AVaddict's Full Review: Koss Porta Pro Consumer Headphones
A Little Background
I bought my first pair of Koss Porta Pros in 1986 and absolutely loved them. I thought, at the time, that they were quite definitely the best headphones I had ever heard. If I remember correctly I paid about $60 for them and it wasn't bad for the time. They were nothing short of futuristic and offered "features" like collapsibility and strong headband as well as independent ear pad adjustability. These things were unheard of at the time for that price point, and it sold out often, I waited for a month for mine to come into Tweeter Etc (I was on the Cape that summer).
Think back to 1986, ear bud phones had only been out for a short time, and only Sony seemed to really have it down. Most were very tinny and fatiguing and could be nothig short of painful. Koss didn't seem to really have it wrapped up yet and was still the king of the bubble phones. Remember those? Two, rather large, drivers with huge poofy foam pads connected with an impossibly thin piece of vaguely adjustable metal. Koss' rep wasn't what it is now, but that one purchase moved me and that’s why, a full 16 years later, I went out and purchased the same product once again. Lemme tell you about the Portas...
The Product
These headphones aren't particularly heavy, but are a far cry from the freedom of buds. The headphones themselves consist of a two-piece headband, alternately connected to a pair of "temple pads" that feature soft foam pads that rest on or about ones temples. These discrete pads are mounted on hinged plastic pieces that pivot freely having arms that extend lower to mount the drivers proper, also covered with the same soft foam. The ear pads aren't big enough to cover the whole ear, rather they rest on it. These are free air headphones, not your studio style over-the-ear type.
There is where the magic of the physicality of these phones lies. They pivot and move with your head rather than forcing the flesh to comply. On each of the temple pads is a small three-way switch will increase or decrease the pressure with which the ear pads lay on ones ears. This simple concept allows this pair of headphones to satisfy a much larger audience than a "static" pair might.
This small but simple design feature impresses me as much now as it did 16 years ago. I keep mine on the lowest setting. Some might say this is because I have a fat head (go for it, leave a comment), others might say it helps more with long term usage in a single sitting. I might say its a little of both, either way, it works and clearly is proven. I see absolutely no change in the outer appearance or mechanical function of these phones from the model I purchased so many years ago. This to me is proof of a good business concept when sales aren't really lagging (Sony, are you listening?!), if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If you are curious what they look like, go to any Tower Records, Suncoast, or even Blockbuster (they often use these at their listening stations) and check them out. Even if you can't put them on, you can see what I am talking about. Koss made a winner and is sticking with it, bravo!
Sound
These are the happy medium so many of us talk about. They have true premium sound quality, even to surprising volume levels, and maintain with aplomb. Sure you can push the bass, but all things being equal (and flat), they play very loud very well, if that's what's necessary. In quieter situations you will find they play with impressive clarity and overall fidelity, even for an open phone configuration. Unlike the TD-80s they do not have individual volume control for each cup, but that isn't really why someone might buy these anyway, moreover, if the playback device has balance control...what's the point?
I am very impressed by the base response as I was years ago. The highs and mids are clear without being piercing and fatiguing, and sound true and real rather than sounding as if they are playing through toilet paper tubes, which is the effect I have found that results from too much engineering, sometimes. Tubes, ports, cuts, and venturi effects are all fine and dandy, but some engineers ought to really ask themselves how necessary they might be. If you ever destroyed a pair of early Sony buds, you will have found, as I did, the "turbo" ports were nothing more than plastic pieces that appeared to be ports...they were sealed. No port, just poop. Koss is old school, function over marketable design, but guess what, it works, they're still here.
Durability
The durability of these phones was poor then, it, unfortunately still seems to be, in my opinion. In this respect Koss could have certainly upgraded some of the plastic parts, if not to metal (for cost and/or profitability reasons), simply to thicker more durable plastic or even a polyester/nylon mix. Polyester and nylon are cheap and have proven their stiffness and durability for years in cycling shoes, why not make the leap to headphones?
I am not saying the will fall apart, far from it actually. These phones will last years if treated well, but sit on them once and that’s it. The small plastic pivoting parts aren't up to that challenge, the band will stay intact, but the folding points on the temple pads will surely give way under even a small child’s posterior or foot. Kiss offered a replacement program back in '86, which is now gone from the literature, undoubtedly because it was costing them money. I took advantage of it then, but hope never to need such a boon today. I like these phones and plan to have them for a while.
Final Thoughts and Stuff I Don’t Like
The cord could be longer. I use these at work, and with a desk as big as and shaped as mine is, a few extra feet would be great. I find I often am leaning forward as I process my cases. I will be moving my tower sideways underneath to remedy this problem, but I also understand these aren't really meant to be a home or studio set, as the name suggests, so this is more of an annoyance than a legit complaint.
Overall, I am very happy with these headphones. Not only do these have many advantages over the more expensive TD-80s or other over the ear phones, like comfort, sweating, pinching, they sound almost as good, offering a maximum level of performance with light weight, decent cord length (straight, not wound), and versatility (goodish 1/4" adapter plug), they offer it all at a very reasonable price. I am once again very impressed with Koss. If you ever have the chance to hear an unblown pair, I know you will agree.
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