Koss KPH40 Utility Review/Impressions

[579369]

It seems to me that those cables would work for the Porta Pro Utility as well...

Unfortunately, most people already own the PP. No need to buy it again just to balance it.

 

[Elegiac]

Unfortunately, most people already own the PP. No need to buy it again just to balance it.

Unless there are balanced outputs I want to run a Porta Pro on.

 

[SolaVirtus]

Hart Audio sells balanced KPH40 cables.

Thanks for the tip on these. I wouldn't have thought to look for these on Hart's site. I like the cable! It's thicker/heavier than the stock one, but doesn't cause me any problem. It definitely makes KPH40 more accessible on my desktop setups. And portable, it's nice to be able to run it balanced and get more juice on a KA3 dongle or ifi Go Blu.

 

[alonzomoselyfbi]

Has anyone found a good case when traveling with kph40? Around the neck isn’t always practical for me, and these look like they’d need protection in a bag.

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

Has anyone found a good case when traveling with kph40? Around the neck isn’t always practical for me, and these look like they’d need protection in a bag.

I just use a geekria pu-leather drawstring pouch

 

[alonzomoselyfbi]

I just use a geekria pu-leather drawstring pouch

I always wonder how drawstring pouches provide enough protection. kph40, especially the glued plastic housing, seems brittle. Maybe I’ve got the wrong idea.

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

I always wonder how drawstring pouches provide enough protection. kph40, especially the glued plastic housing, seems brittle. Maybe I’ve got the wrong idea.

It's not the best for protecting if plan to store them somewhere where they can get crushed.

Geekria do have loads of hard cases so you might find an option.

 

[Louis8ball]

How much sound leakage with these? Is it on the same level as Grado’s base model item?

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

How much sound leakage with these? Is it on the same level as Grado’s base model item?

No where near as much as a grado.
But don't expect closed back isolation levels

 

[Louis8ball]

Thanks

 

[Louis8ball]

So is this item essentially the same thing as the PortaPro, but just in a different package?

 

[dazzman]

So is this item essentially the same thing as the PortaPro, but just in a different package?

They sound a little different. The same driver but has a differently designed rear enclosure, some people think that affects the sound slightly. And the lighter clamping force makes them sound slightly different too. Basically they have a little less sub bass than the Portas but that makes everything else sound a little clearer

 

[Louis8ball]

They sound a little different. The same driver but has a differently designed rear enclosure, some people think that affects the sound slightly. And the lighter clamping force makes them sound slightly different too. Basically they have a little less sub bass than the Portas but that makes everything else sound a little clearer

Ok, thanks for your response

 

[Quadrangulator]

I just took delivery of a new set of KPH40's, love their sound (as I suspected I would since I've enjoyed KSC75's for years), but have a question about the cable.

Is anyone else's twisted from the earcup to the 2.5mm connector? My left cable twists ~3 times while the right cable does not, which forces both cables to twist and the 2.5mm connector to sit higher up. Yeah, I know, this thing is 40 bucks. But still. Is this par for the course?

Either way, does anyone do MMCX mods for pay?

 

[Stevehamny]

I just took delivery of a new set of KPH40's, love their sound (as I suspected I would since I've enjoyed KSC75's for years), but have a question about the cable.

Is anyone else's twisted from the earcup to the 2.5mm connector? My left cable twists ~3 times while the right cable does not, which forces both cables to twist and the 2.5mm connector to sit higher up. Yeah, I know, this thing is 40 bucks. But still. Is this par for the course?

Either way, does anyone do MMCX mods for pay?

Sorry to hear about your cable anomaly! That would drive me crazy, much as I would otherwise still love the sound of my new KPH40s.

I just did an MMCX mod on the KSC75 (very easy if you have the replacement connector pieces 3D-printed for you):

(Sorry, the shot's kinda dark.)

But if I were going to mod the KPH40, I would grab these from Amazon:

Voarmaks DIY Modification MMCX Sockets Cover Parts

These were originally designed for the Portapro, but I believe the opening on the back of the KPH40 is the same size, so these should work just as well.

The soldering on this is easy, by the way. De-solder the old wires, replace with the new (red wire goes to the side with the red dot). The new wires come pre-tinned and there's already a generous amount of solder on the leads so it's pretty foolproof. A couple quick touches with the iron and you're done. (Also, there's a helpful video on the Amazon page cited above.)

(I'm far from an expert, so please anyone here with more skills/experience, feel free to correct me if I'm off-base on anything. Just wanted to offer some help as I literally just did the KSC75s yesterday.)