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🎧 Retro sound, modern hustle—hear the difference, feel the vibe.
The Koss KPH30i Retro Style On-Ear Headphones combine vintage aesthetics with modern audio technology, featuring 60 Ohm dynamic drivers for high-fidelity sound across a 15-25,000 Hz range. Designed for comfort and durability, they include an in-line microphone and remote for hands-free control, all wrapped in an ultra-lightweight, resilient build backed by a limited lifetime warranty.




















| Additional Features | Adjustable Headband, Lightweight, Microphone Included |
| Age Range Description | Adult |
| Antenna Location | Music Listening, Communication, Travel, Exercise |
| Asin | B075FBRYM1 |
| Audio Driver Type | Dynamic Driver |
| Best Sellers Rank | #26,821 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #402 in On-Ear Headphones |
| Bluetooth Version | 4 |
| Brand Name | Koss |
| Built In Media | Cable |
| Cable Features | Fixed |
| Carrying Case Color | Black |
| Color | Dark Grey |
| Compatible Devices | Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, Portable Media Player, Tablets |
| Connectivity Technology | Wired |
| Control Method | Touch |
| Control Type | Touch Control |
| Controller Type | wired remote control |
| Customer Package Type | Standard Packaging |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,581) 4.4 out of 5 stars |
| Earpiece Shape | On Ear |
| Enclosure Material | Plastic |
| Eu Spare Part Availability Duration | 1 years |
| Frequency Response | 25000 hertz |
| Headphone Folding Features | On Ear |
| Headphone Jack | 3.5 mm Jack |
| Headphones Ear Placement | On Ear |
| Impedance | 60 ohm |
| Item Weight | 0.18 kg |
| Manufacturer | Koss Stereophones |
| Model Name | KPH30iK |
| Model Number | KPH-30iK |
| Noise Control | None |
| Number Of Items | 1 |
| Sensitivity | 101 db |
| Series Number | 30 |
| Specific Uses For Product | Music, Calls |
| Style Name | Retro |
| Subject Character | no character |
| Theme | Music |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Upc | 021299193532 |
| Warranty Description | Limited Lifetime Warranty |
| Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant |
| Wireless Technology | Bluetooth |
User
Shockingly good quality, with a simplistic design that punches way higher than most headphones.
It's so stupid and crazy that this is probably one of the best quality-to-value headphones I've ever purchased. I have had dozens of headphones, my current round is a Shure 840A, Hifiman he400se, and the DT 990 pro (mostly for recording), and I've been stunned by how ridiculous good these KOSS headphones are compared to these 100 to 200 USD headphones. It's that ridiculous. I typically use a autoeq on my android phone or EQ on my desktop, but I still cannot say enough good things about this headphone. They're extremely comfortable, I've worn them for hours at a time. I've only adjusted the band ONE time, it fits perfectly and they do not fall of my head. I've used them for playing games on Playstation 4 via the controller's headphone plug in, I've cleaned my house with them on, I've plugged them into several USB DAC's without issue. I've never been so impressed by such a cheap pair of headphones. Tonality-wise, they compare with many IEM's, and I would prefer them over IEM's in most cases just because they're so simple to wear or use. IEM's hurt my ears so I'm unlucky in that respect, but these are a perfect alternative to those. If you can pay between 20 or 30 dollars to get a pair of headphones that punches this high? Just do it. They are that good for what you're paying. It must have something do with the design of the driver inside these headphone, because they look like they can't do anything when you first take them out of the package, but I've listened to loads of genres without issue. These sound warm, but it can handle bass on IDM or electronic music, the mid's are good, the treble is good, overall I really enjoy how versatile these are. They sort of remind me of those BLON B.L. 03's that came out in the IEM world years ago. Just a really fun pair of headphones. I bought my dad the KSC75 for father's day, but honestly I want a pair now too!
User
Budget Monster
How are these headphones so cheap? These are probably the best sounding headphones for under 300 dollars. Period.Amazing sound quality, wide sound stage basically everything you could every want and won't get from anything more expensive.Very easy to use. Easy to carry around. They fit okay, but be careful if you have a big head as the plastic can snap. It has a lifetime warranty though! Verry comfortable on the ears, light as a feather. Buttons do what they're supposed to do.Honestly, if you need headphones, just get these. Don't have a headphone jack? An adapter and these is cheaper than a set of decent bluetooth headphones. And it'll sound better too.
User
Outstanding Audio for the price perfect for everyday use
I've had airpod pro, bose quiet comfort, and wanted something comfortable to use at home to listen to streaming music through a computer. The Bose over-ear was nice because you feel isolated from outside noise which is especially valuable since everyone home. However, after a few hours, I didn't like how my ears started to sweat and the weight felt heavy. The airpod pro are light but also after a while it also develops a sweat and I didn't like how it doesn't play nice with pc in terms of connecting and volume control.So I resign myself to get another pair of headphones and it was the Koss KPH30iK. At the moment the price of the Porta Pro and KPH30iK are the same price. I picked KPH30iK over the Porta Pro because I didn't want to keep readjusting each time I put it on and was concern about hair snagging on their moving band. It definitely not because of its style. My significant other thought it was the headphones you use to get on the airplane. but when I plug it in......playing Spotify streaming I was very surprised... I mean I put them on... and at first, I thought they weren't working and that it was playing through my stereo speakers. It was only when took them off did I realize that I hearing music through the headphones. There is bass and the thumping feeling and yet was detail in the individual instrument and vocals were clear. There was also a sense of spatial that the music feels like it fills the room. So yea was really blown away by $30 headphones. It's so light that I have to remind myself that I am wearing them. They are also very easy to drive meaning that the volume is set much lower to get the oomph. Listening to some of my favorite songs I am discovering details that I missed with my other much more expensive headphones.Now I am not new to the scene to audiophiles. I know about amps and DAC and setups that cost over 10k. There is no way this can compete with those products with lossless quality and high-end equipment. What this product is great for the majority of us, who are streaming music through Spotify/youtube and a computer/smartphone. And at the price point, it isn't something you have to baby and treat it like a fragile glass statue. If they only changed up their style then it would be perfect but again at $30 you really are getting something amazing. Side note the device much have a headphone jack to use. It obvious but had to be said.So did it meet my requirements? Yes it is both light and didn't sweat while using them over a couple of hours. I actually forgot that I was wearing them until the inevitable pull of the wire on the computer.
User
Love these headphones, but I recommend the KPH40!
I enjoyed these Headphones!They had very nice high's and mids. The bass is there but not too boomy. They are great for easy-listening. The comfort on these is terrible though. The clamping force plus the big flat earcups hurt my ears quiet bad. There are some mods I mention below that helped considerable. Namely, the Grado Pad mod. I also hear you can heat up the plastic headband to reduce the clamping force. I didnt try that, just the pads helped considerably. Ultimately I chose the KPH40 as the best budget heaphone. More details below...---MY HUNT FOR THE BEST BUDGET HEAPHONES:(I use my headphones for 80's Rock, 90's Alternative, Oldies, Classical, and plenty of TV and Movies)-SHORT VERSION...BUY THE KOSS KPH40'S AND SOME YAXI PADS!LONG VERSION...FIRST I HAD THE PX-100-i's for like 10 years. Loved them, but the connector broke a few years back. THEN I got the PX-100-ii's. I didn't like it as much as the first iteration. Way too much Bass! And the bass bled like crazy. They sounded super muddy. But everything else sounded like my old px-100's. Then a few months ago, THOSE broke at the connector (I'm nice to my headphones, they get plugged into my computer and stay there, there's really no reason for those connectors to go faulty, just bad manufacturing). Then I found out that Sennheiser was no longer making ANY PX-100's anymore, so I had some research to do...NEXT WERE THE KOSS PORTAPROShttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00001P4ZH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1-The sound is 'soft' for the mids and uppers, and a slightly boomy bass. Very easy-listening. The bass was a little too boomy for my taste, but it wasn't bad. The high's weren't sibilant, which I loved. I missed some clarity from my px-100's, but it was worth it. What I didn't like about it was that the bass bled into the mids, which made some things sound weird. Still, I liked them better than my original sennheiser PX-100-i's which is saying something. The PX-100-i's have highs that are harsh on my ears, too much sibilance. The Bass on the PX-100-i's can be a little to boomy also, but no bleeding. It had an accurate, clear sound I loved. But overall I considered the Portapro's a nice upgrade.For those of you who have trouble with it pulling your hair, my remedy was to wrap painters tape (blue to match the highlights on the headphones) around the middle section of the headband. It also keeps the headband the perfect length so I didn't have to constantly adjust it every time I took it off. This DOES make it less portable for pocket carry, but I never used that anyway. The temple pads were giving me migraines so I ripped them off. Then I replaced the foam earpads with the YAXI ones. Now they feel great!KOSS KPH30ihttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075FBRYM1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1-I didn't like the bleeding bass of the Portapro's, so I kept hunting. I tried the Koss KPH30i's next. VERY nice. I consider them better than the Portapro's. Slightly more clarity in the highs and the bass didn't bleed. The high's were only a little more powerful than the Portapro's, pretty much had the same 'soft' sound quality I liked in the Portapro's. The bass was a little underwhelming. I could tell where the bass was meant to be, which was nice, but it wasn't boomy at all. Like HEARING the bass, but not FEELING it. At first I really appreciated that, especially for classical, but after a few days I kind of missed the bass punch of the Portapro's. The biggest problem with the KPH30i's were they were uncomfortable! The earpads are huge and they press on my ears hard. Its not just the compression strength causing it, its the flat earcups that press against the entire ear. I could only wear it for 10 min before taking them off. So I tried the Grado Ear Pad mod, put it around the earcups and it was MUCH better. Warning, do NOT remove the original foam of the headphones. They tear and you cant get them back on. I made that mistake and now my KPH30i's high's hurt my ears because there is nothing between my ear and the driver. I wished I would have kept the original foam on, and THEN put the Grado pads over them. Instead I had to use the paper towel mod and now the high's don't hurt my ears. The hole in the pad still make a tunnel effect and I feel like that creates a pressure chamber that hurts my ears over time. I DO love the silicone resting band on this set. With that and the Grado pads, these became a lot more comfy, but I still would have to take them off after a couple hours, from my ears over-heating and the firm pressure on the ears. That combined with the lack of bass punch, I decided to keep looking.KOSS KPH40https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KZC94X1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1-I had heard that the KPH40 was the sound 'sweet spot' between Portapro's and KPH30i's, and they were right! These are currently my favorite headphones, even more than my less-than-budget-friendly Sennheiser HD599's (see below). The KPH40's are my Goldilocks Headphones. The KPH40's sound profile are a LITTLE more V-shape than the Portapro's and the KPH30i's. A little more bass than the KPH30i's and a little more high's than the Portapro's. Perfect. The bass is just right, and very accurate. The mids are there, but not overpowering. The high's are clear but still have that 'soft', 'easy-listening' sound I enjoy from the Koss drivers. Honestly I don't think a lot of people will hear a difference between the 3 Koss headphones I tried, its very subtle. They all have the same basic sound. But the differences were enough for me to recommend the KPH40's over the others.The koss headphones I tried aren't as clear and accurate as my HD599's but I enjoy listening to music on them more. It's just more laid back while still being clear and accurate enough. It has a pleasant 'cloudiness' to the whole sound image. I think some people call this 'veiled'. That's a good description. It's just not as harsh on the ears, I could listen to them all day without pain or fatigue. I put the YAXI pads I bought for my Portapro's on them and they fit fine. Super comfy. It didn't really need it because Koss learned from the KPH30i's mistake and made these earcups small. They sit right on the ear where it needs to and it doesnt hurt. The headband is also metal instead of plastic, so you can adjust it to exactly the clamping force and shape that you want. At first, I found the metal headband too skinny, it felt like it was cutting into my scalp. It wasn't, It just felt that way. So I actually took the silicone band I loved from the KPH30i's and taped it to the inside of the metal head band. LOL, I'm not fancy. I bet you could tape some rolled up paper towel to the inside and get a similarly comfy effect. This mimics the all day comfort I always got from my PX-100's. I think any future iteration's should still keep the metal band, but maybe include the silicone comfort band from the KPH30i's, don't touch the drivers or earcups, they are great. I LOVE the ribbon style cable that doesn't tangle. I don't really need the "utility series" connector, especially when the utlity cables cost $45, so if removing that makes these headphones $30 instead of $40, please do so and make these headphones an even more ridiculous bargain!SENNHEISER HD599https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-599-Open-Headphone/dp/B01L1IICR2?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1-At $150, I almost didn't want to mention these as budget headphones, but for those looking to become Audiophiles, I think they are the cheapest Audiophile-quality option. Some recommend the Grado SR60's or SR80's, but I don't. They have zero bass, ear canal piercing highs, and are VERY uncomfortable to wear. The earcups are flat, high compression, and unyielding. I couldn't wear them for more than 3 minutes. The sound profile of those Grado's might be good for monitoring high's and mids, but not bass, so what's the point of them? Vocals and violins only? No thanks. The HD599's, on the other hand, have a very neutral profile with a SLIGHTLY elevated bass, perfect for monitoring, IMO. The bass is present, a little punchy, but not muddy or boomy at all. While the headphones were comfy on my ears, I found that it created weird air pressure differences in my ear canal. This became very fatiguing after an hour, even at the lowest possible volume to hear the music. Probably because of the bigger, more powerful drivers. I think they started to damage my ears. After a few weeks I couldnt wear them for more than 10 minutes without my ears hurting again. The only time any budget Koss driver did that was when I had the tunnel effect going on with the Grado Cushion Mod, and even then it was at a much lesser degree.---A NOTE ON AUDIOPHILIA...-But mostly I just recommend people don't become Audiophiles. It sucks.What a music-lover like me didn't understand was that Audiophiles don't listen to music, they monitor it. They don't absorb the entire composition, they nit-pick specific parts of it. This robs the listener of any enjoyment of the music. It kind of bother's me that they have stolen the title of "Audiophile". I think that belongs to music-lovers and music-makers. What we call "Audiophilia" should actually be called "Audiomonitoring". Calling it Audiophilia compels music-lovers like me to spend massive amounts of money on "better" headphones and audio setups to rob of us of any listening enjoyment we previously had with our $40 budget headphones, and rob our wallet while they are at it. I don't mean to insult or begrudge Audiophiles for a hobby they enjoy, I just don't like it when they are propped up as experts of the best sounding equipment. They aren't. They are experts for the best MONITORING equipment for sound engineers. If you enjoy music, I recommend you get a "consumer" headphone. I recommend you get the Koss KPH40.I like my KPH40's the best for listening to Music, TV, and Movies. Even over my Sennheiser HD599's. Its true that the HD599's have better clarity, but I enjoy music more with my KPH40's because I'm not hearing harshness or noises that the sound engineers never meant people to hear. Sometimes I felt like I was hearing TOO MUCH accuracy on the HD599's, like things the orchestra didn't want us to hear. I couldn't ENJOY my music because I was MONITORING it too much. I heard too much noise, not enough music. And I didn't have a CHOICE to enjoy the music, I HAD to monitor it. Audiophiles are nit-picky sound analysts, so take their hard-earned advice with that in mind.OK, A short message on Amp/DAC's. Don't bother.I have a Dragonfly Cobalt Amp/DAC. It costs $330. While it DOES make all my headphones sound better, it's practically negligable. MAYBE a 3-5% improvement in sound. Not really worth spending any kind of money on. The DAC on my computer is fine, same with my iphone. Especially with the Koss budget headphones. It's recommended that you have an amp for heaphones that have an impedance of 50 ohms or higher. If its higher than 50 ohms you might want an amp just so the drivers are poperly driven, or it will sound real quiet. But test it first at full volume, you might not need it. If you do, there are Amp/DAC's in the $60 range that should do just fine. You definately don't need it with the KPH40's. So unless you can get it for free like I did (VERY nice friend), then I wouldn't bother with it.What about special cables? Not needed with the KPH40's alone. I had trouble with distortion running headphones from my amp using a cheap amazon 3.5mm extension cable, so I just got a USB extension cable instead and ran the headphones driectly from the amp. Problem solved. If your still having problems with distortion, there's guides online on how to make quality cables on the cheap. But you shouldn't need them. Please don't spend more than $20, the cost-to-sound improvement ratio is the worst here.OK, rant against the heaphone consumer industry over...and thank heaven for Koss!---THE BOTTOM LINE-So for normal people (99.9% of the population), I recommend you forget the expensive monitor stuff and get the KPH-40's for the $40. :DOther than the modifications I mentioned, you can also use the Kramer Mod to further fine tune the sound profile, but I don't think it's necessary with the KPH40's. Guides for the Kramer Mod can be found online.LINKS TO STUFF I MENTIONED-Here's the YAXI pads I used on the Portapro's and the KPH40'shttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQVHX84/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1Here's the Grado Pads I used on the KPH30i'shttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TGCDHL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1Here's some painters tape for the Portapro's. It doesn't leave residue if you change your mind later, and it matches the blue in the headphones nicely! :Dhttps://www.amazon.com/Duck-Painters-1-5-Inch-1-41-Inch-240194/dp/B0025KUSW8?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1A cheaper $7 3.5mm-to-lightning adapter so you don't have to buy the $45 one from Koss, (COUGH!)https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Lightning-Headphone-Jack-Adapter/dp/B01LXJFMGF?ref_=ast_sto_dpA popular budget Amp/DAC you don't need.https://www.amazon.com/Fosi-Audio-Headphone-Digital-Analog/dp/B07VDQQY95?ref_=ast_sto_dpIf you made it to the end, thanks for listening, and enjoy those heaphones!**UPDATE 8/9/2023I have to add a note here. Since this review I have noticed that the Koss KPH40 headphones do tend to "bloom" in the upper-mid Bass range. What does that mean? There is a mildly loud reverberation when the Bass hits a certain frequency, and ONLY that frequency. As the sound gets lower the bloom goes away. For this reason I have gone back to my repaired Sennheiser PX-100 (originals) as my main headphone. But I still love these headphones!
User
These headphones punch way above their weight.
The Koss KPH30iK are incredible for around $30. They’re super lightweight, comfortable for long listening sessions, and have a simple, clean look that doesn’t feel cheap.Sound quality is where they really stand out. They have a warm, balanced tuning with fuller bass than you’d expect from an open on-ear design. Mids are clear and natural, making vocals sound especially good, and the treble is smooth and easy. They sound open and lively, not thin or compressed, and easily outperform many headphones that cost significantly more.Build quality is basic but smart. The lightweight plastic construction keeps them comfortable, and while they don’t feel premium, they also don’t feel fragile.If you want great sound on a tight budget, these are an easy recommendation. A true classic from Koss and one of the best values in headphones. On a side note, I would also recommend the Koss Potra Pros.
User
These are outstanding!!!
Let's get to it then, shall we.I am an audiophile. Audiophile: a HiFi enthusiast.With that out of the way let's discuss these little gems. I can't stand (personally) the description of if a thing is good for it's price. Price may not be subjective but what a thing is worth in relation to how it sounds is subjective on a good day. Instead truthfully if a thing is good it's good, if it's worth it it's worth it. These my friend are good and worth it.At just a tick beneath the price of the Koss Porta Pro you get the KPH30 and it delivers. So let's look at what you get and what you should expect.1. Koss' Limited Lifetime Warranty. It's broke, they fix it. Pretty straight forward and admirable considering the intended use of these guys. I'm pretty gentle on my stuff but one trip through Amazon reviews for earbuds and you'll quickly find out the number one reason most people go for a new set is 1. damage like one side no longer playing music and 2. people love to loose thier stuff. Nothing Koss' can do about number 2 but they've got you covered on number 1 so there's that.2. A lightweight highly comfortable headphone in nice, clean, modern colors. None of that "hey, come steal me" appeal you get from some pricier fashion cans. If you let people listen to them then yeah, expect friends, family members and co-workers living that earbud life to totally swipe them. They're really quite good.3. Practical usage. No, these aren't really for exercise or blasting music (at a desk anyway) as there will be sound leak. You can't use them to hide from your kids or ignore your spouse. But if you're jamming out to James Brown, Daft Punk or whatever your jam is snapping fingers and doing your step they do not fall off. I have a very large head. I honestly have never been to a Lids or New Era or Belk or something and found hats in store in my size. I always have to order. That being said, larger ears and all they stay on my head with no pressure, heat or discomfort. No "headband" markes on my head or hotspots. All day comfort.4. Yeah I mean, they're plastic. So's your cars bumper so that doesn't mean it's cheap'o. The point is they're cheap but don't feel built to a price. The adjustment is easy and holds it's place. They don't squeak or creak or otherwise flop around or do things that ".99" dollar store headphones due, contrary to another person's review.5. SOUND. All caps because that's the number one for most people. If like me, you've listened to lots of headphones, earbuds and in ear monitors you will understand that jumping from one particular sound to another can be jarring. These sound better than the Apple Earbud if that's your concern, the OG ones that end in 3.5, the lightning ones don't sound as good or the same as the old ones. These sound about like Sennheiser HD558's but with better bass presence. The highs are present, sounding more recessed than rolled off. It's not quite like they took away the highs but more like the pulled them back to be non-fatiguing. Bass is solid but not boomy. There's no mid-bass bloat. As a matter of fact the mids are very well positioned not quiet forward but the music, bass and vocals are equally the star in these. The details are there but not the focus, wich makes them well suited for jamming out or long listening sessions more so than critical listening They're warm. Bass is tight and with weight. The bass goes deep but not hi end sub-bass tremble sort of deep. I could keep spitting out descriptions off the top of my head but suffice to say, it's like the Sennheiser HD558, but more involved. It's a warm sound with highs tamed as to not be aggressive and fatiguing, still has detail, bass is good and solid enough to satisfy for rap, dub and edm but controlled enough and restrained enough to not interfere with the mids, male vocals or jazz. To me these are on point for jamming out at louder volumes, relaxed listening while reading, while working, loosing yourself in the music, and phone calls. No one could tell I was on a headset vs my phone without me specifically mentioning it. They're $30 and a hell of a lot better than your stock earbuds or some cheap $10 or $15 one over all.If you want more treble energy and a more in your face sound the Porta Pros are the better buy. But don't over think it like these are some super dark sounding phones. There's still more treble energy than V Modas or the HD598cs. Not comparing them, just saying if you want every box ticked from comfort to function to sound to being able to listen to them all day. These ARE outstanding.I bought these to have something that still sounds good to use with my LG V30 other than my in ear monitors. I wanted to be able to take calls and hear things around me. I also wanted to have an open air sound like earbuds (not in ears) and open back headphones give you. But in a tidy, easy to travel or store package. For when I'm cooking or washing dishes or cleaning or just reading my Kindle. I didn't want in your face great sound that's hard to deal with after an hour. I didn't want a saong and dance requirement to manage the cables or put them on and take them off. I didn't want to always have to hot pause to speak to someone. They met everyone of my desires with aplomb. Best of luck and I hope this was at least somewhat helpful in your purchase decision.
User
Great sound, Not the most durable
I bought these about 6 months ago as an alternative to heavier over/on ear devices which were starting to give me neck pain. For that purpose they were fantastically light weight.2nd, with home meetings and such, they were wonderful for not "sealing" my ears so I could still be aware of what was going on inside the house.3rd, the sound quality was excellent. it was clear, loud enough, for the price they were wonderful, to the point I did not miss the higher end monitors I had.The only problem was the plastic they are designed with is somewhat brittle. To be fair I was putting these on and off many times per hour, so I think the plastic fatigued over time. I saw the initial crack, then the full split, then the opposite side just completely split in one go as I went to put it on my head (which is on the average to smaller size.The other thing I noticed was a whitish film that seemed to be coming off the silicone head piece. At first I thought it was just from my hair product, but it is a little tacky and is on both sides of the band (even the side against the plastic band). It only started when the weather got colder and I am wondering if it is something along the lines of a plasticizer that separates from the base material when the weather gets cold.Overall they are great headphones. If your usage is less frequent on and off like mine, they are probably a great choice for a lightweight set of headphones. If you do expect to take them on and off frequently, then maybe invest in one with a heavier duty band.
User
Excellent low-cost semi-open headphones
After reading positive reviews, including one by Cnet's Steve Guttenberg, I purchased these headphones to add to my collection of low-cost semi-open-back headphones (Koss Porta Pro, Koss KTX-PRO1, Superlux HD681 Evo, original Austrian-manufactured AKG K240).I'll focus on comparing this with the highly acclaimed Koss Porta Pro. Both headsets are new, so they haven't been "burned in" by having hours of music played through them, which many audio experts claim can open up the sound to be even better than when new. (Instead of my 20-year-old Porta Pro, I'm using a brand new Porta Pro Limited Edition, so that neither headset has benefited from burn in.)COMFORT: Initially the KPH30i is more comfortable than the Porta Pro. for 2 reasons: 1) its kidney-shaped earpieces are larger than the round earpieces of the Porta Pro, so the pressure is more distributed. 2) The KPH30i has a soft rubber suspension band that sits atop the head, while the Porta Pro has a narrow, unpadded metal band that sits atop the head. The clamping force is reasonable, just enough to keep the earpieces from slipping. I wore these headphones comfortable over my eyeglasses. It doesn't appear that the foam cushions are replaceable; they may be, but I don't want to risk pulling the cushions if they're glued on. The Porta Pro cushions are replaceable.SOUND: Excellent, especially at this price which is about $15-25 less than various versions of the Porta Pro. If you love the famous sound signature of the Porta Pros, you'll probably love the sound of the KPH30i, because the drivers are probably very similar, if not identical (both are rated at 60 ohms impedance, frequency response of 15-25,000 hertz, efficiency of 101 dB SPL. Both headsets produced the same ample loudness from my Samsung S8+ cellphone.) Both headsets being semi-open designs, they both offer a large "soundstage", which means that the voices and instruments don't sound entirely as if inside your head, but also sound as if the sound sources are around you, with broad stereo imaging. I played the same music on both headsets, and the KPH30i sounded nearly identical to my non-audiophile ears. Steve Guttenberg wrote that the Porta Pro is more transparent and clear, while with this KPH30i: "Treble detail is soft, the KPH30i isn't by any stretch a high-resolution headphone. There's a fuzziness to the sound to be sure, but it didn't intrude or detract from the music." He still loves the KPH30i, and I do, too.Like the Porta Pro, this KPH30i has a 4-foot, non-removable cord. The cord is thicker than the one on the Porta Pro. The KPH30i has a straight plug; I wish it were angled so that it wouldn't protrude 90 degrees coming out of the cellphone. A nice feature is that the plug has a spring-like coil that offers strain relief where the cord joins the plug. Overall, th KPH30i appears very well constructed and I'm guessing it will be durable if handled carefully.November 21st, 2018: I see that the Koss website sells replacement cushions for the KPH30i. Five dollars for 2 pairs, available in either gray or blue colors. The blue version is for the white KPH30i, but why not go crazy and place them on your gray KPH30i? ;-)March 10th, 2020 update: I improved the comfort and sound with 2 products available on Amazon: Yaxi earpads for Koss PortaPro (they also fit on these KPH30i) which bring more comfort and audio improvement, and HIDIZS S3 Portable Headphone Amp/USB C DAC/Audio Amplifier which plugs directly into the USB Type-C jack of my Samsung S9+ cellphone.
User
Superb little things
So, I admit it, I went down the Koss rabbit hole. Read the reviews, watched the videos, changed my mind a dozen times, then bought the KPH30i. I have used Flare and Sony in-ear phones for ages but my ears never felt happy...they shifted, were uncomfortable (I have small ears) or the sound just wasn't warm enough for me...or it was too harsh. I have decent over ear headphones that are lush but I wanted something small and lightweight to just throw on and not worry about. Hense the Koss.I chose the 30i because reviews suggested they were comfortable and had a good 'warm' sound without being too base heavy but without muddying the mids. Plus they weren't so expensive that I would be gutted if they weren't all that good.In fact they are fabulous! They are a 'warm' sound so don't expect sparkly high tones, but they sound cosy and intimate and don't hurt my ears with high notes. I did use EQ to balance the highs and mids a bit more which made the difference, and added yaxi pads for extra comfort but you don't really need to (I liked the colour!).Overall I've found they are very easy to wear and you forget you've got them on half the time. I have a smaller head and find they fit perfectly with no pinching or overt pressure on my ears. I can wear them for hours with no affect at all.They are on-ear with an open back so they don't isolate noise, but after in-ear phones where you can't hear anything else, it's quite nice to do things without having to take headphones off or in-ear phones out when going into a shop etc. You can hear the world around you, though that means that the person sitting next to you on the bus or train can also hear what your listening to. I have checked it though, and honestly it's not that noticeable.I love these things! My only fear is that I now want more Koss headphones to try... maybe the porta pros next.
User
End game headphones with budget feeling build
These sound stunning. They punch WAY above their price bracket in terms of clarity, technicality, tonal colour. The soundstaging is pretty eh..they are open backs so I would not wear them on transport but they are SO light and they feel like nothing. They are on ear headphones so for me at least, after a while the clamping becomes quite unbearable especially because it pushes the ear onto my head and my it starts to hurt.I modded mine with the KOSS foam pads and I removed the foam from infront of the speaker unit and from inside the headphone and it improved clarity so much. it also helped just a little bit with soundstaging but not a lot.Overall an amazing headphone. The build quality is a bit budget but in my book thats actually a really good thing. It's light and when you fiddle around or try to mod it, you dont feel stressed you might break something. you can see where things are clipped and attached therefore you can see how you can open it up. New and premium headphones love to hide and glue and seal the seams and it just makes modding or repairing so much harder. These remind me of the days when music players were a dedicated device and the fact that they still sound so amazing is so nice.
User
Un Must, meilleur que le Porta Pro
Tout d'abord, je mets fin au suspense: ce casque est bien meilleur que le Porta Pro: scène sonore plus ample, grave profond, aigu doux et précis, bon rendement, moins de distorsion, il va plus loin que son illustre ancêtre et fatigue beaucoup moins. Il est neutre et musical!Le confort est excellent et il tient parfaitement sur la tête (je l'écoute beaucoup en marchant).De plus, il intègre le micro pour les appels vocaux.Beau look vintage (certes pas aussi beau que le porta Pro).Seul bémol, l'arceau est fragile sur les côtés (j'en ai cassé plusieurs).
User
Meilleur casque Kos pour moi
Casque léger avec télécommande son, ajustable. C'est celui que je préfère et que je trouve le plus pratique. Le fil est bien épais et de ce fait semble être le plus solide. Le son est toujours très bon.
User
Mega
Bardzo dobre słuchawki lekko cieplutki dźwięk. WygodneTata mega zadowolony 👍
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