Koss PortaPro Headphones

This is a review for PortaPro Headphones, manufactured by Koss. I bought these headphones for home recording and travel purposes, as well as travel recording purposes. I am an amateur recorder, and not technology savvy, but I am a musician and know how well-produced music should sound. After doing much research in order to find the world's finest, cheapest headphones, I settled upon purchasing Koss's PortaPro headphones. I like these headphones and I'm pleased with my purchase.

I'll first comment on the PortaPro's appearance. The design of these headphones hasn't been altered much since they were first put on the market decades ago. It doesn't look sleek or areo-dynamic, but it does look practical. Also, though it is a subtle effect, the black plastic/silver metal/aquamarine highlights combination give the PortaPro a cultured, almost suave look. It is both retro and space-age, like something off the first Star Trek series. On appearance, these headphones score high points.

Now, on to durability. The headband is made of metal, and is just bendable enough to allow for different head sizes while still maintaining its strength. The length of the headband is adjustable because, rather than being one immobile strip, it is comprised of two different metal bands--one connected to each earphone and each with a plastic part on the end that allows the other band to slide through it. This serves to connect the metal pieces thereby making the band twice as strong and potentially twice as long, and allow for adjustments. My head is small, and the headphones fit fine. I have a Finnish friend who borrowed them and managed to adjust the band to comfortably fit his gigantic, dread-covered head.

Concerning comfort, these headphones also fit the bill. As stated above, the headband adjusts easily and effectively to make different sizes. Due to their unique design, the PortaPro phones can also be adjusted to three different clamping intensities. Using something called the "comfort zone," the headphones part of the headphones can be set to light, medium, or firm--light being the most gentle fit, and firm being the tightest fit. For anyone who needs to move when they have headphones on (such as bob their head to the beat), the firm fit is great. To anyone who needs to wear headphones for many hours, the light setting will prevent their ears from getting sore. Furthermore, there are additional foam pads on either side of the headphones that help the headphones hug the head just above the ears and behind the temples. This feels wonderful, and really convinces me that the headphones are secure and in place.

Next on the check list is sound quality. I can honestly say that for their price, compared to other sub-$100 headphones I've used, the Koss PortaPros are incredible. They obviously have better than average cheap speakers in them, because they allow one to hear a much broader range of frequencies, with intensity distributed along that spectrum in an even, natural-sounding way. I really feel that, to a great extent, I hear music as the creators of it intended for it to be heard. This is a hugely important aspect of the PortaPro. However, it's best not to listen to music at too high a volume. In addition to possibly damaging your years and causing tinnitus, the higher volume might damage the delicate speakers.

And finally, as I said, the PortaPro headphones aren't at all expensive. I got mine for about $32. They are cool looking, durable, comfortable, and they allow music to be heard close to as it should be heard. Plus, they are portable. They fold up and fit into a little bag. Hence the name: PortaPro.

Ratings (out of 10 with 10 being highest and absolutely ideal):

Appearance: 8
Durability: 7
Comfort: 7
Sound quality: 7
Value: 10

Overall rating: 7.8