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zeos is this geshelli labs archel2 amp gonna be enough to power my anandas to ear bleeding noise levels? I will have it stacked with the smsl dac. The fiio k3 running balanced did not hit the benchmark i needed to make my ears bleed.
@@dra.fatimamelo1868 you are the only lady I ever seen in the comment section ever in this type of videos, hope you like audio as well. Best wishes from a colleague from Peru.
A few things to add, I use these 8 hours a day at work on Zoom calls and rarely feel any significant clamp. I just take them off for a minute to cool my ears, then back at it for hours. The mic quality is just like everything else about the KPH30i, much better than you would expect and even reduces background noise. I can have my air conditioner on a few feet away and none of my coworkers can hear it. Also, I broke my first pair. You will likely break them as well as the plastic can snap. I mailed it back to Koss along with $9.00 and got a brand new pair in the box. Their lifetime warranty is legit as are these headphones. My next pair will be the clear ones. I have the beige and gray ones. Thank you, Zeos for introducing these to me. I am not an audiophile, but like anyone, you know good sound when you hear it and feel it.
I have the clear with pads mod. I removed the foam 100% and I, too, am blown away that this inexpensive set can be so enjoyable. If Koss really wants to get in on this action they should create the pad mod from the factory and add a balanced cable and call them a pro edition (DROP are you listening?). They could charge $49.99 and I bet they would fly off the shelf.
I have tons of headphones and iems but for some reason I always go for these. I even returned some because they weren’t that much better. Why paid $200 more for 10% better. Music, game, podcast, and list goes on!
@@Hdagoat_ yep. Same here. I have Sennheiser HD598CS, Shure SE846, and Shure SRH1540. Yes the more expensive headphones ultimately sound better for sure.. But I tell you what. With the pads mod the Koss are hands down the lightest and most comfortable headphones and throw in the stunning for their price sound and I smile from ear to ear every time I put them on. I'm like WTF?! How?! I've owned Koss headphones since I was a kid and I that was the reaction I had back then. Amazing they are still producing such incredible sound quality for a tiny asking price. I also love my porta pros. I use those when I'm out walking my dog. I drive them with a Fiio BTR5. Excellent combo!
The rear foam is really simple to remove. So "clear modding" your non clear pairs is very simple and costs $free.50. I did it in like 5 minutes googling a guide to see the clip placements, popped off one clip, removed the foam, and then put them back together. They instantly sounded better to me. They might not be the best for everyone, but I'd say it's the best extra step if you're doing the Grado pads as well.
@@joebro1907 I don't have the clear ones to compare to my gray model, but I'd assume they're using the exact same driver among all color variations of the KPH30i. So removing the rear foam would make them just like the clears.
Do you think that the grado pads mod just boosted up the treble? Quite a significant boost as well. Sibilance was also enhanced. I didnt remove the back foam cos the treble would be boosted more. Am i doing something wrong?
@@darwin0988 I'm not a super audiophile, so I can't really get too into the details, it just improved the sound overall for my taste. The foam is easy to remove and put back in especially if you have the original foam pads removed, since you have open access to the clips. Try them with and without the rear foam for a few days to see what you like.
I gifted my mother the colored for her hospital stay and she absolutely loves them. I'm going to gift her the clears as well, when I can get them. Thanks Zeos.
I just got the Clears and Ultra modded them, I love them. I don't know about $500 but I would certainly buy a $50 KPH30i that was built better and had a detachable cable, there are IEMs by KZ etc that have these features and I know they can do it
Im in love with my clear ultra's. The sound is just so damn angelic. I feel comfortable taking them with me everywhere because if they break I have 3 spare pairs lol Hopefully they put them back in stock so everyone can experience them too
This is great. After watching the video I removed all the foam from my standard grey KPH30i (disassembly/reassembly is literally a snap, just use a butter knife to separate the housing from the driver assembly) and threw on a pair of G-cush pads. Wow on the sound, comfort, all of it! Thank you ZEOS. It's like getting a brand new pair of headphones that tick all the boxes.
I am very glad to know that it was not my imagination and you are hearing the same things I am. It is crazy how much you are able to do with the 30i’s to change/improve the sound for such low cost. I originally bought 2 pair to compare stock to the Yaxi pad swap. That was a big difference in low end for me. Then the stock pair got the Grado Ultra mod and the amount they opened up compared to the Yaxi was surprising. I then pulled the inner foam from both pair and the added airiness has made both pairs my go to’s. The Yaxi’s are great for running errands, and the Ultra’s are my desktop pair. As mentioned with the few db drop on the Ultra’s they sound good with my LG G7+, but just a bit shy on the juice needed. The volume maxed out with the Yaxi’s is just right. However, with my desktop rig, the Ultra’s are insane given how they scale. The detail and bass/sub-bass on both rigs is impressive. I ordered the Drop 54x-ISO closed backs to compare against the openness of the 30i’s (same driver, but different impedance), so that will be interesting (& hopefully quieter for others when I am shopping), if FedEx ever gets their shit together. Long story long, these have been nothing short of amazing with every scenario I throw at them. The ROI on these is ridiculous. Now to see who gets the detachable cable mod done first, you or me. Place your bets…
Just received my pair. First impressions: audio quality is absolutely comparable to my $349 Sony WHM1000X3's. Bass and soundstage are better, imaging is slightly weaker. I'll be recommending these to everyone Zeos, thank you.
Did yall know the porta pros come in a headset version?! The random Screw on the left ear is for the mic! This was the gaming combo I been waiting to see. No one has talked about it.
Since you can't get them anymore where i live cause they are sold out everywhere i treat them better than most of my stuff. Can't live without kph30s anymore.
Got the clears and Bokie Grado foam replacements. Love the way this combination sounds but noticed I have to set the Schiit Heresy headphone amp to High Gain to get the volume and punch. Will probably get a few more sets when on sale to have them around.
If you don't have them, get these headphone. These are not what you expect. The sound is much fuller than you'd ever expect. The bass can kick your ass.
If you don’t need headphones as a hobby, these are really all you need, ever. I make the same recommendation for porta-pros, too. The performance:price is off the charts.
For anyone wondering, the KPH30i set are very efficient at saving your phone battery for long use. Great in Discord calls (I run a rythm bot to play music & chat with people, adjust your discord voip bitrate to save data)
I'm listening to this review on my KPH30i clears ultras via my BTR5. Thanks Z! BTW, how long now have you've been threatening to do that mod live stream show? I believe I saw recently a 2019 review where you mention it.
Well, Kuro is technically? actually? Illya though... You can't say she's not... We just no longer call her that way... Damn is this the Fate/ meme "well actually"?
You should review the Koss KTXPRO1. They have a titanium driver. They’re only 20 bucks. If you don’t want the super warmth of the porta pro they do have a very tight sound. Similar to the Ksc75 if they had slightly more bass.
hey zeos, i got kph30is and they're great, but the grado replacement pads totally kill the mids except for a really painful upper mid frequency. did you notice this too before you got rid of the original foam?
Zeos: Are these Misodiko angled pads new to you? They solve a lot of problems with more dense G pads. The way they are cut is pretty genius engineering. The lighter more open cell foam with the beveled ear scoop out solve the problem with distance from the driver and the need for more power to increase volume. They also seem to increase detail, bass and sound stage. They work phenomenally well with my chrome Grado 325is and I assume other Grados based on the above. Also they are much lighter as well which is nice with the KPH30is. They sell the pads on ebay for less than Amazon. Thanks for the excellent review. The pads are amazing. I don't see them in your video in spite of you posting the Amazon link?
I gave my rhythm beige set to a family member. I ordered the clear ones two days ago before I saw this video not realizing there was a difference. Sounds like I’ll like the clear ones even more. I have my porta pros but that metal headband without some creative padding is annoying for long sessions when I’m gaming
@@marksafe5463 yeah that's why when I can get some spare cash together i'm also gonna make a pair with yaxi and no inner foam and another pair with yaxi pads and leave the inner foam. Then I'll have every foam and pad combo except stock pads and no inner foam but I don't thing that's interesting enough to set up.
With the ultra mod, I cut around the inside hole of the grado pads to decrease foam density and keep the soundstage without removing the foam from the headphones and it works!
i pulled the foam from the backside of my beige set...i agree with your assesment of the clears, base slightly reduced...but i cut some 1/8th inch wide strips of 1/4 inch sticky foam and filled the gap between the driver mounting plate and the cup (on the inside of where the spikes would sit)but in between the locking pegs. from what i'm hearing you still get that increased spacialness but i think some bass punch returns because its not bleeding out the sides.
I just bought these on Amazon for 20 bucks, ripped them out of the package and am listening to drum and bass on them. They are unbelievable. Yes. They BANG.
These are indeed fantastic for the price, but their biggest downside is the structure. The thin plastic headband tends to break in half. All Koss' thin plastic headband designs tend to break in half after some months (it varies) of frequent use. I had Koss GMR-545-AIR at one point previously, which have a similar design with plastic headband (except they are bigger being over-ear, of course), and it broke in half after half a year (also lost the right driver because the cable is running through the headband), I replaced them under warranty... same story, the second pair broke in half too, like clockwork, it just _breaks_ , as for many others too. I didn't throw them around, I was cautious, I was gently putting them on on a daily basis throughout their lifespan. At this point I just bought new headphones with a more reliable structure in the same price range. Look at people's reviews of KHP30i and with a lot of them it breaks as well. Great sound, but you're risking breaking them by frequent use, as if they were meant to sit on a shelf. I know koss wants these to be cheap but effective, and that's great, but I think the thin plastic headband didn't prove itself to be very sturdy. It's lightweight, but at what cost? I wish Koss started making a version or a new lineup with sturdier headband design.
End of the day, all the plastic ones seem designed to be disposable. Toughest are the Portapros and KSC75 - no plastic headbands or sliders. If I want a 'clear' Kph30i that lasts I'd get the KSC75 and the parts express headband swap
I own rhythm beige and love them so much. So I’m excited to have a justification to buy another pair as well as some grado pads to enjoy them both even more…Perhaps for the reasons implied by DMS…
got the clear ones after your review here and they turned me into an audiophile activist. I had 4 more friends buy them, one got the opaque and it's not the same. Clear for the win!!!
Reminds me of a Poundland mic roundup fro Ashens, where every mic sounded like dogshit except for the cheapest £1 mic that sounded on par with Blue Snowball. The mic was literally just a plastic stick, they shoved all the budget into the electronics and not the appearance.
he's not kidding. this is an unbelievable product. easily sound ten times their price, with the simple ultra mods. I only hear uncomfortable, slightly distorted highs with some jazz songs, female vocals. but other than that, simply can't-take-them-off sound. I am wondering what my other headphones are going to do now.
I just modded by blue pair and took the foam out of the back. Idk if it's just me, but the midrange sounds slightly boosted on some songs and recessed in others. Also, acoustic guitars don't sound nearly as bright and forward. Bass is perfect, almost like shp9500 lites lol. Some slight sibilance but nothing too harsh
I just did the ultra mod on my clear's and goddamn... The bass is more puncher but clearer and the treble is just right for me. I fucking love these headphones.
The question is how long those last? I had much better built headphones (usually from AKG, Philips, JBL and Edifier) that disintegrate over time even when not in use.
@@oliverharvey7561 clear plastic naturally yellows over time, silicon less so. And it's the part that touches your hair, full of natural body oils that degrade all materials.
I'm a simple man. I have the KPH30i's in gray. Zeos says buy the clears. So I went to Amazon and bought the clears. Also bought a FiiO A3 Portable Headphone Amplifier to go with it, because I need a battery powered amp for some of my stuff. If you haven't done so, the FiiO A3 Portable Headphone Amplifier could be future review fodder for you. $60. Also.....Fosi Audio has a battery powered headphone amp, the N2, also at $60, but they are out of stock until June. And finally....was looking at the Bose website the other day, and the Bose 301's are the LAST loudspeakers they are still making. Just for schiit's and grins, you really should do a Bose 301 review.....just to give you something to rant at. Thanks again for the recommendations, I've been completely happy with everything you've told us to buy.
My first pair of KPH30i had a broken driver so i'm waiting on the replacement pair while listening to this on my KSC75 having the 990Pro's, 880Pro's and Sundara watching from a far...
Just ordered a pair, curiosity is getting the better of me. I noticed you can 3D print some better casing for these, and there is a guy on Ebay which sells high end metal housing, grado like pads and a headband, thus turning them from a cheap headset to something more preem.
I had to return my KPH30i clears because it had a rattle/buzzing noise at certain frequencies, I own 5 pairs of KPH30i's and this is the second one to have that issue. Super annoying, returning it from Canada is not a fun tasks
damn now i was just thinking about getting another pair, saw the clears at amazon, and turns out Zeos covered these, how funny. seems we went from yaxi pads to the grados, I'll pop for those too.
I just had the clear one’s delivered from Amazon this passed Wednesday & I added the pads on this pair as well but I left the default pads on this time though & they give me that SHP9600’s feel 👍🏿 Like I said before you are the headphone God 👍🏿😂😂😂😂🤦🏾🤷🏾
I already have 2 pairs of KPH30i's, one ultra modded, Porta Pros, KSC75 with Parts Express headband and you somehow talked me into buying these. Damn you Zeos! Koss really has their sh*t together making cheap great sounding headphones. The Porta Pros with Yaxi pads are my current favorite. Every Koss set I own sounds better IMO than the Sundaras I returned.
@@Alejandro-du6vq if you get only one, the 30i's with Yaxi pads. But these are cheap so try both. I use them at the gym with a Earstudio ES100 and the EQ in the Earstudio app and it sounds sublime.
Didn't think about the lack of foam for the clears, that's enough of a reason for me to buy these too besides the look. Also imagining a smokey grey clear, red and blue cup clears, I'd buy them all dammit
Just so you know.. as usual the Canadian tech tax (as I call it) is in full effect up here in the land of Igloos and Polar Bears.. the KPH30i headphones are $65 on Amazoon 🇨🇦. and Sold Through on Drop. Even cheap is expensive is the great cold and snowy north.
A 100 euro for regular KPH30i? That's nuts, here in Poland I have em for 35-ish usd from a local store, obviously don't buy them from american amazon if you're in the EU the shipping costs are just nuts
Oooh, interesting, the old ones - like Porta Pro - are rather muddy. So, with the clear ones also having a more clear sound already makes them a winner to me.
@@thickvinyl To me the old ones sound pretty muddy. It‘s nitpicking, since sound quality for this price is still amazing, yet I prefer the more clear, balanced sound of the KSC75.
Kph30i are legit. Ii've 3d printed my custom foldable headband and cups for kph30 drivers, basically replacing all plastic besides drivers. I didn't like the grado pads at all. No bass, just highs, actually like a grado i guess. Yaxi pads are where it's at.
I love this video.. im going to get some KPH30i Clears now (and pads!). I recently found a decent cheapie headphone on ebay for $18 - Floyd Rose Audio FR52 (white).. i'd love to see your opinion on those $18 headphones.
$18.00??? Prices range from $55-149? Def looks interesting though. They have been cramming multiple drivers into IEM's for years and i always wondered why no one did this for full size headphones.
As an engineer, here's some thoughts - at this price point, for such production, there's limitations on quality control and the minor difference you may have across any two sets of the same model -- and that the probability of that being the factor is higher than the difference in foam. If it was this obvious, it would have been picked up during design phase. We all need to take it easy sometimes.
THE ULTRA MOD AKA GREAT SOUND REMOVAL MOD . . . I wear mine (UModded) for hours on end with zero discomfort. I realize everyone is different but I've had no discomfort. The Ultra Mod destroys the beautiful highs mids and lows but luckily it's simple to undo . My Set Up zfold3 to Hidizs S9 Pro DAC AMP DONGLE to KPH30i
KPH30iCL sound better unmodded than the regular KPH30i. However, the regular KPH30i with the ear pads removed and replaced with Grado pads sound better than the Clears. The clear ones are better if you're not going to mod them, if you are, get the regulars. Get both, actually, because both with a set of grado cups will cost you less than $90 US.
@@markedwards7109 It's difficult to describe the difference. But, in a blind test the clears seem to be preferred 9/10. The difference is very minor, but noticable. I don't remember the bass being that different
What headphones would be a nice upgrade from me? I absolutely love the sound scape these provide but would like a pair to compliment them but with a beefier sound.
In Australia on their Amazon page, they have the Koss KPH30ik and is a black one. Is this the same and just a different colour or completely different?
Hi Z reviews Question : Justed started my budget gaming/work Dac setup. I got sybasonic DAC currently linked to some cheap razor X's . I was thinking about getting the pkh30i and doing the grado pads mod with an Antlion mod mic. Or would I be better off getting say Superlux HD668B + mod mic??
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zeos is this geshelli labs archel2 amp gonna be enough to power my anandas to ear bleeding noise levels? I will have it stacked with the smsl dac. The fiio k3 running balanced did not hit the benchmark i needed to make my ears bleed.
@@Dan.a.k.a.bradpitt hard call, you might need watts
who could have guessed that the clear's are clearer
@@dra.fatimamelo1868 you are the only lady I ever seen in the comment section ever in this type of videos, hope you like audio as well. Best wishes from a colleague from Peru.
@@ricardocoloma-md thanks!
If I had a nickel for all that times I heard Z talk about the headphone cable mod livestream he's going to do...
So true. We want the stream and it never comes
im hyping it up to make nickles
BTW... I disassembled my Clear30i in order to put on some Yaxi pads and it was fairly easy to do...
Hes a shit talker, that’s just him lol
It's like watching a dude standing in the middle of a bridge saying "I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna jump!" Cmon Zeos, shit or get off the pot!
A few things to add, I use these 8 hours a day at work on Zoom calls and rarely feel any significant clamp. I just take them off for a minute to cool my ears, then back at it for hours. The mic quality is just like everything else about the KPH30i, much better than you would expect and even reduces background noise. I can have my air conditioner on a few feet away and none of my coworkers can hear it. Also, I broke my first pair. You will likely break them as well as the plastic can snap. I mailed it back to Koss along with $9.00 and got a brand new pair in the box. Their lifetime warranty is legit as are these headphones. My next pair will be the clear ones. I have the beige and gray ones. Thank you, Zeos for introducing these to me. I am not an audiophile, but like anyone, you know good sound when you hear it and feel it.
I have the clear with pads mod. I removed the foam 100% and I, too, am blown away that this inexpensive set can be so enjoyable. If Koss really wants to get in on this action they should create the pad mod from the factory and add a balanced cable and call them a pro edition (DROP are you listening?). They could charge $49.99 and I bet they would fly off the shelf.
I have tons of headphones and iems but for some reason I always go for these. I even returned some because they weren’t that much better. Why paid $200 more for 10% better. Music, game, podcast, and list goes on!
@@Hdagoat_ yep. Same here. I have Sennheiser HD598CS, Shure SE846, and Shure SRH1540. Yes the more expensive headphones ultimately sound better for sure.. But I tell you what. With the pads mod the Koss are hands down the lightest and most comfortable headphones and throw in the stunning for their price sound and I smile from ear to ear every time I put them on. I'm like WTF?! How?! I've owned Koss headphones since I was a kid and I that was the reaction I had back then. Amazing they are still producing such incredible sound quality for a tiny asking price. I also love my porta pros. I use those when I'm out walking my dog. I drive them with a Fiio BTR5. Excellent combo!
The rear foam is really simple to remove. So "clear modding" your non clear pairs is very simple and costs $free.50. I did it in like 5 minutes googling a guide to see the clip placements, popped off one clip, removed the foam, and then put them back together. They instantly sounded better to me. They might not be the best for everyone, but I'd say it's the best extra step if you're doing the Grado pads as well.
@@joebro1907 I don't have the clear ones to compare to my gray model, but I'd assume they're using the exact same driver among all color variations of the KPH30i. So removing the rear foam would make them just like the clears.
Do you think that the grado pads mod just boosted up the treble? Quite a significant boost as well. Sibilance was also enhanced. I didnt remove the back foam cos the treble would be boosted more. Am i doing something wrong?
@@darwin0988 I'm not a super audiophile, so I can't really get too into the details, it just improved the sound overall for my taste. The foam is easy to remove and put back in especially if you have the original foam pads removed, since you have open access to the clips. Try them with and without the rear foam for a few days to see what you like.
can you link the guide ?
I gifted my mother the colored for her hospital stay and she absolutely loves them. I'm going to gift her the clears as well, when I can get them. Thanks Zeos.
You're a good dude
My favorite part of this channel is how contagious Zeos’ excitement is.
One day Zeos is going to be in a bathtub filled with KPH30i's
I just got the Clears and Ultra modded them, I love them. I don't know about $500 but I would certainly buy a $50 KPH30i that was built better and had a detachable cable, there are IEMs by KZ etc that have these features and I know they can do it
Im in love with my clear ultra's. The sound is just so damn angelic. I feel comfortable taking them with me everywhere because if they break I have 3 spare pairs lol Hopefully they put them back in stock so everyone can experience them too
What do use to listen to them
@@beefgoulash8726 Lana Del Rey
This is great. After watching the video I removed all the foam from my standard grey KPH30i (disassembly/reassembly is literally a snap, just use a butter knife to separate the housing from the driver assembly) and threw on a pair of G-cush pads. Wow on the sound, comfort, all of it! Thank you ZEOS. It's like getting a brand new pair of headphones that tick all the boxes.
I am very glad to know that it was not my imagination and you are hearing the same things I am. It is crazy how much you are able to do with the 30i’s to change/improve the sound for such low cost.
I originally bought 2 pair to compare stock to the Yaxi pad swap. That was a big difference in low end for me.
Then the stock pair got the Grado Ultra mod and the amount they opened up compared to the Yaxi was surprising.
I then pulled the inner foam from both pair and the added airiness has made both pairs my go to’s. The Yaxi’s are great for running errands, and the Ultra’s are my desktop pair.
As mentioned with the few db drop on the Ultra’s they sound good with my LG G7+, but just a bit shy on the juice needed. The volume maxed out with the Yaxi’s is just right. However, with my desktop rig, the Ultra’s are insane given how they scale. The detail and bass/sub-bass on both rigs is impressive.
I ordered the Drop 54x-ISO closed backs to compare against the openness of the 30i’s (same driver, but different impedance), so that will be interesting (& hopefully quieter for others when I am shopping), if FedEx ever gets their shit together.
Long story long, these have been nothing short of amazing with every scenario I throw at them. The ROI on these is ridiculous.
Now to see who gets the detachable cable mod done first, you or me. Place your bets…
I swear the clears sounded better for some reason!! And now this video dropped 🙌 I FUNKING KNEW IT
The foam in the back is gone too
Just received my pair. First impressions: audio quality is absolutely comparable to my $349 Sony WHM1000X3's. Bass and soundstage are better, imaging is slightly weaker. I'll be recommending these to everyone Zeos, thank you.
Removed the foam on my kph30i with gpads. Much more open and airy. My endgame.
No problem with this being an endgame. ive seen things. Some are nicer. But how much $$$ is nicer worth.
@naval normal kph30i or clear kph30i
@@exodia275 normal, but I removed the rear foam so they are clear now
Did yall know the porta pros come in a headset version?! The random Screw on the left ear is for the mic! This was the gaming combo I been waiting to see. No one has talked about it.
The best part about this headphone is “not caring” as much when handling them.
Since you can't get them anymore where i live cause they are sold out everywhere i treat them better than most of my stuff. Can't live without kph30s anymore.
Got the clears and Bokie Grado foam replacements. Love the way this combination sounds but noticed I have to set the Schiit Heresy headphone amp to High Gain to get the volume and punch. Will probably get a few more sets when on sale to have them around.
If you don't have them, get these headphone. These are not what you expect. The sound is much fuller than you'd ever expect. The bass can kick your ass.
If you don’t need headphones as a hobby, these are really all you need, ever. I make the same recommendation for porta-pros, too. The performance:price is off the charts.
Roger Huston what dac do u recommend so I can get that experience
@@beefgoulash8726 Doesn't matter on DAC, BTR5 is good enough. But don't get these, KPH40 has just been released, get that.
@@rogerhuston8287 BTR5 is expensive for now is the fiiO Q3 good for the koss kph40
@@beefgoulash8726 - Yes, more than enough. The Q3 is more than the BTR5. Be just fine.
For anyone wondering, the KPH30i set are very efficient at saving your phone battery for long use.
Great in Discord calls (I run a rythm bot to play music & chat with people, adjust your discord voip bitrate to save data)
I'm listening to this review on my KPH30i clears ultras via my BTR5. Thanks Z! BTW, how long now have you've been threatening to do that mod live stream show? I believe I saw recently a 2019 review where you mention it.
Yup... Waiting eagerly for the mod stream too... I have 5 sets of kph30i's queued up for tinkering
several years. I think he's trolling us
BEFORE MOVING it would have been cool. After moving I need to setup my world to handle that shit
Just got the clears today. Just curious to see what all the hype was about...and now I get it. These sound really good, especially for the price.
Can't believe you mistook kuro for illya. Truly Z's headphone obsession has started to hurt his anime knowledge
Well, Kuro is technically? actually? Illya though... You can't say she's not... We just no longer call her that way... Damn is this the Fate/ meme "well actually"?
Cartoon characters
You should review the Koss KTXPRO1. They have a titanium driver. They’re only 20 bucks. If you don’t want the super warmth of the porta pro they do have a very tight sound. Similar to the Ksc75 if they had slightly more bass.
hey zeos, i got kph30is and they're great, but the grado replacement pads totally kill the mids except for a really painful upper mid frequency. did you notice this too before you got rid of the original foam?
If they made the KPH30i stock with MMCX connectors and charge just a bit more I would get another set in a heart beat
i just got mine today. amazing quality for the price!
Zeos: Are these Misodiko angled pads new to you? They solve a lot of problems with more dense G pads. The way they are cut is pretty genius engineering. The lighter more open cell foam with the beveled ear scoop out solve the problem with distance from the driver and the need for more power to increase volume. They also seem to increase detail, bass and sound stage. They work phenomenally well with my chrome Grado 325is and I assume other Grados based on the above. Also they are much lighter as well which is nice with the KPH30is. They sell the pads on ebay for less than Amazon. Thanks for the excellent review. The pads are amazing. I don't see them in your video in spite of you posting the Amazon link?
Just received my kph30i beige today and i am in love with it
I gave my rhythm beige set to a family member. I ordered the clear ones two days ago before I saw this video not realizing there was a difference. Sounds like I’ll like the clear ones even more. I have my porta pros but that metal headband without some creative padding is annoying for long sessions when I’m gaming
My ultra modded set has the foam out and it’s just more open. It’s really a decision between openness and vocal intimacy.
I actually prefer the Yaxi pads Because I prefer a little more closeness
@@marksafe5463 yeah that's why when I can get some spare cash together i'm also gonna make a pair with yaxi and no inner foam and another pair with yaxi pads and leave the inner foam. Then I'll have every foam and pad combo except stock pads and no inner foam but I don't thing that's interesting enough to set up.
With the ultra mod, I cut around the inside hole of the grado pads to decrease foam density and keep the soundstage without removing the foam from the headphones and it works!
i pulled the foam from the backside of my beige set...i agree with your assesment of the clears, base slightly reduced...but i cut some 1/8th inch wide strips of 1/4 inch sticky foam and filled the gap between the driver mounting plate and the cup (on the inside of where the spikes would sit)but in between the locking pegs. from what i'm hearing you still get that increased spacialness but i think some bass punch returns because its not bleeding out the sides.
I just bought these on Amazon for 20 bucks, ripped them out of the package and am listening to drum and bass on them. They are unbelievable. Yes. They BANG.
These are indeed fantastic for the price, but their biggest downside is the structure. The thin plastic headband tends to break in half.
All Koss' thin plastic headband designs tend to break in half after some months (it varies) of frequent use. I had Koss GMR-545-AIR at one point previously, which have a similar design with plastic headband (except they are bigger being over-ear, of course), and it broke in half after half a year (also lost the right driver because the cable is running through the headband), I replaced them under warranty... same story, the second pair broke in half too, like clockwork, it just _breaks_ , as for many others too. I didn't throw them around, I was cautious, I was gently putting them on on a daily basis throughout their lifespan. At this point I just bought new headphones with a more reliable structure in the same price range.
Look at people's reviews of KHP30i and with a lot of them it breaks as well. Great sound, but you're risking breaking them by frequent use, as if they were meant to sit on a shelf. I know koss wants these to be cheap but effective, and that's great, but I think the thin plastic headband didn't prove itself to be very sturdy. It's lightweight, but at what cost? I wish Koss started making a version or a new lineup with sturdier headband design.
End of the day, all the plastic ones seem designed to be disposable. Toughest are the Portapros and KSC75 - no plastic headbands or sliders.
If I want a 'clear' Kph30i that lasts I'd get the KSC75 and the parts express headband swap
Would you say it’s worth wrapping the weak points of the headband in duct tape for strength?
I own rhythm beige and love them so much. So I’m excited to have a justification to buy another pair as well as some grado pads to enjoy them both even more…Perhaps for the reasons implied by DMS…
got the clear ones after your review here and they turned me into an audiophile activist. I had 4 more friends buy them, one got the opaque and it's not the same. Clear for the win!!!
Im still confused how Koss can make these headphones so good yet so cheap, even if the build is very cheap, its still very impressive how they did it
Reminds me of a Poundland mic roundup fro
Ashens, where every mic sounded like dogshit except for the cheapest £1 mic that sounded on par with Blue Snowball. The mic was literally just a plastic stick, they shoved all the budget into the electronics and not the appearance.
@@willywonka3050 amazing
he's not kidding. this is an unbelievable product. easily sound ten times their price, with the simple ultra mods. I only hear uncomfortable, slightly distorted highs with some jazz songs, female vocals. but other than that, simply can't-take-them-off sound. I am wondering what my other headphones are going to do now.
if you have distorted highs it's because you are using the clear ones. If you want damped highs you need to do the ultra mod on the dark grey ones.
Listening to this on my clear grado mod ;)
These headphones really do scale well. They sound great on the Elekit TU-8600S.
I had 2 pairs snap at the sliding hinge. I wonder if the clears are more durable plastic?
This video right here is the definitive video of Zeos' lane! Not the Holo May not the GSX Mini but all dey erry dey Koss.
I just modded by blue pair and took the foam out of the back. Idk if it's just me, but the midrange sounds slightly boosted on some songs and recessed in others. Also, acoustic guitars don't sound nearly as bright and forward. Bass is perfect, almost like shp9500 lites lol. Some slight sibilance but nothing too harsh
I just did the ultra mod on my clear's and goddamn... The bass is more puncher but clearer and the treble is just right for me. I fucking love these headphones.
I ordered white, Amazon sent me clear, I’m keeping them.
The question is how long those last? I had much better built headphones (usually from AKG, Philips, JBL and Edifier) that disintegrate over time even when not in use.
That clear silicon strap is gonna get so fucking yellow over time.
are you going to be peeing on it??
Wear it like a badge of honor.. Ripped Jeans style.
@@oliverharvey7561 clear plastic naturally yellows over time, silicon less so. And it's the part that touches your hair, full of natural body oils that degrade all materials.
Spray paint mod coming up in 2022
just bought these the other day, so much value!!!!
Where did you buy it? How much is it?
@@marcel7895 well it was on amazon i dont know about now. 25 or 30 i forgot
It amazes me how those cheaper headphones sound so amazing
I'm a simple man. I have the KPH30i's in gray. Zeos says buy the clears. So I went to Amazon and bought the clears.
Also bought a FiiO A3 Portable Headphone Amplifier to go with it, because I need a battery powered amp for some of my stuff. If you haven't done so, the FiiO A3 Portable Headphone Amplifier could be future review fodder for you. $60.
Also.....Fosi Audio has a battery powered headphone amp, the N2, also at $60, but they are out of stock until June.
And finally....was looking at the Bose website the other day, and the Bose 301's are the LAST loudspeakers they are still making. Just for schiit's and grins, you really should do a Bose 301 review.....just to give you something to rant at.
Thanks again for the recommendations, I've been completely happy with everything you've told us to buy.
Thanks for reminding me of that Fate video it's actually gold
My first pair of KPH30i had a broken driver so i'm waiting on the replacement pair while listening to this on my KSC75 having the 990Pro's, 880Pro's and Sundara watching from a far...
which one do u prefer, 75 or 30i?
Just ordered a pair, curiosity is getting the better of me. I noticed you can 3D print some better casing for these, and there is a guy on Ebay which sells high end metal housing, grado like pads and a headband, thus turning them from a cheap headset to something more preem.
I had to return my KPH30i clears because it had a rattle/buzzing noise at certain frequencies, I own 5 pairs of KPH30i's and this is the second one to have that issue.
Super annoying, returning it from Canada is not a fun tasks
That's a common problem with the KSC75 too.
damn now i was just thinking about getting another pair, saw the clears at amazon, and turns out Zeos covered these, how funny. seems we went from yaxi pads to the grados, I'll pop for those too.
I just had the clear one’s delivered from Amazon this passed Wednesday & I added the pads on this pair as well but I left the default pads on this time though & they give me that SHP9600’s feel 👍🏿 Like I said before you are the headphone God 👍🏿😂😂😂😂🤦🏾🤷🏾
I already have 2 pairs of KPH30i's, one ultra modded, Porta Pros, KSC75 with Parts Express headband and you somehow talked me into buying these. Damn you Zeos!
Koss really has their sh*t together making cheap great sounding headphones. The Porta Pros with Yaxi pads are my current favorite. Every Koss set I own sounds better IMO than the Sundaras I returned.
30i vs 75 which one should i get?
@@Alejandro-du6vq if you get only one, the 30i's with Yaxi pads. But these are cheap so try both. I use them at the gym with a Earstudio ES100 and the EQ in the Earstudio app and it sounds sublime.
@@Alejandro-du6vq I still like the portapros the best though.
@@dgregory4178 yeah I'll get the 30i. Now the dilemma is wether to get the clear ones or the normal ones lol
So you put the Grado earpads on the KPH 30i ? Didn`t follow in the video - can`t find the hint
Will these Grado pads work on Koss Porta Pros? Currently have Yaxi pads on mine but want to try something different.
And Koss couldn't still be bothered to have MMCX connectors, *sign*
Didn't think about the lack of foam for the clears, that's enough of a reason for me to buy these too besides the look. Also imagining a smokey grey clear, red and blue cup clears, I'd buy them all dammit
Just so you know.. as usual the Canadian tech tax (as I call it) is in full effect up here in the land of Igloos and Polar Bears.. the KPH30i headphones are $65 on Amazoon 🇨🇦. and Sold Through on Drop.
Even cheap is expensive is the great cold and snowy north.
Already bought it and waiting to arrive, thanks Man
Bro getting some kph30i here in Spain is like 100$ with import taxes and shipping included. Not to mention there's probably customs to pay as well
A 100 euro for regular KPH30i? That's nuts, here in Poland I have em for 35-ish usd from a local store, obviously don't buy them from american amazon if you're in the EU the shipping costs are just nuts
Oooh, interesting, the old ones - like Porta Pro - are rather muddy. So, with the clear ones also having a more clear sound already makes them a winner to me.
@@thickvinyl To me the old ones sound pretty muddy. It‘s nitpicking, since sound quality for this price is still amazing, yet I prefer the more clear, balanced sound of the KSC75.
Kph30i are legit.
Ii've 3d printed my custom foldable headband and cups for kph30 drivers, basically replacing all plastic besides drivers.
I didn't like the grado pads at all. No bass, just highs, actually like a grado i guess. Yaxi pads are where it's at.
Please make a video comparison of the modded clear 30I head to head with the Fiio JT1 ❤🎧 And which wins for price to quality 🙏
I love this video.. im going to get some KPH30i Clears now (and pads!). I recently found a decent cheapie headphone on ebay for $18 - Floyd Rose Audio FR52 (white).. i'd love to see your opinion on those $18 headphones.
$18.00??? Prices range from $55-149? Def looks interesting though. They have been cramming multiple drivers into IEM's for years and i always wondered why no one did this for full size headphones.
I took the foams out of my whites with the grado pads to match the clears and I love them.
i got a clear pair from Drop for $20 - hasn't arrived yet and it could be a while (I live in Australia)
Did Drop used to have the clear ones? Dang they don’t have it anymore:(
Clicked this so fast then to Amazon before they sell out, z I'll be back. 😏😉✌️
As an engineer, here's some thoughts - at this price point, for such production, there's limitations on quality control and the minor difference you may have across any two sets of the same model -- and that the probability of that being the factor is higher than the difference in foam. If it was this obvious, it would have been picked up during design phase. We all need to take it easy sometimes.
That's an impressive headphone speaker and amp collection, and an equally impressive anime girl collection
Hell yeah it's better!!! Clear=Better
And that clamp is definitely better now
Just ordered these earlier today, good thing I got the clear ones :P
i wish Koss would come out with some good over ear headphones at a low price
KPH 30 o (for over ear)
Yooooo! Where did you find the Bruce Faulconer DBZ soundtrack in high res?
A time machine is required.
Asking the real questions. Someone give me a hint of where to find it please
@@Jowurel I know right! I wanna buy some FLAC's!
SLSK
Are you still planning to mod your DT880 600ohm to be balanced?
THE ULTRA MOD AKA GREAT SOUND REMOVAL MOD . . . I wear mine (UModded) for hours on end with zero discomfort. I realize everyone is different but I've had no discomfort. The Ultra Mod destroys the beautiful highs mids and lows but luckily it's simple to undo .
My Set Up zfold3 to Hidizs S9 Pro DAC AMP DONGLE to KPH30i
lmao these are being sold for $40 here in the Philippines, good job hyping up this headphones Z!
it doesn't hurt my wallet!!! Bought headphones for the whole family!
KPH30iCL sound better unmodded than the regular KPH30i. However, the regular KPH30i with the ear pads removed and replaced with Grado pads sound better than the Clears. The clear ones are better if you're not going to mod them, if you are, get the regulars. Get both, actually, because both with a set of grado cups will cost you less than $90 US.
hey just got mine shipped in and the left slider's completely loose. is it possible to tighten it without breaking the headband?
I have both. Clears sound better. Removed the extra foam inside the tans and it didn't make much difference. clears still sound better.
Can you tell that the clears have got less bass?
@@markedwards7109 It's difficult to describe the difference. But, in a blind test the clears seem to be preferred 9/10. The difference is very minor, but noticable. I don't remember the bass being that different
2:49 unexpected Gigguk shoutout.
Would this pair leak more sound than the normal KPH30i?
Have you seen the JBL Quantum 600?
Would appreciate your take on them.
What headphones would be a nice upgrade from me? I absolutely love the sound scape these provide but would like a pair to compliment them but with a beefier sound.
I bought the non-clear last time and they blew my mind. Now the Amazon link doesn't have the clears 😭
bought them from the last video. loved them!!!,
what 3/4 adapters are you using into the amp? I can't get mine to work properly cause it's trrs, do you have a link for the adapters?Thanks Zeos
In Australia on their Amazon page, they have the Koss KPH30ik and is a black one. Is this the same and just a different colour or completely different?
Hi Z reviews Question : Justed started my budget gaming/work Dac setup. I got sybasonic DAC currently linked to some cheap razor X's . I was thinking about getting the pkh30i and doing the grado pads mod with an Antlion mod mic. Or would I be better off getting say Superlux HD668B + mod mic??
Hi Z, what GoPro are you using to record this video ?
Zeos get your contact at Koss to let these be available in the UK
I just got my 30i yesterday and removed stock pads replacing with grado pads
What sounds better, KPH30I, or Grado Hemps?
that's it. i removed the foam in my normal kph30i's and yea. i prefer this. haha! thanks z
I want these just for cycling around my beach town with my Cowon Plenue L or M2. The specs are about the same as the KTXPRO1.