Consider this my first impression review of these headphones, as I have only had them for about 10 minutes. I'll come back to this review later as I get more use out of them.
Packaging: Excellent, yet minimalist. My set came in a black box bearing photos of the headphones from different perspectives on 3 of the four sides. Inside, the headphones rest in a black plastic shelf, with a clear plastic cover. The cord is hidden behind a cardboard piece sitting just below the headphones. Aside from the headphones, the only other thing in the box is warranty and safety information, and a black drawstring carry pouch that looks and feels like denim. All in all, perhaps not up to Apple's packaging standards, but very nice for $25 headphones (probably even for $50 ones).
Design and materials: it's a good thing Koss thought to put an "L" and "R" on each respective side, because the first thing I thought was "man, I have no clue which was is the right way to wear these". As an all plastic and metal affair, everything seems well designed and assembled. The band is obviously nothing special, but it is functional and I suspect that it will resist damage fairly well, provided you aren't grossly negligent. Similarly, the plastic over the drivers is minimalist and certainly on the lighter/cheaper side, but it does not make me think "cheap". The wiring, similarly, is thin and the plastic encasing it is not as satisfyingly rubbery as, say, on my Apple EarPods, but again, I don't feel concerned by the cabling, as I suspect it will hold up reasonably well. Why am I so optimistic about materials I'm describing as "cheap" and "thin"? Because this honestly feels like a product where the designers said "what is the simplest, cheapest set of headphones we can make that will have awesome sound and awesome comfort?" These don't strike me as hastily or sloppily designed; rather, there is a purposeful frugality going on here. It really does strike me that this product is the "people's headphone", meant to combine rather uncompromising sound quality with reasonable durability. In other words, these strike me as value-oriented headphones designed by someone who wanted to do right by their customers while still being profitable. That's pretty cool!
By the way, the fact that these collapse and can be rolled/clipped into a ball is really cool. They fit snugly into the supplied bag, though the draw strings can't completely close up the bag with them in there. My only question: what am I supposed to do with the cable? Wrapping them around the headband seems obvious but also slightly risky, as I'm worried about snagging on the clasp that holds the headphones in a ball. Maybe I'm just paranoid, though.
Comfort: much has been made of the fact that your hair can get caught in the band. I get it, and I don't doubt it. On the other hand, I think the band is designed brilliantly, with two sliders that make it pretty simple to adjust size quickly. I'll let you know if they pull out my hair, but so far so good in that respect.
As for the "ComfortZone" pads that rest on your temple, I can totally see what they are for, and the three settings do affect how the phones sit on your head somewhat, but at least for me, it seems a bit gimmicky because I feel you can accomplish much the same thing by adjusting the headband.
The foam pads over the drivers are reasonably soft, though I do question their durability because they are simply cheap porous foam. I remember the 80s well enough to know that these will disintegrate at some point, so I ordered 3 extra sets from Koss for $4. Assuming the pads last at least 6-9 months, I'll be satisfied. If they longer, I'll be ecstatic.
The sound: I'm not an audiophile or audio engineer, my main set has been the EarPods for the last couple of years, and my eats are probably damaged from years of operating a table saw in high school stage crew. Nonetheless, the sound from these headphones is really great! I plugged them into my iPad Air, and even at ⅔ to ¾ volume, these things were really loud. I ever so briefly put the volume near the upper limit, and they seemed uncomfortably loud. I can only imagine what you could achieve with an amp. I listened briefly to some Willie Nelson, Norah Jones, Skrillex, Linkin Park, and a song from the musical "Wicked". I'm pretty sure everything I listened to was encoded at 256kbps as AAC or MP3. All in all, the sound was terrific. Vocals were clear. Hell, everything was clear. I heard details such as snares that I don't remember being there before. And the bass! Holy moly! I'm not sure what really constitutes "good" or "deep" bass, but boy did these things wimp me when I listened to Skrillex. I'm sure there are better headphones for dubstep, but frankly I don't care. For $25 open headphones, I was thoroughly impressed. Some folks say these get better after some amount of use/burn in. I have no idea yet, but I'll try to provide an update if and when I notice any difference from prolonged use.
Value: at $25, they're less than a third of the price of a pair of Grado SR80s, and they're even cheaper than my EarPods. I did not buy these on a whim, and nearly bought about half a dozen other, more expensive pairs before I settled on the PortaPros. I have no idea what more money would have bought me, and for now, I don't really care. In 10 minutes, I've experienced better sound compared to what I was using before, and for $25 with a lifetime warranty, that sounds pretty good to me!
Add to your order
Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
24/7 support when you need it.
Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
2 Year Headphone Accident Protection Plan $5.99
3 Year Headphone Accident Protection Plan $7.99
Cover all of your eligible devices:
Tech Unlimited – Protect Eligible Past and Future Purchases with 1 Plan (Renews Monthly Until Cancelled) $16.99/month
Select a plan
Add to your order
Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
24/7 support when you need it.
Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
Select a plan
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Additional Details
Small Business
Shop products from small business brands sold in Amazon’s store. Discover more about the small businesses partnering with Amazon and Amazon’s commitment to empowering them.
Small Business
This product is from a small business brand. Support small.
Similar item to consider
Amazon's Choice
Make it a bundle
We found 2 bundles with this item:
Koss Porta Pro On Ear Headphones with Case, Black / Silver
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Frequently bought together
$39.99
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jan 9
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the brand
The Original American Stereophone Company
-
In 1958 John C. Koss changed the way we all listen to music when he invented the world's first SP/3 stereophone.
Koss sought to replicate the excitement of a live musical performance, allowing listeners to experience sound as they had never before, bringing them closer to the music they love. Music lovers around the world recognize that dedication to accuracy in sound reproduction as: The Sound of Koss
-
-
-
-
-
-
Birth of the Stereophone
Before the world's first SP/3 Stereophone in 1958, John C. Koss developed a portable stereo photograph player with side-wing speakers.
-
World's First SP/3 Stereophone
in 1958 John C. Koss invented the world's first SP/3 Stereophone introducing personal stereo audio to the world.
-
SP/3X
In 1960 Koss released the predecessor to the SP/3 with a lighter design, more comfortable headband and superior sound quality.
-
Pro/4AA
In 1970 Pro/4AA set the standard for full-size professional headphones delivering true full frequency performance.
-
Koss World Headquarters
On June 25, 1971 John C. Koss unveiled the new Koss World Headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
-
HV/1A
In 1974, Koss released the HV/1A the first dynamic headphone capable of reproducing all 10 audible octaves.
-
Porta Pro
In 1984 the acclaimed Porta Pro was released and set performance and comfort standards worldwide for decades to come.
-
JCK/300 Kordless System
In 1989 the JCK/300 Kordless Headphone system set the standard for infrared wireless headphones.
-
ESP/950
In 1990 Koss's revolutionary ESP/950 electrostatic headphones introduced breakthrough high-fidelity sound.
-
Pro4S Studio
Carrying on the legacy of the Pro/4 line, 2014's Pro4S Studio Headphone was specifically designed for audio professionals.
-
KPH30i
In 2017 Koss released the acclaimed KPH30i featuring an ultra-light weight design with remarkable high-fidelity sound.
-
Utility Series
In 2021 Koss Utility Series introduced three new headphones allowing listeners to connect via Lightning, USB-C and 3.5mm.
-
True Wireless Earbuds
In 2023 Koss continued it's evolution of wireless headphones with the TWS250i True Wireless Earbuds.
Compare with similar items
This Item  Koss Porta Pro On Ear Headphones with Case, Black / Silver |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -20% $39.99 List: $49.99 | -5% $17.98 List: $19.00 | $19.99 | $19.99 | -33% $39.99 List: $59.99 | -20% $39.95 List: $49.95 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jan 9 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jan 9 | Get it as soon as Thursday, Jan 11 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jan 9 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Jan 9 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jan 10 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Volume control | ||||||
| Noise cancellation | ||||||
| Battery life | ||||||
| Quality of material | ||||||
| Sold By | Koss Stereophones | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Koss Stereophones | AnkerDirect | Amazon.com |
| connectivity tech | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wired | Wireless | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| headphones form factor | On Ear | In Ear | On Ear | semi-open-back | Over Ear | On Ear |
| connector type | connector type | — | connector type | 3.5mm Jack | 3.5mm Jack | usb,wireless |
| headphones jack | 3.5 mm Jack | — | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm;6.3 mm | 3.5 mm Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| cable feature | Retractable | Retractable | High fidelity clip headphones Exceptionally wide frequency response Computer-optimized neodymium, iron, and boron rare-earth magnet structures deliver amazing clarity at any volume Include a straight, dual entry, 4 foot cord with gold-flashed 3.5 mm (1/8") plug Pivoting clips promise accommodating fit Enjoy greater volume despite low-voltage portable devices Covered under the Koss Stereophones Limited Lifetime Warranty | Lightweight, portable headphones with adjustable headband In-line volume control and open, hear-through sound Straight, 4 foot, dual entry cord with 3.5 mm plug and 6.3 mm adapter Titanium layered diaphragm delivers accurate sound reproduction Frequency response delivers high quality sound performance Perfect for at-home and portable use Covered under the Koss Stereophones Limited Lifetime Warranty | Without Cable | Retractable |
| control type | Volume Control | Media Control | — | Volume Control | Noise Control | Voice Control |
Product Description
-
A True Classic
Introduced in 1984, Porta Pro continues to be one of the most popular headphones around the world.
-
The Sound of Koss
Experience remarkable high-fidelity audio from 15-25,000 Hz with deep bass and a superior midrange.
-
Take Anywhere
Porta Pro features a collapsable design allowing for easy portability.
-
Classic Style
Porta Pro is one of the most recognized headphones around the world with a sleek, timeless look.
-
The Perfect Fit
An adjustable headband with ComfortZone temporal pads provide a comfortable listening experience.
1 Porta Pro 2 High-Fidelity Audio 3 Ultimate Portability 4 Legendary Look 5 Comfort Zone
Legendary
The acclaimed Koss Porta Pro was introduced in 1984 and continues to be one of the most recognized headphones around the world.
Perfectly Portable
Porta Pro features a unique collapsible design for easy storage and ultimate portability.
The Sound of Koss
Koss engineered 60 Ohm drivers deliver remarkable high-fidelity audio at 15-25,000Hz producing deep bass, crisp highs and superior midrange.
Comfort Zone
Adjustable headband and ComfortZone temporal pads providing a comfortable listening experience.
Two Classics. One Remarkable Listening Experience.
Porta Pro Classic
True to the original, Porta Pro Classic remains virtually unchanged since it's introduction in 1984 using the same 60 Ohm drivers, producing deep bass, crisp highs and superior midrange.
Porta Pro Black
Looking for a modern look with a retro soul? Porta Pro black share's everything listeners love from the original, now in a sleek jet black colorway.
More Products From Koss
 Porta Pro |  Porta Pro Limited Edition |  Porta Pro Utility |  KPH40 Utility |  KPH30i |  KSC75 | |
|
Customer Reviews
| 15,546
| 1,678
| 143
| 775
| 3,247
| 7,833
|
|
Price
| $39.99 | $59.99 | $49.99 | $39.99 | $29.99 | $19.99 |
|
Type
| On Ear | On Ear | On Ear | On Ear | On Ear | Ear Clip |
|
Connection
| 3.5mm | 3.5mm | Utility Series | Utility Series | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
|
Utility Series
| — | — | 3.5mm, USB-C & Lightning | 3.5mm, USB-C & Lightning | — | — |
|
Audio Controls
| — | In-Line Remote | Utility Cord Remote | Utility Cord Remote | In-Line Remote | — |
|
Microphone
| — | In-Line Remote | Utility Cord Remote | Utility Cord Remote | In-Line Remote | — |
|
Noise Cancelling
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
Adjustable Headband
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
|
Collapsible
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
|
Carrying Case/Pouch
| Carrying Pouch | Hardshell Case | Carrying Pouch | — | — | — |
Reviews with images
Submit a report
A few common reasons customers report reviews:
- Harassment, profanity
- Spam, advertisement, promotions
- Given in exchange for cash, discounts
When we get your report, we'll check if the review meets our Community guidelines. If it doesn't, we'll remove it.
Sorry, there was an error
Please try again later.Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2014
Color: Black/SilverStyle: On-Ear HeadphoneVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020
Color: Black/SilverStyle: On-Ear HeadphoneVerified Purchase
I will start this by saying I’m not an audiophile (I have/had ath m50x, beats solos, AirPods, and other basic audio products). After browsing the webs, this seemed like an excellent place to start. If you don’t wanna read this whole review (tl;dr) : these are worth every penny.
Comfort: 3.5/5 initially, these felt weird. They aren’t cozy by any means like other headphones due to the metal headband and being on-ear. They’re insanely light, so it can feel like they aren’t there after a while (a good thing). The on-ear aspect really is a love or hate thing. They do make it so ur ears will not feel hot, so that is a plus.
Note: The comfort becomes a 4 with Yaxi pads. They’re larger and softer than stock pads.
Quality: 2/5 there had to be a sacrifice somewhere. The build is garbage. Let’s be honest: you can’t have it all at this price range. I appreciate the retro look of these, but there are issues:
- headband is a thin metal that can tear ur hair out (use tape)
- the “comfort zone” driver casing is very cheap plastic and feels flimsy
- the cable is similar to that of $8 earbuds u buy from a pharmacy store.
Sound: 4.5/5 (for price, 7/5)
Man, oh mannnnnn. This is where it hits you. Youll say, “oh. That’s why people say to get these.”
Sonically, these can sound better than headphones in the 100+ dollar range.
Vs AirPods: They’re better than AirPods for sound. Not going to compare features bc no duh AirPods win, but sound wise, they’re better in every way.
Vs Beats Solos: I have the cheap solos, so it’s not the new pros, but these are better sounding. More clarity and soundstage, maybe not as much bass (barely).
Vs ATH M50x: this is where the fun begins.
Detail: Almost as good detail as the m50x, but I actually enjoyed these more for listening to more neutral music vs the m50x (not saying much, since m50s are very V shaped).
Soundstage: The soundstage may be even better than my m50x with the Yaxis on. They WILL leak sound, though, so if you can’t afford that, m50x is better.
Bass: It doesn’t rattle your soul, but it isn’t weak either. M50x beats it in this category, which I’m not surprised by. The drivers are so much smaller.
Noise isolation: These do not isolate noise. They’re on-ear, so that isn’t surprising. If you need noise cancellation, these aren’t the way to go.
Conclusion:
Get these!! Try em out. I got em for $20 so it wasn’t a huge investment, and I’ve heard they get this cheap pretty often.
There’s a reason Koss still makes these. They’re light, look cool, and sound amazing for their price.
P.S. GET YAXI PADS. They add soundstage and comfortability as well as style to these headphones. I grabbed yellow for an extra retro vibe, but there’s a bunch of colors to choose from.
I grabbed a E10K off of eBay, so I might update to see how that affects the sound as well!
Comfort: 3.5/5 initially, these felt weird. They aren’t cozy by any means like other headphones due to the metal headband and being on-ear. They’re insanely light, so it can feel like they aren’t there after a while (a good thing). The on-ear aspect really is a love or hate thing. They do make it so ur ears will not feel hot, so that is a plus.
Note: The comfort becomes a 4 with Yaxi pads. They’re larger and softer than stock pads.
Quality: 2/5 there had to be a sacrifice somewhere. The build is garbage. Let’s be honest: you can’t have it all at this price range. I appreciate the retro look of these, but there are issues:
- headband is a thin metal that can tear ur hair out (use tape)
- the “comfort zone” driver casing is very cheap plastic and feels flimsy
- the cable is similar to that of $8 earbuds u buy from a pharmacy store.
Sound: 4.5/5 (for price, 7/5)
Man, oh mannnnnn. This is where it hits you. Youll say, “oh. That’s why people say to get these.”
Sonically, these can sound better than headphones in the 100+ dollar range.
Vs AirPods: They’re better than AirPods for sound. Not going to compare features bc no duh AirPods win, but sound wise, they’re better in every way.
Vs Beats Solos: I have the cheap solos, so it’s not the new pros, but these are better sounding. More clarity and soundstage, maybe not as much bass (barely).
Vs ATH M50x: this is where the fun begins.
Detail: Almost as good detail as the m50x, but I actually enjoyed these more for listening to more neutral music vs the m50x (not saying much, since m50s are very V shaped).
Soundstage: The soundstage may be even better than my m50x with the Yaxis on. They WILL leak sound, though, so if you can’t afford that, m50x is better.
Bass: It doesn’t rattle your soul, but it isn’t weak either. M50x beats it in this category, which I’m not surprised by. The drivers are so much smaller.
Noise isolation: These do not isolate noise. They’re on-ear, so that isn’t surprising. If you need noise cancellation, these aren’t the way to go.
Conclusion:
Get these!! Try em out. I got em for $20 so it wasn’t a huge investment, and I’ve heard they get this cheap pretty often.
There’s a reason Koss still makes these. They’re light, look cool, and sound amazing for their price.
P.S. GET YAXI PADS. They add soundstage and comfortability as well as style to these headphones. I grabbed yellow for an extra retro vibe, but there’s a bunch of colors to choose from.
I grabbed a E10K off of eBay, so I might update to see how that affects the sound as well!
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Gammas575
Buena calidad de sonido y un estilo unico
Reviewed in Mexico on December 20, 2023Color: BlackStyle: On-Ear HeadphoneVerified Purchase
Higor Pereira Cler
Vendedor ecelente
Reviewed in Brazil on June 5, 2023Color: Black/SilverStyle: On-Ear HeadphoneVerified Purchase
BEACHCAT
Declaration: They're Okay
Reviewed in Canada on October 5, 2022Color: BlackStyle: On-Ear HeadphoneVerified Purchase
BEACHCAT
Reviewed in Canada on October 5, 2022
When you buy one of these as a hobbyist, you look back at your audio, wondering where you've gone wrong. It's not quite audiophile enough to replace my more expensive, albeit larger sets of headphones, but it's not quite bassy enough to satisfy my basshead beast that's leaching off my life essence (curse you Sony Extrabass and your extra-bassyness that not even the bass the fish can sate my evergrowing lust for extra bass). I'd compare the bass level to what sony throws out on their non-Xtra-Bass lines of headphones.
There's enough width to sound to almost pretend I'm in the place of recording... almost. It just lacks that little bit of something that ruins the immersion. Yeah sure it's wide, but what's the point if you're fully aware that what you're listening to is only a sample of what the audiophile world has in store for you? The audio listening hobby quickly shifts from a minor purchase here and there to irresponsible spending in a blink of an eye... and before you know it you've created a black hole in your wallet where your hund-o's used to live.
That's what this is, unsatisfying in any way you look at it, if you've gotten a glimpse of what it could've been with a few more tens, hund-o's, or grandies to spend.
Build quality is competent, but I wish the clamping force wasn't so hard, and the foam that's supposed to sit on the head to alleviate the problem doesn't reach my big, dumb head.
Comfort is there, but not enough. The furthest settings for the "comfortZone" (which adjusts how much pressure the earpads assert on your poor ears) is just not light enough for my sensitive ears. I don't think I can spend a whole day wearing these without my ears getting sore. Good news for glasses wearers though (at least some of them), the pressure is put on the antitragus and the tragus, so though you'll get discomfort (or at least itchiness) in those middle outer parts of your ears, your glasses frame will likely not dig into your skull! But of course your mileage may vary.
The cable is not noisy at all, though I don't think that matters much considering that these are open back, and you'll definitely hear the cable whack around furniture due to careless usage.
The audio quality, though really good for the price, short of a miracle that everyone claims it to be, and a bit too bassy for ex-bassheads (and not bassy enough for the bassheads). It's a pretty warm sound, but the mids and highs are present enough to make it seem like it just has that extra bass on top of a balanced sound.
Sure the driver units can be popped off and attached to other attachments (I've actually gone and put them on a KSC75 earhook), and the foam pad can be replaced with the much more comfortable and better sounding YAXI earpads... however I'm reviewing the product as it's own... and without any accessories (except a "protein leather" egg bag), this product is not good enough for all the praise everyone's screaming out...
But that's what it is. Disappointment if and ONLY IF you set your expectations stupidly high based on reviews bowing down before its presence. If you ignore all the fans (somehow) and just buy the product expecting nothing but a 50$-sounding headphones, prepare to have your socks blown off to next sunday cuz this set of headphones is the best retro-style good-sounding headphones for the money!
When you buy this, don't expect a giant-killer; Be humble, and you'll get more than you've bargained for. If not, at least these do well as conversation starters and/or room decoration.
Images in this review
Andrew Thomson
Good sound
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2023Color: Black/SilverStyle: On-Ear HeadphoneVerified Purchase
Ringeval Jean-Paul
Excellent "casque" à prix réduit
Reviewed in France on October 22, 2023Color: Black/SilverStyle: On-Ear HeadphoneVerified Purchase
