New Koss Pro4aa and Pro4aat

[mudihan]

Any comparison between these two models. I searched everywhere and there does seem to be a direct comparison between these two models. Specifically, do they have weak mids?

I would prefer to buy Pro4aa since it's made of metal. But if 4aat sound better, I may very well change my idea.

 

[Meyvn]

All I know is, due to the way the pads are made, either is going to be insanely uncomfortable.

 

[mudihan]

Thanks. I happen to have a strong neck -- I mean, I don't really care about comfort.

 

[TempestX]

These are the best set of closed cans I have used to date sonically. If you can deal with the weight and the clamping force (about as much as the Sennheiser HD 600) on the head until they loosen up or stretch, you will love them. The weight of the cans are not an issue for me. As for the rubber ear cushions, they can get hot, but they are easy to wipe with a soft cloth if you sweat a little.

I faintly remember the sound of the older Koss Pro4AA, but the Titaniums sound better, with solid accurate bass, nice mids, and excellent high frequency. Instruments especially drums sound like drums, flutes like flutes (David Maracle [Spirit Flutes or Speaking Winds], guitars like guitars (Michael Angelo Batio [angelo.com]), and female vocals are awesome (Pink Martini, Anita Baker etc.)

As you can see, I love my Koss Pro4AA Titaniums, but they isolate so well that I can't hear my wife nor my teenage daughter when they are speaking, and when they are away from home I can't hear the phone when ringing at max volume. About the only thing I can hear well, but sort of faint is my medium size dog (Cocker Spaniel size) bark.

To no longer upset my wife because I can't hear her, I just ordered the K 701's and have a 2-4 week wait before I get them from HeadRoom. So I am hoping these open cans will give me sound similar/equal to/or better than the Koss. From the impressions of everyone on these boards they should. The open cans I have sound inferior (like toys) to my Koss.

Allow 140-175 hours of burn-in. While breaking them in I periodically listened and you can hear the sound change (open up).

25 hours-became more closed
75 hours-became a little bright
100 hours-began to come in their own
140 hours-opened up more
175 hours-sound changed, became more spacious, thought something happened to my equipment, but then understood they finally exhibited air, and have been happy ever since.

Hope this helps.

 

[mudihan]

Thanks. I have heard the old Pro4aa and thought that they were OK. But what I am wondering is how the new ones compare to the 4aats. I remember that someone has said the new Pro4aa is better than the old ones.

 

[rodbac]

Quote:

These are the best set of closed cans I have used to date sonically.

Uh, what else have you used?

 

[TempestX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodbac Uh, what else have you used?

Closed Cans
AKG 271
Beyerdynamic DT250-250 ohm
Beyerdynamic DT770-250 ohm
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
Audio Technica ATH A500
Audio Technica ATH A700

Sorry rodbac, I don’t post much on message boards, and this thread got buried very quickly. Find it more fun and interesting to read what others say, see the arguments and making up on these boards like a marriage. (ha ha ha)

I have auditioned several closed cans, nothing in the upper echelon though. Each time I continue to use my Koss as they sound better to my ears. Maybe because they are so smooth, full, and accurate sounding to me. They have rich mids, tight bass, smooth treble, not laid back and not forward.

Maybe this could be attributed to the titanium drivers. I don’t know. They remind me of a very tight, accurate, three way acoustic suspension speaker. (Former speaker guy here) The rubber surrounds I think add to the suspension analogy, by adding that suction cup tight seal.

Part of the reason I need better open cans is so I can hear my family speak as noted above. Plus I want the smooth sound similar to the Koss Pro4AA Titanium (acoustic suspension sound). With such good compliments of the K 701, I thought I would give them a shot. Plus my wife doesn’t mind right now since I can hear her when need be. ; )

I have open cans, Sennheiser HD497, RadioShack version of the Koss UR40, and Koss KSC-75 but come back to my Koss Pro4AA Titanium’s. Have also heard the HD600, HD595, but still like my Koss. Maybe I need to hear the upper echelon, but will not spend the money on them. Better to spend money on my son in college, and daughter after graduating high school next year, her college, and the new home I will be in a month from now.

If any of you are in the Dallas, TX area and have some higher end closed cans for me to hear, shoot me a PM.

P.S. If you ever want to block out the wife or girlfriend (he he he) these work very well.

[edited for bad typing]

 

[mektarus]

Has anyone ever tried the Pro3aa? It uses one of the Ti 60 ohm Koss drivers that are so very popular.

 

[catscratch]

I've heard the pro3aa briefly, but I wasn't an audiophile then, so I will not say anything about it sonically. But, these phones are known to have an issue with earcups breaking off the headband. I gave one of these as a gift to a friend (pre-head-fi). One earcup broke off after a week, the other broke off after another week. They are attached to the headband by very flimsy strips of plastic.

I went online, and found out that this is a common problem. Honestly, I wondered how this design got past the drawing board at all.

 

[]|[ GorE]

I SO badly want the Pro3AA's and Pro4AA's to sound more than just good . SO much so that i am against all the reviews on head-fi about them.I have doubts of their hearing.... No company is stupid to have high end phones.They are high-end because they are supposed to sound high-end.Gotta convince my dad to get me a pair....

 

[TempestX]

The Pro3AA's are rumored to break around the earcup to headband area so I have heard, but are known to sound nice with a little bit more of a forward sound. I guess it depends on how you handle them, but Koss does offer a lifetime warranty.

Hope this helps.

 

[muckluck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TempestX The Pro3AA's are rumored to break around the earcup to headband area so I have heard, but are known to sound nice with a little bit more of a forward sound. I guess it depends on how you handle them, but Koss does offer a lifetime warranty. Hope this helps.

Man I sent mine back to Koss 5 times because that spot broke. I just thought that it was getting too costly, and bought a pair of A700s. I can't really comment much on the Pro3aa sound, but I can tell you that it's more foward and bright than the PortaPros.

P.S. Sorry for bumping

 

[mr56k]

Quote:

Originally Posted by muckluck Man I sent mine back to Koss 5 times because that spot broke. I just thought that it was getting too costly, and bought a pair of A700s. I can't really comment much on the Pro3aa sound, but I can tell you that it's more foward and bright than the PortaPros. P.S. Sorry for bumping

I thought Koss had a lifetime warranty? Did they not cover the breaking of the band for some reason? Just curious.

 

[Skrying]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr56k I thought Koss had a lifetime warranty? Did they not cover the breaking of the band for some reason? Just curious.

Cost of shipping the headphones.

 

[mr56k]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skrying Cost of shipping the headphones.

Ahhh gotcha.