The great KOSS delimma....

[Qeelin]

Ok guys and gals, I need all the dirt and input you can give me about Koss headphones. I want to find a good sounding, dependable, comfortable headphone to replace the crapy Pro-35a1's I have but first let me tell you my journey thus far....

I first fell in love with Koss when I listened to a friend's pair of Pro-35's (KTX-PRO). At that point I had never heard anything that sounded half as good as those did. The bass was excellent, the highes were crisp, and I had to have some. He told me that he got them at Radio Shack for $20 and they were under the Realistic name and later were labeled Optimus.

I got some and enjoyed them untill they fell apart. I work in a production job and I listen to music and radio for 8 to 10 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week so they get plenty of use and abuse. After I wore those out I went back to Radio shack and found that they had changed and now they were silver and went by the model KTX-35a1.
I got them and noticed that the overall quality had gone down quite a bit. They no longer fit tight on your ears and seemed flimsy and cheep. This pair didn't last me half the time that the old KTX-35's did and after soldering on them a few times decided to find a model that had the sound quality but were a bit sturdier. I wrote to Koss and asked that very question asking them to suggest a model that will hold up better. They suggested the PRO4AAT because of the higher freq response and lower distortion.
I bought some and got them in today. I am TOTALY dissapointed. They sound like crap! They have practicly no bass and no crisp highes. It sounds like someone turned down the bass and treble and cranked up the mid. I am sending them back for a refund and I'm back to square one.
I'm leaning towards the PORTAPRO's but I don't know how they sound.

With all of your experience I'm sure that I can get then Info to make a good decission. I don't have to buy Koss but that's the only brand that I have much experience with. I want to keep the price under $75.

Thanks

[Jon118]

A lot of people here like the Porta-Pros. Some don't. Since you seem to like Koss, you will inevitably be steered towards the KSC-75, everyone's favorite budget headphones, but the Porta-Pros would be a good choice.

[appophylite]

The KSC 75 and Portapro are solid Koss choices, especially when listening to your story and what it sounds like you like. You may also like the Sportapro, which has a similar sound signature.

[kramer5150]

I believe those pro4AATs are ~150 ohms and NEED a robust amp circuit to push them. An underamped headphone will generally sound just as you describe (but then again... so will a poorly designed one )

I have both an old and new radio shack pro35A, and they are identical. The Pro35A and KTX Pro1 have different foam earpads and therefore sound vastly different. The KTXPro1 being very muffled and congested by comparison.

Portapros are a less bright and overall warmer version of the Pro35A.

Whats your budget?
do you need isolation?
How much portability do you need?
What are you plugging the headphones into? (what is your portable player)
Any particular reason why you prefer to stick with Koss?

[Qeelin]

Originally Posted by kramer5150

Whats your budget?
do you need isolation?
How much portability do you need?
What are you plugging the headphones into? (what is your portable player)
Any particular reason why you prefer to stick with Koss?

I can spend $75 or less.
I don't "need" isolation, I've been without it for years (there's not much noise where I listen)
I carry my phones and players back and forth between work and home
I use my phones on a CD player, MP3 player, Radio, and DVD player (all portable)
The only reason I am considering Koss is because of the excellent quality of the KTX-35's, I'm willing to go with any brand that sounds good and stands up to the wear I put them through

Also, I plugged the PRO4AAT's into my home stereo (Sony 500 watt 5.1 Receiver) and they still sounded muddy

[ericj]

Originally Posted by Qeelin

Also, I plugged the PRO4AAT's into my home stereo (Sony 500 watt 5.1 Receiver) and they still sounded muddy

Well, muddy sounds about right.

My Pro4AAT were purchased heavily used (and in need of minor rewiring) and are thus fully burnt in, and not quite that bad, but basically they're still more or less true to the old Pro4AA sound - which is a touch muddy.

[Dutchess of York]

If your looking to try somthing else, the three 'budget' headphones that are always recomeded here are:

-koss portapros
-grado sr60
-sennheiser px100

Ive heard the grados and the koss, both are excelent, and ive never read about anyone dissipointed with the px100s, considering their price. All three are open headphones, the koss and senns are more portable, but i think the grados have the best sound.

[no1likesme]

pick up a second hand grado sr80

[Megalomania]

Everyone loves the KSC75.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

another vote for the KSC-75s. Hell, at $16.50 shipped off of ebay, what've you got to lose? I promise you won't be disappointed

[Nagasaki_Kid]

I actually currently have both the realistic version of the pro35 and the radio shack version in working order. the driver inside has a year sticker on them, the realistic version has a 92 sticker and has thicker wire and better bass(wires are the same type as the ford mac5). the radioshack brand has a 03 sticker on the driver and has an airier sound to them. I personally prefer the airy sound of the pro35a compared to the realistic pro25(rebrand of the KTX-PRO(black one))

If you liked the old realistic pro 25 ktx-pro clone over the newer radioshack pro35a, I would suggest the sportapro over the ksc75 that everyone else recommends and also try recabling a ksc75 with better cable (cat4 cable is the cheap way) if you liked the better bass but don't want to spend too much.

If you want to turn your pro35a into something that sound like the older version you should recable them with some thicker wire and tape up the mesh grill to reduce air flow.

you may also want to consider the koss ur/40

[pinkfloyd4ever]

this guy has 2 posts here, I think it's a little early to be recommending he recable a pair of cans, especially one under $50

[Nagasaki_Kid]

yes, he has two posts but he has soldier before according to his first post and it's rare to find older koss headphones with the thicker cable type recabling might be the easiest way to get a headphone that sounds like the old ktx-pro instead of the ktx-pro1. Either that or keep an eye open on ebay.

and buying a ksc75 isn't much better than a pro35a

[Wid]

Get they Grado SR 60s or the iGrado and you will never look back.

[portaprokid]

If you want to stick with Koss, I would also say try the KSC-75's, it will give you an idea of what the Portapros sound like at over half the retail price.

The Portapros were an excellent value at its price point when Koss offered them for $29.99 back in the day, I don't know if they still do that anymore. However, if you are really intent on spending the money for the Portapros AND you are going to be paying the full $50 retail, you may as well save up for the Grado SR-60 as its an improvement across the spectrum over the Portapros (particularly in mids and highs), although it is not nearly as portable as they are slightly bigger, and at least the Portapro (and someone mentioned the PX-100) do fold up.

I transitioned quite well going from Portapros to the Grado sound (I ended up buying an HF-1 after demo'ing the line), and haven't looked back, although I still use my Portapros and Sportapros when I am on-the-go.