Go to kamikoto.com/cheapaudioman to get your knives set and help support our channel.” Use Code: cheapaudioman to get $50 off the Holiday Sale Koss KPH40 amzn.to/3B6h3Zy Support the Channel by Shopping on Amazon amzn.to/3W8vsgK Cheap Audio Man Store Front shop.howl.me/cam Join the best hifi community out there! www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman TRY ROON roonlabs.com/r/RTmYWdCP9kitqouBa5pcIw Tidal Deal bit.ly/3siuqSF Amazon Unlimited Music Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9 Crutchfield shop-links.co/cguPK8XEGmt Best Buy Deals shop-links.co/cf9yDZeYtUH amzn.to/3GkNaop CAM Store (New Products!) bit.ly/30Lgu4K apos.audio?sca_ref=552340.TY98BPcZ6P massdrop.7eer.net/qnOye5
@@georgedomse I mentioned this in another comment. I changed the rest of my integrations to Kamikoto from Established Titles as there is a tangible product and I actually think they're good. Used them for thanksgiving prep and pretty much every day afterwards. I'm under contract with this company for a little while longer. After these integrations are done I won't be continuing with this company.
As a company, Koss is simply ridiculously good, and here's why. Way back in the day, like 1974, I bought a pair of Koss Pro 4A headphones as my first "quality" headphone. I was stationed south of SD and lived in a barracks suite with three other guys, so speakers were out of the question. For me, the Pro 4A performed fine and it wasn't until at least 10 years later that I had to replace them after my roommate's daughter decided that the headphone cable made a nice jump rope. Well the Pro 4As went on the shelf. Fast forward almost 50 years and I found them covered in dust and looking pretty straggly but I thought I might try to clean them up an repair them to maybe "vintage" status. While I was doing some product research someone mentioned that the headphones had a lifetime warranty...basically any condition, no questions. So, I thought it was well worth paying maybe $7 in shipping to check it out. By golly, a couple of weeks later a brand shiny spanking new pair of Koss Pro 4AA headphones showed up!! Now, I'm not here to praise them as awesome headphones, because they're not. But, anytime any company honors a warranty for 50 years, I think it's worth mentioning. So, I've just put a pair of these KPH40s in my Amazon cart 1)to support the channel and 2)to support Koss!!! I think they're a great company and this is no sea story!! OH!! One other thing...I couldn't help wondering during the knife commercial how these Japanese blades stack up to Hattori Hanzō steel???? ~Frank
You think those are good? Try the Koss KTXPro1 Titanium at less than $18!! If you are willing to trade $20 or $60 for the downright ugly cheap appearance of the KTXPro, you get sound that I seriously compare to open back competitors that sell for $90. And they are comfortable. I was just thinking of how good those are a couple of days ago. I'm not kidding. Give them a shot. And as flimsy as they appear, I haven't had any durability with them. They hold up pretty well. LESS THAN $20!!! - seriously I think they sound great.
Been a Koss shill for about 2 years now. I have the Porta Pro, KSC75s, KPH30i, KPH30i clear, KTXPRO1, and KPH40. All great. I think the worst of the bunch is probably the porta pro I guess. The best to my ear is easily the KSC75. Stellar headphone. Actually my favorite headphone. 85% of the time I’d take it over my Moondrop Variations, HD600, or Focal Elex. Other companies gotta make more on-ear, ultra lightweight headphones because Koss has a stranglehold on that market. Glad you liked them! They are truly wonderful sounding headphones, very comfortable and portable. It’s about the most astonishing price/performance ratio in all of audio.
You could do me a big favour (if you see this comment and have time). I’m a massive Koss fan too, admittedly only over the last 3 months lol, bought KSC75 in august and have had basically every other model since then. Settled on the KTXPRO1 (because I love how they’re basically KSC75 with the Porta Pro bass). But I’ve just ordered some KPH40 and I’m really curious how they compare to the KTXPRO1. I’m trying to minimise my gear so I want to just have one ideally. So could you say how the KTXPRO1 and KPH40 compare at all? And which is your favourite and why?
If they break, don't get a new pair, GET THEM FIXED with the LIFETIME warranty for $9!! Pretty much all Koss headphones qualify for their lifetime warranty, which in this case is almost certainly just a new pair, for the $9 processing/shipping/handling fee.
I bought my first pair of Koss Porta Pros back around 1994. Always been so pleased with their sound. Glad to see Koss is still cranking out great headphones at such a great price. I also appreciate that, in a world of ubiquitous earbuds, Koss is still making great, cheap old-school over-ears.
@@YoungOldDude Why on earth would you buy a new pair of PortaPro's? Unless you just want another set, it's worth remembering that they come with a lifetime warranty which Koss honors. For the cost of shipping them back, you get a new set. They've replaced mine twice.
Btw, Koss has a Porta Pro with a flexible microphone arm. It's the best online meeting headset around. Light as a feather, excellent sound quality, great mic, closes down really small. I just got one and love it.
Randy, I adore your channel. But you know that your knife sponsor and established titles are the same scam company, right? On one hand I’m all for whatever advertising keeps you able to do what you love creating killer audio gear reviews, but like it or not, some people might question your credibility based on the sponsors you do business with. Keep up the good work buddy. I’ve picked up a lot of wonderful affordable gear because of this channel!
I’m under contract but I did switch all the rest of the integrations to the knives as a customer actually gets a product which is quite good. I used them for thanksgiving prep and use them almost daily since. I don’t know knives but they’re the best knives in my kitchen. After the contract is up I’m not partnering with this brand anymore
PortaPro for life! I’m guessing the drivers are similar/same. I’ve loved the PortaPro for years and have replaced a few pair via the lifetime warranty. Paid about $8 for the replacements (shipping) and never had any issues with the process. Earbuds don’t work for me during exercise cuz I sweat and they pop out… PortaPros are the only things that stay on my head. I can’t name a better bang for the buck
40's are good, but try Koss ksc75 put on a headband with Yaxi pads. Titanium coated driver...better vocal clarity...same great soundstage and imaging. Though I have "better" headphones, I use this everyday, mostly for YT videos and quick checks of new music.
I bought these headphones a while, and was not too happy with them. Try the the Koss KPH30i..........now those are really impressive for about the same price! 🎶🥁🥁🎶🎧🎧
I use these a lot. I upgraded the pads to orange for that retro look. The kph30i are pretty good too especially when you do the large Grado pad mod for $10
Nope ... the KPH40 isn't the best Koss, although it's good. The KPH30i is much better sounding and has a better cable (and for me the comfort). If you like it more airy, get the KSC75 and do the Kramer mod.
What do u mean u don't know....❓️😱 Kos have, for long time, used to be the "benchmark" among the portable headphones. When Sony - WH...1000....came, many measured them to the Kos Porta Pro - to see if the Sony mached up. ..
your sponsor is a very sketchy brand. The father company has been involved in some very questionable business practices. (owned by an associate of established titles [also a scam btw])
It is strange that similar Koss drivers sound different in each headphone implementation? I'm hard of hearing and find the Koss KSC75s ($15), that uses the titanium coated driver, emphasise the midrange and improves speech intelligibility. I use them every day and highly recommend them. I tried the KPH30i ($20), that uses the plain driver, it has a darker nature and is NOT my goto headphone. I'm presently listening on Philips SHP9500 ($70), they are a hidden gem that has a similar sound to the best Sennheisers and I highly recommend them. All prices are at time of purchase.
For me it is PortaPros or nothing. Lifetime warranty. If they break just send them back and they give you a new pair. I’m from Milwaukee I know what I am talking about.
Been using the 30's forever, just good to have around. I also did Zeos' earpad mod. Currently have the CLEAR ones that were a big deal last year. They look awesome!
I have yet to hear the 40's but i have the kph30i's with the better Grado pads (both thanks to Zeos). I have a bunch of other headphones including the Ananda's and i swear i find myself reaching for the Koss's just as much and lately even more so. Have a tube buffer after DAC and before a Loki eq and then into a Xduoo MT602. Sounds soooooo good and are soooo comfortable! Makes me def question some of my higher end headphone purchases. Incredible bargain.
During the holidays, they are up to 30 percent off. And right now, during the New Years sale, they are 20 percent off. Only on the Koss website. No Reason to NOT get these. Like front facing speakers in your head with all the comfort. If I could recommend 2 other cheap Koss OEMs, it'd be the Porta Pros and the KSC75s because they all, along with the KPH40s, have the same 60 ohm drivers, but just tuned very differently. Do not feel cheated, as you now have interchangeable headbands/ear-clips. Think of it this way, KSC75 = bright, Porta Pro = Muddy but Boomy, KPH40 = Best Of Both Worlds (plus it's 2.5mm balanced as part of the utility series? Haven't tested but will get back to comment on that matter). All for under 100 when there's deals around. With Yaxi pads, things really don't get worse. Also, Koss has very decent warranty policies!
I'm sure those Koss KPH40 headphones sound amazing and punch above their weight just like PortaPro headphones as well as the Koss KPH30i headphones; both of which Zeos had recommended in one of his previous videos from a few years ago. I have the Koss KPH30i headphones and they are AMAZING! No one should mistake these lighter Koss headphones for cheap headphones like the kind that Sony or other companies used to provide for free with their Walkman, Discman, or other portable audio units. These Koss headphones are night and day different and FAR SUPERIOR. They can give more expensive headphones a good run for their money in terms of sound quality.
Been using the KTXPRO1s for over 20 years... My first pair were branded Optimus, from good ole Radio Shack! 40mm titanium diaphragms give you a bit of bass. Sound pretty good for a knock around set for podcasts and around the house tunes.
I has a pair of the top end Optimus with the open vents. I don't remember the #. I think it was 70 or 80. I can't get the same treble response on newer pricier pairs. It could be high frequency hearing loss w age.
I use mine hooked up to my schiit stack. I went with POYATU pads off amazon. They won't fade or fall apart like yaxxi pads. I have heard quite a few ~$300 headphones and don't use them anymore. I find I rock out more with my KPH-40s. One thing worth mentioning is that these do have less distortion at louder volume and can handle bass better than the porta pro and KPH-30i. A lot of people think that they already have something comparable with one of these older products. Not so. Go buy the KPH-40.
Thanks. Great vid. Gonna check the Koss headphones out. Seen them but kind of discounted them as archaic. Seem perfect for walking. Dude that knife thing is shady.
I had headphones like that when I was quite young. Not sure why we had them, but they were always just sort of “around”, but never used, so I adopted them and truly loved them. It was a sad day when the foam pads wore through and the hard plastic (or metal?) frame began to make them too uncomfortable to wear. I’ve always respected Koss.❤
Radio Shack used to rebrand Koss headphones under the Optimus brand name and I used to Love the Optimus Pro 25's and then later the Radio Shack Pro 35's. Back in the 90s they were $40 but you could get them for $20 on sale. Best pair of headphones I've ever owned.
The KPH40's have features you haven't touched on. You can get USB or Livewire cables for them, which makes me think that they'd be driven digitally direct from your device with no additional D/A converter or dongle needed. For years my daily driver has been the PortaPro. Now it's my "on the road" headphone, and every time I use it I am blown away by how good it sounds. It was a class C recommended component by Sterophile for a while, if memory serves. If you haven't tried them, you should. The only drawback is their headband can grab longer hair.
the 30i's build is weak, didn't even last me a fee months. I got the porta pro and they are great, if I had heard them I wouldn't have bought senn, Philips and AT
I own kph30i and porta pro both cheap and great to go outdoor. But kph30i like to break build quality is bad but for 20-30$ i dont mind, already bought second pair of kph30i. Porta pro on the other hand are indestructable but not realy comfortable. If talking about sound its porta pro > kph30i.
Good to see all the luv here for Koss, a quality American brand. If you need a headphone with way above average sensitivity, try the JVC HAS160 ($13). They solved this problem with my early Fire tablet and very quiet MP3 recordings.
When I worked at Radio Shack in the early aughts… Koss made a RS branded titanium driver headphone that was just awesome. For $35. Used them on the train every day on the El with my iPod on the way to work or school. My first foray into satisfying cheap audio.
I've had Koss KPH30i headphones ($25) for a couple years. I use them on walks etc., with my phone and an audioquest dragonfly black dac. I'm still surprised by the sound quality. Audiophile ? No. But better than you'd expect ? Yes.
FWIW I have a pair of Koss Electrostatic headphones + koss electrostatic amp. Got them from Massdrop before it got crappy. For $400 for both they sound fantastic and have made me forget about a lot of really expensive headphones I own. I also have some Stax Electrostats that cost 3x the price for maybe a 10% improvement. Also the Koss have lifetime warranty. The frame is largely cheap plastic as long as you're careful all is well and they are so light and comfortable.
I got these about a year ago. They sound fantastic. I put on the Yaxi pads for extra cushioning. They're pretty efficient, I get good volume from just my phone.
I just bought these based on your rec. I like this old school design and the budget to quality ratio on offer. I used your Amazon link so hopefully it gives you a kickback once it ships.
Dude I just got Audeze Maxwell... and I am contemplating returning it after comparing it to my old koss porta pro. Koss is lightweight, most comfortable headphone ever and sounds so ENERGETIC. Audeze Maxwell is perfection.... but it's also a tank on your head
My first set of phones were Koss. I couldn't afford decent speakers but I could afford those Now a holding company is renting out the name. I hope they are at least decent phones. Koss made some great cans back in the day.
These look remarkably like one of the earliest open back headphones from Sennheiser. My memory may be faulty but I think it was the HD 414. Thanks again!
You can also get a 2.5mm to 2.5mm cable to make them balanced and the more power makes a difference. They scale insanely well with more power and higher end equipment. Also $10 for after market yaxi pads are a huge upgrade.
the scalability and even EQ potential with a BT/DAC portable dongle/dac....makes other options/portables EASILY an afterthought. They scale TOO damn well and can be EQ to be sufficient in a multitude of GENRE/mixes....it is almost insulting to use a different "setup" on the go even at home at times. It also is worth while to have prior to getting "DEEP" into gear/can investment....it easily showcases that there isnt much "MORE" out there to strive spend for around the BEND other than affirmation bias.....and GEAR pairing XD and tube rolling for that added placebo/for science aspect that separates listening for enjoyment...vs being completely objective.
I grabbed some off of Zeos Pantera's recommendation and was like ya they're good, but they kinda sound like their price in some ways.. They aren't very resolving although they're very clean/clear. Can't go wrong if it's your last 30 bucks though, very good on-the-go, because if you lose 'em or break them you didn't break the bank. You're not going to go replacing your Susvara's with these in case anyone's wondering. xD
Yes they are new. The KPH30i is good to (arguably better) . They are classic. The 30i is definitely more comfortable. Yes both the 30 and 40 don't go well with amps. They don't need it and amps even hurt them.
There was a cheap pair of AKG headphones I had about 10 years ago - they were $22, I think? They look very similar to this Koss model. And they sounded amazingly good, as you describe these. The issue in the end was the foam pad disintegrated - my spouse though came to my rescue, by crocheting new ear pads. And then part of the band broke. They lasted several years of hard use, and they sounded really good, indeed.
Yeah, those foam pads are definitely the weak point. I had to stop using my headphones for that reason, but the Internet didn’t exist at the time, so replacement parts weren’t really an option.
I think I'm going to get a pair. I have a Quadlex Dongle DAC and it's excellent. It has, I think, 2000 sound Profiles in the multiples for virtually every headphone made in the last 20 years. And I know the Loss are in there. So, deficiency wise I bet something can be found that may correct those minor issues. Oh, and I ware my Meze 99 Noir's for hours and find no fatigue at all. Though if it's a hot day and the air's not one my ears sweat a tad.
Basically Portapros with a lightweight headband it appears. I love Portapros but have blown them watching tv/movies on my laptop. Normal even bassy music is fantastic, but for some reason the rumble of ultra low frequency content in movies etc seems to just fry them. Believe it or not, the very cheap JVC HAS160 'Flats' are far more robust and surprisingly good once you EQ out the boxiness. Far tougher drivers than Portapros.
Australians using the Aussie Amazon site pay USD$66.12 (delivered) for the exact same Koss KPH40 that costs USD34.99 (+ USD 10.28 shipping) on the USA Amazon site
My Koss TD-90's from 1998 were probably the best headphones at their price point I've ever had! They never died on me, I traded them years after I got them, and they only cost me $50 in the first place. They had individual volume on each headphone, sounded amazing, and just took a beating constantly and never failed. Great headphones. You don't realize just how good having volume individually on each ear is, until you dial in that volume and you get perfect balance in the sound is smack in the middle of your skull. Love those headphones. Probably get them again someday if I can ever find new old stock.
These are my favorite LISTENING headphones under $300 bar none. At $300, there are better, but only for sitting and listening at home. The kph40s are easy to power, travel effortlessly, and can be worn for hours with no fatiguing highs or hot spots on your head, nor hot clamped ears. Not my go to for critical mixing. But definitely for ENJOYING music. Let everyone think they're crap by judging their looks. These are stunners.
these are pretty solid i treat mine like crap toss them in the bottom of my bag they come off the head band/pads fall off but never once have they failed to deliver. Too good of a fit compared to the KPH30i to even consider the nuances/differences in sound signature. My kph30i got set on fire bc of a fiasco/bag over a candle. So i got these shortly after and considering my phone lacks a 3.5mm jack the 50$ bundle to get the type-c cable is nice if i ever forget the K5 dongle or to charge said dongle. Id consider pads, or even clipping some ksc75 drivers onto the headband or the ksc 75 ear clips to these drivers if possible. Either way theyre pefect for listening and having situational awareness/leak when skating/snowboarding. The light clamp/fit and ideal staging/signature make them damn near IMPOSSIBLE to beat for the price/durability/flexibility/multi-use headband. Also LUL to the KNIFE ad, if had spare money lying around for nice KNIVES id probably wind up spending it on some monitors and a BT 5.0 Dac/amp. Nice knives and some hybrid cookware are definitely on the list too XD Thank god koss prices are low enough to afford finer things like that
My daughters use these instead of earbuds/ air pods, with the after marker pads. They’re not just thicker for comfort, the extra foam opens up the sound stage to AWESOME results. Like “whooaaa!!!”. That’s how they measure, officially.
man you weren't kidding, these cheapies punch way above their price point! I bought a set after watching this to run with my portable cassette players i refurbish but for giggles i plugged them into a Schiit Asgard driven by a Bifrost 2/64 DAC and WOW they sound pretty darn good. Reminds me of an inexpensive Sony on ear headphone i bought back in the 90's that i was never able to find a comparable after i wore them out. I bought sets of the Koss for my kids for Christmas now as well. Awesome you found something where the Sound Quality to Price ratio is off the charts. You outta do a video testing out Koss's range of low cost headphones, be curious if a few dollars more buys much more.
If you're curious about the other cheap Koss models you could try the KSC75, on the clips and on a headband for two different sounds. They might just blow your mind.
@@JonnyMorgan18I’ll check them out. I actually returned two of the KPH40 I hadn’t opened yet and replaced with the Porta Pros after a friend recommended and on sale. Pretty much same sound but adjustable fit and more retro design, I think the kids will really like.
I prefer over ear and open back headphones, earbuds aren't comfortable for me. I have a pair of Grado SR-80e for my home listening and Koss Porta Pros for anywhere else. I got them on a black Friday sale a few years ago for $25 on Amazon. Beyond the sound quality, the best part is you don't have to worry about someone stealing them, because they look cheap.
Kamikoto Knives ARE NOT a "scam " Here, let me school y'all: 1st, they are not made cheap in China. They're actually made by hand, in Niigata Japan. The factory workers are all from Niigata, where families have been handcrafting their own blades, for both home utility and defense, since Japans Edo period. Their blacksmiths have been making steel blades for several generations, and several hundred years, and are some of the most highly qualified to manually purify carbon out of steel, in the world. Why is that important? ...because the lower the carbon content of steel, the higher the steels tensile strength, and the sharper you can get the blade before the edge rolls over away from the stone, or belt. Meaning the lower the carbon, the sharper the blades capability. Their knives may be a bit more expensive than some like, and some people might rip people off by selling them second hand, as new, but the company, in and of itself, is not a scam. Btw, none of that information was provided by the company, that was all from my own independent research. Do research before mouthing off, contrary to your own belief, you do not know everything off the top of your head. Opinions are not facts, learn to do research...
Gonna disagree on this one. Went out and bought a pair because of this and some other rave reviews. These have some sparkle for a set of $40 headphones, but they’re still $40 headphones. Midrange is too recessed or veiled for my liking. Was able to bring it forward a little with EQ but that’s not always an option.
Ha I like to think that kids in the background at 1:35 were acting wild and you had to cut mid-sentence to lay down Law then continued the vid with a sleek cut.
"Real Japanese steel" doesn't mean anything. No different than real American steel. It's TYPE of stell (i.e. stainless, carbon, tungsten, etc) that makes a difference. All steels have different tensile strength depending on type of steel and carbon content. Higher the tensile strength, the sharper you can get it before the edge of the blade rolls over away from the sharpening apparatus. So don't buy knives according to brand, by them according to what type of steel that they're made of, and whether the manufacturer provides documentation on what type of steel their blades are made of, and whether that type of steel can meet your sharpness needs.
Well Koss made studio standards for years, so it makes sense they know about headphones. Not really in the audiophile business though. But the Koss Pro-4AA were really common in recording studios. Probably crap compared to what came out in the 90s, though.
How do they compare with the similarly priced JBL (on sale), or other Koss in their product line? Praying you don't loose a finger with those cheap knives! Cheers
I own the 40s also there great also the JBL 710bt is highly underrated and pretty clean. I do feel the 40 should only be 10 bucks more than the 30i though which is way more than the ksc75. The 40 are a bit more clear than the 30is Be fair if you put the ksc75 on a pivoting band they actually start to sound like the 40 due to seal. I did snap the inner cable at the jack running, so the flat cable isn't super .
Hey cheap audio man I was curious if you would do something special for the 40th anniversary thriller album obe step mofi put out a vinyl and CD set with them would you be able to do a sound stage review on either???
