Koss Porta Pro

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by ultrabike, Sep 14, 2016.

  1. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    Running Porta Pros with HD414 pads out of Vali 2, laid back but not dull. Very easy to forget the gear and listen to the music.
     
  2. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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  3. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    Just another thumbs-up on Porta Pro + Yaxi earpads + the cheap-o Parts Express headband. I just added the PE headband to my Porta Pros and really like how they 1) make wearing them markedly more comfortable and 2) balance out the sound. With the PE headband, the bass is less fun, but overall the balance is way closer to neutral.

    The PE headband feels whispy and cheap, but overall it's worth these little shortcomings because of how it creates this "total package" of cheap + sufficiently comfortable + nice to listen to.

    There are times when I want non-speaker music around the house without the hassle of fitting IEMs, and this setup + the iFi Go Blue fit that niche very well.
     
  4. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    I really need drop to get some more KSC75X in stock. I want the KSC75 sound in the PortaPro headband with the inline mic. I don’t know that they will ever get any more though.
     
  5. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

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    I have a KSC75X just gathering dust as I prefer porta pro and hated the ear clips. Happy to hook you up.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2022
  6. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    that would be awesome, my dude! I’ll PM you.
     
  7. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

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    Level with me guys...do I have a problem?

    [​IMG]

    In all seriousness, the Koss Porta Pro was both my real entry point in appreciating audio, and my one true love in this hobby. They are just reliable and there for me when I need them. Occasionally really impressing me, but most importantly, never letting me down. I listen to at least a few tracks almost every night or when around the house/on the go, and even after I have spent time with my reference rig the same day, I don't feel disappointed or like I am listening to something cheap. Are porta pros the most detailed/resolving? Absolutely not, but if I am enjoying what I am hearing and not left wanting...does it matter? Especially once I added Yaxi pads (big upgrade), the porta pros are to me surprisingly realistic when it comes to staging/timbre, and I find them to be the least fatiguing items in my collection to listen to.

    MY LOVE LETTER TO PORTA PROS (no impressions here, personal history for anyone interested)

    My love of porta pros actually goes back to 2007 when I was in college. I had cherished my iPod in high school, and I guess my early audiophile roots were showing as I had upgraded my iPod earbuds to some sort of etymotic offering. Well like every other wannabe hipster in the '00s, I started really getting into the indie rock scene (still guilty as charged to this day). I had kind of gravitated away from personal listening but wanted to be "serious" so I bought some Sennheiser HD 280 Pro. Wow did I hate them. I used them anyway, and I thought they sounded good, but little did I know, closed backs were not for me, and dang did I hate how uncomfortable they were. I eventually couldn't live with them anymore, so I started looking up budget recommendations, and took to amazon to buy a pair of porta pros...and my life was changed. All of the sudden I found myself loving to throw on my headphones and just really spend time listening to music. They became my trusty companion that I took everywhere I went for the rest of my college years through now.

    The photo above is my ownership history left to right. The pair on the left was my original and has been repaired under the lifetime warranty once. They are especially cherished to me as they were what I took with me when I studied in Norway for 6 months. Despite the need to crank them a bit when traveling around europe via train, I truly relished in discovering new music and just spending time being present and listening. One funny thing though...not sure what was happening in Norway in 2008, but I got there and everywhere I went people were wearing Porta Pros, they were like the apple earbuds of Norway! They were for sale everyone, couldn't walk around town without seeing someone rock a pair. I got a kick out of blending in with the locals.

    I could go on and on, as I am very sentimental for these headphones. As this is off topic though, I will leave it there for now.

    TL : DR Never tried the Porta pro? You owe yourself to give it a whirl, you might find a lifelong friend.

    EDIT: One more impressions things to share in regards to the different models I have here so this is not totally noise. The original pair is no remote, 2nd pair is the first remote version with three buttons. None of the inline remote/mics are good, this one seems slightly more user-friendly though. The slider one on the special edition rhythm beige/black and gold is GARBAGE, I hate it. Very fiddly slider. The rhythm beige ones are mmcx connector modded, and overall I would not recommend it. Maybe I have just not found the right cable, but I have not been able to find anything that synergizes quite as well as the stock cable. That is until the Drop version came out with its beefier cable. Maybe it is placebo but I do feel these sound slightly better, these are the best of the bunch, buy these ones. The burly cable and the simple remote are actually kind of obnoxious because they like to kink worse than the thin stock cables, but the tradeoff of feeling more substantive and MAYBE sounding slightly better seems worth it. They look slick as hell unless you are really all about the original vibe as well. I am still going to explore building a really nice cable for my modded ones at some point, especially as I think through a nicer semi-portable rig.
     
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    Last edited: Feb 28, 2022
  8. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Just an FYI, the Yaxi pads are buy 2, get 20% off on Amazon right now.
     
  9. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

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    Good tip! As long as you are willing to order more than one or two pairs at a time, ordering direct from Yaxi pads is great. I ordered 5 pairs last Thursday (I had to refresh a couple and gave two to a buddy) for $39.99 shipping. They arrived here today (Monday) via DHL express from Japan, crazy fast. Plus they pack in a poster and a bunch of postcards and stickers and stuff. Love the folks at Yaxi.
     
  10. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    Well Koss Porta Pro is connected to my Rode mIc for my Teams and Webex calls and to listen to causal music while working. I have used it so much that 2 pads have worn out and now I have got Yaxi pads which make them look cooler. It pairs well with my Shanling M3X for listening the music when on bed
     
  11. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    You are on the problem spectrum. Or maybe the spectrum problem!

    I wonder when I'll ever get to hear these? I'm sure I'd like a pair for travel (hey, did some last week, first for two years) but the price is high in this country.
     
  12. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Man, these with the Yaxi Pads make such a difference! These sound so tonally correct and purely enjoyable. Incredible that something so inexpensive and small can sound so good.
     
  13. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    Only thing I don’t like about the Yaxi pads is that my ears get a little hot. I still use them though. That’s my only complaint.
     
  14. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    I'm using Sennheiser 414 pads. I think I'm losing some mid-range with them, but they are comfortable as hell. Using them connected to a Blue Yeti for about 3-4 hours a day for work.
     
  15. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    Hey Porta Pro/KSC75 afficianados! I've been really enjoying Porta Pros w yaxi pads. Because I've lost a good bit of hair and keep it shorter, the Porta Pro headband is quite comfortable, though my noggin is large; no hairs to tear and i find the clamp fine.

    But I'm finding the Porta Pros not "right" w classical strings... Too thick and warm, though not unpleasant after a few minutes...so If I want a HD600-vibe from Koss, what would you recommend?
    • Porta Pro w KSC75 drivers and stock pads?
    • Porta Pro w KSC75 drivers and yaxi pads?
    • Parts Express headband w KSC75 drivers and stock pads?
    • Parts Express headband w KSC75 drivers and yaxi pads?
    • Or other combo or other on-ear headphone?
    • Or give up...
    Thanks for any ideas!
     
  16. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    I'm travelling and don't have them with me now, but I'd say 1 or 2 (either/both because you already have the Yaxi pads). the 75 drivers have more articulate highs and a bit more upper mid than the PP drivers, including a small measured ~3k peak, so you might find them more 600 than 650. The Yaxi pads suppress the lower & middle mids to effectively give more bass & treble, but if you find them a bit bassy you could go min pressure on the PP headband's 3(?) positions.
     
  17. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    I traded out the PP and KSC75 drivers for similar reasons. I find the PP drivers just a bit too bassy and I like the highs that the KSC7 bring. I still use Yaxi pads on the 75’s.
     
  18. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    KSC75 with inline mic now back on sale at Drop for $20. Put a pair of these on your PP headband, or get another band from Aliexpress etc.
     
  19. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    Is there a Porta Pro-compatible headband that's halfway between the OG headband and the Parts Express headband in terms of clamp force?
     
  20. edd

    edd Almost "Made"

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    Any reason why you don’t want to bend the flimsy metal on the parts express headband? Or the OG for that matter?
     

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