With the SportaPro you can do sports and enjoy music at the same time, even in the crowded place it will be only you who will enjoy the sound fully. Flexible headband design allows listener to wear the headband on top of or behind the head, it is great for active sports or when wearing a cap or hat. The dynamic element design ensures deep bass performance to be well, the foam ear cushions make the sound open and are transparent for sound. They are also collapsible for easy travel and storage.
The Koss SportaPro portable headphones offer portability, flexibility, and a headband designed to be worn either atop or behind the head. Equally well suited for use at work or on a jogging trail, the SportaPro's open, foam-covered ear cups allow for ambient environmental sounds to be heard, which can be helpful in a recreational environment.
The SportaPro's weight is a mere 2.2 ounces, and the headphones boast a frequency response of 15 to 25,000 Hz, delivering (on paper, at least) quite a bit more bass than most home speakers can. Impedance is 60 ohms, with less than a 0.2 percent distortion and sensitivity of 103 dB SPL (with a 1 mW signal).
The SportaPro stereophones are collapsible and come with a carrying case, as well as both 0.125-inch and 0.25-inch jacks. Koss covers the headphones with a lifetime warranty.
1 Quality headphones with an excellent warranty!
I bought the previous version of these headphones (minus the mute button) on Amazon just over three years ago. They have been my daily use headphones at work since then. I bought them on the strength of the reviews at that time and have not been disappointed.
Recently the foam earpieces and temple cushions began to disintegrate (the headphones still functioned without incident; they were just no longer comfortable to wear). I decided to put Koss's lifetime warranty to the test and sent in the headphones along with $6 to cover shipping and handling. Within two weeks I received a replacement with no hassle aside from being without headphones for that time.
Koss won a lifetime customer with this product and their customer service.
2 Great Sound, Great Price
I just received these phones in the mail from Full Compass (an Amazon supplier and a great company) after researching on the net and reading some of the reviews on Amazon. They look a little cheesy when you take them out of the box but all that changes when you put them on and listen to them. Smooth, rich sound with great bass response and good volume. I would estimate that these are medium senstivity, so just about any portable should be able to drive them. I have owned a number of portable FM, tape, CD, and MP3 players over the last 20 years, beginning with the original Sony walkman. Most included a set of decent but not superlative headphones. These phones are the best of the lot. Koss could probably take some lessons from Sony on making a great looking headphone but these units leave them behind in sound quality. I guess that is all that really matters anyway.
3 Unbeatable Value
Unbeatable Value
I've had these wonderful headphones for more than 4 years. I've dropped them countless times and the foam earpieces are long gone. But every time I put them on (with the plastic transducer housings directly over my ears-still comfortable enough), they sound just as sweet as ever. I listen to a pair of $200 Bose Quiet Comport at work, but sonically they are not even close to the Sportapro. The Koss cans may look cheap (ok, let's face it, they do) but they are extremely well constructed, no matter how badly I treat them they just won't quit - now that's what I call a quality product. Every once in a while you run into a product that just keeps performing and performing and performing and performing - call them life's little pleasant surprises - these little cans are perfect examples.
4 Good stuff
These admittedly dinky-looking headphones give surprisingly good sound. Bass is full and the rest of the frequency spectrum is nothing to sneeze at. Since statistically speaking you are like most people, you'll be plugging these into either an MP3 player full of badly-ripped, low-bitrate compressed audio tracks or else a crummy portable CD player with an extremely noisy potentiometer for a volume control. Buying better than these perfectly respectable headphones would be a waste of money.
The Sportapros fold up too, which makes them great for a coat pocket. Also, the headband can fold in such a way that the headphones look like "street-style" headphones that are oh-so-popular these days. This makes them clamp on your head a bit more, but it can't possibly be any less comfortable than any other headphones in such a configuration. I think it looks stupid that way, but hey, if that's your cup of tea so be it.
As for noise isolation, these don't offer much. If you really don't want to hear the subway along with your gangsta rap, you should be looking at a pair of noise-cancelling phones or better yet in-ear headphones such as those made by Etymotics. (The latter are a few times the price of the Sportapros on the bottom end, mind you.)
It even comes with a fake leather bag that I keep laundry money in. (Keeping a set of headphones this inexpensive in such a bag is just screaming "I have OCD!") Bottom line, this is the best pair of portable headphones you can buy for the price. They don't sound worse than the low-end Sennheisers in this price range, for example, and they are quite a bit smaller.
5 GREAT phones, no qualifiers
I bought these on a whim. I got them... really just because I asked for a replacement pair of Sony behind-the-head phones for old ones I have. I was told they no longer carried those and the Koss Sportapro came up so I said why not. Why not?! I had no idea--these things kick (rear) all over the Sony sport/travel phones I'd been using. Excellent build quality; I really like the stout, reassuring metal band. Who said these are bad looking? I mean if you're embarrased you're wearing headphones, no phones aside from earbuds (which we all know suck) will be invisible. Anyway, in the behind-the-head position I find these perfectly stylish in an urban sort of way; I also find this position quite comfortable. I'm a bass player (and musician in general) and good bass response is absolutely critical for me--just can't hear an acoustic double bass right if the phones are no good. The Sportapro's give closed-cup studio headphones a run for their money, no joke. I was flabbergasted for days when I first got them, thinking some bubble would certainly burst any minute. No bubble burst they sound great for everything. I frequently listen to TV on these too (hifi stereo TV) and they just sound great. And another thing (:-), right now I have a couple of ear piercings (both ears) in odd places and they're both a little tender. I'm able to put the Sportapro pads exactly where I need them for comfort and great listening. Awesome product. I'm waiting to buy a second pair, just to have, you know, in case.
6 Great headphones for the price.
These are great headphones with only one drawback.
I like the design. The ability to convert from over-the-head to behind-the-head is a nice touch. As is the stroage pouch.
Some people complain about the slightly shorter cable. But I found it just the right length when you have your player in a pants pocket.
Now, the only drawback is the slightly boomy bass. Koss went a little too far in trying to accentuate the bass. I had to adjust the EQ settings to compensate for this. Still, it's a tiny bit too much bass for my tatse. I also tried the headphones while listening to CD's. The boominess was still present, so it's not tied to the MP3 format.
But, I still recommend these headphones. With the exception of the bass response they sound as good as my $60 Grado SR60's.
7 Great sound and very comfortable
Bought these because my Sonys could not handle the music range I listen to. I researched headphones extensively and settled with these. Im into hard rock through to classical. I enjoy letting people listen to them. I then enjoy seeing them gasp when I tell them how much I paid. I then struggle to get them back from them! All in all an ideal travel companion. Koss has my total respect.
8 do not be fooled. these are the best.
unfortunately, I do not have time to say enough about these headphones. I have been using them, in various incarnations, since the mid-1980s, when Koss called them PortaPro, KSP, and other names. When they died, Koss replaced them with the current model -- free. They press on your ears and offer better sound.
9 great sound, bad design
these headphones have great bass and sound quality. . .but bad quality of design. after several weeks, the earphones kept coming off the headband and i've been using tape to secure it in place now. i didn't drop them or throw them around, this just happened from normal wear and taking it in and out of the soft carrying case. plus the cord covering isn't durable since i already have a few nicks and areas where the wires are exposed. if you plan to put your headphones thru alot of use, don't get these.
10 Could be better, much better
Well today my regular headphones broke (Seinheiser HD-457) so I had to go out and get a new pair. I have heard many good things and stellar reviews about the Koss Portapro and Sportapro headphones. In the store I had trouble finding anything that I could afford (...) and finally came across the Koss Sporta Pro. For [the price], and all the good reviews I have heard, and the fact they are lighter and fold up, I decided to buy them.
First I tried them with my minidisc player and they sounded pretty decent. They also sounded fairly decent with my cassette player as well. But when I listened later this evening on the noisy bus I could barely hear my music over the groan of the engine. To make matters worse, with the increased volume there was terrible distortion. The bass was excessive and the high frequences made this awful "fluttering" effect.
Nonetheless they are back in their package and will be returned to the store tomorrow.
11 Sound is awesome, but fit is awkward
I got a pair of these to replace the hphones that came w/ my MP3 player. I was not expecting a super audio performance out of hphones, especilaly listening to a portable MP3 source. However, the sound quality blew me away. The bass response is tremendous, and there's absolutely no reason to increase the bass boost on the player. It's an awesome little product.
The only downside is the design - in trying to retrofit the Portapro to an updated "behind the head" fit, the Sportapros are a bit cumbersome to wear. It's best to wear them in a traditional over the head fashion.
12 Excellent sound, terrible looks
Recently I was looking for a good pair of headphones for under $. After doing extensive research, I came to the conclusion that the Koss Sporta Pro headphones could not be beaten in that price range, I would even spend $ for them they are so good. The bass is the best I have ever heard from headphones, and the mid and high notes are also clear and well defined. Some people say that these headphones are uncomfortable. I personnally can only feel them for about 5 mins before my head gets used to them and they become very comfortable. The headphones have gold plated connection plug, as well as an adapter to plug them into your older stereo, which is also gold plated. The headphones even come with a carry case. In conclusion, the Sporta Pro's are the best value for headphones under $, and have a lifetime warranty to boot.
13 The best headphones for the money.
I use the Koss SportaPro for the gym. I have nothing but positive things to say about these headphones. The sound quality is supurb. I was using some earbuds that kept falling out while I was running, but these stay in place. You can wear them over or behind the head. A nice product.
14 Great for the gym
These are the best cheap headphones I've found for working out. I listen to classical on an MP3 player and I'm picky about sound, but everyone who tries these loves them. They're light, comfortable and reasonably sturdy, and they sound terrific.
Two caveats: 1) the plastic insulation on the cords should be tougher, you can slice through it with the metal headphone bands if you're careless; 2) if your hat size is 8 or larger, see if you can try before you buy.
Koss PortaPro sounds even better, but you can't beat these for the price.
15 more bang for the buck
these headphones deliver great bass response.
there are a great buy
16 Great for Running
These headphones are great for running. I use these for 8 to 10 miles runs and the sound is great.
17 Great for the gym
This product provides the perfect match for workouts. I listen to both CDs and TV at the gym. The headphones are compact and easy to pack when not in use. Try them yourself. We have two pairs now.
18 Almost as good as its big brother.
This headphone is very similar to its big brother, Koss PortaPro, and cost less. This looks good but when you compare them sound wise, the SportaPro just dont sound the same. Sadly! A little less punch in the lower end and not so open.
But for its price and compared to other headphones, except the PortaPro, its great. But, if you like that killer punch and near Hi-Fi sound, go for the PortaPro.
In this review I have only focused on the sound quality, and tested the headphones on portable CD players of high quality, not MP3 players (hate the sound).
19 Probably the best in its price class
I have bought 3 pairs of sporta pros during the last 3 years. (Nothing wrong with the quality, just I like to have one pair at home, one pair at office and another pair stuffed in my backpack)
It looks fragile and sometimes ugly. But what really counts is the sound. The characteristics of the sound are: clean, warm, dynamic (overs a wide range from low to high), very good sensitivity (very loud at normal volume setting), lots of bass (although a little boomy at times). The first time when you hear it you will be surprise for its powerful bass. I hate the mute button but I heard recently Koss had taken it off. For protable use it's probably the best in its price class. Some people complain about the comfortability issue, I have no problem wearing it for hours though.
For more serious listening, I would highly recommend a pair of Grado SR60 (open style). It's about $70 and I couldn't believe how much pleasure I had taken from listening to it. The highs are crystal clear, the bass is good but not boomy at all (you can feel it), the warm, open mid range is simply seductive. The transparency and spacious of the sound stage is amazing. It stirs up your feelings and emotions when listening to most vocal, classic and pop music. It's pity that Amazon.com doesn't carry this headphone, truely a gem in the protable headphone family.
Another pair (closed style, around $70-80) I could recommend is Sony's MDR-V6. Good frequency range, very good bass, very clean sound and very little coloration of sound. However unlike the grado, the sound is flat although maybe more accurate. I will describe the sound as "scientific" comparing with grado's "emotional" and "liveness".
20 Buy for the sound, NOT the look.
OK people, yes these are not the best looking headphones, but come on, get over it! Buy your headphones for the S-O-U-N-D. Let's get past the whole fashion statement thing-it's about music. Koss Sportapro's deliver in SPADES. These suckers have great bass response-very clear, crisp, and pounding in the low range. The mid's and high's sound really good as well. YOU CAN'T BEAT THESE HEADPHONES FOR THE PRICE. If you want better sound you have to go to at least [the more expensive] models, I know, I've owned many different headphones (including the predecessor of the Sportapro, the 'Portapro'). So yeah, you can pay thru the nose and get some Sony's (over-rated) or Sennheiser's, but hey; it's your money. For the most bang for the buck, get these.
I listen to everything from extreme metal to jazz and classical on these and it all sounds great. The extended cord length and mute button are also nice extras. Also, if you really don't want to talk to someone, just put on some outlandish music loudly-the design allows a good deal of sound to emmanate from the speakers. These phones 'breathe' if you know what I mean. Yet they deliver high quality sound into your ears. They sound great at all volumes. They are light, and the adjustable (over the head or behind the head) headband is really nice. Who says Koss doesn't care about fashion!? All of you who worry about your hair can simply flip the headband back and avoid disturbing your follicles.
Highly recommended.
21 Good for the money, but get full-size for full sound
The SOUND: better than many portables, but a bit bassy with a corresponding loss of treble. Still not the perfect phone, especially when I am used to the full-size Sony closed-ear MDR-V6/MDR-7506, which emphasize the treble slightly while having the full sound you get from a good headphone. My Sony's are also more efficient--they're louder. PS, I wish I could find the cans that came with aiwa portable tape players a few years ago. They were great, and you could hear the cymbals dancing clearly.
The LOOK: somewhat ugly plastic form.
The HEADBAND: can be bent down to go behind your head to keep your gel in style. Still stays on. I liked the Sonys for this and their great look, but their sound was atrocious and they were less comfortable.
The PRESSURE: the extra pads just above your ears take most of the pressure holding them on your head, so they stay on and don't press your ears too much.
The BUTTON: yes, it has a mute button on the cord, but it's too low, at the waistband if you're 5'-6" and sitting in your chair, and when you cross your arms the music cuts out.
The PLUG: has a quick-connect regular and mini combo plug.
The BAG: You get a leatherette bag to put them in.
The SIZE: They close up flat into a 6" x 4" area for storage.
22 Good idea, poor quality
These headphones work well if you want to listen to music but still be able to hear extraneous sounds (like the phone ringing, baby crying, etc.) without difficulty. The problem with them is that the wire is coated with a canvas-like material that, in my case, without extreme use, opened up in several places exposing the wires. Koss does have a lifetime warranty on the product, however it costs one third of the item's price plus shipping to send it back, and it will most likely have the same problem. Don't waste your money, get something else.
23 Very nice, however...
I bought these phones for my MP3 player (iPod) and haven't been disappointed. They sound great, the bass is full and rich and the high end has surprising clarity. They do an excellant job of masking environmental noise and are quite comfortable. A feature I most looked forward to was the kill switch that was described in the write-up and appears in the picture. My problem is that the phones I received, although the same model number and identical in all respects to the described product, had NO SWITCH. This [is bad] but the sound quality and price value of these phones make them too good to return. I give them 4 stars, they'd get a five if I had my switch. Hopefully the description will be fixed to present a more accurate representation of the product.
24 Would be good.. if it worked
I bought these headphones about 4 months ago. I liked them but didn't find that much of a difference with the sound quality. Also the folding headband function didn't work that well, the thing kept falling off of the back of my head. Then a few weeks ago the real problems started. The headphones would start only working out of only one side, I would spend twenty seconds twisting the jack, trying to fix just to have it stop working again as soon as I moved. Then the headphones stopped working altogether. My reccomendation, take your 25 dollars and by some quality headphones instead of these ones
25 HUGE BOOM, LOW PRICE!
These headphones have teriffic sound regardless of their low price. I own a few pairs of upper-end headphones, including a pair of Bang & Olufsen A-8's. The Koss Sporta Pro 'phones sound as good or better as any pair of high-end headphones [I've heard]. The bass is incredible and the lows and midrange are great as well. These 'phones are worth the price, and then some.
26 Excellent sound for the price and great for excercising.
I just brought a Apple Ipod and found that the headphones that came with it had great highs and no bass. Don't get me wrong, I really like highs a lot. I have two studio Sony's that are $...+ and I love highs more than bass. When I first put these on, it was really comfortable to wear. When I talk about comfort, I mean the option of using it behind the head option or fold down option. I have a Sony behind the head one and it is not really comfortable. I have read a lot of reviews about many types of headphones and even brought the Sony mdr-268lp (49.95). It was good if you want earbuds with bass, but they were really uncomfortable. I use these when I run and bike, with no hitch. For the price there is a lot of bass, more than any of my higher end Sony's, (that's if you like bass), and the highs are alright too. If the highs were a little more richer and fuller, it would be one of the best headphones I have ever owned. But, overall it is really good and it won't disappoint.
27 A Great Product for a Great Price
I did lots of research before I purchased these headphones. Many of the reviews said the SportaPro offered great sound, deep bass, and wide range. Well, I have not been disappointed.
Although I'm not an audio expert, I am impressed with the range of these headphones; the sound is as good or better than headphones costing $60 or more. They're pretty small, comfortable, and they're collapsible, so they're easy to carry when on the road.
Some reviewers have remarked that they're ugly. I don't wear headphones to make a fashion statement, and frankly, although these aren't great looking, I don't think they're that bad either. Also, there's no longer a mute switch on these headphones. Apparently, they were causing problems (a short) so Koss removed this feature. Overall, I'm very satisfied with this purchase.
28 The bass is incredible!
I bought these Koss Sportapro headphones after reading the reviews about the bass response and they are awesome! Most of the reviews mentioned how much bass these had and they were right, there is bass in these headphones. The sportapro has more bass than my more expensive home pair of headphones. I have owned and worn out many portable pairs of headphones in the last 20 years and these by far have the best sound quality. I am a person who likes bass in my music listening and this is the first pair that I've actually needed to turn down the bass boost on my portable Rio Volt SP100 player. I also have a Sony CD walkman that has a two stage dynamic bass boost, and these headphones work great with only the first stage of boost. I could barely believe I was actually turning down the bass boost! With all other pairs of headphones, I always needed to have the bass boost running at the maximum and it was never enough. These headphones also have clear treble/highs and the overall sound is full. There isn't as much midrange sound as other headphones, but if you have an equalizer on your portable cd/mp3 player, you can adjust accordingly or listen to your music without an EQ/bass boost. These headphone have such a nice and full sound that they rival my home stereo system. I can understand that some people might think there is an echo in these headphones, but it is no different that listening to my big speakers at home in my family room. If you are comparing these headphones to other headphones, then yes, they have more echo, but I always like to compare headphones to my home stereo system. I listen to music at work alot, and these are the first headphones I have ever heard that can reproduce the sound of big speakers with big woofers. I feel like I am listening to my home stearo instead of at my cubicle at work.
As far as comfort, they fit tighter than any headphones that I have owned, but my ears are getting used to it. If you are the kind of person who has been looking for the bass boost in headphones, but have never found it, then you need to get these headphones. You won't believe it!
29 Uncomfortable and too Bassy!
I was looking to upgrade my headphones from the standard pre-packaged CD-Walkman headphones and based on all the positive reviews I read about this product, I immediately ordered these headphones. I was very disappointed from the get-go. At first glance I actually thought they looked pretty nice after reading all the reviews describing them as ugly. But, once I put them on, it was all over! First, these things are tight, very tight on my ears. I tried the behind the neck position and it didn't help. I tried to stretch them a little, no good. After 1 minute, I felt pressure on my ears! I could just imagine wearing them for an hour.
Also, TOO MUCH bass! Now, bass is VERY important to me and is something I look for, but I had to turn off my bass boost on my CD Walkman and it didn't help. I mean, I just do not hear any treble at all and many songs are just too "bass heavy".
The next day I "returned to sender". Sorry about the negativity, but it's my opinion and I'm sticking too it.
30 Koss SportaPro headphones
I'm no audiophile by any means, and I'm not too impressed with these headphones. I bought them to listen to mp3s at work and to listen to music, watch dvds and play games on my computer at night without making noise to wake my roomate. When you turn up the volume it sounds scratchy, it's annoying enough to make me turn it down. Consequently i can't listen as loud as I would like.
31 Great Sound and Comfort!
For the price, these are the best headphones that I have ever purchased! I use them at work while doing "easy jobs", and the bass is amazing! I wear glasses, so usually headphones feel uncomfortable around my lenses, but not these! They give real comfort and great sound! The headphones fold up and come in a small pouch. This is a BEST BUY!
32 Nothing comes close to this for sound quality/cost
For ($) you don't expect much from a pair of headphones. But the Koss SportaPro breaks the rules.
First off for ($) you get some of the sweatest sound you'll ever hear. They range is excellent, from deep bass to light highs and everything in between. For reference I got out some of my old headphones I had laying around, just to see how much of a different there was. I laughed as I listened to my other headphones, there's no comparision!
This headphones look a little flimsy, ackward, but they turned out to be very comfortable. They are light, not too tight on the ears. Plus these headphone can be used like most headphone, over your head, or like of the new stylish headphones, behind your head. This lets you were them whatever way makes them the most confortable.
I'm glad I spent the money, I will never consider another pair of headphones...
33 Good sound, comfortable, not-so-good construction
I wear these every day at work for around 6 hours. They are very comfortable and don't leave a headband indentation in my hair after wearing them for long periods of time like conventional headphones do. To my ear they sound better than other headphones in their price range. They seem to lack midrange response, but I think that makes for a cleaner sound. I can hear musical details better through them than my friend's street-style Sony headphones which have more midrange response. They produce deep and accurate bass (for small headphones). Great buy for the price.
34 Excellent Headphones
The price is great. The sound is clear and undistorted, even at high volumes. Deep bass, high notes are great too. The problem? Hella-ugly, been insulted in public for having these on. However, function over form I say.
35 Decent sound, painful fit
I purchased these headphones based on their rating (around 4.5) stars, and while the sound quality has been okay, the headphones are tight and designed in a way that they *can't* be adjusted to fit properly. I wear these headphones at work and at the gym for durations of over an hour. These headphones will hurt after being worn for around a half hour as they start to dig into your ears. They are not comfortable, and they're pretty ... flimsy looking. The cloth around the ear piece also acts like a sponge if you sweat when you work out. Bottom Line: I *HIGHLY* (can't stress this enough) suggest trying these on before you purchase them!
36 Not All it's cut out to be
I just purchased these headphones and am a bit dissappointed. After having heard the "big brother" of these, the porta pro [price], and seeing on the Koss website that the SPORTA pro had very similar specs, without some of the visual glamour (and reading reviews that said the same), I decided to go out and by a pair. Well, it certainly is better than your average headphone, picking up the spectrum pretty well, especially those trebles, but the bass (even though rated as 15Hz) can not even compare to some others at a similar rating that I've heard. The comfort leaves a bit to be desired, as well. Maybe it's just me, but the earpiece just doesn't fit all that well unless you tighten it, thereby making it quite uncomfortable. I recommend the PortaPro for the ultimate in portable sound quality, or another alternative, Koss's "The Plug", which for [price] can provide even better bass depth in a very portable form.
37 High quality product
I recently purchased a pair of these headphones and found the quality to be top notch. They sound excellent and can handle pretty high levels of bass without distorting it. I have had two pairs of Sony heaphones and one pair of Aiwas(which are trash.) I was truly surprised at the comfort of these headphones, especially in the behind the head positon. The fold-up function is nice and the leather bag is an added bonus. Also included is a gold plug that allows you to use these headphones with larger jack systems(such as home theaters.) Overall, these headphones produce high sound quality without the size and weight of other models.
38 Fantastic
The really great thing about these headphones is that they are true to the sound. Because heavy bass is not only popular, but difficult for headphones and speakers to handle, it seems a lot of manufacturers are putting more effort into making their product able to handle heavy bass. Unfortunately, this often results in the resulting sound being heavily skewed toward the low end. These phones hold their own against airy violin and crunching bass. I have them hooked to a pair of Harman/Kardon speakers through my PC and the sound is far better than my home stereo.
39 Awesome phones.
I just purchased a minidisc player and was looking for some relatively inexpensive high quality headphones. I found these ones. The only problem i have found with these is they don't contain the sound. If you are listening in a quiet room and others are around they'll be able to tell you exactly what song you're listening to - but I didn't buy these because i cared about that. The sound quality is great. The bass is incredible, i can get these things to start vibrating on my head because of the bass (without even distorting i might add). I tend not to listen to them that way because the bass gives me a headache - I'm sure other people would LOVE that though. Overall i was really impressed and didn't believe headphones were capable of that kind of sound. It was a great purchase.
40 Great headphones!
I love these headphones; they've got superb sound (particularly the bass region--I didn't know headphones were capable of this kind of bass!), they're very portable, inexpensive, and the accessories & features it comes with are great. They're also very comfortable (particularly because of the foam pads that secure the phones behind/above your ears), although I have a small head and I've heard that these phones don't fit so well on bigger heads. I also like the way they look, and the lifetime warranty is a nice bonus.
41 Great Little Suckers!
I bought these phones based on the large number of very positive reviews here; I just received them, and am not disappointed.
I got them to use with my Rio 500 MP3 player, which came with unuseable Koss earbuds (the foam coverings fell off every time you put it in your ear. They were also innefficient -- not loud enough).
The Sportaphones sound excellent -- very smooth highs, efficient enough for good volume, and deep bass. My only complaint is a little overemphasis in the mid-bass, but this can be fixed with the Rio 500's EQ settings.
The Sportaphones are pretty comfortable, although I can't see ever using them in the back-of-the-head position. The spring-type band forces them against your ears which will always help bass reproduction in phones. On the down side, this could cause fatigue after long periods.
They fold up, quite ingeniously, to a very small package, and the leatherette bag plus gold connectors are nice extras. I don't know what the fuss is about their looks -- I don't think they are particularly ugly, and least on my head. I guess if you are ugly to begin with, the phones won't improve your looks! ;-)
In conclusion, they are a great bargain for the price. I hope they hold up; maybe I'll get a spare pair just in case.
42 DON'T BUY THIS ...
They collapse but what the heck? How on earth are you supposed to jog with these things when you wear it behind your head? The fit is EXTREMELY and SEVERELY awkward. They sound good but there must be a better headphone that won't give you so much trouble putting it on. Did I mention your hair can get entangled or even yanked? I've got some bald spots to prove it. Mark my words: this is a ... Don't buy it. I should have bought ...
43 Really nice headphones for the price
I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much for [the price] but Ihave been thoroughly pleased with these little babies ever since I received them. Since aural satisfaction varies widely by person, I will try and give you and idea of what I look for in the phones I buy. While not a fan of super exaggerated bass, I do err on the side of slightly emphasized low down sounds, especially for phones on the go for working out, etc.. Also, I'm not looking for super high fidelity when I'm doing sit ups and biking through downtown. These headphones are light and they sound really good at high or low volumes, even with a good amount of bass. I tested them out on my current headphone killer "Fight Club". It has a lot of techno-low throb bass tracks that my Grado's, my Sharp phones that came with my Minidisc player and my Sony CD250's, start to cry about at high volumes. Try the end of track 3("What Is Fight Club?"). Although no headphone(or speaker) has ever been able to handle that track without distortion, including these, at high volumes, these were the highest I've ever been able to crank that track. These phones also sounded good with classical(Vivaldi), vocals(Otis Redding) and pop(The Police)
Now for some not so good's. These things are UGLY. I mean U-G-L-Y you ain't got no alibi, ugly(i just had to sneak in a 2nd grade insult in there.) I like old school looks(just like my jokes), my Grado's are pretty funky and I like em, but these things are a joke. The "sport" mode that wraps around the back of your heads looks pretty foolish too. My only hope is that folks won't look to closely at the gym or when I'm zipping by on my bike. Also, while comfortable on your head(they have little foam rests that help cushion the force against your ears) they have a disturbing tendency to close really tightly around your neck(either pressing on the side or on your adam's apple) if you are letting them rest there. Not a huge deal, since they fold up to fit in your pocket, but still..
All in all, I heartily recommend these. They give my Grado's a run for the money(they cost 60) and kick out a good amount of bass without sounding murky. I was also surprised at how long I could listen to them without getting "tired" of the sound. Even with my Grado's, possibly because they can be a bit bright, I get fatigued and need to rest my ears and brain for a bit. But these little guys keep on kicking out the sound. Buy them. You won't regret it. Plus they have a life time warranty, so if you get beat up for looking so incredibly dorky, you can replace them(i'm not sure if Koss covers getting your butt kicked, but it would be worth a try)
44 Great Sound, Good Fit
I've compared the SportaPro Headphones with some very good lightweight models, the SportaPro has wonderful sound (Great bass response for a lightweight model). The price is very good...but the fit is a little awkward and designed for a relatively small head. I believe the size is relative to the portable/compactable nature of this model. All things considered, I would recommend this headphone to anyone who wants to get the best sound out of their portable audio player, Koss SportaPro offers a lot of bang for the buck!
45 Good For The Price
Strait out of the packaging I hooked them up to my HDCD Denon player. Overall, they've got good highs and mids. The 6khz treble region could be a little more pleasantly recessed than it is, but the high-end never gets fatiguing at normal volumes - only when loud. I must say that the bass is a little exaggerated. It is noticeably overdone in the 30-80HZ region -- the lowest you can pretty much hear with headphones. This never *seems* to muddle the mids, which is often a problem with bass-heavy phones. It doesn't seem excessively boomy and there are oodles of low-end dynamics, which I did not expect. They remind me a lot of the Denon 950's, but without the Denon's tissy-fit highs. When I hooked them up to my Panasonic 361C portable, I was surprised even further. With Curve: Doppelganger, the bass didn't seem even the slightest bit exaggerated. Unfortunately, when I moved over to extreme low-end intensive music like Massive Attack: Mezzanine, there was still a little too much bass, but slightly less than on the Denon. Econoline Crush: The Devil You Know kind of had too much bass, but most people would probably prefer it that way. Yet, on many CD's bass is noticeably overdone. Spatially, the SportaPros have a nice open sound.
The SportaPros fold up and this is where the other caveat comes out. When using the headband behind your head, the little fold-up hook can start rubbing against my head, behind my right ear. This only happens when the band slides too far down, though. All Koss had to do was have the hook facing the opposite direction to avoid this. They're still the most comfortable headphones-that-press-on-the-ear that I've ever tried, and I do love how they fold up; it returns them to a nice, taught shape. The Koss has a good, short length of cord for portable use that also has a mute button on it.
I'll keep the SportaPros as a portable and bass-y alternative. If used with bass turned down a tad, they would be even better.
P.S. Single-entry wires are not superior. They allow out of phase cross-talk to enter the opposite ear through the shared ground wire, which is why audiophile headphones are almost always dual-entry. The classic Sony V6, for instance, has a cross-talk problem and is unsuitable for binaural applications because of this.
46 The most Incredible sounding headphones I've owned!
These could be no better...I had swoops before them...when I put these on, I couldn't believe how good the sound quality was! Real Bass!
Pluses
*SOUND QUALITY *The Mute Button *Collapsible *Price
Minuses *I don't like how they look very much...but I'll probably get used to it...
47 Very Good Headphones
I had been testing out several different pairs of cheap headphones before these came in the mail so I already knew what to expect. However, the first time I put these on and played some music, I smiled. They sounded great. The bass is very well-defined and the other frequencies are very clear as well. The bass is so good I can feel the headphones vibrating on my head (I am not sure if other phones do this I didn't test). They are very comfortable because of the pads above the ears. Whenever I look at them before I put them on, the thought "comfort" runs through my head. They are also very durable and portable. They can fit in a pocket when folded, the headband is metal so it can't be broken, and the casings on the outside of the drivers are very hard plastic. Other good features are the mute button and the two different ways of wearing the phones (although I only use the convential method). Even if you get a very expensive portable, don't use the included headphones. Get these.
48 Great sound but so-so design
The sound is unbeatable at this price point or even double. However, the fit in the sport setting behind the neck does not work for me at all. They slip off very easily. The mute button gets in the way while excercising and is somtimes hit unintentionally. The cord is dual entry. Anyone who's owned a single entry headphone (this is where the cord is on just one side) realizes that this is superior. Buy them for the sound and value, but beware they may not fit properly in the behind-the-neck position.
49 Great for a portable MiniDisc or CD Player
These headphones sound great, have lots of bass, are very loud, and can be worn normally or behind the head. They are light and fold up to fit in your pocket. I recommend them as a pair of quality inexpensive headphones to replace the crummy ones what come with your portable MiniDisc or CD Player. My only complaint is that I had to remove a piece of plastic that held the wires together in order to be able to remove the headphones from my head easily. This was no big deal and took me 2 minutes to do.
50 6 stars and a thumbs up!
I had these headphones for about 3 months before I lost them oddly enough, when they were in the storage bag, which I still love anyway. Today I came back to buy another one. While I had them, the Sportaphones, they had sound I'd classify in the class of the Grado SR-60, which I absolutely love. But for overall value and utility (the sport setting and the mini-mute button on the cord are great), these are the best portable headphones you can buy.
51 WONDERFUL
This headphone has good reception of both bass and high notes. For the first time I can enjoy classical music while I'm exercising.
52 Great
This was an excellent purchase. I have lost many pairs since they have broken in my pocket / backpack. These fold so that they can be compressed flat. The sound quality is great for this price range. After having lost over $100 to broken headphones, I am glad that I have a pair to stay.
53 Good step up for any personal portable
Condidering these cost only $20 but offer great improvement in sound, I'm wondering why the top end portables (minidisk, mp3) don't include them with their products. I'm really enjoying mine! Like the bass response, band flexibility, and the little mute button. They sound good plugged into the "mother ship" too. Buy them.
54 no more bad hair days
IF YOU WORK IN RADIO OR ARE A DJ AT YOUR LOCAL CLUB,YOU WILL ENJOY THE BASS RESPONCE IN THESE LITTLE WONDERS.THE FIT IS GOOD AND TIGHT,THE ONLY THING,IF YOU NEED IT,THE CORD COULD BE A LITTLE LONGER,BUT IF YOU ARE ON THE GO ,GO GET THESE LITTLE WONDERS.
