Koss R-10 Home Headphones Reviews

• Dissapointing for the price.

  
  By on 1999-10-22
  I've enjoyed Koss products before and thought these headphones would also be good but unfortunately they're not. They're quite comfortable but the sound is somewhat tinny. Something just seems missing from the sound that I can't put my finger on. It seems somewhat "distant" if that makes sense. Doesn't seem to be "right there".

  I also have a pair of Radio Shack Pro 25 Titanium headphones that I bought on sale for which are much better.

  I'd recommend trying other headphones before you buy these the Koss R/10.
  
  

• Great for Stereo TV/DVD watching

  
  By A3R9KRIO25CKZV on 2003-12-11
  I've had mine for three years now, and I find the UR20s indispensible, since I live in an apartment and can't turn the TV up to a decent level otherwise. There's reasonable bass; you would expect so for the size of them. Always look at the specs. The low number is the bass, the high number (usually in the tens of thousands) is the treble. This set's bass is 30 Hertz. That's That's not a bad number; 20 is average, 12 would be phenomenal. The treble is set at 20,000 Hertz. Theoretically, only dogs can hear frequencies above that, but I think a headphone with a figure over that just seems to sound brighter in the treble, which is what I like. I hate unclear treble and muddy, distorted bass. Another number you look at is sensitivity; the better ones are always over 100. So, I guess based on the specs, these 'phones are about average.

  The cord length is excellent at 8 feet. I can be a reasonable distance away from the TV without straining the cord; I've even slept with them on without ear fatigue.

  These headphones make movie watching a whole new experience...you get surround sound without the expense!

  I've had a great experience with the UR20s and I recommend them for use with home theater, even if you just have a 20" portable like mine. You need an adapter to plug them into a home stereo, and there's plenty of cord where you can be either reasonably mobile or you can sit in your favorite chair some distance away. I think they're great. The only thing that would make them the best is better specs, and that's hard to find at this price range.
  
  

• good quality for good price

  
  By A3DCTPD9IIGYL on 2001-04-15
  i'm a student at carleton college and am constantly studying. i am one of the people who like to listen to music while studying and wanted a nice pair of headphones for my cd player when i went to the library or wherever i would go to do work. i knew i wanted a pair of koss headphones because they consistently provide great quality and back all the products with a lifetime guarentee (try finding that anywhere else). so i bought the R10's; they looked pretty stylish and the price was very reasonable. i am very satisfied with my purchase. the headphones are very comfortable and very durable. the sound is quite good and they are designed to block outside noise. i'll be honest, i have friends who have better headphones but they paid much more for them. you will get your money's worth with these bad boys.
  
  

• Uncomfortable as heck, but decent sound

  
  By A5KFB3DQKN9LO on 2001-09-23
  Well, I needed an [inexpensive] set of headphones, and these looked comfortable, and definately [inexpensive], so I bought em. Well, at first, I was thinking, hey, the sound on these are great. 10 minutes later, I was thinking, my heads on fire! Thats right, these things dont let any heat get out of your ears, which is where the most heat leaves your body, so your head gets really hot really fast. Really really hot. Not only that, but the headband is so tight, that no matter how loose they are, they squeeze your head pretyy annoyingly. Every time i listened to these for more than a half hour, I literaly got a headache. The only redeeming qualities are that they're [inexpensive], there's pretty good sound quality, the padding is pretty comfortable, and the cable is 7 feet long, which is actually a mixed blessing. If you're just sitting there, you can move around a lot, and still be able to leave the cd player in one place, however, if you're going for a walk or something, then you keep tripping on the chord, so you hve to stuff it in your pocket. So unless you live in a really cold place, and you need an [inexpensive] pair of headphones, do not buy these
  
  

• Not for the long haul

  
  By ATB82697SQWON on 2001-12-03
  The Koss R-80 headphones have great sound and eliminate most external noise.
  They're also reasonably comfortable. But if you're looking for headphones that
  will last a long time, keep looking. The earpieces attach to the headband with
  plastic connectors that weaken and snap after a relatively brief time period,
  leaving the earpiece dangling by a thin wire. My set broke under warranty,
  and were replaced without a hassle, but the new ones died the same death.
  Really a shame.
  
  
• Amazing!
  By A35TD8QAUMV0DB on 2004-01-24
  These headphones are great. You can't find anything else that sounds this good in this price range. Koss does stereophones right!

  I have had my UR-20s for more than a year. They still sound great and have been stuffed into my backpack almost every day since i bought them. One of my size adjuster clips has broken, but it is no doubt due to my reckless use. Even broken, they fit comfortably on the head.

  The ear cups are big enough for anyone's ears. They cover your ear completely and do not "crowd" your ear like the smaller UR-29s do.

  The bass is amazing and the insulating ring makes such a close seal with your head that you will not hear anything while you have these headphones on. I don't like listening to music while I sleep, but I have used these headphones as noise reducers (without playing any music) on many occasions and bus rides.

  Note that these headphones are larger than most. This is probably why they sound so great. I especially like that the headband is made of rubber coated metal to keep the phones close to your head, with a cloth balancing strap below that to make it comfortable in any situation.

  Koss is the king as far as affordable, amazing stereophones go. Buy the UR-20s and you'll be glad you did. I have had no problems.
  
  

• Pretty decent
  By A3EQ61ES6HQ090 on 2002-02-16
  Given their price, these are pretty decent headphones, and worth the cash.
  My only two problems with it - first, they need to be resized every time you put them on, because they seem to suffer from "pool shrinkage" - they shrink to the smallest size once you take them off.
  And second is the one brought up fairly often - they don't do anything to block out outside noise. Which isn't that big a deal, as I didn't really need noise-blocking headphones anyway.
  
  
• I keep coming back!!!
  By AF476M6PX2VF8 on 2003-02-19
  I just purchased my third pair of these headphones because they keep breaking at a rate of about one pair per year after the rough treatment they get in my college dorm. Don't get the wrong idea though, they break because they get knocked off my desk and onto the hard floor at least once per day, and they still last a year or so! The sound quality can't be beat either. I used to buy nothing but Sony headphones, but they just sound hollow after listening to these. You will be hard pressed to find a pair of headphones with such great sound quality (and amazing bass!) at such a low price. They can be moderately uncomfortable at first, but give them a day or two and they stretch out to a nice fit.
  
  
• 3 years and going strong
  By A1T48JL1SP0PVK on 2005-02-01
  I bought these headphones over 3 years ago, and they are still going strong. I use them in the office only, so they get little abuse (e.g. I don't blast the bass at work, or anything). I have dropped them a number of times, though, and they didn't break. The sound quality is good for listening to CDs, but like I said, I don't blast the bass or anything. Finally, they are extremely comfortable. I wear them for 7+ hours some days and they don't bother me one bit.
  
  
• Excellent headphones for the price.
  By on 2002-02-03
  I bought these headphones to use with my newly-acquired TDK Mojo mp3-CD player. The combination of the headphones and the player produces great sound. I'm not an audiophile, but I listen to all kinds of music and these headphones do a great job of thumping the bass when they're supposed to, and highlighting the background flute when they're supposed to. There's no volume control on the phones and the cords come out of both earpieces, not just one, but for 25 dollars, you're not going to get frill features like those. Koss is a well-known company that makes quality products. I've used these things almost daily since September and they're still going strong. The cord is long, the sound is extremely good, the cost is relatively low, and the earpieces are comfortable for hours-long listening. What more do you need?
  
  
• ... Headphones
  By A36JMP2B848JSM on 2001-05-11
  These head phones are the best!! Wicked nice bass and sound. The things shack when I crank it!! It says they are for home stereo, but im using it with my portable Mini Disc player. They are unbelevably light!! I recomend these for anyone looking for a good pair of headphones.
  
  
• Disappointing
  By on 2002-10-08
  I recently purchased an MP3 jukebox, and the slight tinniness of the included headphone set led me to seek a product of better quality. I did not find it in the Koss R-80. This set exhibits a sharp db drop-off in both high and low frequencies, and what I can only describe as 'mushiness' in the mid-range. I did not find the set to be as uncomfortable to wear as other reviewers have noted, and the cushioning is effective at blocking exterior noise. However, this does not compensate for the poor audio quality. After an hour of listening to the R-80, I returned with relief and new appreciation to my original inexpensive set.
  
  
• Breakage bad....
  By AQRPH2RBCS7U8 on 2004-06-29
  Having suffered through a wide variety of garbagey headphones in my time, I was very pleased with the quality of sound to be found in these. Unfourtunately, my hapiness was short lived, as 3 months following my purchase, the plastic housing for the swiveling earpiece just snapped off...Never one to be discouraged, I repaired it with a small metal rod bent as a "splint" for the broken piece, and attached to the housing with electrical tape...much to my chagrin, the otherside broke 2 weeks later...in exactly the same way! well, I did the same ghetto style fix for the other side that I had for the first, and theyre still usable, although barely presentable... this is not a reliable product is the long and the short of it....
  
  
• Good Bass and comfortable
  By A214AXZWCBZLBO on 2005-10-08
  I'm not a audio-hound. I bought these headphones to watch movies as I don't listen to much music. These phones have a great sound. Like others who have noted the enhanced bass, I love the bass. I view them as no-nonsense headphones. They delvier great sound but do not have the extra bells and whistles of more expensive models (as these are very reasonably priced). For example, they do not have the sound adjustment switch on the cord and the cord is coiled so you're not always dragging around cord that's continuously getting hung up on something. The only down side I have noticed is fairly peculiar to people with, how shall we say, over-sized heads. They are comfortable. The foam totally encloses the ear so that there's no sound loss or outside sound distractions. But I do have to occasionally readjust their position when listening to long movies to avoid feeling cramped. The head band does adjust but does not offer a wide range of expansion. To put this in perspective, I have a pair of PhillipsSBC HP250s that I can't wear for more than 30 minutes without getting a headache. I also have a pair of Panasonic RP-HT355S that are far more comfortable but aren't as comfortable as these. Other than that small inconvenience, I would highly recommend these phones, particularly to people who don't place high demands on audio tolerances but just want to watch a movie with great sound. As a matter of fact, I am considering getting a second set to take to work to listen to talk radio.
  
  
• As sturdy as it looks, and with very good sound for the price
  By AZDGMG2Y0FLB2 on 2005-10-27
  I bought two pairs of these when I saw them in a store on sale for under $15 each. They've both gotten extensive use over the past couple years. The cushioning on the outside is cloth inside a black material that I suppose imitates leather in looks and feel. This outer material on the cushions has worn off in flakes on both pairs, which makes it look raggedy, but the comfort and sound quality isn't affected by it so I don't consider it a big deal. The headband adjust on one side of one pair seems to have had something break inside it which lets that earmuff go farther down than it "should," but likewise, it's something to be expected with this much use and hasn't affected comfort.
  
  The cable is also thicker than most headphone cables I'm used to, which is good news for people who find themselves constantly rolling over cables with their chairs and such.
  
  I've compared the sound quality to the Koss QZ-50's (which I own) and a library's Koss UR-10's or 15's (can't remember which). Though the QZ-50's do sound better when they have their active noise cancelling feature turned on, the UR-20's are the most comfortable of the three, have the richest bass, are the most durable, and won't eat up your AAA batteries like the QZ-50's.
  
  
• Quality 'phones at a quality price - a music lovers review
  By AP29AZEOKEBI2 on 2007-01-29
  I don't know if I agree with the reviewer that had a problem with the durability of the UR20's. I am a college student in Iowa, and anyone who lives in Iowa knows that the temperature extremes are the worst part of living in the state. I use a portable CD player to walk to class on nearly a daily basis and take my CD player wherever I go, which makes it a 'multiple time per day' basis. The Koss UR20's have put up with temperatures as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and as low as -20 degrees, in addition to being stuffed into a tightly packed backpack for an hour or more once I actually get to class. The UR20's put up with the abuse better than any headphone I have ever owned with the exception of the Sony MDR-V150, but with vastly greater sound quality.
  
  Since the UR20's have become unavailable, I have been searching and searching for a replacement brand but am continually disappointed by the new models I try. All attempts either provide poor sound or woefully short durability. I currently alternate between the Sony MDR-V150 and the Koss UR19 but both of those headphones keep me from turning my music volume all the way up on my CD player due to bass distortion at those high volumes; in addition the UR19 breaks frequently (I have gone through 3-4 pairs of UR19's in the span my original pair of UR20's lasted me).
  
  The only knock I have on this product is a feature most reviewers rave about: the long cord. As I mentioned, I most frequently take this pair of headphones out walking, and the 8 ft. cord is cumbersome and can create accidents. That's how I finally broke my pair: I stepped on the cord when I was walking and ripped it out of the earpiece. That is, however, expected in a pair of headphones advertised for "home audio."
  
  The bottom line: An excellent pair of headphones at a reasonable price. If you are a big music fan but not neccessarily a 'professional,' BUY THESE HEADPHONES IF YOU CAN.
  
  
• Koss R-80 Headphones are great!
  By A4I77GJXZMFA6 on 2007-03-10
  I have always been typing at home in the midst of noise and activity and have had a hard time hearing the dictation. These headphones are tremendous. They cut outside sound down to almost nothing and I can focus on the transcription. It has upped the clarity 100%. It took a little time getting used to having my whole ear covered but after that it was great.
  
  
• Affordable, Quality phones. Couldn't be Happier
  By A4UX9DLH93D9T on 2002-01-18
  I ordered these headphones pretty much because I had a few bucks left on an ... gift certificate and figured since I had already ordered a portable mp3 player and spend so much time on the computer listening to music (while working, surfing the net, wasting away time, etc) I could always use a pair of quality headphones.
  I plugged them in and opened up my Winamp playlist the moment the headphones arrived and I took them out of the box. I couldn't be happier with them.
  You know how there are certain aspects of a song you can only hear when listening to it through headphones? Background music, instrumental, balance tracks, sound effects and certain sounds to a song you just can't hear when listening to them through speakers at a normal volume level? These phones really make every part of the songs I listen to stand out. Songs I've heard thousands of times through speakers or my previous pair of mediocre headphones are completely new pieces of music for me now. The bass is great, outside noise is effective blocked out and it just seems every song I listen to now has a completely new, fresh, better sound to it. Without exagerrating, I can say that listening to one of my favorite songs with these headphones for the first time actually gave me goosebumps because I heard parts to that song I had never heard before.
  For the price and the sound quality, these phones are an excellent buy.
  
  
• Nice durability, average sound.
  By AKLG7XTO5RF33 on 2004-02-18
  I bought these headphones because my Aiwa HP-X222 headphones would always break. With the Aiwa HP-X222, the spot where the cord connected to the headphones was very cheaply made, and just one light trip over the cord would break it.

  So I bought a pair of Koss R-80 headphones for durability, and I am very satisfied. The cord is coiled up, so it doesn't lay around on the floor and get tangled around your feet, causing accidents. The cord can stretch pretty far, and it connects using a plastic piece which clips into the headphones. You can unclip the cord from the headphones, in case it gets tangled.

  If you do manage to trip over the cord, or yank it by accident, the cord will just pop out of the headphones. The plastic piece feels a bit flimsy, but I haven't had it break on me yet.

  The sound quality is average. Low bass frequencies are slightly distorted, and high frequencies seem dull. My Aiwa HP-X222 headphones had much better sound quality, and clarity. Too bad they broke way, way too easily.

  I've been using my pair of Koss R-80 headphones for a few months now, and I have had no problems. :)
  
  

• My Pair Broke Too!!!
  By A2QGS1JBPMSSX9 on 2004-12-13
  I gave this pair of headphones a glowing review - good sound, comfortable, etc. However, while my wife was trying to talk to me, I tried to take off the headphones with my one free hand (the other was holding food) - the headphones snapped off on one end.
  
  They are held together by 2 tiny screws into plastic. The plastic can't take the torque and they can snap off easily, especially if you try to take them off with one hand.
  
  Opt for a better-designed set of headphones and pass on this.
  
  
• Insane Quality at a price that will make you think twice
  By A8ZBPQ57TOU1F on 2005-07-01
  When I saw these headphones online, they looked great, I bought them so quick because of the great price. That was more then a year ago, these things are amazing. Insane quality, the bass is massive and strong, and every thing sounds extremely crisp and clear, with exceptional highs and lows. The headphones completely cover your ears, engulfing your head in sound, blocking most all of background sounds. The only thing I don't like is the cord, the twisted bungy cord is annoying if it stretches, because it tends to pull down on your head a bit. Nothing an extention cord can't fix though, which is what I use with it. I highly recommend these headphones for the computer, movies, or any thing else. A bit big to be bring around with your MP3 player though.
  The price is real low, I would have paid $80 for these headphones and still think I got a good deal.
  
  
• Excellent value for money!
  By A2M9ZR629BQBGD on 2006-08-03
  I basically bought these because they were cheap. Cheap things are not always bad and these headphones are a great example. The UR-20 provides excellent sound for both music and movies. It has excellent bass and sound isolation. I am by no means an audiophile but I know good sound when I hear it and these headphones produce great sound, especially for its price.
  
  
• Not for people with big heads!
  By AVB9EG4PHCQMB on 2008-02-19
  I've owned a pair of R-80 headphones for about 3 months, and I used them everyday at work, taking them on and off at least a dozen times a day.
  
  I enjoyed these headphones up until the day the earpieces snapped off when I put them on my head. The R-80s have a pair of plastic pins that hold the headband to the earpieces together and they snapped. That said, my head is on the large side and my hat size is 7 3/4 inches (US) or 62 cm. According to Berkely Hat Co. this is a XXL hat size.
  
  
• Appearance Not so Grand BUT IMPRESSIVE Sound
  By A3B9872IWVQZHD on 2001-06-01
  When I first opened my box I was a bit dissapointed at the looks of my recently bought headphones so I went through and checked the return policy as I carefully opened up the packaging so that it might be returned in proper condition. But when I tried on the headphones to listen to a few mp3s of my iMac I was quite impressed at the sound it provided. I've now been listening to them for over an hour and a half so I've decided to turn in this review. The power behind these headphones is great enough to play extremely loudly without distortion of spund due to the bass. The ear rests are very comfortable (allowing hours of easy listening). These also come with an adapter for larger headphone sockets if your system requires that. I'm keeping this until they're worn. enjoy!
  
  
• Best sound and comfort for the money. Period.
  By A27FH4CQI88DUV on 2001-10-23
  I wear headphones off and on for about 8 to 10 hours a day. My trusty 6 year old Koss TD-61 headphones finally fell one too many times off my desk and broke. I decided that I would finally splurge and get some of those nice ... studio headphones. I began the quest for the perfect set. I went to many places and tried on all sorts of expensive and not so expensive pairs. Like Goldilocks, they were all too tight, too heavy, too small (causing extended wear cauliflower ear.) I gave up, and continued using the TD-61s with spaz tape to hold them together. Until I saw the Koss UR-20s. Definately the most comfortable I have ever worn, and so STURDY! Super light weight, and the improvement in sound over the TD-61 is astonishing! Its like a veneer has been lifted from my cds and my old favorites have new depth and quality! I am happy!
  
  
• Koss R80 Headphones
  By A36KAIF8BXGNA0 on 2001-11-10
  I'll start off by saying that this is the most expensive pair of headphones i have purchased so i'm not an audiophile by definition. Im not a seasoned reviewer either so i'll just list the pros and cons
  pros: covers entire ear and does a good job muting out peripheral noise, produces very good sound (i use it for cdplayer, laptop, guitar amplifier), cord is detachable and tangle-free (i broke my last two headphones by ripping the cord also, the tangle-free cord is connected to only one side for ease of use), comfortable (i have a fairly big head and it fits perfectly and securely)
  cons: i dont recommend it for very long uses. headphones like this one that cover your entire ear promotes sweating and heat. i just take off my headphones for a few seconds to let my ears breathe and put them on again.

  as you can see, the pros easily outweigh the only con. enjoy.
  
  

• Great for the price range.
  By A394HWP3KGDMZB on 2001-11-17
  Terrific sound for headphones at this price, deep bass, good mid-range. I use these at home on the computer for MP3s & DVDs and they are great for both with almost zero external distractions. Only downside is the flimsy plastic construction -if you are going to use these outside make sure they are securely attached, if they fall you'll be spending a lot of time with the Scotch tape.
  
  
• R-10's - Good sound, bad fit
  By AGY71X8XK4ZHJ on 2002-04-28
  I ordered these for both gaming and stereo listening; the sound is as good as can be expected from a [price] pair of headsets. The problem I have with them is that they crush my ears within 5-10 minutes. (My hat size is 7-1/4, so they might be comfortable with smaller heads). I thought of re-shaping the headband, but I'll keep looking instead.
  
  
• Good Enough that I bought 2 more
  By A2Q9CBET12OZKI on 2002-12-23
  Had only 1 problem, the left speaker attachment broke after 2 mos. My Fault(Super Glued and it worked). Have been a Koss fan since 1976.
  
  
• I was not very impressed with the sound quality
  By A1VHNNOC742TUB on 2003-01-26
  I was not very impressed with the sound quality of these phones. I was using a set of HP-X222 Aiwa phones the day before I bought these, and when I got these UR-20's I thought that the sound was so flat and lifeless compared to the Aiwas that I returned them the next day. It was like the difference between night and day. Granted, the Aiwas run for an additional $20 or so.

  PROS:
  *Low cost
  * Quite comfortable

  CONS:
  * A lot of distortion: If you look up the specs on these phones they are rated at <.3%THD which isn't too great. I experienced a lot of distortion with these phones
  * Flat and lifeless sound: Compared to the other sets I listened to, it sounded like I was playing music through a telephone receiver. Very thin and unexciting.

  I guess if you bear in mind that you generally get what you pay for, these aren't a bad set of headphones, but if you are looking for music to ring and you want to hear things in music you haven't heard before, I would suggest laying the money down and getting a good set. My expectations may have been too high for the price.
  
  

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