Anyone here has the Koss Pro DJ-200? - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiFiGuy528 


You know me too well.
BTW, I went to my local Best Buy store to check out the DJ-200 after ordering the Tony B version. I was not impressed by the 200's build quality. The metal work has a few rough edges and don't feel nice in the hand. I couldn't listen to it because it wasn't hooked up. I decided to cancel my TB order and move on to something else based on my impressions at Best Buy.

No rough edges on any of the DJ100's i've had. What do you expect, solid steel for $75? I've had the DJ100 and about 4 others since 2010 and none of them have had any defects or broke. The aluminum isn't thin inside and very thick. I was surprised. You should have seen the pain I had to go through to make an open version. The only thing that could possibly break is the plastic piece the screws go into. Seriously you could run these over with a tank and they'd live.

They also come with a lifetime warranty. Is there any other headphone for $55 like the DJ100 that has a lifetime warranty and made out of metal? Not likely. I think the V6 has a lot of metal on it, but that's the only one that comes to mind.

Sorry, I just had to comment.

I was on a tech-free trip at the time this thread gained steam, so I missed adding my word in nearer to the beginning of the thread. I have the DJ200 lying around, but I barely listen to it. I went back and gave it another listen today, and my initial impressions of it from when I bought it stand. I was not impressed at all by the DJ200 at its price point of $130 from Best Buy or one of the other electronics giants. It looks and feels like a headphone priced at $50-$70, and the sound matches up to something at the upper end of the same price range already listed.

The headphone that the Pro DJ200 reminds me most of is the Sennheiser HD428, a headphone priced at $78 on Amazon. It's got detail in its sound, but important ranges of the sonic spectrum are subdued, degrading the overall SQ of the DJ200. Both the Koss and Sennheiser have serious build quality flaws (the Sennheiser being in its famously flimsy cable), and while they have detail, neither are all that exciting or involving to listen to. The principal difference between the Koss and Sennheiser reside in terms of price, with the latter being rather fair in price. The Koss is not worth its Best Buy pricing, and as much as I love Koss I have to give it negative marks on this one. It just makes so much more sense to buy the DJ100 instead.

DJ200 has serious build quality flaws? What flaws? Seriously?

I mean you couldn't have owned the ProDJ200 more than a month since it came out not that long ago.

It's amusing how people comment on build quality issues, but they're just guessing about the build quality and haven't actually had any problems. Just assume it will go bad.

People complain about how everything is plastic and they want metal. Koss makes a metal headphone and then they want solid titanium along with a lifetime warranty.

Every Koss headphone comes with a lifetime warranty, yet that's not good enough..maybe Koss can do a white glove delivery for the replacement and install it on your head.

If anyone has actually had a DJ100/200 fall apart, then that's what we want to know..not just guessing about "possible" issues.

I've had the DJ100 for 2+ years and not a single issue with build quality. Seriously you could run them over with a tank and they'll live.

If you have issues only because "they don't feel good in my hands" then i'm sorry, but that's just sad. Maybe you should go buy a B&W P5 instead.

The only build quality issue i'm aware of is the cheap pads. I do agree the DJ200 isn't a great deal at 130, but you are paying for all those extras.

A cable with MIC and touch controls, case and detachable cable isn't going to be free you know..

As for this comment:

What ranges? And what headphone doesn't have some subdued ranges? Every single one does! The DJ200 is non-fatiguing for me and if that means some "subdued ranges" then i'm fine with this. I use the M50 pads though.

I actually think the DJ100 sounds better than even my HD-580 and HD-598.

BTW if the DJ100 isn't "exciting or involving" in the mids then I don't know what is. They're quite forward. It's mids are almost as engaging and fun as those of a Grado 225i and K601 to my ears. I can see maybe how some might want extra treble. I think they have way more than enough treble.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdockweiler 

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I mean you couldn't have owned the ProDJ200 more than a month since it came out not that long ago.

 

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The DJ200 has been available for many months now.  I recall being able to order it from Koss this winter or early spring.  Amazon had it about three or four months ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdockweiler 

DJ200 has serious build quality flaws? What flaws? Seriously?

I mean you couldn't have owned the ProDJ200 more than a month since it came out not that long ago.

 

What ranges? And what headphone doesn't have some subdued ranges? Every single one does! The DJ200 is non-fatiguing for me and if that means some "subdued ranges" then i'm fine with this. I use the M50 pads though.

I've had my DJ200 for about two and a half months, and the construction is rather flimsy. It's not like a lower-end Grado where the materials are cheap but they fit together perfectly, but it's a case of mid-range, decent enough materials being constructed in a not-so-great way. I have nothing against Koss (I miss my ESP/950 nearly every day since I sold it), but the construction of this particular set reminds me more of their low-end gear than of products of the legendary PRO3___ line and above. While the materials themselves seem to match up at least basically with a set at its price range, they were loose and jiggly right out of the box, and creaky after less than a month. I would hesitate to step on these, let along cause them further trauma. Comparing to the Sennheiser mentioned earlier, cord aside, the Koss is at least a level or two behind when it comes to build quality.

I understand that nearly every headphone system out there has its peaks and valleys, but who am I to give a detailed report on my opinion of the Pro DJ200 omitting a comment on that issue with these. For me, vocals are one of the two things I absolutely want done right (the other being drums, since those are the range most often done wrong even in the recording studio), and the DJ200 just didn't do it for me. The upper midrange, as I believe somebody mentioned earlier on this thread, is noticeably subdued when comparing to my other equipment in this price range, and at times it seems to lack bass (though that is not nearly as noticeable). It's one of those cases in which I can be listening to a well-produced song that sounds great on my Fischers or KRKs, but the singer seems artificial and quieted on the DJ200. Sure there's worse out there and sure every headphone has a valley somewhere, but when it's noticeable I need to report it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssrock64 

I've had my DJ200 for about two and a half months, and the construction is rather flimsy. It's not like a lower-end Grado where the materials are cheap but they fit together perfectly, but it's a case of mid-range, decent enough materials being constructed in a not-so-great way. I have nothing against Koss (I miss my ESP/950 nearly every day since I sold it), but the construction of this particular set reminds me more of their low-end gear than of products of the legendary PRO3___ line and above. While the materials themselves seem to match up at least basically with a set at its price range, they were loose and jiggly right out of the box, and creaky after less than a month. I would hesitate to step on these, let along cause them further trauma. Comparing to the Sennheiser mentioned earlier, cord aside, the Koss is at least a level or two behind when it comes to build quality.

 

I understand that nearly every headphone system out there has its peaks and valleys, but who am I to give a detailed report on my opinion of the Pro DJ200 omitting a comment on that issue with these. For me, vocals are one of the two things I absolutely want done right (the other being drums, since those are the range most often done wrong even in the recording studio), and the DJ200 just didn't do it for me. The upper midrange, as I believe somebody mentioned earlier on this thread, is noticeably subdued when comparing to my other equipment in this price range, and at times it seems to lack bass (though that is not nearly as noticeable). It's one of those cases in which I can be listening to a well-produced song that sounds great on my Fischers or KRKs, but the singer seems artificial and quieted on the DJ200. Sure there's worse out there and sure every headphone has a valley somewhere, but when it's noticeable I need to report it.

Vocals sound quieted on the DJ200? That alone is a sign something isn't right. Are these being used with an amp? What KRK do you have? I have both of them and like them a lot. The DJ100/200 actually have quite forward male and female vocals. More so than both KRKs. They're actually the most forward sounding thing about the headphone. Vocals are quite upfront and just like in a Grado sort of way. Similar to how they are on the 225i. Definitely not subdued or recessed sounding. If anything, I would have thought many wouldn't like them due to the quite forward vocals.

I actually think the #1 reason I love the DJ100 is for the vocals (mostly female). One thing I've noticed is that when they're well amped the mids are much more forward. It's not a case of them taking on the signature of the amp etc. It's like this on all my amps except for my E11. With M50 pads they give me a little less of that up-front sound to them.

I do think they have not neutral bass, but slightly ABOVE neutral bass. With gaming, there's actually almost too much. It doesn't have the mid-bass of my HD-600 though which is a good thing.

I haven't heard this dip in the upper mids. Graphs seem to show a peak and then a dip. If someone ever wants to point out what frequency it is that they heard possibly missing, i'd like to check it out.

I do like how they seem to be quite forward sounding at times, but yet very non-fatiguing for me. That's quite hard to do it seems like. Maybe one of those dips is what makes it easier on the ears..who knows.

The DJ100 seems to be a bit wobbly feeling at first, but that in no way makes me feel it would fall apart on me. I think this is due to how the cups rotate, fold and adjust to your head. They don't fold completely up, but close enough.

BTW the KRK KNS-8400 does seem to have good low-bass extension to my ears. I think the DJ100 has it beat even in the sub-bass.

I actually think the DJ100 is a better headphone than the 8400. It's easier on the ears and more balanced sounding despite having these forward mids. I'm not convinced my 8400 really has more detail than the DJ100. 8400 seems a tad clearer with some music, but could be due to the extra treble. Sometimes the 8400's treble is hard to death with. It has even more treble than my Q701!

If this is how you hear the DJ200, than that's OK. I just think it's worth experimenting with other amps/source. The vocals issue make me think something is not right. Despite people saying they're easy to drive, I don't agree at all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdockweiler 

 

Vocals sound quieted on the DJ200? That alone is a sign something isn't right. 

Yeah, the headphone isn't right. I have the TB version and half the vocal is gone, sucked out by the missing upper mid..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagle 

 

Yeah, the headphone isn't right. I have the TB version and half the vocal is gone, sucked out by the missing upper mid..

Yeah, what mids that are there are perfectly forward, which I like, but there's a big hole between traditional midrange and vocal treble that's missing. It can be quite annoying when listening to a song with a large vocal range involved, and to have the singer disappear on certain notes or entire phrases only to come right back in.

I don't agree with tdockweiler in terms of bass on the DJ200, as my HD280 Pro, my MDR-V6, and my KRKs (I own both models), all known as neutral cans, have more present bass (though the bass detail isn't all the way there in some of those) than the Koss. However, it all comes down to how you hear it, and that's just my observation and opinion.

It's interesting how different impressions of the same can turn out to be quite often here on the forums.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beagle 

 

Yeah, the headphone isn't right. I have the TB version and half the vocal is gone, sucked out by the missing upper mid..

Half the vocals are gone? What the heck are you driving them with? A Woo Audio 22? If I was hearing this I'd return that piece of junk.

Is it the same on every single source or amp? There must be something going on because mine don't have this issue at all.

I'm sorry, but "half the vocals gone" sounds like you're getting a bit excited there..I'm guessing you have them very well amped.

My Q701 and KRK KNS-8400 have very forward upper mids and female vocals are even more forward on the TB/DJ100. I mean this isn't just one artist.

I used the M50 pads which reduces the forwardness of the mids and it's still forward sounding.

I know this probably won't happen, but if this is really true, it'd be nice if you name some songs where this occurs. I'd like to check them out.

If this was really true (for my pair) I'd probably not be raving about them. They'd probably be in a land-fill somewhere.

If you can point out the specific frequency where you think you heard this, or take a guess, i'd appreciate it.