Koss Porta Pro Classic On-Ear Headphones, Retro Style, 3.5mm Wired Plug, Durable, Black/Silver

Very pleasant sound when paired with a dac. I expected these to have the sound quality of good earbuds(not iems) but these are much better as they handle lower frequencies quite well. For on-ear headphones these are super comfortable and can definitely see them getting daily use when I don't feel like using iems. Please note I am using Yaxi Pads with these!Pros: sound quality, lightweight, low "clamping" force, less ear fatigue.Cons: feel fragile(I'm going to buy a hard case), shortish cable(subjective), leaks sound(to be expected from the clamping force)A lot of the cons are subjective and may not matter depending on your needs, for example, some people like to hear their environment around them, or don't need to worry if the sound leaks.Overall I am happy and may actually consider getting the wireless version of these.

Take what other reviewers have said about these headphones, believe them, and then multiply it by 100. I received a pair of Koss UR-20s as a gift years ago and loved them so naturally I looked to Koss again when replacing my portable/on-the-go headphones. After buying a pair of KSC-55s, which sounded great but were uncomfortable for me personally, I hopped on Amazon and found everyone raving about the PortaPros. I figured they were good, especially considering that the design seems unchanged since the 1980s (which has to mean something), but I also figured that this was one of those things that was just too good to be true. However, these are bar-none the most amazing headphones I have ever put on my head. Listening to some of my favorite songs for the first time was one of those 'wow' moments where you realize you have found something that changes your expectations completely. The bar will be raised the instant you hear the bass response and incredible acoustic qualities of these light, comfortable headphones.I don't know what I'm impressed with the most: the amazing bass, the excellent stereo division, or how loud they can get! These things are just as amazing as most of the reviews show them to be and then a lot more... I was worried about the eighties styling, but in person they don't look bad at all. I hate headphones that scream for attention, but these don't look like that when you have them on and I have already been wearing them in public (something I didn't think I would do after only seeing the picture of them online). And even if they're a bit outdated in appearance, the design is so functional you won't even give looks a second thought after you put them on.One thing is for sure: these things have plenty of bass! Not too much (not "boomy"), but they seem properly tuned for listening to things without "bass booster" turned on, which I like. Even with the bass settings adjusted high, the bass remains clear and crisp. I'm not sure how much power these can handle without damaging them, but I listen to them very loud and they do not sound distorted or stressed at all. After a few days my left speaker began making some weird noises and it ended up being a hair stuck inside the headphones that I cleared out with canned air. Something important to consider is that these are very open and airy headphones and the treble carries very well outside the headphones (so someone nearby could definitely hear what you're listening to if you have the volume up loud).Others have mentioned that they felt the headphones were too tight feeling, but I have a very large head and they fit me without a problem. However, if I will be wearing them for an extended period of time I always set them to the "Light" setting on the comfortZone control (which divides the side pressure of the headphones with your temples rather than just on your ears).I already had headphones I was pleased with (Sony MDR-G52s and Koss UR-20s) but I wanted a set of small, portable headphones for use with my laptop and these are perfect. The folding design isn't something I necessarily wanted, but it is nice. The carrying case they come with (a leatherette bag) is a slightly tight fit and I probably won't end up using it much since it is not a hard case that would protect them from shock or crushing. Some others have mentioned that they feel delicate or are easily broken, but compared to other small headphones I have had they seem very well built and equally strong considering their light weight.While I wouldn't say these are bad things about the PortaPros, it is worth mentioning that the headband is metal and will occasionally snag a hair as you adjust it on your head, and that they don't fold down as small as you might think they would so don't expect to put them in your pants pocket or something. Considering these are the worst things I can come up with to say about the PortaPros, they are nearly perfect in my book.I can't say enough good things about these PortaPros! They're simply amazing. These are the first headphones (or speakers) I've had that sound absolutely awesome without adjusting the equalizer or pumping up the bass. They sound good on everything from R&B to Country and everything in-between. I've been especially impressed that they pull the bass and highs out of a song without getting that shrill, tinny treble that plagues so many headphones. If there ever was a question about the quality of Koss stereophones in my mind, these PortaPros have put it to rest and made me into a lifetime customer! If you're like me you'll wish you had discovered these legendary headphones (haha! how often is that said?) years ago...

I have reviewed many audio devices over the years. I like to consider myself a "budget audiophile". I love great sounding gear, but don't want to break the bank to enjoy great sounding. music!I was beyond impressed with the Koss Porta Pro classics.First, as a member of Gen X, these take me back to the days of the Walkman and mix tapes. What goes around comes around, and the old school aesthetics of the Porta Pros look unique in the age of boring, ubiquitous earbuds. Throw some aftermarket Yaxi pads on these and they look even better.The sound on these, for the price point, is amazing. These are "open speakers" meaning that the speakers are not enclosed. These are also "on ear" headphones. Others WILL be able to hear what you are listening to.I tested these with a variety of devices and configurations. I listened to them straight through my laptop, on my laptop with a "DAC dongle", and on my phone which has a high-end DAC chip built into it. They sounded great on all devices and configurations. Of course, the DACs made these sound even better!These sound great, especially in the mids and highs. These were designed around the time when Dolby noise reduction came out. Many artists used this Dolby technology to push the high-end range of recordings. These Porta Pros definitely were designed to reproduce those high-end sounds and do so amazingly!The open speaker design seems to really give these a deep sound stage. Instrumentation is deep and immersive. There is great separation of sound with these. Panning sounds move around you and have a great depth to them.Bass is strong and punchy, however these will not be cans that will impress the "bass heads". Again, keep in mind these were designed in the 80s and were optimized for the music and tech at that time. I test these with a "bass sweep" frequency test. These really start to sound great in the low range around 30 hz. These will distort under the right circumstances, which I found to be tracks with deep base, and using my DAC with high volume but this not common or a concern.These are amazing for "rock" music (classic rock, pop, metal, etc.) but they also sound great with modern music (EDM, hip hop, etc).These are comfortable to wear for extended periods. The "comfort" slides on the sides are a bit more gimmick than functional. Do they work? Yes. Is it that big of difference between settings? Not really. To adjust the comfort sliders, you have to slightly fold the earpiece as if you were folding them up to put them in the case. These will "click" pack once you move the earpiece.The carrying case they come with is all but worthless. I have read other reviews where users have broken their headphones taking them out of the carrying case. It is barely big enough to get them in there once folded. I put mine in a hardshell case with another pair of headphones.Finally, a great thing about the Koss Porta Pros is their limited lifetime warranty. If these break, stop working, etc. send them back with your receipt and 9 dollars and you be sent another pair! These headphones can literally last you a lifetime! I know of people who have had multiple sets of Porta Pros over the last 20 years by taking advantage of this warranty.TL/DR; Awesome old school looks with amazing sound at a price point that feels like a steal! Bass may not knock your socks off but sounds great. Carrying poach is cheap, but the warranty is amazing!