Customer Reviews

Koss KSC Headphones

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Overall, this is the best overall value, IMO, for a portable headphone. Small and lightweight, the KSC-35s also sound better than any of their competitors, including the S/Portapros. They have OVERALLY bloated bass, the kind that gives me headaches. The KSC-35s would, too, if it wasn't for their very interesting design. Unlike usual headphones which go over your head, or even the neck-band types, the KSC-35s have no headband whatsoever! They hang around your ear - clip is the word most people use, but that sounds painful, and the KSC-35s are the most comfortable headphones i've ever worn. Ever.

To the most important part: Sound. These things ound great. With only 32 ohms of resistance, they will be driven easily from any portable, including MP3/MD players with low output strength. The clip design, as i mentioned above, changes the acoustic properties of the KSC-35s. They are no longer exerting pressure on your ears; they instead simply drape the earlobe. Because of this "loose" grip (when compared to the S/Portapros), they lose some of the boominess in the bass department. They do, however, have a peak in frequency response favoring bass, so bass lovers will truly enjoy these headphones. I prefer the mid-range, and the KSC-35s have a decent midrange presentation, as well a good treble presentation. The excessive bass, while less than the S/Portapros, is still too much to allow the the other frequencies to shine.

All in all, a very active-use friendly design, excellent sound for minimal price, and a superiority over other models in the same price range BY THE SAME COMPANY (KOSS), won me over. These headphones are perfect for an active listener who wants to get great sound out of his portable.

NOTE: I have been constantly comparing the KSC-35s to the Sportapro and Portapro models because all three models have the same drivers. In fact, the S/Portaprose tend to be highly reccommended, while actually their sporty-looking cousin, the KSC-35, sound better! For less! The only draw-back being a slightly unusual design, which I have grown to love!

I am an admitted "audiophile" -- my main headphone system is over $3,000. However, these are one of my favorite headphones ever (and I've heard a lot of them, from $10 to $1000!). (...) These are one of the best-sounding headphones under a hundred bucks, and they are also one of the most versatile. They have three things going for them: 1) SOUND. The KSC-35 have balanced sound, including impressive bass, good midrange and good detail. That's a rare combination in headphones under a hundred bucks. They sound good enough that good sources really do sound good, but they are also enjoyable on lower-quality sources such as MP3 players and computers (another rare trait -- many headphones do one or the other, but not both). 2) COMFORT. The unique "earclip" design of the KSC-35 provides a very lightweight headphone that is also quite secure. These are without question the BEST exercise headphone on the planet, and they are also all-day comfortable. I should add that a few people don't like the clip design because of their ear shape, but most people will often forget they're wearing them. 3) EFFICIENCY. Unlike many high-quality headphones that need a juicy headphone amp to sound good, the KSC-35 sound great on anything, from the wimpiest portable CD player to the best dedicated headphone amp. I can't recommend this headphone enough. It's WAY better than anything else for the price, and competitive with headphones costing many times as much. If you're looking at (...) headphones under a hundred bucks, get these first and give them a try. You can return them if you don't like them, but my guess is you'll keep them ;)

I was a little hesitant at first because I thought that they were cheap-looking. But I was wrong! Unlike other compact phones, these don't fall out from your ears. They have earcups that can adjust to any induvidual's ear and they're not uncomfortable. You can bring them practically anywhere because they're so small and the case is handy, too. A must for anybody who's always on the move and doesn't have time to bring around huge headphones!

This headset is very versatile, cheap, and lightweight. Best of all, it won't fall off your ears while you jog, run, or play pretty much any sport. The sound is good, loud, and it has decent bass. Of course there are better headphones out there, but not at this price. Great for on-the-go students who work out at the gym.

OK I can believe that maybe if you have big ears these things might not be comfortable. But bad sound? No way! If you think these things don't sound good, ya got something wrong with your ears or your equipment, or both. I plugged them into a portable MP3 player and the have very smooth natural sound with better bass extension than many large over the ears phones. I'm an audiophile used to high-quality tube amplifiers - so I'm a hard one to please when it comes so sound. I'm particulary sensitive to overly bright and harsh sound. Not here - these guys are ssssmooooooth! Oh, and they're so light you hardly notice they're on and you can't get them to fall off even if you shake your head - provided they fit your ears of course :) Highly recommended.

I've tried many portable headphones (and by portable I mean you can put them away into your jacket pocket), and these are one of the best portable ones I've seen. Excellent sound and you can barely hear them if you stand next to a person who's listening music, so great for listening in public areas. (At home I use Grado SR60, which are my very favorite but if you wear them on the bus don't be surprised if people start singing along to your music :)

I bought KSC75 recently to upgrade my old KSC35, and the KSC75 are not bad for the price, but I would rather go for slightly more expensive KSC35 which sound much better. The KSC75 sound a bit like from inside a bottle, but only *very slightly* so. Base reproduction is also less pronounced than the KSC35's.

KSC75 look a bit nicer and you can adjust them to fit closer to your ear by bending the metal piece that goes around the ear. KSC35 has the earpiece made of plastic so it doesn't bend but they fit me more comfortably than KSC75 I think because the earpiece is thinner (I wear eyeglasses).

As with all headphones of this design, namely ones that're just applied flat to your ears not using some pads around to block the sound, you can pretty much hear everything around you as though you didn't have them on at all. When it gets really noisy at the gym sometimes, it gets difficult to hear them.

Also, you might want to try Sennheiser PX 100, they seem to get very good reviews although a bit more expensive. I haven't tried them personally so that's all I can say. They're not Truly portable though, because you can't put them away into your jacket pocket.

Bottom line - Excellent sound in the price range! You can also check out Porta-Pro, they deliver a bit more base than KSC35 (because of their design they push more on the ears and also less comfortable to me because of that).

Overall I give:
KSC35: 5 stars
KSC75: 3.5 stars
Porta-Pro: 4 stars

After hearing about numerous recommendations for this contraption from friends, I finally got the KSC 35 last week. Already have a pair of Grado SR80. Never mind the unsurpassed sound quality, Grados are simply too impractical to carry around, too bulky and noise leaks in due to open air design. For the size, it's kind of puzzling that the KSC 35 has a thumping bass that would clobber even the most bloated headphones out there, including the Grado. It does overwhelm the meds, but depending on your tastes, this could be good or bad. Unfortunately, the good news ends here. The lows are indeed powerful, but they lack the depth and dimension you probably would expect from a renowned brand like Koss. Same goes with the meds. Although more profound than the lows, it's still dry, grainy, totally lacking of warmth. The highs are sharp hisses galore, a typical compromise for a good base. The meds fare better than your avg Sony headphones, the bass is amazing but at the cost of the treble and the overall character of these phones. For [the price tag], I guess that the KSC 35 is worthy, but nothing ground braking as the hypes suggest. Take it from me: if you buy these with that kind of expectations, they would simply leave you wanting more. Buy them for what they are.

Oh and they are also kind of annoying to put on.

I bought these (and I paid more than here) and am surprised at the excellent sound quality. Even bass is half way decent. The fit on me is very secure and I can move all around and they will never come off (almost...).

Three minor gripes: cord is a bit thin (could get snipped easy), and is just a bit too short. (However, the 4'/1.2m length is fine when listening to a portable music device.) Ear cushions would be nice, but they don't stick into your ear too far so this isn't really an issue.

If you need just a cheap, basic headset and want something better than the standard earbud, this is for you.

These simple, light phones have always been the highest rated in their class. Good: surprising bass response and suitable for active lifestyles. Bad: maybe a little dorky looking and may leak too much sound for cubicle or public transport use.

I looked up Opinions on epionions and am glad that I got them. I have had mine for over a year now but they still sound sharp and clean. They are comfortable and don't hurt my ears like the Sony ones did. And since they are two earpieces, I can share music with other people (and they are great for planes cause two people can listen to the movie and you don't have to pay 5 bucks for headphones that you have to give back!)