mektarus
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2004
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With all the (deserved) buzz about the KSC75's there has also been a lot of talk about the other Koss 60 ohm headphones, namely the: KSC35, Portapro, Sportapro, Portapro 2 and even a little chatter about the KTX Pro1. But in the myriad of threads about these little gems there is one headphone that has been largely overlooked. The Koss UR40. Perhaps this is understandable as the UR40 costs nearly as much as the Portapro but isn't nearly as highly regarded. I have not heard the Portapro's myself but I have heard the KSC35, KSC75, Sportapro and the UR40 and I can tell you that with a little work the UR40 can hold it's own against any of them. Most of these mods are available in different threads but let me summarize all that I have done to mine.
First, I removed the thick foam from behind the drivers. This foam was so dense that it effectively made these closed headphones. This mod alone increases the sound quality so much that without doing anything else they sound like a whole different set of headphones. After removing the foam, however, I noticed two things. First, there was a slight tinny sound to the music, assumedly because now the sound was bouncing off the thin metal covering on the outside of the driver housing. To remedy this I took a standard sized cotton ball and pulled it in half. I then teased apart the two halves to form fluffy little clouds. I placed one of these little cotton clouds behind each driver. Voilà, sound remains airy and open but no tinny resonation. In fact, it seemed to actually tighten and extend the bass a bit. The other thing I noticed after removing the foam was that it was apparently what held the driver tightly in place. Without the foam the driver would sometimes rattle when I moved my head. To fix this, I took the driver out and put a VERY thin bead of poster tack in the depression that holds the driver. I then replaced the driver and pushed it down just hard enough to seat it in the tack. Ok, another problem solved. Next, I took an old pair of RS pads that I had originally bought for my SR80's and rolled them up and stuffed one under the back side of each of the UR40's earpads. Some people cut one of the foam pads removed from behind the drivers but my fear of commitment keeps me from making any change permanent.
This last mod actually serves two purposes. First, it makes the headphones more comfortable because it creates a better seal around the ear. Second, because of the better seal, it also increases soundstage.
At this point these are a great sounding and very comfortable pair of headphones. They don't really sound like any of the other Koss 60 ohm headphones (assumedly because of the housing). They are warmer sounding than even the KSC35's. They kinda remind me of my HD590's. Great bass, nice mids (less recessed than the the Koss' usually are) and nice, clear highs that are spared the sibilance and sparkle of the KSC75. For rock the KSC75 is still a more fun headphone. But as a all-arounder the modded UR40's are definitely the tops that I have heard of the Koss lineup.
One more mod. The only trouble I had with the modded UR40's was that the pleather pads got hot. I tend to sweat easily anyway and after a moderate amount of time with the UR40's on I was sweating like a donkey (donkeys do sweat, don't they?). So, I got to looking through my other headphones and came up with an old pair of Maxell HP-2000's. Almost exactly the same sized pads but made out of a nice velvety material (like my HD590's
). So I popped them on the UR40's and put the rolled foam under the back part and...oooooh, these are now one of the most comfortable, if not the most, headphones I have ever had on.
Well, there is my story. I didn't set out to write a novella but here it is. How about all you other head-fi'ers? I know there are at least a few UR40 owners out there. Most notably Lou (LTUCCI1924) and Garrett (KRAMER5150), although Garrett no longer has his. What about it, can we get some UR40 love all up in here?
PS - AND CAN WE PLEASE GET A KOSS SMILEY?!?
First, I removed the thick foam from behind the drivers. This foam was so dense that it effectively made these closed headphones. This mod alone increases the sound quality so much that without doing anything else they sound like a whole different set of headphones. After removing the foam, however, I noticed two things. First, there was a slight tinny sound to the music, assumedly because now the sound was bouncing off the thin metal covering on the outside of the driver housing. To remedy this I took a standard sized cotton ball and pulled it in half. I then teased apart the two halves to form fluffy little clouds. I placed one of these little cotton clouds behind each driver. Voilà, sound remains airy and open but no tinny resonation. In fact, it seemed to actually tighten and extend the bass a bit. The other thing I noticed after removing the foam was that it was apparently what held the driver tightly in place. Without the foam the driver would sometimes rattle when I moved my head. To fix this, I took the driver out and put a VERY thin bead of poster tack in the depression that holds the driver. I then replaced the driver and pushed it down just hard enough to seat it in the tack. Ok, another problem solved. Next, I took an old pair of RS pads that I had originally bought for my SR80's and rolled them up and stuffed one under the back side of each of the UR40's earpads. Some people cut one of the foam pads removed from behind the drivers but my fear of commitment keeps me from making any change permanent.
At this point these are a great sounding and very comfortable pair of headphones. They don't really sound like any of the other Koss 60 ohm headphones (assumedly because of the housing). They are warmer sounding than even the KSC35's. They kinda remind me of my HD590's. Great bass, nice mids (less recessed than the the Koss' usually are) and nice, clear highs that are spared the sibilance and sparkle of the KSC75. For rock the KSC75 is still a more fun headphone. But as a all-arounder the modded UR40's are definitely the tops that I have heard of the Koss lineup.
One more mod. The only trouble I had with the modded UR40's was that the pleather pads got hot. I tend to sweat easily anyway and after a moderate amount of time with the UR40's on I was sweating like a donkey (donkeys do sweat, don't they?). So, I got to looking through my other headphones and came up with an old pair of Maxell HP-2000's. Almost exactly the same sized pads but made out of a nice velvety material (like my HD590's
Well, there is my story. I didn't set out to write a novella but here it is. How about all you other head-fi'ers? I know there are at least a few UR40 owners out there. Most notably Lou (LTUCCI1924) and Garrett (KRAMER5150), although Garrett no longer has his. What about it, can we get some UR40 love all up in here?
PS - AND CAN WE PLEASE GET A KOSS SMILEY?!?
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