jant71
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2005
- Posts
- 8,382
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I saw that Koss had some new models out. Then I saw the new UR series, the UR23i, in blue, was a smidge over $15 Priority shipped on Amazon so how can you pass up trying out a new Koss phone
The Koss UR23i
http://www.koss.com/en/products/headphones/full_size_headphones/UR23i__UR23i_Full_Size_Headphones
Four color choices, the lifetime warranty, and the Koss D-profile pads is worth trying for a few bucks.
The build is all plastic but reasonably solid. No creaks but the cup/arm chatter can make a bit of noise. We have a rubbery flat cable that is thin and pretty light. Straight plug and reliefs on the plug and coming out of the cups. The little window on top of the whit arms shows R and L but the straight edge of the "D" goes to the front is the real indicator. Pads are pretty decent for a cheap can. Not much seal and some leakage but not too hot, room for normal size ears inside, and decent comfort.
I measured the driver size to be 36mm and it is 34Ohm and 94 sens. I can max out my A15, S639, iriver E300, and minidisc w/o having to tear them off my ears. Iriver and Sony minidisc both give more max volume levels. The 34Ohm driver will benefit from some juice but also a bit brighter signature, for my taste any how. A culprit is the grey foam pad fabric which is pretty thick and fairly dense. Some of the blanket comes from it. Also ear positioning inside the pads will lift some off as well but that will be affected by one's ear size. Hard to say exactly what one will get from these cans. More fun from my minidisc and S639 with more impact and forgiving sound. iriver and A series Sony have less bass impact and thinner notes overall. Can be pretty quick like with my S639 but it a tick slower with everything else. With a good match/synergy some of the good ole' Porta-Pro/Sporta-Pro type fun is there which makes for engaging listen. Nothing offensive nor glaring hits you and you just enjoy some smooth thumpy low bass, smooth pleasant vocals, and treble that doesn't stand out as either good or incorrect but fits in nicely and causes no problems
They are a bit muddy out of the box but started to clear up a bit with the first extended listen. Not impressive but some potential could be heard. Enjoyable but thick out of the box. A sloped frequency balance with elevated bass, down a bit for the mids emphasis and treble is a bit shy. Not recessed mids or treble but blanketed some. Still some cohesion and some separation can be heard. I am still running them in atm.
As a Koss and being cheap, I'm sure some will try to mod them. I have done a slight mod already. Had the pads off and there are screws to open them up if one so chooses. Not yet for me. The drivers are raised a couple of mm and I cut out the same diameter circle out of the pad foam.
I'm just gonna burn them in some, master the sweet spot and enjoy them. I'm sure a few Head-fi members will have some fun trying to tweak what they can out of a pair. Nothing special but maybe some good cheap fun!
The Koss UR23i
http://www.koss.com/en/products/headphones/full_size_headphones/UR23i__UR23i_Full_Size_Headphones
Four color choices, the lifetime warranty, and the Koss D-profile pads is worth trying for a few bucks.
The build is all plastic but reasonably solid. No creaks but the cup/arm chatter can make a bit of noise. We have a rubbery flat cable that is thin and pretty light. Straight plug and reliefs on the plug and coming out of the cups. The little window on top of the whit arms shows R and L but the straight edge of the "D" goes to the front is the real indicator. Pads are pretty decent for a cheap can. Not much seal and some leakage but not too hot, room for normal size ears inside, and decent comfort.
I measured the driver size to be 36mm and it is 34Ohm and 94 sens. I can max out my A15, S639, iriver E300, and minidisc w/o having to tear them off my ears. Iriver and Sony minidisc both give more max volume levels. The 34Ohm driver will benefit from some juice but also a bit brighter signature, for my taste any how. A culprit is the grey foam pad fabric which is pretty thick and fairly dense. Some of the blanket comes from it. Also ear positioning inside the pads will lift some off as well but that will be affected by one's ear size. Hard to say exactly what one will get from these cans. More fun from my minidisc and S639 with more impact and forgiving sound. iriver and A series Sony have less bass impact and thinner notes overall. Can be pretty quick like with my S639 but it a tick slower with everything else. With a good match/synergy some of the good ole' Porta-Pro/Sporta-Pro type fun is there which makes for engaging listen. Nothing offensive nor glaring hits you and you just enjoy some smooth thumpy low bass, smooth pleasant vocals, and treble that doesn't stand out as either good or incorrect but fits in nicely and causes no problems
They are a bit muddy out of the box but started to clear up a bit with the first extended listen. Not impressive but some potential could be heard. Enjoyable but thick out of the box. A sloped frequency balance with elevated bass, down a bit for the mids emphasis and treble is a bit shy. Not recessed mids or treble but blanketed some. Still some cohesion and some separation can be heard. I am still running them in atm.
As a Koss and being cheap, I'm sure some will try to mod them. I have done a slight mod already. Had the pads off and there are screws to open them up if one so chooses. Not yet for me. The drivers are raised a couple of mm and I cut out the same diameter circle out of the pad foam.
I'm just gonna burn them in some, master the sweet spot and enjoy them. I'm sure a few Head-fi members will have some fun trying to tweak what they can out of a pair. Nothing special but maybe some good cheap fun!