Koss Portapro Thread

[Saoshyant]

I haven't had a pair of 75s in awhile, gave them to a friend with cauliflower ear so he couldn't use IEMs.  I might want to pick up a pair again as I never tried the PP and 75 driver swap.  That and the fact that I still think it's odd how almost nobody anymore does earclip phones.  While I'd expect it to be a rather small market, I kind of hoped it would take off at least somewhat like the rebirth of the earbud market.

 

[Das Mookid]

I am digging all the Koss love in here right now!
 
Not to derail the thread away from the Portapro too much further, but I just wanted to throw in a couple other 'cousins' into the mix in addition to those mentioned:
 
KTX Pro - really underrated super cheap performers, utilized same Ti drivers as KSC75 with a different enclosure, and of course the nice head band mounting. It holds A LOT more kick on the bass end and are an interesting new way to know these excellent drivers.
 
KSC35 - forebear of the god slaying KSC75, utilizes the Mylar driver and enclosure from the Porta/Sporta pro cans, but in a clip form factor. These used to be a go to recommendation on Head Fi before they were largely discontinued and available only at quite a hefty premium direct from Koss. I finally broke down and ordered a pair on one of their online sales, and I must say this is the best showing for this driver/enclosure to my ear right now. Total hassle to get on though - I find the KSC75 super easy, heck I manage with the KDE250!
 
Has anybody tried the KSC21? The impedance and frequency response indicates to me they use a separate driver design. . .

 

[danmlr]

Koss is very deserving of all of their praise. 
 
One caveat I would add however is that there is considerable variation from one pair to another. 
 
I have 3 pair of 75's and while they share a sound signature, there are definite differences in the level of brightness of each. 
 
I've seen the same from UR40's, ktxpro1, portapro and sportapro. 
 
These are the best value in headphones going. 
 
Head fi members are too stuck on variety, searching endlessly, almost randomly for that hidden nugget of sonic bliss when quite frankly.....
 
.....it doesn't get any better than this. Not at this price point anyway. 

 

[Hutnicks]

  Koss is very deserving of all of their praise. 
 
One caveat I would add however is that there is considerable variation from one pair to another. 
 
I have 3 pair of 75's and while they share a sound signature, there are definite differences in the level of brightness of each. 
 
I've seen the same from UR40's, ktxpro1, portapro and sportapro. 
 
These are the best value in headphones going. 
 
Head fi members are too stuck on variety, searching endlessly, almost randomly for that hidden nugget of sonic bliss when quite frankly.....
 
.....it doesn't get any better than this. Not at this price point anyway. 

In a phrase, and for all you who drool over beryillum drivers French toxophones and punters making wannabe estats.
 
ESP950. If Koss did nothing else but make that phone they still would deserve a top 10 in personal audio's hall of fame.

 

[waynes world]

In a phrase, and for all you who drool over beryillum drivers French toxophones and punters making wannabe estats.
 
ESP950. If Koss did nothing else but make that phone they still would deserve a top 10 in personal audio's hall of fame.

 
I take it you've heard the 950's! I've almost been tempted a few times...

 

[LaCuffia]

I second the 950 recommendation. I don't have them anymore as I currently have a Stax set up but I see myself revisiting them. The 950 is light, comfortable and the mid-range sounds amazing.

The PortaPro is still my go to though for portable headphones.

 

[nick n]

  , heck I manage with the KDE250!
 
Has anybody tried the KSC21? The impedance and frequency response indicates to me they use a separate driver design. . .

OHHHHHHHHHH the 250 huh, need to seriously consider one at some point.
 
if I see a KSC21 will grab one.
 
KTX pro that's really good to hear about them, been tempted numerous times and all I need to do is go for a walk to buy some.
 

 
In a phrase, and for all you who drool over beryillum drivers French toxophones and punters making wannabe estats.
 
ESP950.

Only drool though after the beryllium oxide adversely affects your health, it's what  causes that.

Cannot see the 950 without thinking "Castle Wolfenstein" that's not a bad thing.
 
 
*** Almost forgot did you all vote at their site a bit ago for the new Porta colour scheme?
 
oh they are a limited editions. Thought they were permanent. Love the colours!

 

[Hutnicks]

   
I take it you've heard the 950's! I've almost been tempted a few times...

The only headphone I ever regretted getting rid of.

 

[danmlr]

Thanks for posting the SE PP's. I was going to, but didn't know if there'd be much interest. The PP is already ensconced as a legend, I'm not sure if there's another tier the PP's can rise to, regardless of color. I voted for another color anyway, lol.

 

[trellus]

Thanks for posting the SE PP's. I was going to, but didn't know if there'd be much interest. The PP is already ensconced as a legend, I'm not sure if there's another tier the PP's can rise to, regardless of color. I voted for another color anyway, lol.

I voted for white gold, but I'm definitely going to buy some PortaPro's in any case, likely one of the special edition colors that won rather than the stock color, once the special colors become available, as it will be my first PortaPro.

I have SportaPro's and KSC-75 already so I'm determined to try these!

 

[Das Mookid]

  OHHHHHHHHHH the 250 huh, need to seriously consider one at some point.
 
if I see a KSC21 will grab one.
 
KTX pro that's really good to hear about them, been tempted numerous times and all I need to do is go for a walk to buy some.
 

 
The 250 are a strange beast. If you like a pair of in ears that play 'hard to get' these are perfect - the fit's reputation is well deserved. The dual element creates a sound profile that is schizophrenic, very colored but quite unique. There's an audible dip in the mids between the two elements that leaves them quite muddy sounding in a lot of music, but for music that favors low/high spectrum (something like Animals as Leaders for instance, all drums and guitar) they leave you truly breathless and are about as close to an in ear 'open' sound as I have experienced.
 
I'll post some impressions when my pair of KSC21 come in a few days, they're super cheap so I thought why not.
 
For the KTXpro, it's more accurate to say that the KSC75 used its element, as the KTX released alongside the UR40 (which is an overear model that uses the same Ti driver) 1-2 years before the KSC75. They are cheap enough that I would recommend them just to appreciate the real variation in sound the same driver produces with a different enclosure and clamp. I hope you enjoy the sound as well!

 

[Das Mookid]

   
I take it you've heard the 950's! I've almost been tempted a few times...

 
I am very skeptical in regard to dwindling returns when it comes to 'summit fi' grade audio, but I would actually say that the ESP950 is the only other item in Koss lineup I have tried that can claim to present the same value prospect as these very low cost/high performance dynamics (Portapro, KSC etc). 
 
It is a pure injection of transducer technology - no frilly leather bound pads or enclosures smelling of rich mahogany, the design is purely focused on the massive orthodynamic drivers. And of course, unlike other manufacturers trying to sell you on $500+ cans, Koss will confidently back their product for life. Compare that to the warranty's on whatever is the current 'greatest headphone ever' at 3-5x MSRP - these guys won't even stand by their product for a decade. 

 

[Hutnicks]

   
I am very skeptical in regard to dwindling returns when it comes to 'summit fi' grade audio, but I would actually say that the ESP950 is the only other item in Koss lineup I have tried that can claim to present the same value prospect as these very low cost/high performance dynamics (Portapro, KSC etc). 
 
It is a pure injection of transducer technology - no frilly leather bound pads or enclosures smelling of rich mahogany, the design is purely focused on the massive orthodynamic drivers. And of course, unlike other manufacturers trying to sell you on $500+ cans, Koss will confidently back their product for life. Compare that to the warranty's on whatever is the current 'greatest headphone ever' at 3-5x MSRP - these guys won't even stand by their product for a decade. 

Decade. Lucky if you get a millisecond more than a year.

 

[danmlr]

ve monk+ "warranty" is for 5 days. Thank God for Koss. 

 

[vapman]

Consider no Koss item is lower than about 15 dollars, the monk destroys all their sub $15 offerings, and any Koss brand earbud. Also a name brand that has existed for generations.

VE is doing something practically unheard of for a startup. I imagine their profit margin on the $5 monk is not all that much.

Also of all 40+ monk I ordered over time only one ever showed up DOA and it turned out to be a bad 3.5mm termination so I put it aside from a recable. They're $5 and made by a team of like 5 guys. So I don't think it's fair to put VE against Koss, that's like comparing one EBay seller to Amazon prime kinda?