rkarsk
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Posts
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I just switched from my several year old set of Koss Portapros to the RS 175. My main reason for switching was a desire for wireless headphones. I was always super happy with the Portapros - they are light, and I find the sound quality to be exceptional.
I was expecting an upgrade in sound quality by going to the RS 175, but my first impressions have been disappointing. Disclaimer: I am certainly no audio expert, so I just have a very uninformed opinion on the quality. The RS175 are my first ever set of circumaural, closed-back headphones, so I have a few questions to go with my comments.
I find the sound from the RS 175s seems almost 'detached' or far away, or otherwise somewhat muted. I recall many times with the Portapros hearing a sound from a song and thinking it was a sound coming from somewhere in my room rather than from the song on my computer. So, first question: Is that the nature of having circumaural headphones? I suppose the driver isn't being pressed right onto my ear like with the portapros.
The other part that bugs me is heat retention. I expected some, but its a bit more bothersome than I thought it would be. Would the open-back RS185s be more airy? Or would their open back nature only influence the sound and less so the physical feel of the headphones? I also sort-of feel like the RS175s build up air pressure in my ears - it's almost like i want to lift the cups to equalize it.
I guess I'm trying to figure out what I should be expecting because these are closed-back, circumaural headphones, and what I should be expecting because of the sound quality of the headphones themselves. I'd also like to know if moving to the RS185 would make a difference with respect to my notes above. Hope thats not too vague.
I was expecting an upgrade in sound quality by going to the RS 175, but my first impressions have been disappointing. Disclaimer: I am certainly no audio expert, so I just have a very uninformed opinion on the quality. The RS175 are my first ever set of circumaural, closed-back headphones, so I have a few questions to go with my comments.
I find the sound from the RS 175s seems almost 'detached' or far away, or otherwise somewhat muted. I recall many times with the Portapros hearing a sound from a song and thinking it was a sound coming from somewhere in my room rather than from the song on my computer. So, first question: Is that the nature of having circumaural headphones? I suppose the driver isn't being pressed right onto my ear like with the portapros.
The other part that bugs me is heat retention. I expected some, but its a bit more bothersome than I thought it would be. Would the open-back RS185s be more airy? Or would their open back nature only influence the sound and less so the physical feel of the headphones? I also sort-of feel like the RS175s build up air pressure in my ears - it's almost like i want to lift the cups to equalize it.
I guess I'm trying to figure out what I should be expecting because these are closed-back, circumaural headphones, and what I should be expecting because of the sound quality of the headphones themselves. I'd also like to know if moving to the RS185 would make a difference with respect to my notes above. Hope thats not too vague.