YAXI EARPADS for Koss PORTAPRO 2Pairs (Blue+Red)

QUICK STATS - Price: $15 for 2 pairs (a bargain compared to most "audiophile" upgrades) - Material: Open-cell poly foam - Thickness: About 0.5 inch (nice and plush) - Diameter: 2 3/8 inch (locks onto your head like a lovesick koala) - Colors: 8 options, 25+ 2-pair combos (Christmas, Halloween, Tuesday - you name it) THE SWEET SOUND NOTES ✓ Reportedly opens up the high-end response (finally hear the dog whistles!) ✓ Maintains the open, airy Porta Pro sound signature ✓ Comfortable enough for even the longest listening sessions (no "clamped vice grip" headaches here) THE (MINOR) DISCORDANT NOTE - More expensive than stock pads (your ears have champagne taste, what can we say?) INSTALL & TRANSPORT TIPS Swapping out the pads is blissfully simple - just wrap them around the driver case and let the integrated pins do their job. The Yaxi pads wrap around the divers a bit more aiding in a secure fit (photo comparison provided) Be carefule not to break the pins when removing old pads. And speaking of the stock pads, those slippery fellas have a tendency to go AWOL, especially when putting the headphones on or tossing them in your bag. These Yaxi replacements, on the other hand, stay firmly in place no matter what you put them through. REAL-WORLD RUNNER REVIEW As a daily runner relying on my trusty Porta Pros, the stock pads just couldn't keep up. These Yaxi replacements, on the other hand, stay firmly in place no matter how hard I push it. And the more breathable foam design means my ears don't end up as uncomfortably swampy and sad. TECH TALK (AUDIOPHILE OPTIONAL) The thicker Yaxi pads are said to gently open up the high-end response, creating a slightly airier, more spacious soundstage. Theoretically, this could be due to the proximity effect - the stock pads sit closer to your ears, emphasizing the low-end. But the extra foam also probably tames those highs a touch, keeping things nicely balanced. Not a night-and-day difference, but a welcome refinement for discerning listeners (or dog owners with exceptionally sensitive hearing). MIX-AND-MATCH MADNESS Yaxi offers 8 individual colors, allowing you to create over 25 unique 2-pair combo looks. Want to channel your inner Christmas elf? They've got festive red and green options. Hoping to match your lovingly curated sneaker collection? There are plenty of non-holiday hues to choose from. Just be prepared for seasonal costume commentary if you go the holly-jolly route. FINAL VERDICT If the stock Porta Pro pads keep letting you down (like a lukewarm football team), or you're simply looking to level up your listening experience, these Yaxi replacements are a worthy investment. They stay securely in place, breathe better than the originals, and may even give your tunes a subtle sonic upgrade. And with all those color options, you can customize your look to match your mood (or the calendar). Your ears - and your overall swagger - will thank you. Just don't be surprised if people start calling you "Rudolph" around the holidays.

These are so much comfier than the original pads the Porta Pros come with! The default ones are quite flat, and so you can kinda feel the plastic underneath them which is torture on your ears for extended listening, which is a shame for otherwise very light and comfortable headphones. I've heard about these pads from another Porta Pro owner, and so I figured I'd give 'em a try. And hey, they even came in orange, just like those old Walkman headsets, and my favorite color! When I unboxed them, the first thing I noticed was the quality of the foam; nice and soft, good feel against the skin, not scratchy or cheap like some cheap store-brand headphones have. They're also quite breathable, and deform to fit over your ears nicely. When listening to some of my cassette tapes through these, they didn't negatively affect the sound quality of my Porta Pros at all. In fact... they improved it? I think the greater distance from your ears really helps the soundstaging feature the Porta Pros are so good at really shine, and gives a slightly fuller sound. Color me impressed! I'd say if you spend the $35 on a pair of Porta Pros (or $59 for the limited edition ones like I did...) this is such a tiny purchase to make them soooo much more comfortable, and even sound a little better too! Super easy recommendation, and great value for your money :)

I only bought these because the original pads were starting to fall off, but they turned out to be a massive upgrade! They are way thicker and more comfortable, and they make the headphones look more luxe somehow. Very easy to put on and they stay on. Also improves the sound quality. For the price you can't go wrong. I'd recommend getting them even if your factory pads are fine.

I bought a pair of Portapro and even on the "lightest" setting it still was uncomfortable on my ears. On recommendation I bought these and they are so soft and comfortable even with many hours of wearing. I think these are almost a requirement. The colors are really bright and nice and swapping them on was really straightforward and fit great

Makes the Koss porta pros more comfortable. Makes over all sound a little better in a headphone that sounded good to begin with.

Very good cushions, highly recommended better than the original ones. Very soft and comfortable to wear. Orange color looks very aesthetic as 90s vibes. :)

What I notice: - very slight bump in bass - slight increase in soundstage - slightly mellowed trebles - reduced sibilance compared to stock F-pads Overall an improvement, albeit warmer tone, over the stock sound signature imo. Other pads I've tried so far: - Dekino Velour (returned): While it boosted bass by quite a bit, it muddied the midrange. And worst of all, it elevated sibilance to a pitch I could not stand. - Sennheiser HD414 (returned): They were comfortable (not as comfy as these yaxi pads). However, I did notice a slight reduction in clarity due to them sitting farther from my ears. Also the fabric is a bit more porous than the Yaxis, which may have contributed to less bass and clarity. - stock F-pad: Each Grado is tuned in the factory with the pads they come with. As such they retain their Grado signature sound if you stick with stock pads. Compared to the Yaxi, they have a more forward upper range more suited for live stage vocal performance. But comfort-wise these fall short and I can't stand wearing them for more than 2 hours. Overall, the yaxi portapros are what I've found to be the closest to the grado signature compared to all other pads. Improved bass and soundstage, but with less forward upper range.

They still sound great, perhaps better it’s hard not having a pair with the normal setup to compare with. Was very easy to put these on my Porta Pro Wireless. I had a problem with a left inner ear bone clicking when I had the normal setup, I always had to have it slightly further away from my ear to avoid that. With these I can have them right up on my left ear and no problems at all. Feels like I’m not wearing a headset, very very comfy.