Hi there fellow head-fiers. I decided to do this review of these magnificent however discontinued phones, because there are still a few head-fiers out there interested in knowing how they are so that when they find them used or on ebay, they know if they should buy it or not. Considering a lot of people seem to think the 75s sound is even better than the 35s, this can be a good starting point for everyone thinking about buying them.
Besides I consider them a good starting point for those initiating their head-fi journey
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Koss’ KSC35 review[/size]
[size=large]
[Intro][/size]
As soon I introduced myself to the head-fi world, I found out there was a pair of headphones that was systematically pointed as the best “bang for the buck” by fellow head-fiers. I’m talking about the Koss KSC35.
Immediately I started to consider buying a pair, since it’s price was an invitation. In case I didn’t like them, I wouldn’t have spent a lot of money acquiring them.
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[Songs used for the test][/size]
Iron Maiden – The Wicker Man
Helloween – Crazy Cat
Norah Jones – In the morning
Queens of the Stone Age – Little Sister
Franz Ferdinand – The Fallen
Dream Theater – Lie
Maroon5 – Secret
Maroon5 – Sunday Morning
Gonçalo Pereira – Pastel de Nata
Gonçalo Pereira – Contratempo (Damaia Blues)
I tried to use a list of songs that would cover different styles of music. Despite having a few more hard rock/metal bands, they all have different characteristics, and that’s why they were included. (I would like to have covered some instrumental-only jazz, some blues, a little different rock bands – pink floyd, radiohead, muse, etc – and some classical so that I could listen the 35s response to some music details, but I am away from home at the moment and don’t have the cd’s that allow me to make those tests).
[size=large][The test][/size]
The Wicker Man:
This is a very direct song, not extremely fast, except for the guitar solos. The 35s behaved very well. The guitars are well heard, the bass is clear, the overall sound is very good. However I noticed a very light distortion in a few parts of the guitar solo and in some parts of the rhythm [see notes].
Crazy Cat:
In this song I’ve noticed that the guitar sometimes overlaps the other instruments, due to it’s high sounds which the koss really stand out. That sometimes makes it difficult to hear the lower sounds of the rhythm guitar and the bass. However, when the guitars play in a little lower tune, you can definitely hear the bass sound, which really stands out.
This is good to hear the good highs and middles of the 35s
In the Morning:
This song is a lot calmer than the prior ones. As usual the bass is well heard. This really stands out as one of the great qualities of the koss. However sometimes the bass is so proeminent that it muffles the sound a little, which stands out a bit more because this song doesn’t have chord-based rhythm guitar that can fill in the sound a little more.
I’ve also noticed that little distortion [see notes] on some parts of the vocals which, apart from this, were extremely clear and kind of stood out from the musical section.
Little Sister:
Well, this song is a special song. I thought the koss would possibly have trouble in this song, because of Josh’s guitar distortion, but unlike I expected, they dealt with it pretty well.
The Fallen:
I don’t really have anything to say here. There no problem what so ever that I could find, and the sound was extremely good.
Lie:
This is probably the most low-tuned song of those tested. The rhythm has very low power-chords and the bass is, again, very proeminent. In this song, the sound was a little muffled due to the reasons I already explained. The drum pedals were very present and you could really feel the beat. I noticed again that little distortion in the guitar rhythmic session right before the first solo; however that’s pretty good, considering that with such a low tune, I thought I’d hear a lot more distortion.
This is a very involving music, and the koss really helped creating that heavier environment.
Secret:
This song is a bit like Norah Jones’ “In the Morning” in the sense that these were the two more acoustic songs of the test, and the koss really deal well with the acoustic guitar sound (which emphasizes the bass sound even more). No problems here.
Sunday Morning:
Very good highs (I could listen to the very low-volumed rhythm guitar’s high-tuned chords), and as said before, crystal clear vocals and good bass. No problems here either.
Pastel de Nata & Contratempo (Damaia Blues):
These songs create very similar environments. Gonçalo Pereira is a guitar player from Portugal, and his songs are very dynamic, with a lot of breaks and technical details.
The koss really dealt well with these dynamics, and the combination of slow rhythms with some high pinched notes, were not a problem for the 35s.
As conclusion for the test I can only say that the koss have really shown their versatility, dealing with very different types of music and without major problems.
The bass is extremely strong and the highs and mids are very well covered. The 35s are pretty well balanced and the way they fit your ears really helps this.
If the 35s are already like this, I can’t imagine how the 75s will be. They must surely be the best headphones around at they price range.
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[Notes][/size]
I later found out that the distortion I heard was caused in part by the eq settings, which I later modified.
[size=large][Usability/Construction][/size]
The koss ksc35 are ear-clip headphones. They really fit the ears, but after a few hours (or minutes for some) the upper part of your ears will eventually soar. You’ll notice this more when you take them off and pass you hand over your ears, than with them on.
The construction is acceptable. Aesthetically the headphones are pretty in an all black style (I like them more than the 75s). However if you don’t take care when putting them on, you may have some clip problems (they begin to loosen up from the headphones).
[size=large][Conclusion][/size]
For this price (below $50) I have no doubts in recommending these headphones. Since I’ve heard the 75s sound even better, I think that if you can’t find these 35s used or on ebay, you won’t be disappointed if you decide to buy the 75s.
Koss has done a wonderful job, and having this quality for this price is a lot more that you could ask.
These are definitely a pair of headphones everyone should have (weather or not you’re a head-fier).
I hope you find this review useful.
Leave your comments if you like, as I’d be interested to hear what you think.
Thanks for reading.
Best regards
Besides I consider them a good starting point for those initiating their head-fi journey
[size=large]
Koss’ KSC35 review[/size]
[size=large]
[Intro][/size]
As soon I introduced myself to the head-fi world, I found out there was a pair of headphones that was systematically pointed as the best “bang for the buck” by fellow head-fiers. I’m talking about the Koss KSC35.
Immediately I started to consider buying a pair, since it’s price was an invitation. In case I didn’t like them, I wouldn’t have spent a lot of money acquiring them.
[size=large]
[Songs used for the test][/size]
Iron Maiden – The Wicker Man
Helloween – Crazy Cat
Norah Jones – In the morning
Queens of the Stone Age – Little Sister
Franz Ferdinand – The Fallen
Dream Theater – Lie
Maroon5 – Secret
Maroon5 – Sunday Morning
Gonçalo Pereira – Pastel de Nata
Gonçalo Pereira – Contratempo (Damaia Blues)
I tried to use a list of songs that would cover different styles of music. Despite having a few more hard rock/metal bands, they all have different characteristics, and that’s why they were included. (I would like to have covered some instrumental-only jazz, some blues, a little different rock bands – pink floyd, radiohead, muse, etc – and some classical so that I could listen the 35s response to some music details, but I am away from home at the moment and don’t have the cd’s that allow me to make those tests).
[size=large][The test][/size]
The Wicker Man:
This is a very direct song, not extremely fast, except for the guitar solos. The 35s behaved very well. The guitars are well heard, the bass is clear, the overall sound is very good. However I noticed a very light distortion in a few parts of the guitar solo and in some parts of the rhythm [see notes].
Crazy Cat:
In this song I’ve noticed that the guitar sometimes overlaps the other instruments, due to it’s high sounds which the koss really stand out. That sometimes makes it difficult to hear the lower sounds of the rhythm guitar and the bass. However, when the guitars play in a little lower tune, you can definitely hear the bass sound, which really stands out.
This is good to hear the good highs and middles of the 35s
In the Morning:
This song is a lot calmer than the prior ones. As usual the bass is well heard. This really stands out as one of the great qualities of the koss. However sometimes the bass is so proeminent that it muffles the sound a little, which stands out a bit more because this song doesn’t have chord-based rhythm guitar that can fill in the sound a little more.
I’ve also noticed that little distortion [see notes] on some parts of the vocals which, apart from this, were extremely clear and kind of stood out from the musical section.
Little Sister:
Well, this song is a special song. I thought the koss would possibly have trouble in this song, because of Josh’s guitar distortion, but unlike I expected, they dealt with it pretty well.
The Fallen:
I don’t really have anything to say here. There no problem what so ever that I could find, and the sound was extremely good.
Lie:
This is probably the most low-tuned song of those tested. The rhythm has very low power-chords and the bass is, again, very proeminent. In this song, the sound was a little muffled due to the reasons I already explained. The drum pedals were very present and you could really feel the beat. I noticed again that little distortion in the guitar rhythmic session right before the first solo; however that’s pretty good, considering that with such a low tune, I thought I’d hear a lot more distortion.
This is a very involving music, and the koss really helped creating that heavier environment.
Secret:
This song is a bit like Norah Jones’ “In the Morning” in the sense that these were the two more acoustic songs of the test, and the koss really deal well with the acoustic guitar sound (which emphasizes the bass sound even more). No problems here.
Sunday Morning:
Very good highs (I could listen to the very low-volumed rhythm guitar’s high-tuned chords), and as said before, crystal clear vocals and good bass. No problems here either.
Pastel de Nata & Contratempo (Damaia Blues):
These songs create very similar environments. Gonçalo Pereira is a guitar player from Portugal, and his songs are very dynamic, with a lot of breaks and technical details.
The koss really dealt well with these dynamics, and the combination of slow rhythms with some high pinched notes, were not a problem for the 35s.
As conclusion for the test I can only say that the koss have really shown their versatility, dealing with very different types of music and without major problems.
The bass is extremely strong and the highs and mids are very well covered. The 35s are pretty well balanced and the way they fit your ears really helps this.
If the 35s are already like this, I can’t imagine how the 75s will be. They must surely be the best headphones around at they price range.
[size=large]
[Notes][/size]
I later found out that the distortion I heard was caused in part by the eq settings, which I later modified.
[size=large][Usability/Construction][/size]
The koss ksc35 are ear-clip headphones. They really fit the ears, but after a few hours (or minutes for some) the upper part of your ears will eventually soar. You’ll notice this more when you take them off and pass you hand over your ears, than with them on.
The construction is acceptable. Aesthetically the headphones are pretty in an all black style (I like them more than the 75s). However if you don’t take care when putting them on, you may have some clip problems (they begin to loosen up from the headphones).
[size=large][Conclusion][/size]
For this price (below $50) I have no doubts in recommending these headphones. Since I’ve heard the 75s sound even better, I think that if you can’t find these 35s used or on ebay, you won’t be disappointed if you decide to buy the 75s.
Koss has done a wonderful job, and having this quality for this price is a lot more that you could ask.
These are definitely a pair of headphones everyone should have (weather or not you’re a head-fier).
I hope you find this review useful.
Leave your comments if you like, as I’d be interested to hear what you think.
Thanks for reading.
Best regards
