Okay, this is certainly not as exciting as, say, gmc's review of the Stax Omega 2's, but I went looking for Koss KSC-35's with my wife yesterday, and we weren't able to find any in the area, so I ended up buying the Koss KSC-50's at Circuit City for around $15. Yes, if not the Omega 2's, then get the next best thing, I always say. 
Anyway, to make a long story short, I'm very impressed by these fifteen-buck phones. I ran some of my best CD's and SACD's through my Max and into these KSC-50's, and what I heard surprised the heck out of me -- some deep bass response, and an overall tonality that is quite balanced on the whole. Does it have the deeeeeep bass presentation of Sony's MDR-V6/7506's? No. But it does have far more extension down there than most of us are probably expecting for $15. Does it have the tautness and control in the bass region that the Sennheiser HD-600's have? Of course not, but it is still well-controlled, and certainly doesn't come off as slow. The KSC-50's midrange is reproduced with generally good accuracy, if not round, full body and sweetness. And though there's a bit more treble etch and grain than I'm used to, the KSC-50's highs are, again, more respectable than anything I've heard under $50.
The reason I bought the KSC-50's is because I need some headphones I don't feel too bad sweating in during more active use. I also wanted some dedicated gaming headphones. The 50's will serve both purposes well, I'm quite sure.
The KSC-50's would be a sure bargain at $40 to $50, in my opinion. At $15 they're a steal-and-a-half. Everyone who has heard both the KSC-50's and the KSC-35's seems to prefer the KSC-35's. I've not heard the 35's, but I still want to get a pair because of all the positive opinions of them. Does HeadRoom still stock the 35's? If so, I'm ordering a set.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I'm very impressed by these fifteen-buck phones. I ran some of my best CD's and SACD's through my Max and into these KSC-50's, and what I heard surprised the heck out of me -- some deep bass response, and an overall tonality that is quite balanced on the whole. Does it have the deeeeeep bass presentation of Sony's MDR-V6/7506's? No. But it does have far more extension down there than most of us are probably expecting for $15. Does it have the tautness and control in the bass region that the Sennheiser HD-600's have? Of course not, but it is still well-controlled, and certainly doesn't come off as slow. The KSC-50's midrange is reproduced with generally good accuracy, if not round, full body and sweetness. And though there's a bit more treble etch and grain than I'm used to, the KSC-50's highs are, again, more respectable than anything I've heard under $50.
The reason I bought the KSC-50's is because I need some headphones I don't feel too bad sweating in during more active use. I also wanted some dedicated gaming headphones. The 50's will serve both purposes well, I'm quite sure.
The KSC-50's would be a sure bargain at $40 to $50, in my opinion. At $15 they're a steal-and-a-half. Everyone who has heard both the KSC-50's and the KSC-35's seems to prefer the KSC-35's. I've not heard the 35's, but I still want to get a pair because of all the positive opinions of them. Does HeadRoom still stock the 35's? If so, I'm ordering a set.
