Koss KTXPRO1 Titanium Portable Headphones with Volume Control
by Koss
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List Price: Our Price: $12.20 You Save: $7.79 (39%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Koss KTXPRO1 Titanium Portable Headphones with Volume Control
Customer Review: AWESOME set of headphones at a great price!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'll admit, I haven't been into using headphones now for nearly 10 years, but with the advent of the iPod and other MP3 players, I decided that it'd probably be a good time to look for and invest in a good pair of headphones. I'll also admit that I don't yet have a portable MP3 player, but I' probably get one sooner or later. However, with that said, I do listen to MP3s that I've transferred from my purchased CDs on my PC. I have boomy 5.1 surround speaker system for the PC that literally shakes the house, so for me to listen to my tunes at adequate volume without disturbing the other occupants, I figure a good set of headphones was in order.
So what is it that I, or anyone should look for in a good set of phones? Well, clarity of sound for one. That includes several aspects. One being bass response. Most [cheap] headphones can't replicate solid deep bass. Because lets face it, good bass (in loudspeakers) require huge magnets and a large cone and lots of power. A headphone has none of that, but apparently, technology in headphones have come a long way in the past 15 years. Another aspect of clear sound is a phone's ability to replicate the high and mid-range frequencies. What good does a lot of bass do if it drowns out the rest of the frequencies? None. And of course the last thing a set of phones need to do is not crackle and distort at high volume. This is a MAJOR problem with a lot of cheap headphones. Well, even some higher priced ones I'd imagine.
Well, going back to 10 years ago, I had a pair or two of KOSS headphones that could replicate good bass, but this was way before digital music media and from old style cassette walkman-type devices, so the full range of sound fidelity was limited due to the medium used. I remembered and liked the KOSS headphones, which lead me to check out these after they were pointed to by a reviewer for a similar set of Sony headphones.
So how does the KOSS KTX-PRO1 Titaniums perform? EXCELLENT! I must admit though, I was at first confused at why I wasn't getting good bass. Like I said, I use these on my PC, so I have several different software players with different enhancement "plug-ins", one having a "headphone setting", nonetheless, giving a slightly tinnier sound than I was expecting. Turns out that all it took to boost the bass, was to increase the main soundcard mixer's bass level, rather than the plug-in's "hyperbass" level. And what I got was the deep solid, supposedly 15Hz bass response that this product advertises. And it doesn't drown out the other frequencies either. The grill mess on the outside of the ear piece, I suspect, may help with the bass response, but don't quote me on that. And the most important thing with these phones is that they do not distort at all. Crystal clear sound at practically any volume.
The set itself is very comfortable to wear. Some reviewers here may have mentioned that there's only ome pivot point on the ear piece, but it's at the correct angle that it should be adequate for most people's ears.
The bottom line is that if you want a good, sounding set of headpones, you're gonna have to pay more than $5. Let's face it, you get what you pay for. From what others have said here, this exact set sells for over $45 at places like Radioshack under a different model name. So getting this set at Amazon for under $20 is a hellava deal.
Oh, one more thing...over the ear phones rather than these "new" air-bud things.... for one I can't stand sticking anything into my ear. They usually don't stay in cause my ear canals are strangely shaped and two they are just downright uncomfortable. I can't even wear earplugs for the same reason. So this was a nice find to get a excellent pair of over-the-ear headphones at a great price.
You can't go wrong with the KTX-PRO1s. I listen to heavy metal mainly and they do a great job in replicating all the intricrate sounds in probably one of the most sophisticated forms of music outside philharmonic orchestrations.
Customer Review: Best lightweight open-air headphones for your money
Summary: 5 Stars
Hi all, I have been a user of the Radio Shack Pro 25/35 series of headphones for years. The Pro 25s have been replaced by the Pro 35s, which have been replaced by the Pro 35As in the past couple years or so. You may ask "what relevance is that to me?"
because the Pro 35As are rebranded versions of the KOSS KTXPRO1s
(Just as the Pro25s were rebranded versions of the KTXPRO)!! They are equivalent right down to the last response spec, they even look almost identical (go look yourself!). The only real difference worth noting is the 1/8" plug on the Radio Shack verion is gold plated. Radio Shack will charge you twice the price if they are not on sale, so you can save serious dough here.
Now, down to the sound and comfort which is what (i hope) all of you want to know. Of most importance to me is sound. I tell you these deliver overall sound equivalent or better than budget Sennheisers! (i have listened to the HD-220 and HD-457, the HD-457 i use for backup and extended listening). The KOSS KTXPRO1s are far superior to every lightweight headphone i have ever listened to, better than budget headphones (under $50) of just about any kind! The only sub $50 headphones that sounded even close are the Sennheiser HD-457s and i believe the Sony Street Style MDR-G73LPs of all things. Sound is rich, clear, and true, clean highs which are not harsh at all (unless your source sucks) and bass is amazingly powerful for such lightweight things. The bass is not muddy like the HD-220s nor is it unable to handle the very low bass found in music like Dance, House, Drum & Bass, Rap and Hip Hop. It is not overly punchy either, the bass in my opinion is very balanced. Midrange is true, balanced, and clear as well. Beware of the inline volume control, only use it in moderation, you may realise your CD player is turned up, and sound is not loud but there is distortion (your in-line volume is low) It is great though of people who dont like to touch the CD player for volume often or need a quick abbreviated adjustment.
Comfort with these is better than 95% of all lightweights. The drivers usually make full conact with your ear ( if you have a particularly large head it may not, i wear a fitted size 7 5/8 (XL) hat and it barely makes complete contact), but over very long periods of time (over 3 hours) may make your ears hurt a bit (this was a larger problem with the Pro 25s/KTXPro but with the redesign, spring pressure of the drivers to the ears has been reduced). The rubber headband is a welcome feature, as the top of your head stays comfortable, don't worry, the rubber wont grip your hair at all. They also manage to stay on your head well enough, well, maybe not if you are running, you'll have to readjust them every now and then. For staying on your head, the Pro25/KTXPro does a better job,and will make full even contact with your ear, but they are poorer for extended listening.
My one issue is that you may notice a vibrating/buzzing of the foil diaphram if you listen to high volumes with heavy backup guitar and bass a lot. I have noticed this thoroughout this line of headphones. I think that the foil diaphram becomes detached slightly over time and heavy use. As i test them now they are reproducing only very very slight vibration/buzz in the right ear (Test song: VAST - Here) and i've had these for about 7-8 months, you wouldnt hear it unless you were listening for it. But then again you get a litetime warranty so all is well.
These nitpicky things cannot overshadow the outstanding sound in a lightweight headphone for the price. Even if you have to possibly buy a new pair (or have Koss give you new ones) every 6 months due to diaphram vibration/buzz (if you have good ears :) ) they are so cheap and sound so excellent for their size it's well worth the purchase.
Customer Review: 5 stars is not enough!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
It is a truly incredible mystery how a $15 pair of headphones could possibly sound better than Sennheisers into the $100-200 range! But they do. In fact, these headphones sound much better than most big, full headphones. And NO, I am NOT exhagurating. And I do know what I am talking about. I ought to point out that I am not someone who up to now listened to their discman with the headphones it came with and who has now just discovered the KOSS KTX-PRO1. For someone like that, these headphones would definitely seem like light years ahead. But I am not that person. I have had experience with MANY different kinds of headphones in all price ranges. In fact I own a pair of Sennheiser HD 600 (Now I do not mean to compare the KTX with the hd 600-this would be like comparing a Porsche 911 to a Mercedes S600. Different things, both amazing in their own rights). Power requirements: The KTX Pro-1's low impedance and high sensitivity allow you to easily drive them with any portable device. You do not need to plug them in to a headphone amplifier or to your stereo.
Comfort: They are very comfortable even after long-play and they stay in place-unless you are into extreme headbanging ;)
Isolation: Note that these are open-type headphones and isolation is very poor. Personally I don't care about this since the background where I listen to music is quiet anyway, and I don't disturb anyone.
Construction Quality: The quality of construction is not breathtaking, just good.
Sound quality: What sets these headphones to the pinnacle annals of hi-fidelity is their sound quality. They are extremely clear with unnoticeable distortion (even when heavily driven). Low frequency response is excellent and highs are very slightly bright. Mid frequencies are thereby slightly recessed. If you notice how most people set their equalizers is that they increase the bass and treble while leaving the midrange in the 0db level. This makes the input signal (spectral) look like concaved upward (smiling) . The reason people do this is partly because they like bass and treble to be accentuated but more importantly to compensate for the speakers' or headphones' natural inability to reproduce low and high frequencies at the same level as mid frequencies. These KTX are very good at reproducing frequencies in the whole 20-20000hz range very well (as they SHOULD), without droppoffs at the low and high ranges, and therefore artificial compensation (like all those bass-boosters on your discman that distort the signal) are not really necessary.
In plain words: these headphones "kick ass." There is not pair of headphones that I could recommend more. What amazes me is that they only cost $15. If I were to rate them compared to all headphones I have tried throughout my life irrespective of price I would rate them 4.5 out of 5. If I were to also consider that they can be driven by any portable device without the need of additional amplification (the one or two pairs of headphones I would give a perfect score require a headphone amplifier to be driven adequately), I would give them a 6 out of 5!!!
Negatives?
The quality of the cable is poor! In fact, driving these headphones with high current after a period of time causes damage to the cable (like electrical "Low-Cycle Fatigue"). This is why most people have to change these headphones every year or so. But who cares if Amazon sells them for a miserly $14???
Customer Review: Unbelievably great sound
Summary: 5 Stars
I think it's important for me to state where I'm coming from before I start the review. While I'm no master musician, I've been playing musical instruments since I was eight years old. I have always had a critical ear for a balanced sound in my music. I don't consider myself an audiophile, but at the same time I can't settle for second-rate sound quality. I'm kind of a casual critic, I guess you'd say. If you're a hardcore audiophile, maybe my opinion won't mean much to you.
Anyway.
When I was reading the other reviews for these headphones, I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical. Some of the other earphones/headphones on Amazon got great reviews when I found them to be unsatisfactory, so I was a bit wary about these as well. But my usual pair of earphones broke and I was hurting for money, so I needed something cheap to replace them. I usually go for the active-wear hook-type earphones because earbuds hurt my ears and headphones are too conspicuous, but since these Koss headphones got great reviews (for what they're worth) and were very cheap, I decided why not and decided to try these out.
I'll say that I'm really glad I made that decision. Sure, these headphones are conspicuous and frankly, a bit dorky-looking, but the sound quality is very much worth it. The bass is strong, but never overpowering (which was my main concern), and the sound is crisp on every level. It's a perfect balance of sound, in my opinion. I can hear every instrument loud and clear with these things -- even instruments I never knew were there. I'll tell you, I was falling in love with the older songs on my playlists all over again because I was hearing new things with every playthrough. These headphones seriously let you appreciate the music in ways you can't unless you invest in headphones that are at least double the price. I'll wear these things even when it's completely quiet and indoors because my laptop speakers are inferior.
I will note that these headphones are not soundproof. If you turn the music up too much, other people will be able to hear what you're listening to. Likewise, you'll be able to hear your surroundings provided you don't turn the volume up too high. Personally, I like it that way because I like to listen to music as I walk/bike and think it's a good idea to be able to hear traffic at the same time, so this is perfect.
Another nice touch is the volume adjuster (or whatever it's called) partway down the wire. If your mp3 player is in your pocket/purse/backpack, it's very handy.
I've seen a few reviews saying that these headphones are made only people with tiny heads. I'm not sure how big these people's heads are, but I'm a 5'4" Asian girl and they fit on my head at the smallest adjustment. Heh? The cord is pretty lengthy too. I have to rubber band a portion of it to keep it from slopping all out of my pocket, but that's really no problem.
And that's all I can think to comment on. If you have any doubts about getting these: don't. I promise you, you will be satisfied at the very least, but more than likely you will be blown away.
Customer Review: Excellent Headphones For The Price. Be Careful With Them Though.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought these almost a year ago after my previous pair of earphones--Koss KSC75's, wore out. I'm very picky about sound quality and Koss is basically the only brand name in earphones I completely trust. I've been a loyal customer for twenty plus years and they've never let me down in the sound department. The sound quality of these blows anything in the same price range, (and in some brands WAY out of the price range) out of the water. They sound awesome, as always. Lots of bass, (but not too much), not tinny at all, just perfect. If you're used to cheapo headphones, prepare to get your ears opened. You'll hear things you've never heard before in your favorite songs. If you're looking for headphones in the $20 and under range, don't bother with anything else. And don't bother looking anywhere else except Amazon. I've overpaid by as much as $10 online on other sites and in store, and was a little disheartened to see what I could have paid on Amazon. Amazon has the lowest price on Koss headphones every time I've looked.
I've tried about every model of Koss headphones there is (except the ultra high end ones) and I've noticed the difference between them. For sound quality under $20, I think the KSC75's sound better, but unfortunately, they clip very loosely around the ears, and in my case they were constantly falling off. The KTXPRO1's on the other hand, have a head band and they stay on very well. They are also very comfortable. Like all Koss products, though, they aren't made to be inconspicuous or 'cool-looking'. These headphones, especially, stick out like a sore thumb. Prepare to look like what people in 1929 envisioned a switchboard operator would look like in 2009. That blue rubbery thing on the top (I have no idea what it does--prevents it from slipping, I guess?) makes it look especially stupid. But, if you're like me and prefer sound quality over looking good, then you should have no trouble with these.
The only downside to this product is like what others have said, they are not very durable. The headphones themselves seem to be made of cheapy plastic and seem delicate (though luckily I didn't brake them). About a week after I purchased them, a short developed in the volume control, rendering it useless. After a few months, another short developed in the wire, make one side go dead every five seconds, especially when exercising. I gave them to my daughter, who only uses them on her Nintendo DS. I've also owned the Sportapro and the Portapro and I would say that if you're very nice to your headphones (unlike me) and only use them sitting down, I would buy these over the more expensive ones. The Sportapro and Portapro sound good, but not that much better than this model. But if you abuse your headphones and/or use them for exercise, I'd spurge and go for the Portapros, since they are made very well made (though ugly still).
If you have small ears (like I do), prefer non-ear buds with a headband, and like having another volume control, I'd highly recommend these. I think you'll be very happy with your purchase.