any others I've owned over the years (mostly Sony) and are far more convenient. As to "ugly," I don't agree, only that they are different, and I sort of like that.
I keep thinking I would like to have a really good set of headphones, like Grados maybe, or some expensive closed cans, for home use, as I am sure there is superior sound quality out there to be had. But, for the money, the PortaPro's are definitely a nice sound, and most people with just an average ear should be pleased with them. I rate them a 4 because 5 is definitely too high, and 3 is really unfair; a 3.5 would be a more reasonable rating, from my perspective.
11 Amazing
Unbeliveable (until you hear them) quality for the price!
I'm a musician but not much of an audiophile, tho I'd wager my hearing is slightly above average. The amount of richness (esp base) was surprising - i couldn't believe my laptop (usually very sub-par sound) and Rio Karma (as compared to the Sennheiser MX300 earbuds) could output such quality tones. My brother recommended these (he has perfect pitch and much better ears than me), as he uses these during his commute instead of his Grado SR 125's which were getting beat up and aren't nearly as comfortable as the Koss PortaPros. Though obviously not anywhere as 'elite' as Grados or Beyers, I find it impressive that these are an adequate replacement for his Grado's. Additionally, the tension adjustment is a really nice feature, and the cushioning arrangement works great for people who wear glasses. Additionally, they look really snazzy with the metallic blue accents.
12 Good where it counts
The first thing that needs to be said about these headphones is that they are really ugly. There can be no denying it. The weird earpieces with the bar atop is just ugly, ugly, ugly. That said, these are easily the most comfortable portables I've worn, a situation largely a product of the very features that make the set ugly. Additionally, the sound is good. I don't feel the sound is as orgasmically supreme as other reviewers suggest, but the sound is very good. If you listen to a lot of Jazz or classical, some senns might serve you better. If you listen to more rock and hip hop, you'll be pleased with the portapros, if only for the comfort, which is truly exceptional. I use them with my iPod, and am well pleased.
13 Good phones...for the price, anyway
The Koss Porta-Pro looks delicate, but its folding design belies a hardiness that competitors should try to emulate. All headphones require a "burn-in" period before they sound their best, and that's certainly true of the Koss Porta-Pro.
After burn-in, they show themselves to be equal to their reputation. Retailing between $30 and $40 or so, they offer good fidelity at low to medium volume, but grate a bit when pushed too hard. The Porta-Pro works nicely with a variety of musical styles, pop and rock to jazz, but occasionally has trouble with the distortion levels of punk; this may not be a problem with most listeners.
While the sound is clear and offers fine fidelity, songs often lack "color" -- a common complaint with less expensive headphones. Yet, compared to its competition, the Porta-Pro offers a much cleaner sound; no irritating bass thump on these phones.
These are the iPod phones of choice.
14 Truely Fine Sound
If you want truely remarkable sound quality (on par with $100 Senns), and possibly the best value in listening technology, add the Portapros to you shopping basket. The geek chic stylings are coupled with a delicate build. Give them the treatment they deserve (i.e. not at the bottom of a backpack full of books), and the Portapros will perform VERY well.
Be warned that once you get these headphones, you will spend alot of time rediscovering old music. I have gone through all of my favorite and most listened-to CDs, and have found details I never knew existed in all of them.
15 Best headphones for the price
This is simply the best sounding headphones for under $100. The bass is incredible, the sound is crispy clear. When I commute in the train, I can hardly hear any noise, and the comfort is great.
16 a reference headphone
This is one of those "must-have" headphones that you can use as a reference to compare other headphones with. It's the best in its class and beats many other headphones that are way more expensive.
This headphone require some breaking-in period (at least 40 hours), otherwise you may find the bass to be overpowering and fatiguing, as I did at first. I put the headphone in continuous play through an amplifier for over 40 hrs non-stop at med-high volume. Now they sound better-- less fatiguing and more "laid back," as the audio geeks would say.
If you want more portability, try the cheaper Koss KSC-50. They are clip-ons but sound almost the same as the PortaPros. I said almost, because the PortaPros are punchier and have more defined bass.
17 Simply Amazing!
These are simply the best headphones that you can purchase for an under $100 price tag, and they are under 50$! Very full, clear, sound with an amazing amount of bass. The styling isn't the greatest in my opinion, but the amazing sound quality more than makes up for it.
18 Believe the hype!
This is the first time I've ever written a review on anything. After listening to the Koss Porta Pro's for the first time, I felt compelled to write a review. For lack of a better word, I will just say what everyone else is saying, they are "amazing". I have been obsessed with music and sound quality my whole life. I am in my forties, so I've been doing this for awhile. I've been well known for returning things because there are very few things that really live up to my standards. Believe me, I drive my wife crazy in this area (among others). These headphones are probably the best "value" I have ever experienced in audio. I was thinking about buying the Sennheiser PX100's just to see how good they are, and to have a good pair of headphones at work as well as at home. However, I can't make myself do it. I ordered a second pair of the Porta Pro's for work. You simply can't go wrong buying these headphones. Especially if you like bass. They have very strong bass, but it isn't sloppy bass that steps all over the midranges and the highes. They are also the most comfortable headphones I've ever used. However, if you want isolation from the noise around you, these aren't for you. Take it from someone who's anal about sound: for the money, I can't imagine you doing any better.
Final word: I'm using them with an iPod and I prefer the "Electronic" EQ setting.
19 How'd they fit all that bass in there?
I wanted the best pair of portable headphones that could be had for $50 or less. All research pointed towards the Koss PortaPro and the Sennheiser PX100, each available at $40. I chose the PortaPro for its promise of greater on-ear comfort for extended listening.
The immediate first impression is that the bass is astounding for such a small and lightweight set of cans. The overall sound, once tweaked to my taste via EQ, is again remarkable for such a featherlight unit.
In short, you could spend a lot more on a pair of 'phones, but you'll not find a better combination of portability, sound quality, comfort, and value.
Highly recommended!
20 the best lightweight headphones money can buy
I adore these headphones. They are definitely the best portable/lightweight headphones I have used. Amazing frequency response across the entire range. Very comfortable, even if you're wearing glasses. The lifetime warranty is a big plus too.
21 Great value and sound
I originally purchased these for use when exercizing, but they were not well suited due to the amount of external noise encountered at a gym. However they are great for any other application. The sound quality reproduced is amazing. The only negative as detailed by others is they are not the the most sturdy headset you will encounter, but for the price, I have found none better.
22 they re fantastic
to begin
i presently own a pair of sennheisers(hd 457).
but my portapros.are the only headphones i take with me.
to listen to my sony cd/mp3.
theyre sound is as great as my senns.but theyre much lighter
than the senns.plus id have a better chance at replacing the
pads when they wearout.at a cheaper price.these sound great with any source of music.i use mine with my computer
i like the way they fold and close.as well as other features.
23 WOW!! Incredible Sound!!
WOW!!! Are these really supposed to be less than 40 bucks??
The sound is amazingly full, from classical to jazz to rock. Playing Elgar's Enigma Variation I could hear the distinct sound of each instrument, from the treble to bass, nothing but clean crisp sound. Chopin's piano was nothing short of heaven on these headphones. Playing some jazz saxophone, I could hear the player breath! I have never heard that in this track when I was listening to it all the previous times. Also, you can heard where each note begins and ends, even when the sax part was soft and blanketed by the accompanyment. Moving over to my favorite rock bands, again, deep bass and crisp sound.
In summary, unless you want to spend 150+ bucks on some closed and bulky headphones, you won't be able to find anything better than these headphones. And if your budget is under 50, I don't see how you can choose any other headphone.
24 I concur
I don't have much to say but I have owned my PortaPro's for several years now and and plan to keep them for many, many years to come. Excellent sound(probably better than any other portables I've ever used, possibly better than any other full-sized headphones I've ever used), comfortable, albiet not very stylish.
25 Great while they last...
I really like these headphones, but as others point out, they are not very durable. My first pair broke after a year -- and I am very careful with my equipment. I only use them at my computer, they don't travel or get abused. They fell off my desk and the right channel is now shot. Anyway, the sound was great -- very warm with fantastic bass and accurate highs. They sound as good as my Grados, but are much more comfortable to wear for extended periods. But buy two pairs now, or plan on replacing them later.
26 i remember these years ago.
these headphones are the best
but not better than my sennheiser hd 457s.
they have great bass responce.and are very comfortable.
i use them with my mp3 psyc cd walkman,mini disc,rca lyra mp3,
and my laptop computer.they are great.ive always wanted a pair
of these headphones.but i keep putting off buying a pair back in the 80"s.when i first saw them on the cuircuit city site.
i had to have them.but they wanted 45$.so i waited then 2weeks went by.i returned back to cuircuit city web site,there they were for 20$.thyat when i perchased them.for half the price.
at the store.
27 You won't believe your ears
Take what other reviewers have said about these headphones, believe them, and then multiply it by 100. I received a pair of Koss UR-20s as a gift years ago and loved them so naturally I looked to Koss again when replacing my portable/on-the-go headphones. After buying a pair of KSC-55s, which sounded great but were uncomfortable for me personally, I hopped on Amazon and found everyone raving about the PortaPros. I figured they were good, especially considering that the design seems unchanged since the 1980s (which has to mean something), but I also figured that this was one of those things that was just too good to be true. However, these are bar-none the most amazing headphones I have ever put on my head. Listening to some of my favorite songs for the first time was one of those 'wow' moments where you realize you have found something that changes your expectations completely. The bar will be raised the instant you hear the bass response and incredible acoustic qualities of these light, comfortable headphones.
I don't know what I'm impressed with the most: the amazing bass, the excellent stereo division, or how loud they can get! These things are just as amazing as most of the reviews show them to be and then a lot more... I was worried about the eighties styling, but in person they don't look bad at all. I hate headphones that scream for attention, but these don't look like that when you have them on and I have already been wearing them in public (something I didn't think I would do after only seeing the picture of them online). And even if they're a bit outdated in appearance, the design is so functional you won't even give looks a second thought after you put them on.
One thing is for sure: these things have plenty of bass! Not too much (not "boomy"), but they seem properly tuned for listening to things without "bass booster" turned on, which I like. Even with the bass settings adjusted high, the bass remains clear and crisp. I'm not sure how much power these can handle without damaging them, but I listen to them very loud and they do not sound distorted or stressed at all. After a few days my left speaker began making some weird noises and it ended up being a hair stuck inside the headphones that I cleared out with canned air. Something important to consider is that these are very open and airy headphones and the treble carries very well outside the headphones (so someone nearby could definitely hear what you're listening to if you have the volume up loud).
Others have mentioned that they felt the headphones were too tight feeling, but I have a very large head and they fit me without a problem. However, if I will be wearing them for an extended period of time I always set them to the "Light" setting on the comfortZone control (which divides the side pressure of the headphones with your temples rather than just on your ears).
I already had headphones I was pleased with (Sony MDR-G52s and Koss UR-20s) but I wanted a set of small, portable headphones for use with my laptop and these are perfect. The folding design isn't something I necessarily wanted, but it is nice. The carrying case they come with (a leatherette bag) is a slightly tight fit and I probably won't end up using it much since it is not a hard case that would protect them from shock or crushing. Some others have mentioned that they feel delicate or are easily broken, but compared to other small headphones I have had they seem very well built and equally strong considering their light weight.
While I wouldn't say these are bad things about the PortaPros, it is worth mentioning that the headband is metal and will occasionally snag a hair as you adjust it on your head, and that they don't fold down as small as you might think they would so don't expect to put them in your pants pocket or something. Considering these are the worst things I can come up with to say about the PortaPros, they are nearly perfect in my book.
I can't say enough good things about these PortaPros! They're simply amazing. These are the first headphones (or speakers) I've had that sound absolutely awesome without adjusting the equalizer or pumping up the bass. They sound good on everything from R&B to Country and everything in-between. I've been especially impressed that they pull the bass and highs out of a song without getting that shrill, tinny treble that plagues so many headphones. If there ever was a question about the quality of Koss stereophones in my mind, these PortaPros have put it to rest and made me into a lifetime customer! If you're like me you'll wish you had discovered these legendary headphones (haha! how often is that said?) years ago...
28 Excellent for the price
These headphones vere designed to offer comfort, portability and good sound. They perform adequately in every account.
Comfort: earpieces are adjustable from very tight clamping of the ear up to not touching the ear surface altoghter. The former setting makes base more pronounced, while the latter is a blessing in hot weather and gives wide and airy feel to music. (If you don't mind ear-mounted phones, you look at Koss KSC-35 - same drivers)
Portability: folded, they are about clutched fist size. While not miniscule, they offer nice compromise. Beware: even folded they will not fit into a pocket and can be easily crushed if carried in that manner. (Better folding phones: Senn's PX100/200). On the other hand, folded they will easily take a short fall undamaged.
Sound: While definitely not audiophile-grade, they present (arguably) the best base (along with KSC-35) this side of $50. Their ajustability of the drivers position allows the wearer to make some corrections on-the fly (closer fit - more pronounced base, looser fit - better imaging and more balanced sound).
29 My set is 15 years old and still sounds great
After reading a few of these reviews which say these headphones are cheaply constructed, I had to post. As I type this I am listening to my set of Koss Porta-Pro I headphones which I purchased in 1989 and have been carrying all over the world with me ever since. They still sound awesome, and the only reason I logged onto Amazon.com to purchase a replacement is that the two large pieces of foam, which rest against the temples, have long since worn away and I thought it might be interesting to have that foam back.
While they might look fragile, I don't believe they are. When folded up, they seem to resist destruction very well indeed! Mine came with some kind of carrying case but I lost this over a decade ago and the headphones are usually just chucked in my bag and away we go. Or they are lying around my room, or tossed in a drawer full of junk with no protection. I use them constantly and the only thing I've done to them is to replace the ear foam numerous times over the years with earpiece foam from Radio Shack.
I have found that if one side or another begins buzzing, the problem has always been debris between the speaker and the inside of the foam earpieces. This begins to happen when the foam deteriorates and breaks up, but all that is required to restore sound quality is to remove the foam, vacuum the debris (crumbled foam or bits of human hair (gross)) out of the earpieces and reassemble with new foam for best results.
These headphones are awesome. People are always telling me they're the best sounding headphones those people have ever encountered, and it's a fact. You will not be the least bit unhappy with these.
BTW I do not listen to music quietly, I blare it. I suppose they are not as good as some other headphones at confining the sound to just the wearer, and for this they might not be the best choice on a plane or train. But as many times as I have overloaded them in 15 years of use, they have not blown.
30 A note about some of the reviews
It's Amazon's fault for listing the Koss Portapro headphones under "noise cancelling" - under listening conditions with minimal to low-medium ambient noise, these are extremely good quality headphones, but under no circumstances are they to be used in a noisy environment like a plane. There *is* a set of noise-cancelling headphones that look very similar to Portapros, but have extra parts. In terms of sound quality per cost ratio, however, these really are the best. A simple Google search will yield much information. ;) I suggest buyers also look at the product description for "noise-cancelling."
31 Make me angry!!!
I know this has been repeated in reviews many times but let me say it again.
Ok, first of all, tisk tisk Amazon.com... Why are these in the "noise cancelling" headphones section. These are not noise-cancelling at all...
These headphones have great sound... But POOR construction, I felt like they were going to break just by holding them. And they seem to have a spring load effect while trying to put them on which makes them very hard to put on/take off. The earpeices are VERY small and allow maximum sound leakage so everyone on the bus can hear your music.
Good sound and very comfortable. These are not noise-cancelling, NOT good design, VERY small, flimsy, BACK TO AMAZON.COM!!
If you are not planning on using these headphones for travel or you have a head the size of a grapefruit, then I would reccomend them.
32 Not "noise cancelling"
These are NOT "noise cancelling" headphones. They are also built very poorly. I am returning my set to Amazon! Total junk.
33 Not "noise cancelling"
These are NOT noise cancelling headphones! In fact they are junk! I am returning my set to Amazon. Don't buy these!
34 Incredible Price, Incredible Sound
Wow, what an awesome headphone! A friend in high school had a pair back in 1988 and I used them on a trip. It was very hard to give them back. I remember the bass being out of this world!
So, when it came time to replace my Sony headphones I went for the PortaPro after stumbling across the name during my research. They are extremely comfortable and I have a big head (24 inches around and 14 inches from ear, over head, to ear. They even have plenty of room to give!
And the sound is better than I remember. Everything comes through (both highs and lows). Hearing new sounds in songs I have listened to for years.
Lifetime Warranty + Great Price + Great Sound = Hours of enjoyment!
35 great value for money
I have owned these for over 10 years(?) and they're excellent - great sound, good fit, light, highly portable and come with lifetime warranty. In fact, one of cords had become loose some years ago and Koss fixed it(at $6 S&H cost)and replaced the worn-out cushions. They have served me very well. Highly recommended.
36 Amazing for their size
I did a lot of research online and in magazines before finding the perfect review source and settling on the PortaPro. Goodcans.com led me right to them. After following the Goodcans lead on an excellent full sized headphone for my home system, I next took their advice on the PortaPro for use with my MP3 player. These headphones cover the highs, lows and in between, better than anything I've heard in a portable headphone. The PortaPro does for portable music what a full size pair of Sennheiser's can do for a home system.
37 The best
I just had to chime in when I saw another reviewer saying the Sportapros were as good as the Portapros for sound. My experience was that there was a significant difference in sound quality between the two. I WANTED the Sportapros to sound great, but they didn't. I went back to the Portapros, which I've used for 20 plus years. They in fact are very rugged, as I use them running all the time, and jam them into my suitcase. If there's ever a problem, the lifetime warranty covers that! (I think you send Koss $6.00 for S&H). I do something a little weird, though, and that's make them LOOK like Sportapros by spraypainting them flat black and putting some black tennis grip tape on the shiny aluminum headband (this sets the adjustable head sizing band specifically for my size, too). Just some ideas!
38 thewump
It is pointless trying other headphones after these. I have just purchased my third pair in 10 years. The only other bins I've tried that match the quality are $400 closed Sennheisers.
These headphones have incredible range, perfect clarity and the unique "comfort" system actually works - they are very comfortable.
Truly the best value for money in headphones ever and if I loose these ones I'll just go out and buy another pair.
39 SUPERB!!!!
I bought a pair of these based on a recommendation from a fellow online (a 4th year electrical engineering student) and the reviews. These headphones more than amazed me!!! I've owned many pairs in the past (mostly Sony) and these come out on top for the price. I didn't think headphones could sound as good and loud as these driven with so little power, these are VERY efficient at 101 dB sensitivity. I've only listened to earphones for a long time because they are efficient, but these headphones can peform almost as loud as high sensitive earphones (they sound so much better and livelier than any set of earphones I think). I own a Sony D-NE510 mp3 discman, and they sound really good compared to the crap that came with it. If you have sensitive ears these have 3 adjustments for the pressure of the headphones against your ears (mine are rather sensitive so I find them rather discomforting after awhile even with the light setting). The sound quality far outweighs the discomfort issue (did I even mention the bass on these things???). Hear to believe!
40 A great product, and a lifetime investment
I have had these headphones for 7 years, and the headphones are great. But more than that, KOSS is amazing. If there is a short, a problem (and there have been about 4 over the years), they give you a lifetime warranty on the headphones, and have either fixed or replaced them for a nominal charge to cover shipping and handling. I recommend any KOSS headphones not just because the sound is really good, but because they stand behind their product.
41 Great Sound .. cheap cord
The sound is great from these headphones .. I can't believe how cheap KOSS was in the length of the cord .. has to be like 4 feet long ... you might want to consider getting an extension for this if you want to go more than 4 feet away from where it is plugged in.
42 PortaPro and Rio S35S
Just got my PortaPros today and they sound great with my Rio S35S. Base is wonderful. Sound is so much better than the buds that came with the Rio. Can't seem to shake them off of my head so hopefully they stay on while running.
Wish they held the adjustment, and looked better, but they sound great, and that's what matters most.
43 For Portable Music Listeners---These Are A Deal!
I bought a set of the Koss Porta Pro headphones based on reviews for my Creative Nomad 2C MP3 player which I also got from Amazon. I don't think that a lot people realize that the limiting factor in listening to the MP3 format beside the size of the file is the set of headphones that you use. Although they are not as accurate as my Grado SR 60 phones, they sound very good and are light enough to be used on the go. For small headphones they sound pretty open and detailed. They bass is very good. So good in fact that I turned down the bass EQ on my MP3 player just a bit to bring the midrange forward and keep the voices from getting tubby. The treble is very clean sounding. If you got an MP3 player, do yourself a favor and replace the stock headphones with these. I am pretty picky about sound quality. The Koss Porta Pro headphones bridge the gap between light weight, portable and delivering a musical experience.
44 Koss PortaPro's simply rock!
I have tried at least 5 different headphones from the earbud type to the every rear mounted type. These phones have an outstanding high output volume if desired. The quality of sound reproduction is the best that I have heard in the portable class. I have some good full coverage phones and they have superior bass but that is to be expected. The first thing that people remark about while listening to them, is the realistic and profound BASS. The only thing that may be a problem is that the pads tend to cause you to sweat under extreme or hot weather exercise. With the realization that no set of headphones are ideal under all conditions I feel the vast majority of people that hear these phones will want them for their own. I have literally sold a half a dozen just by letting people listen to mine. The lifetime warranty is a bonus!
45 Loud With Great Bass
Koss Porta Pros are the headphone of choice if you like to listen loud with deep bass. They have a bit of trouble boosting treble because of this, but they are well balanced for most recordings so it doesn't really matter.
Many have complained about the headphones being too tight, but I have a pretty big grape and have no trouble wearing these on a two hour walk.
I use these with my awesome Archos JukeBox Recorder 10, and they are a killer combo. Many MP3 players sacrifice a resonable amp for smaller size, so these Porta Pros will help salvage players with diminutive amps.
The only complaint with my Porta Pros is they are open ear, and people are always noticing my music, even though they all admit I'm not listening that loud once they try them on.
46 Sound great but a little ouchy
I recently went though a spate of headphones -- 5 pair in this price range. This is by far the best sounding of the group (by far!) and I find myself using them the most often. As a matter of fact, they sound better than my studio headphones (Audio Technica) that cost about $100 more. The only problem I have is that they can get uncomfortable after an hour or two of use, and they stick to your hair. If you have long hair (anything after a 1950's crewcut) they will stick to your hair and pull it when you adjust them and take them off.
Totally worth it -- great sound and all -- as long as you don't mind the problem with the ouchy hair...
47 Excellent
I am weary of having to replace the cheap headphones that came with my portable cd player every few months, as well as, the many in-and-over-the-ear replacement types that are horribly uncomfortable. Almost every pair of these cheap earphones that I have purchased have developed sound distortions after a few months. And for the brief time, when they do work, the sound reproduction sounds like you're listening to a symphony from inside a match box.
I am therefore very happy to report that these Koss PortaPro headphones fit very comfortably on my ears and head (7+1/4" hat size). (Yes, I would not recommend them for people with large heads.) Most importantly, the sound reproduction of these Koss headphones is excellent, both in sonority and clarity. In addition, I am particularly pleased with the spatial presence that the instruments on my recordings, now exhibit. "Bravo Koss!"
48 AMAZING! Amazing company and Amazing headphones!
Koss has a LIFETIME warranty on their headphones. I've taken mine in for repairs years later, and they repaired them! NO QUESTIONS ASKED, NO RECEIPT, NO WARRANTY CERTIFICATE, NO NOTHING! They just fix them. You can damage them, and they fix them like NEW! These people are amazing! Amazing is the least I can say for KOSS. So are the headphones!!! Excellent quality! I bought their wireless headphone 8 years ago, had the ear muffs repaired once a few years later, free. This company stands behind their products! AMAZING!
49 Best Headphones I've ever owned
I bought a pair of these headphones because I heard good things about them on the internet. Normally, I don't buy headphones until I hear them first. My gamble paid off.
These headphones somehow manage to give you great highs with great base. Usually, headphones either give you one or the other. They look like the headphones that would come with a cheap radio...until you plug them in.
Admittedly, the design is a little flimsy, but they come with a lifetime no ask warranty, so if they break, who cares? Just send them to get fixed.
I plan on buying a second pair soon. The best lightweight headphones money can buy. They sound better than some of the big headphones, and they'll blow any pair of Sonys away.
50 Weak Construction
They give a good sound for the price, but bass distorts when driven with rock at louder volumes.
The headband is flimsy due to it's portability. No good for workouts as the membrane absorbs sweat and is very easy to tear.
The wear and tear factor is of important not due to the cheapo materials around the cans. Of less important note is also their dated 80's appearance.
51 Awesome Quailty, Good buy.
I was skeptical at first being these were a bit on the [$$$] side for headphones. However, when i recived them i used them with my MP3/CD player and it gave me AWESOME quality. I was amazed at the stereo effect, furthermore i tried these on my computer, laptop and desktop, and in my stereo downstairs, with the included attachment. All sounds were VERY clear and stereoed wonderfully. KOSS has always been a good brand in my book but these are defininitly worth the price! If you are skeptical about the price don't be. The quality is worth it.
52 Can I give this six stars?
Okay, years of choosing between screechy earbuds and fumbling with bulky Senn-type cans are over. These are Da Biz.
When I first got these in the post yesterday, I listened to "Mull of Kintyre" on CD (Paul rulz) on the boyfriend's really crap all-in-one system, and I was crushed with disappointment. Well.
Then I stuck it into my really really weedy (cheap doesn't even begin to describe my purchasing habits - and yes I know about my musical tastes) walkman thing and ... happiness. It was one of those high street trance CD complilations - and what can I say - The Beloved's "Sweet Harmony", Massive Attack's "Melt" etc. punched into life. The only complaint is that Kylie sounds even weedier than usual, with the meaty, cheesy basslines thumping all over her nasals. Can't wait to try these babies on "Sound of Music".
Oh - and did I say they are dead comfortable, with little listening fatigue? Sigh. Joy. Spastic grin. BUY.
53 amazing little headphone. but 60ohms
i bought these for the mp3 player on my pda. they had a nice sound but couldn't get very loud cause they're such high impedance.i brought them inside and plugged them into my imac to listen to itunes. WOW!!! rich wonderful sound and very light and very comfy. by far the nicest i've tried on the computer. they replace a pair of sonys that cost more, were uncomfortable and didn't sound half as good. i highly recomend these for aplications in which you have the power to push them a little. not quite audiophile stuff, but darn close!!!
54 Good sound, bad construction.
Maybe it's cause I'm spoiled by the Koss SportaPro headphones that are $10 cheaper and fold into streetstyle wear, but these just seem damned flimsy. Mind you, the SportaPros aren't much better built, but they're at least a little more functional with the same great sound quality. I expected a lot more for the $50 I spent (with shipping). They *do* have very good sound, but I feel like I'm gonna break them by mistake carrying them around in my backpack. Like having a really expensive pair of glasses in a mosh pit. My advice, if you're using these outside your home, go with the cheaper sportapros. They can go streetwear style which can be a real advantage at times and they're the same quality sound at a cheaper price.
55 Good product
The headphones were overly boomy at the beginning but after break-in they sound excellent. Too bad one needs to abandon all adjustments when folding it to fit into the pouch. Perfect companion to my Rio Volt/laptop otherwise, very comfortable and letting in enough sound to be aware of what's going on around me.
56 Koss qz2000
The QZ-2000 combines Koss's PortaPro headphones (a $50 pair of folding headphones, which are small and comfortable for long wear) with electronics that cancel low-frequency noise, making it easier to hear your music on airplanes or in other noisy places. The open-backed transducers and foam ear pads help give the headphones a nice, open sound, but they also let in high-frequency noise.
On an airplane, the headphones do a good job of subduing the low rumble of the engines, but high-frequency sounds--even nearby conversations--are relatively easy to hear. Luckily, the phones also work with the noise reduction off, so you can let the drone of the engines obscure the chatter of the folks sitting behind you. And if the batteries die in midflight, you can still listen to music. The sound is good but not outstanding. The low bass is soft (a common flaw in small open-air phones), and the treble lacks sparkle. We slightly preferred the sound quality of music when the noise cancellation was turned off.
Soft pads on the temples take some of the load off of your ears, so wearing the QZ-2000 for the duration of a long flight is no problem. And the removable cord is short, so you don't have a lap full of wire when plugged into an airline seat or a Walkman. The Koss comes with a folding, zippered case and the two-pronged adapter you'll need in some airliners.
57 Great for Travel
I've worn out two pair of these phones in the last decade. The sound quality was great. Wonderful bass--the only phones with better have been phones that fully cover my ears--and aren't really "portable." These stayed comfortable for the excruciatingly long flights from SoCal to northern Norway, even while wearing glasses. They fold up nice and small, easy to tuck away. They also performed adequately while watching airline movies ... more than saved the price of the phones over several trips!
I have two complaints: 1) hair easily penetrates the "speaker grill" and makes irritating noise against the actual speaker membrane. 2) The speaker, while reproducing sound well, can develop tears in the membrane easily. BE CAREFUL! Nothing is more annoying than a buzzing speaker at 33,000 feet (well, perhaps sudden cabin depressurization ...)!
My second pair wore out about the same time as my vintage walkman. I replaced the setup with a Nomad II MG & a pair of noise cancelling headphones--they make a _huge_ difference!
Five stars for sound quality. Five stars for comfort. Five stars for portability. Five stars for durability. If you're not going to spring for noise cancellation and you need a folding pair of phones, then get a pair of PortaPros.
58 They were good for awhile
At first I really liked these, but then I noticed that they started to wearout. I only had them for a couple months and they started to develop a crackling noise in the background of my music. This only happens when I am listening to heavy bass, but it still is anoying. For people who don't listen to their music really loud, these are great, but I play my music very loud and go through phones pretty fast.
I also found that I have stopped collapsing them down to save time on adjustments. The temple pads are okay, but do mess up your hair. My hair also gets caught in the plastic part that holds the metal band for size adjustment.
Other than that... they were okay.
59 Rinky-Dink
I gave these headphones 2 stars because they do have a pretty good sound and they do collapse into a compact size. The reasons I don't like them are: 1) Because they are collapsable, the headset needs to be adjusted for fit each time you wear the headphones, and it is not easy to adjust. 2) The phones fit very snuggly against the ears, and have pads at the temples. You can adjust the phones for 3 "comfort" settings--firm to light, but if you want to change from one setting to another, you must fold the phones up to disengage them from the current setting. Plus, the device to change the setting is probably easy to break. Also, if you set the phones to a medium or light setting, they become positioned slightly away from the ears, putting pressure on the temple pads, which is uncomfortable and becomes more so the longer you wear them. When the phones are set at the firm setting, they fit too tightly on the ears, but this removes some of the pressure from the temple pads. Overall, I think these phones are poorly designed and cheaply made.
60 Best Headphones Ever!
I have never heard a pair of headphones deliver clearer, better quality sound than my PortaPro's have. Wow is all I have to say. And they are also the most comfortable pair of headphones I've ever worn. For the price, they can't be beat.
61 most awesome headphones ever
After listening to the headphones that came with my minidisc player, i thought that they were okay... But then I bought the portapros, MY GOD the bass is so clear, so is the treble and midranges. For the price you can't beat the great sound quality of these headphones. Also they are very comfortable and they fold up and are smaller then my minidisc player. One last thing is that they are great for low power devices like PCs, CD players, cassette players, and minidisc players I am listening to mine right now with my portapros.
62 Beware : for non-abusive consumers only
These headphones are great and it's a "anybody's choice". It's firm and light. Solid headbands(metal).
Pros :
-Cool
-Firmness is great! Firm, mild, and "did you see my headphones?"
-Portable
-Light design
Cons :
-Cheap cord(ask me for a pic)
-The plastic on it may seem solid, but drop it once and it breaks! (ask me 4 pic)
-Plug in form of "v". This makes it easy to tear off. (ask pic 2 see difference)
-Sound slightly above average, but no competition against Panasonic
I really hesitated when I saw it, I knew that it would break. And I was right, a fall of a meter and there's my money flying by. I highly recommend to people who are careful and one last tip, fold the headphones so that it doesn't break! Don't fear breaking it by folding the phones close to the metal bands and bending the thing like a metal bar. I like the design, but I wished that the body was metal only, not plastic!
The three stars missing are for the bad cord. It's cheap. You're supposed to be careful and not dropping it once and it's over... otherwise it's a must buy!
63 Unequaled in its Price Range
I was astounded by the sound - rich bass, treble that doesn'tcrackle, good separation. At ($), though, and with a lifetime replacement guarantee (most headphones I've ever owned had one of the connectors short out after awhile), these are a steal. They look a little weird, but MAN are they comfortable. Perfect for medium-volume listening at the office.
64 Low Quality, but great sound.
When I recieved these through the mail, my first impressionwasthat they were tiny, and they are. In fact, they are so small they barely fit on my average sized head. It is kind of embarassing to walk around with these things on their fullest size, but anyhow, they work.
They also feel very cheap in my hands. When I try to collapse them to fit into the bag, it requires a lot of struggle and I am afraid to break them.
However, the sound is incredible, and it is a very pure sound.
Pros - Great sound
Cons - Uncomfortable, small, flimsy design, not portable.
Buy these for home use but don't venture to the public with these. Overall, I am dissatisfied...for [the money] it is OK, but I still hate the cheap feel, and design of this product.
65 Get the SportaPros Instead.
Get the SportaPros instead. They look better, can be worn in a street configuration, cost less, and sound exactly the same.
66 Get the SportaPros Instead.
Get the SportaPros instead. They look better, can be worn in a street configuration, cost less, and sound exactly the same.
67 Great Headphones!
These headphones have the best sound I have ever heard from any set I've ever tried. When I ordered them I was a little worried about how they would look when they got here because to me the shape of them seemed odd from the extra stress pads, but they are amazingly comfortable, and they look pretty cool! The sound is rich and they have awesome bass. You can actually feel it kicking. A must buy for anyone looking for a new set of headphones that are in a good price range.
68 Good...not the best
These headphones are ok...they have mind bounding sound. I pourpously blasted the bass on these and they could not support it. The headband gets tangled up in your hair and it is painful to take them off. If you like a descent amount of bass and asowme sound get these but be ready for the pain.
69 You will not believe your ears!
In this price range you find very mixed results. Forget most everything else in thisprice range from the far east. These are the smoothest most dynamicset of portables I have ever owned or heard. I have them on almost daily at work and also for my lunch time walk. Don't worry about a demo do yourself a favor and select these for all types of music. They are slightly pronounced in the lower ranges which helps support lower power portables and PC's. Everyone at the office who tries them turns and looks at me and mouthes in silence...W-O-W.
70 These are the best headphones i have ever bought
These Headphones are light, and they produce the most awesome quality of sound. They rarely distort, and they can produce more sound than you can imagine. I have found that the headphones that cost over $150 do not compare to these. If your looking for the cheapest, best stereo headphones out there, Koss Portapros are the way to go. (not to mention they compact smaller than the palm of your hand) =)
71 Excellent set
I've been looking for a good pair of supra-aural headphones under $50 - the problem is that circum-aural ones are too big, and normal supra-aurals hurt my ears after a while because I wear glasses and they pinch. These babies not only sound rich and full, they're so comfy with the extra stress pads. Very light. Highly recommended
72 Best portable phones I've found in 13 years
I'm always on the lookout for the best sounding portable phones, and these are the best I've found yet. They have the smoothest, wide-range sound I've heard from any portable headset. I'd expected that in the 13 years since I bout them, that someone would have come up with something better. However, I've yet to find anything that comes close.
These phones may sound a little bass-heavy to some, but this unit has temple-pads that lift the elements away from your ears. This not only improves comfort, but also attenuates the bass, leading to a nice mix of comfort and sound quality.
Also, since I tend to be a bit rough on phones, the lifetime warranty has come in handy a few times.
73 The best design for pocket-carrying
These phones collapse into a package tight enough to fit in a jacket pocket, yet they expand enough to comfortably fit my size-13 head. The earpieces loop around the upperedge of the ear and are quite comfortable. They have the best sound of any portable headphones I've ever used -- well worth spending extra to replace the crappy ones that come with most Walkmans. One complaint: the hook that is supposed to hold them into a ball springs open much too easily, and the cord snarls if it's wrapped around them.
