@@giovanbattistafichera8439 Seeing Koss already has six affordable headphone lines utilizing this excellent driver (KPH30i, Porta Pro, Sporta Pro, KTXPRO1, KSC75, KSC35), it would be nice if Koss could offer a new 'heavy duty' model (similar to the GMR-540-AIR (open-air), but without a microphone) with much thicker reinforced (and possibly replaceable) cables, better cushion options, less brittle plastic enclosures and/or breakaway parts that could survive 6' drops, accidental cable tugs and live through standard wear and tear for at least two years. I'm lucky if I get six months with some models.
Better yet, improve all of the aforementioned Koss headphone lines with much improved cables, cushions, enclosures and build quality -- to live up to the quality of the driver they service. I'd gladly pay more money upfront for such an improved, affordable product (and would gladly beta test any revisions) as this is preferable to modding any existing models or paying the extra expense of utilizing Koss' 'Limited Lifetime Warranty'.
@@Marshallizer You may not know this but some time ago Koss had a set of Porta Pros with a cloth cord. I still have them. And are by far my fav set of all the porta pros I have owned over the years. They are all black with a black cloth cord. They are very much like the 25th anv set they made with a cloth cord. I really wish they would bring them back with that cord.
I still use my Porta Pros that I bought 21 years ago for mobile listening and my almost-as-old Sporta Pros to listen to music when clearing snow outside during winter. I've had them on at -30ish degrees C and they both work fine today, just have had to change the pads a bunch of times over the years. Quite remarkable build quality in this day and age.
Guarantee your 20yo set is better quality than today. Same great sound but cable is cheap garbage that can crystalize in mere months. Mandatory to change it ime
I've used Porta PROs since 2007-ish, they always develop a driver failure, however they have a lifetime warranty so I bring them to the local shop that sell these, and I get a completely new replacement set in return, so for me they are absolutely worth it for a new pair every 2-4 years.
I got these. IMO they're really rolled off in upper treble with slightly boosted bass, making them a great match with 80s music. It really adds to the nostalgia of 80s music by sounding like an 80s Walkman coming out of my phone. Also comfortable and convenient when that work-from-home call comes in.
Yes you know sleeper cars? Q cars? People think they're harmless from afar, but when you push the peddle, it nips the Porsche in the dust? That's what they are. Sleeper killers.
Yeah but I live in India and the shipping alone is close to 30$ + taxes *looong sigh*, so yeah not a good buy for me but I've had my eyes on Koss earphones like these for a while now.... Sadly can't buy because logic 🤔👈!!!
This is actually true, we had a car break-in a few years back, they managed to open my trunk and steal a laptop, an ibasso player, a pair of Bose qc25, and my case with cable adapters for dacs and amps... But they did not took my portapro's that my girlfriend gifted me 10 years ago, these portapro's keep going to this day and I do treasure them even having a lot more headphones 😌
I've been using my Porta Pro X for VR, and they're perfect - large enough headband to fit over the Oculus Rift S halo band, light enough to be comfortable for long sessions, good enough sound that I don't get frustrated I'm not using something better, and durable enough to deal with the sweat. They're the perfect headphone for working out, and VR by extension.
@@etqy1231 no, they are open back, so background noise will come through with little reduction. If you're in a quiet space it's not a problem, but if it's loud you'll want to use something else.
You thought to have reviewed them, I thought I already watched it. The second time I checked the date so realized did not. I love mine, use them for music and keep them in my Macbook Pro bag. I also have the original with Yaxi Pads at work and they sound great, although you lose a little bit of power and sound opens more because of the increased thickness of the pad. I also have the KSC75s but with the headband mod after I gave them away because I didn't like them one bit with the earclips. I have also been using the KPH30i this whole Q time at home to take calls and for meetings. Koss is awesome.
Love my modded Porta Pro X's. I've drastically reduced my headphone inventory down (got rid of all my Estats and the others) but kept the modded Porta Pro, TH-X00 PH, and HD58Xs (both a stock one and a closed back converted one with headphile handmade Zebrawood cups and Yaxi Alcantara/leather pads). The modded Porta Pro X's are my daily drivers (actually have 4 of them)... run them with the Yaxi pads, Parts Express headband, and custom leather strap/pad made from the formerly MrSpeakers T50RP comfort strap. Love what they bring to music... most euphonic sounding headphone that gets right into the soul of the music. Prefer them over the Sennheiser 6 series. Vocals are even more forward and lovely compared to stock, every bit as forward as the HD650/6XX and much fuller sounding than the HD58X. Josh, just ask Metal, the Yaxi pads + Parts Express headband is the way to go for the Porta Pro's... and when you add in a custom strap/pad it stays in place better and is one of the most comfortable headphones. The Yaxi pads greatly improve comfort and noticeably improve sound quality a bit. Here's what modded Porta Pro X with Yaxi pads, Parts Express headband, and custom strap/pad looks like... photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-dvr7ZSQ/0/629bedb0/O/i-dvr7ZSQ.jpg photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tH9dCZn/0/ea02dc82/O/i-tH9dCZn.jpg And with the right tube its an absolutely lovely thing to listen with....Electro-Harmonix 6H30Pi and Mazda 12AU7WA are such tubes on a Project Ember.
Cool setups! I think I wanna get a pair of these now thanks to you! I have the Koss DJ 200 Pros with aftermarket leather/memory foam cups which has lifted comfort and slightly improved bass response, good times 😁 (NOPE! THE Porta pros are like $120 in Australia WTF!)
I love the Porta Pros. Personally, I use the KSC75s most of the time since I prefer the overall sound and feel. They are also perfect for VR. KOSS also makes the ESP/95X, my main setup headphone (earspeaker). I honestly recommend the Porta Pros, KHP30i, and the KSC75 to everyone I run into that hasn't gotten into audio.
They are quite easy to adjust, I've never felt the need to fix them with tape. The cable tends to break quite often though, and it's not user replaceable unless you know how to solder. If you do know how to solder, simply replacing the cable with one that has an inline mic is a simple trick to add a mic to your plain old PortaPro's.
@inSherlock I've never owned the porta pros so I can't say. They do have a mic. I was using the vmoda boom mic for PS4 then I switched and asked my friends how it sounded and they said I sounded the same so I guess it's decent enough for an all in one cheap headphone. I just went through The Last of Us 2 switching between a pair of Focals, Sennheisers and the Koss Kph30i. I think they sound awesome especially for $30.
inSherlock kph30i has a mic also. I have both and i honestly think they sound the about same, im sure they are very similar drivers. Kph30i are a bit cheaper and don’t fold up like the porta pros. I like the kph30i more because they look like sleepers, and people are more surprised when they hear them.
Oh my, this is one review I didn't expect would grace the channel... but I too was so surprised when I got these from Massdrop a year ago, didn't really expect it would sound as amazing as it did. I use it for laid back music listening at home (coz it does leak alot of music), and for gaming on a Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One X coming from a cheap Fiio K5 amp. This review just seals my own opinion about these pair... fantastic for the price, nothing can beat it. Thanks for sharing this review!
Quite possibly the most underrated headphone out there. This is among the top 5 on the planet in particular with focus on value/quality taking cost into account. It's almost like they put a BMW engine and suspension on a Toyota Corolla exterior.
Love the PortaPro! Massdrop had them down to $25 one black Friday, so I picked up a couple of spares. Even better (IMO) is the KSC75 drivers on the PP headband... less mid-bass and cleaner treble, although the stock “phat” sound signature is very appealing. KPH30i is better value when it’s available for $20, although I don’t find it as comfortable.
I've had mine for over 20 years, along with my Sennheiser px100. These are great. Bass is a little boosted but I listen at low levels so this is actually a big plus. Love'm
I too have the two h/ phones you mentioned.... The Senn. Px 100,s have proved to be absolutely phenomenal... Just perfect in every way.. lightweight, comfortable ( the most comfort from all the headphones I own) and the sound quality from these little beauties is staggering...
I've been mowing in the PPx for past week and love them. I like the khpi a bit better in terms of fit, but both have that easy warm sound that makes even crappy music sound ok.
Yes they got mic too. Got a regular version & a Drop version. KPH30i is like best of the both worlds(between Porta pro & ksc75). Great forward Mid-range, Bass response is also great (not as impactful as Porta pro, but not weak in anyway, fast & clean with sub rumbles), Treble response also stands out (better than porta pro & ksc75), imaging is almost pin point, staging is wide & deep. If compared to senn hd6xx almost identical mid-range, bass is slightly more impactful, treble response almost head to head, but KPH30i got a wider & deeper soundstage. & yeah I will & I'm preferring KPH30i over porta pro. (It suits to my type of Sonic response)
@inSherlock i'd say they're both great. i own both also, the pOrta Pro X and KPH30i. I'd say porta pro is bassier, retro sounding HP. porta pro is super portable you'll prolly get looked at if you wear them on public. lol. Or maybe its just the people here that do that 😂😂 Edit: porta pro sounds louder on low volume compared to KPH30i (for me) on my phone (Oneplus 5T), using spotify premium.
I relly hope you have tried the kph30is. They sound about 50% better. More detail, better mids, More soundstage (but thas hard to judge), less bass . Better looking too and more comfortable!
This is what i call a "Sleeper" headphone... theres literally no way to make them look good but they pack a hell of punch, i've had them 2 years now and it suprises me every time
Really good video! Used the classics throughout my youth, they hung around my neck almost 24/7. Trusty companion! Dont have them now, but this video made me want to get me a pair again 😁 Also, i noticed a fun thing about them. They are shaped like a musical note. Never saw this before just now 😎
Put ksc75 with yaxi’s on the headband, they’re a lot better imo... Also look up the takstar gm200, people need to know about those, cause I paid like $50 for them on aliexpress And they kill these, besides the open-ness most people would probably prefer them to shps too (haven’t tried the cooler master version but people claim its worse)
Maybe someone else pointed this out already, or you found out by now, however.. The Comfort Zone adjustment has nothing to do with head size. It's to adjust for ear size. If your ears stick out more, you slide it towards "Light" setting so it moves away from your ears and it balances the clamping pressure between your ear and the pad on your temples, according to your preference and comfort. Ears that stick out more = Light. Flatter ears = Firm. For my ears, I use the middle setting. :-)
Their lifetime warranty is pretty decent, they've (even in the UK) replaced my normal model even when I've dropped them on the ground running for a bus and they exploded.
And to really go up to eleven, MMCX mod them! And yes, Koss does have their lifetime replacement warranty (...or do they, considering it's a model made for Drop?), but why go through the hassle and cost of shipping them in when you can just swap cables when needed. Also, throw in a BT MMCX cable and boom! - wireless without needing to splurge for the dedicated (and non-detachable cabled) Bluetooth model.
Strange, i have the normal Porta Pros and love them very much for music, especially Hip Hop. But i would never even think about recommending them for soundstage and imaging as these are more or less non-existent and the greatest weakness of the Porta Pros.
@@ZhekaTrololo KSC 75, Porta Pros, KPH 30i. KSC 75 are my favorite because of the price, neutrality, form factor. There is something about them that tick every box for me :). Porta Pros are second and similar in sound, but leaning towards low end a little more, and they can be folded. Kph 30i is praised by the public, but to me for unknown reasons. The sound is kinda dark and bassy, and they cannot be folded, but have the best build quality and cable of the three :)
I got these last year, they are phenomenal headphones. I also got the KPHis lightweights, also stupendous. Bang for the buck, both snappy tight sounding cans, open, and great tight and deep, bass, too. Not built to last, but great otherwise.
Wow, wouldn't think anyone would review the Porta Pros in 2020, this is such an age old, tried and true design. I've had a bunch of these my lifetime, they were always around and recommended when I was a kid, even sold at grocery stores. Didn't think anyone would recommend for gaming, but hey, that's cool. Durability was always a problem though.
I've been using these for over a decade only just realized that the gap between the temple pads & the headphone earpads is a perfect passthrough for my eyeglass' arms. 😅
I've had the KSC75 and the KTXPRO more than 15 years ago and I do remember being blown away by how amazing the sound quality was for the price. I bought both at a Radio Shack in Honduras. The only reason I didn't LOVE the KSC75 was that I didn't find them particularly comfortable due to the style of hooks. I did use them daily until they broke, both lasting several years with very little care on my part. After watching this review, I definitely want to get my hands on these Porta Pro X, especially after listening to THE Joshua Valour praising them so much.
I've tried many time but I cannot find anything better than porta pro within limits of reason in headphones pricing (I would never spend more than like 400). Porta Pro is extremely light and comfortable. I can wear it forever. I like how it looks and most importantly the sound is amazing. Warm, musical sound that makes everything sounds good and full. And full bassy sound is not at all how these look. And with how open these are, these are perfect also for gaming and positional detection. Just perfection. Only to be improved with yaxi pads but I still prefer stock. I never catch hair in the headband. It is actually genious design. Easy to store, light clamp. Mine is not changing size on itself on head. Works great with ps4 controller too
I have kosh porta pro that Are now 30 years old! I have changed the Padding a couple of times, but They still work Nike new! Best music ware I have ever bought for the price of it! The second best Are genelec speakers... not because They Are bad, just because those genelec speakers Are much, much more expensive ones! But I still use my anthique koss porta pros and They work like a charm!
To be honest, if I'm left with only 1 HP or IEM, I'll still be pretty happy with my KPPX. I use it for work, listening to music while at work, I also use it with my PS4.
I just used some broken Porta Pros that i had laying around and slapped on the Massdrop Koss KSC75X and love that combo, has an inline mic, the sound is tasty for my personal enjoyment
You did review these already. Edited, why did your original video got deleted? I cant find it anymore... edit: no really...what happen to your original video.. you had a black shirt,
these make a great base for modding as well. if you can solder at all you can turn these into mmcx connectors to work with iem cables and bluetooth. throw on some yaxi pads and maybe a more elegant solution for the headband and you have a truly great device that will last you forever. yeah at that point you could get the shp but the aesthetic on these is truly iconic so for some that might be worth it
I think they sound amazing with the 50mm leatherette pads that you can pick up for about $8-$10 additional... I have also found that they go on sale for about $25 on a regular basis as well for the non mic version
If you fold it constantly the first thing to break are those plastic clips. Koss does have a lifetime warranty and they only charge you shipping and handling. They do have great bass, the mid range is a little subdued for my taste and the high end rolls off more than the other cans I have used but for the price and the warranty they can't be beat.
Was looking to get these for my Quest 3. and then 3D print a bracket to mount them. the Superlux 668B was absolute Trebel cannons but if you modded them OH boy they became amazing for gaming. i clicked this video because the thumbnail had the Edifire Luna Eclipse. i have these speakers on my desktop as well. but in white to fit the astethics of my gaming build.
You're the first guy I've seen, that had the same Idea As me, of using the Edifier Luna Eclipse's as Headphones stands! That's literally one of the things that helped me decide to buy them.
I've been using Koss Porta Pro headphones for about thirty years and for portable there is no reason to use anything else. Lifetime warrantee, just send them to Koss with a check for freight cost and your brand new again. Just purchased my first Bluetooth compatible headphones and I love them just like all the other Koss items I have used.
I almost got the Porta Pros, but instead went with the KSC75X. Also a crazy good, and crazy cheap set of headphones. I use them when I don't want anything actually on my head or in my ears.
portapros just has more bass, comfort level is a person to person thing, i find them both equally as comfy in my opinion but if u do wanna save $10 go for it still a great bang for your buck
These are really good, but if you want to make them absolutely stellar, buy a pair of KSC75s and clip them into the Porta pro headband (same fitting). You'll lose the mic option but the high frequencies become way more extended and open without being too bright. Bass response is fine on the KSC75 when used this way because they are positioned closer to the ear. Do it - at the price it's a no-brainer!
I succumbed and bought a pair with some Yaxi pads. Very nice sound and light on my head. And i do hate that i have a way to put it on my head without taking my hair off!!!
I have these with a cloth cord. Extremely rare. I value these over my Sennheiser 650. Seriously! The sound is incredible and the comfort is nuts compared to my $300 ones!.
Yup. I lost the spring that is in the “Firm/Light” adjuster, so the right driver just kinda tangled all loosely. I sent them an email asking if they could send me the spring and that I’d be happy to pay for it. Welp, they replied and they just sent me a brand new pair lmao.
I agree. As a tragic audiophile over here who worked in the personal HiFi space for over eight years. Short of a Grado SR60 - pound for pound - these are difficult to beat..
I love the Koss Porta Pro X. I really enjoy it and I feel for me the punches above its worth. Bought it from Drop. I am anxious to buy at least 2 more as spare before they run out!!
They will never run out! The Porta Pro is Koss' cash cow. IMHO, take it up a notch and buy a Grado SR60E. You won't regret it. They're like the Porta Pro on steroids.
Review the Fiio FD1. It's a very very good IEM for the price. Definitely needs burn in and deep foam tip insertion to get the best sound. Best IEM I have at the moment.. It sounded pretty bad before burn in. My other 2 pairs are the Urbanfuns and the HIFIMAN RE-400.
How is the sound quality? I'm a huge lover of techno/hardcore music and I really love this 80s' design, but I'm worried these headphones can't have a decent sound quality since the price 😞
Hi, I have a wireless version and I am wondering what to buy, which will have similar characteristics, but there will be a significant leap in sound quality. I bought DT770 recently but it's not the same and sometimes I come back to KOSS but I would like to hear more :). The headphones may be around-the-ear or of a different construction. Do you have any suggestions?
hi thank yu for the review , i wanna ask if in long term use do they broke on sound when u use it on high volume, like saying yu use to her¿ar a lot of bass electronic music, not too depp but a large amount of bass, like let say dark psy trance
Josh thanks for the great reviews, they have been useful. However I need some guidance and I thought maybe you or someone from the comment section could help. What would you suggest for first headphones up to 150€, looking for open, neutral, crisp detailed sound, good timbre, decent soundstage and imaging. If have to choose I’d choose great detail and timbre over great soundstage and imaging as long as they are not bellow average. Might buy amp/dac in the future if needed. A fellow audiophile youtuber suggested HD599. I can also get AKG K702, DT 880/990, Philips X2HR and maybe there are some that I don’t know of within that price range. I have no way of trying any of them unfortunately.
Hey Josh. Unrelated, but I have a set of Harmonicdyne Helios headphones that have been fun to listen to. Curious to hear your thoughts on them and can ship them out to you.
@@TSE_WOODY honestly my opinions of the T2s are a bit more iffy today. For youtube videos they're fine, but for music, it's a little bright for me, not unless I literally cram them as deep in my ears as they can go. For music listening I use the Tin P1. Way better headphone as a whole with way better clarity and without any hiss. Still use the T2s for work though as I'm not breaking my $150 headphones because of work. Means they get less use but they are without a doubt just superior in my eyes.
@@Skylancer727 Yeah im with you there, at certain volumes they can definitely be a bit sibilant which is a pain. I'm just looking to get a half decent replacement since we're finally getting sun in the UK again and I dont want to ram those fuckers way up my ears like you say.
I'm Listening This Way . . . wired listening brings theses and Q35 to AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied SUPER SAIYAN STATUS Z Fold 3 To Hidizs S9 Pro DAC/ AMP DONGLE To (Powered Off) Q35 Headphones . HAVING THE Q35s Powered Off Opposed To On Really Brings These Things To Life . HIS VIDEO INTRO HIT LIKE A SHOTGUN WHEN I RESTARTED THIS VIDEO WITH MY Q35s Powered OFF .
Thanks for the kind words and review Josh! Glad you like the Koss x Drop Porta Pro X!
Poo
@@Marshallizer agree, but you already get a lot of bang for the buck. If you want better cables just mod them. Lots of people do.
@@giovanbattistafichera8439 Seeing Koss already has six affordable headphone lines utilizing this excellent driver (KPH30i, Porta Pro, Sporta Pro, KTXPRO1, KSC75, KSC35), it would be nice if Koss could offer a new 'heavy duty' model (similar to the GMR-540-AIR (open-air), but without a microphone) with much thicker reinforced (and possibly replaceable) cables, better cushion options, less brittle plastic enclosures and/or breakaway parts that could survive 6' drops, accidental cable tugs and live through standard wear and tear for at least two years. I'm lucky if I get six months with some models.
Better yet, improve all of the aforementioned Koss headphone lines with much improved cables, cushions, enclosures and build quality -- to live up to the quality of the driver they service. I'd gladly pay more money upfront for such an improved, affordable product (and would gladly beta test any revisions) as this is preferable to modding any existing models or paying the extra expense of utilizing Koss' 'Limited Lifetime Warranty'.
@@Marshallizer You may not know this but some time ago Koss had a set of Porta Pros with a cloth cord. I still have them. And are by far my fav set of all the porta pros I have owned over the years. They are all black with a black cloth cord. They are very much like the 25th anv set they made with a cloth cord. I really wish they would bring them back with that cord.
@@Marshallizer They have new series improve the cable! check it out !
I love the 80s "hi tech" look
Everything in the 80's was high tech.
I'm 15 and I love the 80s.
might be a little late but it reminds me so much of 90’s japanese hyper pop fashion or something you would see in akira
I still use my Porta Pros that I bought 21 years ago for mobile listening and my almost-as-old Sporta Pros to listen to music when clearing snow outside during winter. I've had them on at -30ish degrees C and they both work fine today, just have had to change the pads a bunch of times over the years. Quite remarkable build quality in this day and age.
Guarantee your 20yo set is better quality than today. Same great sound but cable is cheap garbage that can crystalize in mere months. Mandatory to change it ime
Yaxi pads really complete the portapros. You gain comfort and soundstage.
But is it hd800 soundstage?
@@ali37630 🤣🤣
You lose a bit of low end though
@@ali37630 800's are terrible for the price
@@axeldeeker5644 i didn't think so
I've used Porta PROs since 2007-ish, they always develop a driver failure, however they have a lifetime warranty so I bring them to the local shop that sell these, and I get a completely new replacement set in return, so for me they are absolutely worth it for a new pair every 2-4 years.
I got these. IMO they're really rolled off in upper treble with slightly boosted bass, making them a great match with 80s music. It really adds to the nostalgia of 80s music by sounding like an 80s Walkman coming out of my phone. Also comfortable and convenient when that work-from-home call comes in.
This would be perfect for countries that you are afraid of stealing sinse they look like 5$
Yes you know sleeper cars?
Q cars? People think they're harmless from afar, but when you push the peddle, it nips the Porsche in the dust? That's what they are. Sleeper killers.
I had a pair of Porta Pros and they replaced them twice when the cables wore out, so I got 5 years out of them with constant use. They were great.
Yeah but I live in India and the shipping alone is close to 30$ + taxes *looong sigh*, so yeah not a good buy for me but I've had my eyes on Koss earphones like these for a while now.... Sadly can't buy because logic 🤔👈!!!
This is actually true, we had a car break-in a few years back, they managed to open my trunk and steal a laptop, an ibasso player, a pair of Bose qc25, and my case with cable adapters for dacs and amps... But they did not took my portapro's that my girlfriend gifted me 10 years ago, these portapro's keep going to this day and I do treasure them even having a lot more headphones 😌
Really? I always thought these looked very unique and amazing.
If you like some good bass, this is amazing. No need to spend more for more expensive headphones. This is really all you need.
I use the koss ksc75 for biking because there's almost no sound isolation and the ear clips make it possible to wear with a helmet.
Koss Porta Pro Sound Demo:
th-cam.com/video/SdPG3GduNQo/w-d-xo.html
KSC75 is BETTER!!
th-cam.com/video/1iyG_OyiVdw/w-d-xo.html
I've been using my Porta Pro X for VR, and they're perfect - large enough headband to fit over the Oculus Rift S halo band, light enough to be comfortable for long sessions, good enough sound that I don't get frustrated I'm not using something better, and durable enough to deal with the sweat. They're the perfect headphone for working out, and VR by extension.
Does it cut out background noise? For instance people talking in the background or overall general normal day sounds?
@@etqy1231 no, they are open back, so background noise will come through with little reduction. If you're in a quiet space it's not a problem, but if it's loud you'll want to use something else.
You thought to have reviewed them, I thought I already watched it. The second time I checked the date so realized did not.
I love mine, use them for music and keep them in my Macbook Pro bag. I also have the original with Yaxi Pads at work and they sound great, although you lose a little bit of power and sound opens more because of the increased thickness of the pad. I also have the KSC75s but with the headband mod after I gave them away because I didn't like them one bit with the earclips. I have also been using the KPH30i this whole Q time at home to take calls and for meetings. Koss is awesome.
he did create a video.. its gone. i can even qoute his words and what he wore...he used a black shirt.
I also remember watching the other review. The thumbnail had retro colors.
Love my modded Porta Pro X's. I've drastically reduced my headphone inventory down (got rid of all my Estats and the others) but kept the modded Porta Pro, TH-X00 PH, and HD58Xs (both a stock one and a closed back converted one with headphile handmade Zebrawood cups and Yaxi Alcantara/leather pads).
The modded Porta Pro X's are my daily drivers (actually have 4 of them)... run them with the Yaxi pads, Parts Express headband, and custom leather strap/pad made from the formerly MrSpeakers T50RP comfort strap. Love what they bring to music... most euphonic sounding headphone that gets right into the soul of the music. Prefer them over the Sennheiser 6 series. Vocals are even more forward and lovely compared to stock, every bit as forward as the HD650/6XX and much fuller sounding than the HD58X.
Josh, just ask Metal, the Yaxi pads + Parts Express headband is the way to go for the Porta Pro's... and when you add in a custom strap/pad it stays in place better and is one of the most comfortable headphones. The Yaxi pads greatly improve comfort and noticeably improve sound quality a bit. Here's what modded Porta Pro X with Yaxi pads, Parts Express headband, and custom strap/pad looks like...
photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-dvr7ZSQ/0/629bedb0/O/i-dvr7ZSQ.jpg
photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tH9dCZn/0/ea02dc82/O/i-tH9dCZn.jpg
And with the right tube its an absolutely lovely thing to listen with....Electro-Harmonix 6H30Pi and Mazda 12AU7WA are such tubes on a Project Ember.
Cool setups! I think I wanna get a pair of these now thanks to you! I have the Koss DJ 200 Pros with aftermarket leather/memory foam cups which has lifted comfort and slightly improved bass response, good times 😁 (NOPE! THE Porta pros are like $120 in Australia WTF!)
Mo Tee Join Massdrop, it’s free and you sometimes get USD$10 off your first purchase. Shipping to the Antipodes is often slow, but not too pricey.
I love the Porta Pros. Personally, I use the KSC75s most of the time since I prefer the overall sound and feel. They are also perfect for VR. KOSS also makes the ESP/95X, my main setup headphone (earspeaker).
I honestly recommend the Porta Pros, KHP30i, and the KSC75 to everyone I run into that hasn't gotten into audio.
Forrest Gibson a really great starting point for a first foray into improved personal audio!
They are quite easy to adjust, I've never felt the need to fix them with tape. The cable tends to break quite often though, and it's not user replaceable unless you know how to solder. If you do know how to solder, simply replacing the cable with one that has an inline mic is a simple trick to add a mic to your plain old PortaPro's.
Aw I wish you did the Koss Kph30i. Love mine.
KPH30i is pure gem ❤️
@@yeasinarafattorin7398 all for a whopping $30. Just checked and they aren't even available on Amazon anymore. Did the word spread?!
@inSherlock I've never owned the porta pros so I can't say. They do have a mic. I was using the vmoda boom mic for PS4 then I switched and asked my friends how it sounded and they said I sounded the same so I guess it's decent enough for an all in one cheap headphone.
I just went through The Last of Us 2 switching between a pair of Focals, Sennheisers and the Koss Kph30i. I think they sound awesome especially for $30.
inSherlock kph30i has a mic also. I have both and i honestly think they sound the about same, im sure they are very similar drivers. Kph30i are a bit cheaper and don’t fold up like the porta pros. I like the kph30i more because they look like sleepers, and people are more surprised when they hear them.
@@Artaois13 KPH30i is in a continuous loop of available/unavailable both in Amazon & Drop. Word is always in air about their capability.
Those little things are incredible. Big drivers in a small package - they just slam harder the more you push them.
Josh, thanks for pointing out how they fit with glasses!! Good thing to put in future reviews too imo. 🤙🏼
Oh my, this is one review I didn't expect would grace the channel... but I too was so surprised when I got these from Massdrop a year ago, didn't really expect it would sound as amazing as it did. I use it for laid back music listening at home (coz it does leak alot of music), and for gaming on a Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One X coming from a cheap Fiio K5 amp.
This review just seals my own opinion about these pair... fantastic for the price, nothing can beat it.
Thanks for sharing this review!
I use my Porta Pro X’s at work and love them. I’m waiting for my Yaxi pads to come in :)
Quite possibly the most underrated headphone out there. This is among the top 5 on the planet in particular with focus on value/quality taking cost into account. It's almost like they put a BMW engine and suspension on a Toyota Corolla exterior.
If you think the portapros are good... Kph30i is a big step up in audio quality and comfort.
Love the PortaPro! Massdrop had them down to $25 one black Friday, so I picked up a couple of spares. Even better (IMO) is the KSC75 drivers on the PP headband... less mid-bass and cleaner treble, although the stock “phat” sound signature is very appealing. KPH30i is better value when it’s available for $20, although I don’t find it as comfortable.
Drill through the headband and put a pin of some sort (or a pop rivet to make it permanent) - no more tape!
Also, nice old lady glasses :)
I've had mine for over 20 years, along with my Sennheiser px100. These are great. Bass is a little boosted but I listen at low levels so this is actually a big plus. Love'm
I too have the two h/ phones you mentioned.... The Senn. Px 100,s have proved to be absolutely phenomenal... Just perfect in every way.. lightweight, comfortable ( the most comfort from all the headphones I own) and the sound quality from these little beauties is staggering...
Everyone remembers the Porta Pro and PX 100 fondly. But what about the JVC flats? They're so much comfier
I've been mowing in the PPx for past week and love them. I like the khpi a bit better in terms of fit, but both have that easy warm sound that makes even crappy music sound ok.
Porta pro is great bang for the bucks. And please review the Koss KPH30i too ❤️
Yes they got mic too. Got a regular version & a Drop version. KPH30i is like best of the both worlds(between Porta pro & ksc75). Great forward Mid-range, Bass response is also great (not as impactful as Porta pro, but not weak in anyway, fast & clean with sub rumbles), Treble response also stands out (better than porta pro & ksc75), imaging is almost pin point, staging is wide & deep. If compared to senn hd6xx almost identical mid-range, bass is slightly more impactful, treble response almost head to head, but KPH30i got a wider & deeper soundstage. & yeah I will & I'm preferring KPH30i over porta pro. (It suits to my type of Sonic response)
@inSherlock i'd say they're both great. i own both also, the pOrta Pro X and KPH30i. I'd say porta pro is bassier, retro sounding HP. porta pro is super portable
you'll prolly get looked at if you wear them on public. lol. Or maybe its just the people here that do that 😂😂
Edit: porta pro sounds louder on low volume compared to KPH30i (for me) on my phone (Oneplus 5T), using spotify premium.
I relly hope you have tried the kph30is. They sound about 50% better. More detail, better mids, More soundstage (but thas hard to judge), less bass . Better looking too and more comfortable!
Just commented about those myself.
This is what i call a "Sleeper" headphone... theres literally no way to make them look good but they pack a hell of punch, i've had them 2 years now and it suprises me every time
wym no way to make them look good, they look super cool
for real theyre so pretty
@@kledi3817
Really good video! Used the classics throughout my youth, they hung around my neck almost 24/7. Trusty companion!
Dont have them now, but this video made me want to get me a pair again 😁
Also, i noticed a fun thing about them.
They are shaped like a musical note.
Never saw this before just now 😎
Put ksc75 with yaxi’s on the headband, they’re a lot better imo... Also look up the takstar gm200, people need to know about those, cause I paid like $50 for them on aliexpress
And they kill these, besides the open-ness most people would probably prefer them to shps too (haven’t tried the cooler master version but people claim its worse)
Maybe someone else pointed this out already, or you found out by now, however.. The Comfort Zone adjustment has nothing to do with head size. It's to adjust for ear size. If your ears stick out more, you slide it towards "Light" setting so it moves away from your ears and it balances the clamping pressure between your ear and the pad on your temples, according to your preference and comfort. Ears that stick out more = Light. Flatter ears = Firm. For my ears, I use the middle setting. :-)
2007. The year of my porta-pro. 3 wires have been changed since then. Love them! Need wireless ones...
Their lifetime warranty is pretty decent, they've (even in the UK) replaced my normal model even when I've dropped them on the ground running for a bus and they exploded.
And to really go up to eleven, MMCX mod them!
And yes, Koss does have their lifetime replacement warranty (...or do they, considering it's a model made for Drop?), but why go through the hassle and cost of shipping them in when you can just swap cables when needed. Also, throw in a BT MMCX cable and boom! - wireless without needing to splurge for the dedicated (and non-detachable cabled) Bluetooth model.
They don't uphold that lifetime warranty in every country they sell their headphones in.
Strange, i have the normal Porta Pros and love them very much for music, especially Hip Hop. But i would never even think about recommending them for soundstage and imaging as these are more or less non-existent and the greatest weakness of the Porta Pros.
Have Koss kph 30i, ksc 75 and Porta Pros. I love them all, especially ksc 75 ^^
Can you please rate em by your favorites (if I spell right) from those you like better and give some little description of why?
@@ZhekaTrololo KSC 75, Porta Pros, KPH 30i. KSC 75 are my favorite because of the price, neutrality, form factor. There is something about them that tick every box for me :). Porta Pros are second and similar in sound, but leaning towards low end a little more, and they can be folded. Kph 30i is praised by the public, but to me for unknown reasons. The sound is kinda dark and bassy, and they cannot be folded, but have the best build quality and cable of the three :)
@@Sigillum88 thanks a lot for your detalied answering!
@@ZhekaTrololo Np ^^
Nice review.
BTW... Koss Porta Pro's sound-stage is LARGER than HD6XX, at least.
Maybe this count for every headphone. ;)
I got these last year, they are phenomenal headphones. I also got the KPHis lightweights, also stupendous. Bang for the buck, both snappy tight sounding cans, open, and great
tight and deep, bass, too. Not built to last, but great otherwise.
Wow, wouldn't think anyone would review the Porta Pros in 2020, this is such an age old, tried and true design. I've had a bunch of these my lifetime, they were always around and recommended when I was a kid, even sold at grocery stores. Didn't think anyone would recommend for gaming, but hey, that's cool. Durability was always a problem though.
Yaxi required! Also you mean E-MU Purplehearts... Teaks are WAY better!
Considering one starts at $75 and the other starts at $450, you may as well tell me the sky is blue.
I've been using these for over a decade only just realized that the gap between the temple pads & the headphone earpads is a perfect passthrough for my eyeglass' arms. 😅
I've had the KSC75 and the KTXPRO more than 15 years ago and I do remember being blown away by how amazing the sound quality was for the price. I bought both at a Radio Shack in Honduras. The only reason I didn't LOVE the KSC75 was that I didn't find them particularly comfortable due to the style of hooks. I did use them daily until they broke, both lasting several years with very little care on my part. After watching this review, I definitely want to get my hands on these Porta Pro X, especially after listening to THE Joshua Valour praising them so much.
I've tried many time but I cannot find anything better than porta pro within limits of reason in headphones pricing (I would never spend more than like 400). Porta Pro is extremely light and comfortable. I can wear it forever. I like how it looks and most importantly the sound is amazing. Warm, musical sound that makes everything sounds good and full. And full bassy sound is not at all how these look. And with how open these are, these are perfect also for gaming and positional detection. Just perfection. Only to be improved with yaxi pads but I still prefer stock.
I never catch hair in the headband. It is actually genious design. Easy to store, light clamp. Mine is not changing size on itself on head. Works great with ps4 controller too
Bruh! The Grado SR60E doesn't cost a whole lot more than the Koss. They're way more comfortable and sound so much better.
I have kosh porta pro that Are now 30 years old! I have changed the Padding a couple of times, but They still work Nike new! Best music ware I have ever bought for the price of it! The second best Are genelec speakers... not because They Are bad, just because those genelec speakers Are much, much more expensive ones!
But I still use my anthique koss porta pros and They work like a charm!
Great headphones. It's definitely a SLEEPER. I did not expect them to sound this good.
I like them, but i still think the KPH30i's sound better and WAY more comfortable
To be honest, if I'm left with only 1 HP or IEM, I'll still be pretty happy with my KPPX. I use it for work, listening to music while at work, I also use it with my PS4.
I just used some broken Porta Pros that i had laying around and slapped on the Massdrop Koss KSC75X and love that combo, has an inline mic, the sound is tasty for my personal enjoyment
You did review these already. Edited, why did your original video got deleted? I cant find it anymore...
edit: no really...what happen to your original video.. you had a black shirt,
these make a great base for modding as well. if you can solder at all you can turn these into mmcx connectors to work with iem cables and bluetooth. throw on some yaxi pads and maybe a more elegant solution for the headband and you have a truly great device that will last you forever. yeah at that point you could get the shp but the aesthetic on these is truly iconic so for some that might be worth it
I've had these headphones for over 20 years. Excellent sound and comfort If you're not an audiophile, these are plenty good.
These remind me of those airplane headphones they used to hand out!
I think they sound amazing with the 50mm leatherette pads that you can pick up for about $8-$10 additional... I have also found that they go on sale for about $25 on a regular basis as well for the non mic version
If you fold it constantly the first thing to break are those plastic clips. Koss does have a lifetime warranty and they only charge you shipping and handling. They do have great bass, the mid range is a little subdued for my taste and the high end rolls off more than the other cans I have used but for the price and the warranty they can't be beat.
Was looking to get these for my Quest 3. and then 3D print a bracket to mount them. the Superlux 668B was absolute Trebel cannons but if you modded them OH boy they became amazing for gaming. i clicked this video because the thumbnail had the Edifire Luna Eclipse. i have these speakers on my desktop as well. but in white to fit the astethics of my gaming build.
You're the first guy I've seen, that had the same Idea As me, of using the Edifier Luna Eclipse's as Headphones stands! That's literally one of the things that helped me decide to buy them.
I've been using Koss Porta Pro headphones for about thirty years and for portable there is no reason to use anything else. Lifetime warrantee, just send them to Koss with a check for freight cost and your brand new again. Just purchased my first Bluetooth compatible headphones and I love them just like all the other Koss items I have used.
I almost got the Porta Pros, but instead went with the KSC75X. Also a crazy good, and crazy cheap set of headphones. I use them when I don't want anything actually on my head or in my ears.
The KPH30i are even better. Drop used to sell them for 20$ and they even share the same mic
@inSherlock if you have the 30i you will know. It's cheaper, sounds better and is more comfortable than the Porta Pro 😉
UR40s are the best.
I like the PortaPros more than the 30is.
portapros just has more bass, comfort level is a person to person thing, i find them both equally as comfy in my opinion but if u do wanna save $10 go for it still a great bang for your buck
Porta Pro sound better imo.
Maybe review the new utility series for this. So glad it just came out because I was about to buy the older version you’re reviewing here.
These are really good, but if you want to make them absolutely stellar, buy a pair of KSC75s and clip them into the Porta pro headband (same fitting).
You'll lose the mic option but the high frequencies become way more extended and open without being too bright. Bass response is fine on the KSC75 when used this way because they are positioned closer to the ear. Do it - at the price it's a no-brainer!
I succumbed and bought a pair with some Yaxi pads. Very nice sound and light on my head. And i do hate that i have a way to put it on my head without taking my hair off!!!
I used a Porta Pro daily for years, until the left driver just stopped working, it's a really good headphone.
I have these with a cloth cord. Extremely rare. I value these over my Sennheiser 650. Seriously! The sound is incredible and the comfort is nuts compared to my $300 ones!.
Hi, great review. I notice you have a helmet in the background. Have you thought about taking the speaker parts and mod into the helmet?
Hi
Are these good for modern metal music? Enough bass etc?
Thanks 👍
I use the original model as a B headset to my ATH R70X for classical music and movies, they keep me happy inspire of having a better set to use also.
I own these in every color they're available in. I usually use the gold ones now.
I believe KOSS gives a lifetime warranty on all of their headphones.
not their wireless stuff
@@610-g9o that is right.
I’ve heard that claiming the warranty is more of a hassle than just buying a replacement headphone, they are inexpensive so it’s not that bad
Kind of, only if they have parts for it. I tried sending in my 4AAA for a restoration, but they refused due to parts no longer being produced.
Yup. I lost the spring that is in the “Firm/Light” adjuster, so the right driver just kinda tangled all loosely. I sent them an email asking if they could send me the spring and that I’d be happy to pay for it. Welp, they replied and they just sent me a brand new pair lmao.
Dude if they put MMCX connectors and charged 50 or 60 bucks for them I’d buy them in a heartbeat
I agree. As a tragic audiophile over here who worked in the personal HiFi space for over eight years. Short of a Grado SR60 - pound for pound - these are difficult to beat..
I love the Koss Porta Pro X. I really enjoy it and I feel for me the punches above its worth. Bought it from Drop. I am anxious to buy at least 2 more as spare before they run out!!
They will never run out! The Porta Pro is Koss' cash cow. IMHO, take it up a notch and buy a Grado SR60E. You won't regret it. They're like the Porta Pro on steroids.
Review the Fiio FD1. It's a very very good IEM for the price. Definitely needs burn in and deep foam tip insertion to get the best sound. Best IEM I have at the moment.. It sounded pretty bad before burn in. My other 2 pairs are the Urbanfuns and the HIFIMAN RE-400.
How is the sound quality? I'm a huge lover of techno/hardcore music and I really love this 80s' design, but I'm worried these headphones can't have a decent sound quality since the price 😞
Curious what you think about the Kph30i. Need to try it... might like it better?
Can you review the status audio Cb-1s? They are pretty cheap and I think they would make a nice comparison with this and the SHP9500
I just received this headphone with Bluetooth and I love them. Thank you for the review.
I use the KPH30i every day, irrespective of all the other higher end stuff i own. They're sooo good
Gotta love my $16 Koss UR20's, durable, great sound and just a wonderful headphone compared to the others I've tried.
Hi, I have a wireless version and I am wondering what to buy, which will have similar characteristics, but there will be a significant leap in sound quality. I bought DT770 recently but it's not the same and sometimes I come back to KOSS but I would like to hear more :). The headphones may be around-the-ear or of a different construction. Do you have any suggestions?
Great for use when shopping and connected to my Kann Alpha.
I dropped mine and they broke the second day I had then. Still sound great but the point where the driver attaches to the headband is busted.
hi thank yu for the review , i wanna ask if in long term use do they broke on sound when u use it on high volume, like saying yu use to her¿ar a lot of bass electronic music, not too depp but a large amount of bass, like let say dark psy trance
You should try the Superlux hd 660 costs about 40 bucks too. I really like them for monitoring and games too cuz the imaging is pretty great
You can put kph40 speakers off and put them on the Porta Pro from what I saw on Z Reviews
Hey Josh. It'd be really dope if you reviewed the Koss Kph30i's. Theyre quite commonly a mindblower at a rediculously low price. Thanks.
Josh thanks for the great reviews, they have been useful. However I need some guidance and I thought maybe you or someone from the comment section could help. What would you suggest for first headphones up to 150€, looking for open, neutral, crisp detailed sound, good timbre, decent soundstage and imaging. If have to choose I’d choose great detail and timbre over great soundstage and imaging as long as they are not bellow average. Might buy amp/dac in the future if needed. A fellow audiophile youtuber suggested HD599. I can also get AKG K702, DT 880/990, Philips X2HR and maybe there are some that I don’t know of within that price range. I have no way of trying any of them unfortunately.
hd 58x would be good tho has a bit narrow soundstage. Excellent mids and neutral. Can you get them in Eu?
@@TimpTim I can't find them, unfortunately.
@@teok8855 To me it's a toss up between the AKG K702 and the Sennheiser HD 599. You can't go wrong with either. It's a shame you can try them out.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q Thanks, for the suggestion, I was thinking the same. I think I will go for what's cheaper at the time of buying.
Nice video. Keep up the good work.
Hey Josh. Unrelated, but I have a set of Harmonicdyne Helios headphones that have been fun to listen to. Curious to hear your thoughts on them and can ship them out to you.
I just use the Tin T2 for my on the go use for cheap. Love those things.
i use them too but recently started getting ear ache from iems and considering these. If it werent for the ache id be in the same boat.
@@TSE_WOODY honestly my opinions of the T2s are a bit more iffy today. For youtube videos they're fine, but for music, it's a little bright for me, not unless I literally cram them as deep in my ears as they can go. For music listening I use the Tin P1. Way better headphone as a whole with way better clarity and without any hiss. Still use the T2s for work though as I'm not breaking my $150 headphones because of work. Means they get less use but they are without a doubt just superior in my eyes.
@@Skylancer727 Yeah im with you there, at certain volumes they can definitely be a bit sibilant which is a pain. I'm just looking to get a half decent replacement since we're finally getting sun in the UK again and I dont want to ram those fuckers way up my ears like you say.
You should Review KPH 30i they are warmer bigger soundstage more tight bass. And WAY WAY better comfort U gone love them ...
Sometimes I consider stop having long hair so I can get portapros without injuring myself
So I heard the Gold Edition Porta Pro Sounds Berltter Than The Standard Porta Pro .
Can you speak on this at all ?
Those headphones are from the 80's . I used to same headphones on my Walkman back in the day. A proven design and they sound great.
It's comfortable when you have your hat on. But try it directly on your head, see how comfortable it is.
Clean review job !
Soundstage attainable for cheap. I'm mad to get it so this is just great
I'm Listening This Way . . . wired listening brings theses and Q35 to AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied SUPER SAIYAN STATUS
Z Fold 3 To Hidizs S9 Pro DAC/ AMP DONGLE To (Powered Off) Q35 Headphones . HAVING THE Q35s Powered Off Opposed To On Really Brings These Things To Life . HIS VIDEO INTRO HIT LIKE A SHOTGUN WHEN I RESTARTED THIS VIDEO WITH MY Q35s Powered OFF .
Tbh whether last only 24hours or 24 years they're always covered by koss with the lifetime warranty