OK, the KSC-35/75/Portapro is technically 3 headphones, but I believe they all share the same driver : sure I'll hear otherwise if that isnt the case. What astounds me is how many other models they sell in the malls and department stores, all most of which would appear to be aimed at folk who just need a headset for gaming or call centre work etc. One or two others get a reasonable reception in Joker's epic Portable Headphones thread, but the vast majority appear to be the kind of dross you would normally associate with TDK or Phillips.
 
Clearly, someone at Koss knows how to make a great VFM driver, but it would appear that they lost interest after the PortaPro. Happy to hear contrasting opinions - this just seems really odd to me.

I've wondered the same thing.  I think the ksc-35/75 might be a happy mistake, and that would explain why it sounds so good for the price.  If they had put the engineering into it equivalent to it's price I suspect they might have to charge more.  I also thought that the ksc-35 sounded better, so they may not even know what they have, or why it sells so well.  But the 75 drivers do seem sturdier than the 35's because I both my 35 drivers failed (and I've read of many more people having the same problem). 

they have alot of good products. The current dj100, ur55.

Their lineup does seem a bit schizophrenic indeed. They don't seem to have a goal, just throw products out there and whatever sells, they keep? I dunno.
 
Nevertheless, they are still the only major brand to still manufacture electrostats other than Stax.
 
I'd say they simply don't have good management, and the company is just drifting along with no focus:
http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-woman-who-stole-31-million-from-koss-corp-2010-1

wildstar said:

Their lineup does seem a bit schizophrenic indeed. They don't seem to have a goal, just throw products out there and whatever sells, they keep? I dunno.
 
Nevertheless, they are still the only major brand to still manufacture electrostats other than Stax.
 
I'd say they simply don't have good management, and the company is just drifting along with no focus:
http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-woman-who-stole-31-million-from-koss-corp-2010-1

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that really sucks. koss was well known for their pro 4AA/4AAA and electrostatic headphones of the day especially in studios. i don't understand why and how a person can do this. she seem to be making more then enough money of 200,000 a year which is crazy and i don't understand how she was able to get into that need of stealing more money. damn if i was making 200,000 a year i be damn happy lol...i swear lot of people can be greedy.

Koss ESP-950 is also pretty good I suppose.

Let's not forget that Koss still makes the Pro 4AA, and it's pretty much exactly the same as it ever was ( one thing this means is, heavy as all get out. Porta-pros are the same way, they designed those in the early eighties. So yes, it's possible that they just don't have any good engineers any more. That doesn't make the Porta-pro drivers a fluke, but a hold-over from better days. 
 
Also, there are other cans in their full size lineup that are supposedly better than the Pro 4AA, I've never tried any of them though. I can believe it though, my only real gripe with my Pro 4AA, aside from the weight, is an occasional lack of bass. 

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Originally Posted by Wildstar /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
I'd say they simply don't have good management, and the company is just drifting along with no focus:
http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-woman-who-stole-31-million-from-koss-corp-2010-1

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Sounds like AKG since Harmon Clown Corp took over ! 
 
Thanks for that link - I wasnt aware of that particular episode. Tells you how many of the 'forgettable' phones they must be selling in malls to be able to absord that kind of loss.
 
If I could turn this question another way, it would be this : if Koss can make a decent driver for a very cheap headphone, why cant TDK ?
 

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benzoate said:

Let's not forget that Koss still makes the Pro 4AA, and it's pretty much exactly the same as it ever was ( one thing this means is, heavy as all get out. Porta-pros are the same way, they designed those in the early eighties. So yes, it's possible that they just don't have any good engineers any more. That doesn't make the Porta-pro drivers a fluke, but a hold-over from better days. 
 
Also, there are other cans in their full size lineup that are supposedly better than the Pro 4AA, I've never tried any of them though. I can believe it though, my only real gripe with my Pro 4AA, aside from the weight, is an occasional lack of bass. 

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I have my wonders if they have any engineers at all, period. my gut tells me for a lot of the newer phones, they're just using a design out sourced to a OEM maker somewhere in asia
 
 

   I've got no complaints , I have the ktxpro's and  the DJ100's and they both sound great for the price and their warranty  is second to none.  They just replaced a 6 year old pair of ktxpro's for the price of shipping with no questions asked and they came back in like a week.  Also have pro4aaT's  which are pretty heavy , good for about 1 album of listening at a sitting and a little lacking in bass , they sent me these after replacing a 20 year old pair of pro4aa's for free.

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smedley said:

   I've got no complaints , I have the ktxpro's and  the DJ100's and they both sound great for the price and their warranty  is second to none.  They just replaced a 6 year old pair of ktxpro's for the price of shipping with no questions asked and they came back in like a week.  Also have pro4aaT's  which are pretty heavy , good for about 1 album of listening at a sitting and a little lacking in bass , they sent me these after replacing a 20 year old pair of pro4aa's for free.

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Smedley, you know there's no such thing as a free lunch, dont you ? While its great that they replaced your 6-year old cans, that cost has to be picked up somewhere in the chain. Still, with the kind of 'creative accountancy' referred to earlier, who really knows - maybe it is isnt being picked up at all and we will read about Koss going into receivership in the very near future.
 

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buffalowings said:

I have my wonders if they have any engineers at all, period. my gut tells me for a lot of the newer phones, they're just using a design out sourced to a OEM maker somewhere in asia
 
 

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Could be, that might explain why they're still able to operate, and manufacture in Milwaukee. Kind of funny, since I feel like most other manufactures go the opposite route, if anything. Designing in the U.S., Europe, or Japan, and then outsourcing manufacture. What a fascinating modern age we live in. 
 

I believe the KSC35 and the Porta Pro share the same driver and the KSC75 is a bit brighter and a little different. I myself prefer the KSC75 by far.
 
They sure make some cheap "junk", but for the money they're not bad. Go ahead and buy a $5 Maxell headphone and a $5 Koss and see how they compare.
The $5 Koss wasn't that horrible for the price. A bit tinny sounding, but I can't expect much for that $5.
 
I think they will release some new headphones in the near future. They really should. The UR-55 is a decent headphone for the money if you can deal with the fit.
With modding it's even better.
 
I've been raving about the DJ100 for what seems like ever since it came out. It's the best $80 I've ever spent on a headphone and I love mine so much that I've ruined one already and immediately purchased another.
So far I've recabled it at least 4 times and just made it open using an HD-497 shell. Sounds pretty amazing now and even better than before.
 
What's funny is that the DJ100 IMO sounds better than the Pro4aat and MV1 and is even more clear than each of those. The MV1 just could not compete with the DJ100 when amped well.
 
I keep bugging Koss to make an open version of the DJ100 (or with it's driver), but their customer support is a bit goofy. You ask them a question and they completely avoid anything related to what was asked or totally ignore 95% of your email.
 
If they can somehow top the DJ100 and release an open budget headphone (similar to the HD-598) I'll be impressed. I'm sure they can do it. One day I'd love to somehow find out what driver the DJ100 uses. It's 40mm and was possibly in another of their older headphones.
Maybe not. The picture is in my profile somewhere. Same size and design as a Grado SR-80 driver. Same amount of holes surrounding the driver too.
 
BTW does anyone known what driver the old TNT/55 from 1996 or so used? I was always a fan of that headphone when they were sold at radioshack.
 

I knew tdockweiler was gonna come and post about the dj100. tried it once, wasnt impressed but it was right out of my zune, no amp. so i cant comments about it, as i've heard it needs to be amped.
 
I like Koss, they dont claim to be audiophiles and make good bang per buck budget cans
 
Edtit: spelling 
 
Edit2: and they also offer no questions asked lifetime warranty!

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jamesmcprogger said:

I knew tdickweiler was gonna come and post about the dj100.

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That's EXACTLY what I was going to mention.
 
I think he'll get a kick out of how you spelled his name!