glx1969

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $42.00 from ebay

Summary:
I've got a Cowon D2 a few weeks ago and decided to get better headphones than my Sony MDR-G52... (which are pretty good... I've tried a few other models in the last ten years or so and never found one that match this one!)

So I did my research... ended up having to chose between the Koss PortaPro and the Grado SR-60... Since for some unknown reasons, Grado wouldn't allow US vendors to ship to Canada (where I live), I had to go for the Koss PortaPro.

Unfortunately, I'm really not impress with the sound. Not at all. Actually, except for the bass, my old MDR-G52 sounds better than the Portapro. (So I've ordered two more MDR-G52 from ebay yesterday... as my second pair lost the ear cushions... they are very fragile and dont last very long...)

If I compare the same song being played in the MDR-G52 and the PortaPro, the midrange frequencies on the PortaPro are really lacking definition. Trying to fine tune the equalizer on my Cowon D2 helps the midrange frequencies level but it doesn't add definition.

I'm already back to my good old MDR-G52 (the model that is held by the top of your ears) with the band that goes behind the neck. A bit shy on the bass but doesnt lack any definition... and my Cowon D2 has a few goodies that improves bass without adding too much audible distorsion...

Strengths:
Not sure?!

Weaknesses:
Midrange frequencies are lacking definition... and intensity! I think I have a real pair of PortaPro but considering all the reviews I've read, I'm wondering if what I have is not some cheap black market imitation of the real PortaPro?! No way for me to know.

Similar Products Used:
MDR-G52... pretty old model but does the job better than most other models launched after this one!

lisitsa

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $67.00 from EBAY

Summary:
I've had these headphones for 3 years, and they are an absolutely addicting sound. You know its not necessarily that they give you a kicking bass -- which they do, or a particular rich sound, rather that you can wear them for hours and your ears don't get tired nor sick of the sound. The best way to describe the sound of these headphones is warm. Very very warm. In fact like real warmth, they tend to be best enjoyed after being outside in cold weather. I come home and stick these on in my warm house and it gives me a really good feeling.

The other reviews have covered this as well, but there is something special about the bass. I once had this song which had a really punching bass for the first 20 seconds, and it literally felt like your ears were being plucked. Unfortunately I forgot that song, nor was the rest of the song particularly good.

ONE LAST THING, I have to mention that mine have sprung wire problems twice. Each time I used a soldering iron to cut down the wire a bit and resolder. First time was on the headphone end -- I gotta give the headphones credit for having a nice big user-friendly panel under which there is enough room for even a big solder iron to do its job effectively. Most headphones can't be opened and resoldered at the headphone end. Then the wire tore at the end of the socket. Anyway suffice to say, the cord is not bombproof and you might have to solder it, or take it to an electrician sometime or another.

Strengths:
EXCELLENT Sound
Good for long listening sessions -- you don't get sick of the sound
User-friendly repair of wire at the heaphone end.
Comfortable

Weaknesses:
Wires do brake once in a while -- but unless you want a much thicker wire than thats just the way it goes. At least it can be repaired.

Similar Products Used:
IPOD Headphones - HORRRIBBBLEEE. In reality, while small heaphones can be made to sound good, the size of their cones guarantees that the listening will hardly ever be as enjoyable as bigger headphones.

Price Paid:  $3.00 from Thrift Shop

Summary:
I can't believe someone got rid of these. I bought them at a local thrift store for $2.99. There were not ear pads so I bought a pair of cheap headphones from teh dollar store so my total is $3.99.

These sound better than my igrado headphones. mainly because the grados seem to muffle the mids and highs. I find teh Portapros have more colour. Bass is very good for such a small set of headphones.

Strengths:
Great sound in a small package. Amazing!

Weaknesses:
None so far

Similar Products Used:
Grado SR80
Sony MDR-7506
Sony MDR-V600
Fostex T-7

Price Paid:  $20.00 from J & R Music World Cl

Summary:
These are the best lightweight, comfortable headphones with good sound quality at a reasonable price I have ever used. Most portable headphones have no bass and tinny highs. These have good bass and clear and crisp highs. They sound good with all the kinds of music I listen to (classical, jazz, rock, blues, reggae, country, Motown). With my cheap Q Power Bee MP3 player (for a combined price of under $50), they beat the cost of an IPod Shuffle with lousy ear buds and no display or FM radio. Even if you have an iPod I recommend these so you can get the most out of them.

I agree with other reviewers that the folding would be better if they folded flat but they fold better OK without breaking unlike a pair of Maxell's that I have to return to the manufacturer.

They are very comfortable because the earpieces instead of being rigid and in a fixed position float and more easily adjust to your ears. Also they don't irritate or pinch your ears like some of the clip-ons and allow you to hear what's going on around you unlike earbuds.

As to durability they have more metal and better quality plastic than most portbale headphones and don't break when you fold them unlike the Maxell mentioned above. Did I mention the lifetime warranty?

Overall they have a great sound, comfort and portablility at a great price.

Strengths:
Great sound, comfort, portablity, price, lifetime warranty

Weaknesses:
Fold well but don't always stay folded; would better if they folded flat.

Similar Products Used:
Sony ear buds and clip-ons, generic ear buds and on ear headphones, Maxell on-ear. Koss Pro 4AAA stereo headphones.

MGirvan

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.82 of 5, 11.00 votes

Price Paid:  $69.00 from Future Shop

Summary:
These are magnificent headphones, I can't imagine anything even twice their price coming close. I have been listening to these headphones for almost three years now almost daily so I have listened to them. I listen to a very wide range of music, but in everything I listen to, sound quality is important and I know when I hear good sound.

I have recently purchased a Grado SR125 for my home stereo which I find to be very nice indeed. I decided to buy the Grado 1/4" adapter and try them as portables. The Grado's do not come close to the Koss Porta Pro. I would challenge anybody who could remain unbiased to find any area that the Grado's do close to as well as the Porta Pro. I love my Grado's for my home system, but as portables, forget it. On my cheap little BenQ player the Porta Pro are really very musical, detailed, engaging and very capable with a rich, full, articulate sound. The sound is accurate and very well portrayed.

There is no unpleasant edge, even at high volume the sound remains very, very good. You will hear some people say that the bass is over emphasized, and geared to people who don't know what real quality bass sounds like. Well that is just silly, it is hard to even dignify that position with an answer. The bass from the Porta Pro is very nice and in my mind very natural and properly portrayed. I have played the drums for many years and I listen with great attention to all kinds of music and instruments.

There is zero doubt in my mind that the bass you get from the Porta Pro, which is considerable, is quality, full accurate bass well balanced with the other elements in the music. I listen to very intense music such as Tool where the bass is certainly a major component of the musical sound, the Porta Pro are nothing short of stellar.

As for the high and mid range, again, very, very nice and highly detailed and musical. I really enjoy listening to music with the Porta Pro. If you have the opportunity to buy these headphones, do not hesitate. When I purchased these headphones I had gone in with no desire to purchase Koss as it was my belief that their sound quality had gone down over the years.

In truth, I had no idea as I hadn't listened to a pair of Koss headphones in years. When I told the sales staff there what I wanted he insisted I buy the Koss over anything else there. He guaranteed me I would not ever want to part with them. He was 100% right, I had them on my head a few minutes after leaving the store and man did I like what I heard. I wanted to have really nice sounding headphones, not just good or average, but really nice sounding headphones. Even though it was for a portable, I was willing to spend around $100 without blinking. At the time I think the Porta Pro was around the middle of the pack in price so I was tempted to overlook them and spend more. I now know I would have wasted my time. If my well respected $200 Grado's can't touch the Porta Pro, what else that is not stupidly expensive could?

I don't just listen to hard rock so I value real musicality in my equipment and I need it to reproduce different musical styles accurately. The Porta Pro is the headphone you want, Apple should add these as an upgrade item to bundle with their high end models. As an earlier reviewer mentioned, why would anybody use the cheap ear bud ear punisher's that come with an iPod? Just doesn't make sense. Buy these headphones.

Strengths:
The sound, the glorious sound!

Weaknesses:
Not sure what to say, I haven't found any in three years of use.

Similar Products Used:
Over the years many different pairs of headphones on home systems. For portable before I had a nice pair of JVC Bandits which I also liked a great deal. I would love to have them now to compare to the Porta Pro.