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I'm looking into buying some cheap portable headphones lately and I stumbled these too which I've heard alot about in the past, and I also read a few topics about them, Anyway, which would be better in sound and comfort? Also, will they require an amp? (I know the porta pro needs one), and is the Fiio E6 good enough?
Thanks
I'm new to headphone scene. I am starting to get more educated thanks in large part to this website. But I am still a newbie so I will probably say a lot of stupid stuff below.
Firstly, I don't think that the portapro needs an amp. I'm listening to Jeff Beck's THX138 right now on the portapro on my Samsung Galaxy SII (using the Poweramp android app).
Anyway, the portapro sounds awesome (compared to the cheapo phones I'm coming from). It is very bassy though, and doesn't hang onto the trebles a lot. A very full sound. Possibly too full? (that is what I am starting to find). The instrumentation doesn't seem super well defined, but it still sounds great for some reason. Tight on the ears, but very comfortable also. It might be because they are so tight on the ears why it sounds so bassy/full.
Ok, I'm now switching over to the KSC75 which I'm also trying out. I almost didn't give them a chance because I couldn't figure out how to get them on my ears. I then took a deep breath, relaxed and realized how easy it is to do, so that's a non-issue now. They are quite comfortable, and not tight on the ears at all (which at first I thought would be a problem, but now I realize that is by design), although with prolonged listening they might bug my ears a bit. More of an airy/open feel to the sound (no real isolation) that I think I might like better. Possibly not as fatiguing? The bass still sounds great, but not as overpowering and maybe more defined. You can hear more treble (occasionally maybe a bit "bright" - but nothing serious.. Maybe that lessens with more burn in although Koss apparently does 400 hours of burn in or something like that). More distinction in the instruments I find (especially treble). Fwiw, here's a couple of very positive youtube reviews for the KSC75's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1BpoIvh81U&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLuoGn4s54o
And here is a good "shootout" link that reviews both:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/433318/shootout-102-portable-headphones-reviewed-panasonic-rp-htf600-added-04-29-12
I seem to be doing a lot of waffling between the two depending on which I'm listening to LOL. I started out looking for a headband headphone, but I might very well go for the KSC75's. Also, the KSC75's are half the price($30) of the portapro ($60) (at least where I got them). But finding this head-fi.org site has made me realize that what I need to do is to spend more time (AND money) finding a /really/ good pair of headphones. And I think that the KSC75 might tie me over well until then
Fwiw, I am also testing out a really cheap pair of JVC HA160 headphones (on sale for $20), which surprisingly sound pretty decent also. See reviews here:
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-HAS160B-Lightweight-Headband-Headphones/product-reviews/B004JRYLG4/ref=cm_cr_pr_btm_link_3?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&pageNumber=3
Although not quite as good as the Koss's, they still sound pretty good! If I hadn't tried the portapro and the KSC75, I would probably have been happy enough with the $20 JVC's.
P.S. I also have a pair of Sennheiser neckband PMX680 phones, which I am now realizing are actually quite decent, and will probably remain my gym/get sweaty pair. But I wanted a pair that I could lie down with, and the Senn's neckband gets in the way of that.
Good luck!