K_19
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2008
- Posts
- 3,073
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- 64
Just a little introduction for these cans, which I reckon isn't well known in the community at all: KTXpro1 is a member of the highly regarded Koss Titanium Driver family, which includes the well known KSC75/35, Porta/Sportapro, and UR40 (there may be others I don't know). This was actually a total impulse buy for me today; I was browsing through the headphone section of my local Zellers (Wal-Mart wannabe that is located in Canada) when I saw this on sale for $25, which isn't too shabby at all. And considering that KSC75 actually isn't readily available here (though I already have one), I was really curious on how these would compare. I was also on a lookout for a new portable supra-aural can since the PX100 didn't really suit my tastes due to its over-warmness. So I though, hey, why not. Bought it on the spot, and now I've been listening to it for about 2 hours... here's the initial thoughts (will be a lot of PX100 comparisons, as I kinda bought these as potential replacement for it, and from its design and pricing, it's meant to be a direct competitor):
- As with any Koss phones, these look and feel CHEAP. They definitely feel like $10 cheapos with their shoddy plastic construction. However, I feel that these look better than KSC75/35, UR40, and definitely better than those hideous Portapros. If these were all black, they would look even better, but it's got the trademark Koss silver plastic along the base of the headphones. Oh well, at least I can wear these outside with slightly less shame.
- The driver/cup size is obviously the same, although the KSC75's deceivingly seem bigger due to their clips. There is a slab of rubber at the top of the headband which helps to reduce weight on the top of your head, though it is blue and looks tacky as hell. The weight and feel of the headphones is roughly the same as the PX100's, although these do not fold like they do. They don't clamp much at all, and is pretty comfortable IMO... I can definitely see myself wearing these for a long period of time without any problems. It's got a straight plug, which I don't particularly care for. The connector is nickle coated, not gold, but still doesn't crackle even when you spin it around, which is great.
- These come with a volume control in the middle which is NOT detachable, and its operated by a slider rather than a dial, which makes it more easier. I'm not sure what the impedence is on this phone or if it's same as the KSC75's, but even with the volume slider all the way to the max, I found that it still lacked volume compared to my KSC75's, abeit slightly. About the same as PX100 or perhaps even a bit weaker. Still shouldn't have any problems driving portable players though. It's also open back, and will isolate next to nothing both ways.
- To the meat of the review, the SQ... well, I knew these were going to sound different to a certain extent and I know these aren't burned in yet, but the difference is VERY obvious out of the box; these are MUCH more warm than the KSC75's. I feel that KSC75's are great but slightly harsh for my tastes, resulting in me pairing that with the Fiio E3 so it tames the treble and help with the bass extension. With the KTX1pro's, they don't seem necessary; the bass extends as well as the KSC75's do with the E3 out of the box, though they have slightly less impact. I don't find it as muddy as the PX100's. Kinda like D1001-ish.
- The Highs are definitely rolled off on these and that KSC75 sparkle is nowhere to be found, making these sound more full and warm, but still nowhere near PX100 warm. I needed to boost the treble a bit with my S639's in order to get the highs I want (may eventually have the quarter mod these). It's almost like Shure-highs if you want a comparison, sounding natural but rolled off.
- Mids aren't necessarily recessed but do sound like it's slightly veiled at the moment... surely the burn-in will help with this, and is still better than PX100's mids out of the box.
- The soundstage may actually be smaller than the KSC75s, but it does create that intimacy that some may prefer. Almost sounds like an IEM.
Basically, comparing from my limited time with the Portapros (owned it many years ago for a VERY short time), these sound more or less the same, with the main strength being the bass.
- Overall, this was exactly what I was looking for when I bought it: a portable headphone that is somewhere between KSC75 and PX100 in sound signature. It's nowhere as harsh as KSC75 but not as warm as the PX100's. At $25, I feel that this was a very good purchase, and at a cheaper price than the Portapros or the PX100's I felt that the difference was negligeable.
Summary:
+ Cheap, lightweight, and comfortable
+ Not hideous like other members of the Koss family
+ Nice, well extending bass
+ Decent mids, though very slightly veiled as of now
+ Volume control may be useful to some
- Very cheap, seemingly fragile construction, tacky looking rubber slab at the top
- Rolled off highs, though burn-in will most likely improve on it.
- For a open can, narrow soundstage.
- Slightly bass favouring, which may seem muddy to some.
Will update it as it burns in. Feel free to shoot questions if you have any.
- As with any Koss phones, these look and feel CHEAP. They definitely feel like $10 cheapos with their shoddy plastic construction. However, I feel that these look better than KSC75/35, UR40, and definitely better than those hideous Portapros. If these were all black, they would look even better, but it's got the trademark Koss silver plastic along the base of the headphones. Oh well, at least I can wear these outside with slightly less shame.
- The driver/cup size is obviously the same, although the KSC75's deceivingly seem bigger due to their clips. There is a slab of rubber at the top of the headband which helps to reduce weight on the top of your head, though it is blue and looks tacky as hell. The weight and feel of the headphones is roughly the same as the PX100's, although these do not fold like they do. They don't clamp much at all, and is pretty comfortable IMO... I can definitely see myself wearing these for a long period of time without any problems. It's got a straight plug, which I don't particularly care for. The connector is nickle coated, not gold, but still doesn't crackle even when you spin it around, which is great.
- These come with a volume control in the middle which is NOT detachable, and its operated by a slider rather than a dial, which makes it more easier. I'm not sure what the impedence is on this phone or if it's same as the KSC75's, but even with the volume slider all the way to the max, I found that it still lacked volume compared to my KSC75's, abeit slightly. About the same as PX100 or perhaps even a bit weaker. Still shouldn't have any problems driving portable players though. It's also open back, and will isolate next to nothing both ways.
- To the meat of the review, the SQ... well, I knew these were going to sound different to a certain extent and I know these aren't burned in yet, but the difference is VERY obvious out of the box; these are MUCH more warm than the KSC75's. I feel that KSC75's are great but slightly harsh for my tastes, resulting in me pairing that with the Fiio E3 so it tames the treble and help with the bass extension. With the KTX1pro's, they don't seem necessary; the bass extends as well as the KSC75's do with the E3 out of the box, though they have slightly less impact. I don't find it as muddy as the PX100's. Kinda like D1001-ish.
- The Highs are definitely rolled off on these and that KSC75 sparkle is nowhere to be found, making these sound more full and warm, but still nowhere near PX100 warm. I needed to boost the treble a bit with my S639's in order to get the highs I want (may eventually have the quarter mod these). It's almost like Shure-highs if you want a comparison, sounding natural but rolled off.
- Mids aren't necessarily recessed but do sound like it's slightly veiled at the moment... surely the burn-in will help with this, and is still better than PX100's mids out of the box.
- The soundstage may actually be smaller than the KSC75s, but it does create that intimacy that some may prefer. Almost sounds like an IEM.
Basically, comparing from my limited time with the Portapros (owned it many years ago for a VERY short time), these sound more or less the same, with the main strength being the bass.
- Overall, this was exactly what I was looking for when I bought it: a portable headphone that is somewhere between KSC75 and PX100 in sound signature. It's nowhere as harsh as KSC75 but not as warm as the PX100's. At $25, I feel that this was a very good purchase, and at a cheaper price than the Portapros or the PX100's I felt that the difference was negligeable.
Summary:
+ Cheap, lightweight, and comfortable
+ Not hideous like other members of the Koss family
+ Nice, well extending bass
+ Decent mids, though very slightly veiled as of now
+ Volume control may be useful to some
- Very cheap, seemingly fragile construction, tacky looking rubber slab at the top
- Rolled off highs, though burn-in will most likely improve on it.
- For a open can, narrow soundstage.
- Slightly bass favouring, which may seem muddy to some.
Will update it as it burns in. Feel free to shoot questions if you have any.
