Koss Portapro Thread

[cmarti]

  How often do these things break for you guys? I use mine almost every single day with the phones hooked up to my phone that's in my pocket. I do my biking, skateboarding, running with them and they last me usually less than a year, maybe 7-10 months. It always breaks at the same spot (the connector piece at the bottom, can only hear audio from one side.). I've been RMAing them just fine but these just won't last very long.

Have them rewired, they will last forever once you do this.
 
http://btg-audio.com/webstore.htm#ecwid:category=2609073&mode=category&offset=0&sort=normal

 

[vapman]

Been using the same set for many many years and has endured enough abuse it seems nearly unbreakable. I do want to recable a set one day but it will have to be a new set

 

[MisterMudd]

Going on 5 years now for me, and no problem whatsoever. Have replaced the ear pads one time.

 

[HiCZoK]

5 years ?!
Nice.
Even if it broke, it's probably easiest headphone to fix or just buy new !

 

[danmlr]

Doe anyone have a good source of parts express style headbands?
 
My eBay source dried up just recently. 

 

[HiCZoK]

I think I need to cut of the hook above right ear.
After about 2 hours, the foam compresses and hook delicately touches my head.

 

[danmlr]

I'm considering selling my Fiio X5. 
 
I am just enjoying my koss headphones so much without it I don't need it anymore.
 
Retina Macbook Pro, Fiio E6, Koss headphones. That's all I need. If it weren't for the lousy battery life of the E6, the Fiio would be up for sale. 
 
These headphones are awesome:
 
KSC75 + PortaPro headband. A great combo with bass punch supplied by the headband's clamping force, and nice highs courtesy of the titanium coated drivers. 
 
SportaPro drivers + PE headband. Just awesome. Less bass, more treble. A very nice sound signature. Perhaps my favorite of the bunch. 
 
Fake PortaPro drivers + PE headband. Slightly more balanced, closer to neutral compared to SportaPro. 
 
Authentic PP drivers + PE headband. Just a bit off the mark. It has that classic PP thump thump, and the lower clamping force does ease off the bass throttle a bit but the highs just don't open up as much as I'd like. I still reach for a slight EQ tweak. It's slight, but the fact that I reach for it is a minor inconvenience. Enough to give this combo just a slight demerit. 
 
KTXPro1. I like these headphones, but like the combination above, I reach for the EQ more or less immediately. Even so, the soundstage seems narrower, so two demerits. This is a fine pair of headphones, but just a couple of slight notches below my favorites within the koss family. 
 
BTW, I've written some nice things about the MP. I do like them. However, compared back to back, their limitations compared to the koss headphones is just too noticeable. 
 
I also gave the Philips 9500's a listen as well. They are too bright and too artificial sounding. It's not so much that they are bass lite, it's that they don't sound accurate. It's possible to get headphones that sound realistic but which emphasize treble, but the Philips are not those. 
 
I think the only alternative I want to listen to now are the Senn600's. Somehow, I find it difficult to believe that they can top the modded Koss headphones. 

 

[HiCZoK]

You might still probably try Sennheise px100ii. They are similar to prota pro if not more bass heavy?
Not sure. I want to try them myself.
 
I am just of curiosity looking for something to go from my koss porta pro but it damn perfect and I cant find anything

 

[Happytalk]

Get the ksc75 with the parts express headband. Similar cleaner sound.

 

[danmlr]

I gave my new portapro's another full day of burn in. About 4 days now and I'll be darned if they don't sound darned impressive. 
 
No more reaching for the eq. I am satisfied with treble response and there is a satisfying bass floor, without it becoming overwhelming or even obtrusive. 
 
I am still curious if there might be some uber high end pair of headphones which reveal maybe 1 or 2% more information than koss headphones, but the expense is almost certainly not worth it. 
 
Koss PortaPro's with PE headband. Win. 

 

[HiCZoK]

Where to get PE headband in Poland ?

 

[Happytalk]

Maybe try eBay.
http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/131493857855

This is the same headband. Get 2

 

[SirMarc]

I gave my new portapro's another full day of burn in. About 4 days now and I'll be darned if they don't sound darned impressive. 

No more reaching for the eq. I am satisfied with treble response and there is a satisfying bass floor, without it becoming overwhelming or even obtrusive. 

I am still curious if there might be some uber high end pair of headphones which reveal maybe 1 or 2% more information than koss headphones, but the expense is almost certainly not worth it. 

Koss PortaPro's with PE headband. Win. 

I absolutely love my Portapros for what they are, and use them almost every day, but they really don't compete with higher end gear...

 

[SHAMuuu]

I absolutely love my Portapros for what they are, and use them almost every day, but they really don't compete with higher end gear...

I always require a dose of that KSC75 magic. As a thx 2 Koss snagged a dj100, but yea they have their limits.
They always provide an emotional gut punch with an oldschool sound. Not necessarily refined on the 75s as much as on 100s
100s really surprise me. Cold aluminum cups and a warm bassy, cozy mids, and vintage like highs that dont pierce the ears, but the heart with right tracks.
 
ur40s are also amazing mod cans for cheap hobby open. i believe 75s can slide right in as well if driver failure, and it couldn't be more easier.

 

[danmlr]

I absolutely love my Portapros for what they are, and use them almost every day, but they really don't compete with higher end gear...

I don't listen to sportapro/portapro drivers with the original headband. They go on parts express headbands. I also had to burn in the PP drivers for 4 straight days to get them to sound right. You can see my notes over the past few days for my impressions. 
 
I want to believe you; I'm likely to order senn600's next month. 

Then again, there are multiple reports that philips 9500 are supposed to be very close to senn600's and those have an artificially boosted treble and don't sound balanced at all.