Koss SportaPro Stereo Headphones Reviews

• Good For The Price

  
  By A2L7WYA5OENV03 on 2000-07-12
  Strait out of the packaging I hooked them up to my HDCD Denon player. Overall, they've got good highs and mids. The 6khz treble region could be a little more pleasantly recessed than it is, but the high-end never gets fatiguing at normal volumes - only when loud. I must say that the bass is a little exaggerated. It is noticeably overdone in the 30-80HZ region -- the lowest you can pretty much hear with headphones. This never *seems* to muddle the mids, which is often a problem with bass-heavy phones. It doesn't seem excessively boomy and there are oodles of low-end dynamics, which I did not expect. They remind me a lot of the Denon 950's, but without the Denon's tissy-fit highs. When I hooked them up to my Panasonic 361C portable, I was surprised even further. With Curve: Doppelganger, the bass didn't seem even the slightest bit exaggerated. Unfortunately, when I moved over to extreme low-end intensive music like Massive Attack: Mezzanine, there was still a little too much bass, but slightly less than on the Denon. Econoline Crush: The Devil You Know kind of had too much bass, but most people would probably prefer it that way. Yet, on many CD's bass is noticeably overdone. Spatially, the SportaPros have a nice open sound.

  The SportaPros fold up and this is where the other caveat comes out. When using the headband behind your head, the little fold-up hook can start rubbing against my head, behind my right ear. This only happens when the band slides too far down, though. All Koss had to do was have the hook facing the opposite direction to avoid this. They're still the most comfortable headphones-that-press-on-the-ear that I've ever tried, and I do love how they fold up; it returns them to a nice, taught shape. The Koss has a good, short length of cord for portable use that also has a mute button on it.

  I'll keep the SportaPros as a portable and bass-y alternative. If used with bass turned down a tad, they would be even better.

  P.S. Single-entry wires are not superior. They allow out of phase cross-talk to enter the opposite ear through the shared ground wire, which is why audiophile headphones are almost always dual-entry. The classic Sony V6, for instance, has a cross-talk problem and is unsuitable for binaural applications because of this.
  
  

• Really nice headphones for the price

  
  By A19Y3BY1604WBW on 2000-08-01
  I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much for [the price] but Ihave been thoroughly pleased with these little babies ever since I received them. Since aural satisfaction varies widely by person, I will try and give you and idea of what I look for in the phones I buy. While not a fan of super exaggerated bass, I do err on the side of slightly emphasized low down sounds, especially for phones on the go for working out, etc.. Also, I'm not looking for super high fidelity when I'm doing sit ups and biking through downtown. These headphones are light and they sound really good at high or low volumes, even with a good amount of bass. I tested them out on my current headphone killer "Fight Club". It has a lot of techno-low throb bass tracks that my Grado's, my Sharp phones that came with my Minidisc player and my Sony CD250's, start to cry about at high volumes. Try the end of track 3("What Is Fight Club?"). Although no headphone(or speaker) has ever been able to handle that track without distortion, including these, at high volumes, these were the highest I've ever been able to crank that track. These phones also sounded good with classical(Vivaldi), vocals(Otis Redding) and pop(The Police)

  Now for some not so good's. These things are UGLY. I mean U-G-L-Y you ain't got no alibi, ugly(i just had to sneak in a 2nd grade insult in there.) I like old school looks(just like my jokes), my Grado's are pretty funky and I like em, but these things are a joke. The "sport" mode that wraps around the back of your heads looks pretty foolish too. My only hope is that folks won't look to closely at the gym or when I'm zipping by on my bike. Also, while comfortable on your head(they have little foam rests that help cushion the force against your ears) they have a disturbing tendency to close really tightly around your neck(either pressing on the side or on your adam's apple) if you are letting them rest there. Not a huge deal, since they fold up to fit in your pocket, but still..

  All in all, I heartily recommend these. They give my Grado's a run for the money(they cost 60) and kick out a good amount of bass without sounding murky. I was also surprised at how long I could listen to them without getting "tired" of the sound. Even with my Grado's, possibly because they can be a bit bright, I get fatigued and need to rest my ears and brain for a bit. But these little guys keep on kicking out the sound. Buy them. You won't regret it. Plus they have a life time warranty, so if you get beat up for looking so incredibly dorky, you can replace them(i'm not sure if Koss covers getting your butt kicked, but it would be worth a try)
  
  

• Great headphones!

  
  By A3M88BYKRP2ALY on 2000-10-28
  I love these headphones; they've got superb sound (particularly the bass region--I didn't know headphones were capable of this kind of bass!), they're very portable, inexpensive, and the accessories & features it comes with are great. They're also very comfortable (particularly because of the foam pads that secure the phones behind/above your ears), although I have a small head and I've heard that these phones don't fit so well on bigger heads. I also like the way they look, and the lifetime warranty is a nice bonus.
  
  

• Buy for the sound, NOT the look.

  
  By A3BFJFJRXMWXAX on 2002-11-20
  OK people, yes these are not the best looking headphones, but come on, get over it! Buy your headphones for the S-O-U-N-D. Let's get past the whole fashion statement thing-it's about music. Koss Sportapro's deliver in SPADES. These suckers have great bass response-very clear, crisp, and pounding in the low range. The mid's and high's sound really good as well. YOU CAN'T BEAT THESE HEADPHONES FOR THE PRICE. If you want better sound you have to go to at least [the more expensive] models, I know, I've owned many different headphones (including the predecessor of the Sportapro, the 'Portapro'). So yeah, you can pay thru the nose and get some Sony's (over-rated) or Sennheiser's, but hey; it's your money. For the most bang for the buck, get these.

  I listen to everything from extreme metal to jazz and classical on these and it all sounds great. The extended cord length and mute button are also nice extras. Also, if you really don't want to talk to someone, just put on some outlandish music loudly-the design allows a good deal of sound to emmanate from the speakers. These phones 'breathe' if you know what I mean. Yet they deliver high quality sound into your ears. They sound great at all volumes. They are light, and the adjustable (over the head or behind the head) headband is really nice. Who says Koss doesn't care about fashion!? All of you who worry about your hair can simply flip the headband back and avoid disturbing your follicles.

  Highly recommended.
  
  

• no more bad hair days

  
  By A3PLVU9OW94C7O on 1999-12-21
  IF YOU WORK IN RADIO OR ARE A DJ AT YOUR LOCAL CLUB,YOU WILL ENJOY THE BASS RESPONCE IN THESE LITTLE WONDERS.THE FIT IS GOOD AND TIGHT,THE ONLY THING,IF YOU NEED IT,THE CORD COULD BE A LITTLE LONGER,BUT IF YOU ARE ON THE GO ,GO GET THESE LITTLE WONDERS.
  
  
• Great Little Suckers!
  By ATWVJUHW78DQL on 2000-10-25
  I bought these phones based on the large number of very positive reviews here; I just received them, and am not disappointed.

  I got them to use with my Rio 500 MP3 player, which came with unuseable Koss earbuds (the foam coverings fell off every time you put it in your ear. They were also innefficient -- not loud enough).

  The Sportaphones sound excellent -- very smooth highs, efficient enough for good volume, and deep bass. My only complaint is a little overemphasis in the mid-bass, but this can be fixed with the Rio 500's EQ settings.

  The Sportaphones are pretty comfortable, although I can't see ever using them in the back-of-the-head position. The spring-type band forces them against your ears which will always help bass reproduction in phones. On the down side, this could cause fatigue after long periods.

  They fold up, quite ingeniously, to a very small package, and the leatherette bag plus gold connectors are nice extras. I don't know what the fuss is about their looks -- I don't think they are particularly ugly, and least on my head. I guess if you are ugly to begin with, the phones won't improve your looks! ;-)

  In conclusion, they are a great bargain for the price. I hope they hold up; maybe I'll get a spare pair just in case.
  
  

• Very Good Headphones
  By on 2000-06-10
  I had been testing out several different pairs of cheap headphones before these came in the mail so I already knew what to expect. However, the first time I put these on and played some music, I smiled. They sounded great. The bass is very well-defined and the other frequencies are very clear as well. The bass is so good I can feel the headphones vibrating on my head (I am not sure if other phones do this I didn't test). They are very comfortable because of the pads above the ears. Whenever I look at them before I put them on, the thought "comfort" runs through my head. They are also very durable and portable. They can fit in a pocket when folded, the headband is metal so it can't be broken, and the casings on the outside of the drivers are very hard plastic. Other good features are the mute button and the two different ways of wearing the phones (although I only use the convential method). Even if you get a very expensive portable, don't use the included headphones. Get these.
  
  
• Great for a portable MiniDisc or CD Player
  By A15BE6EL73FAPX on 2000-05-21
  These headphones sound great, have lots of bass, are very loud, and can be worn normally or behind the head. They are light and fold up to fit in your pocket. I recommend them as a pair of quality inexpensive headphones to replace the crummy ones what come with your portable MiniDisc or CD Player. My only complaint is that I had to remove a piece of plastic that held the wires together in order to be able to remove the headphones from my head easily. This was no big deal and took me 2 minutes to do.
  
  
• Awesome phones.
  By on 2000-11-22
  I just purchased a minidisc player and was looking for some relatively inexpensive high quality headphones. I found these ones. The only problem i have found with these is they don't contain the sound. If you are listening in a quiet room and others are around they'll be able to tell you exactly what song you're listening to - but I didn't buy these because i cared about that. The sound quality is great. The bass is incredible, i can get these things to start vibrating on my head because of the bass (without even distorting i might add). I tend not to listen to them that way because the bass gives me a headache - I'm sure other people would LOVE that though. Overall i was really impressed and didn't believe headphones were capable of that kind of sound. It was a great purchase.
  
  
• Good step up for any personal portable
  By on 2000-02-26
  Condidering these cost only $20 but offer great improvement in sound, I'm wondering why the top end portables (minidisk, mp3) don't include them with their products. I'm really enjoying mine! Like the bass response, band flexibility, and the little mute button. They sound good plugged into the "mother ship" too. Buy them.
  
  
• Uncomfortable and too Bassy!
  By A3DR7TTXKRJ33D on 2001-12-30
  I was looking to upgrade my headphones from the standard pre-packaged CD-Walkman headphones and based on all the positive reviews I read about this product, I immediately ordered these headphones. I was very disappointed from the get-go. At first glance I actually thought they looked pretty nice after reading all the reviews describing them as ugly. But, once I put them on, it was all over! First, these things are tight, very tight on my ears. I tried the behind the neck position and it didn't help. I tried to stretch them a little, no good. After 1 minute, I felt pressure on my ears! I could just imagine wearing them for an hour.

  Also, TOO MUCH bass! Now, bass is VERY important to me and is something I look for, but I had to turn off my bass boost on my CD Walkman and it didn't help. I mean, I just do not hear any treble at all and many songs are just too "bass heavy".

  The next day I "returned to sender". Sorry about the negativity, but it's my opinion and I'm sticking too it.
  
  

• Good for the money, but get full-size for full sound
  By A2H856C9T0XWL5 on 2002-09-29
  The SOUND: better than many portables, but a bit bassy with a corresponding loss of treble. Still not the perfect phone, especially when I am used to the full-size Sony closed-ear MDR-V6/MDR-7506, which emphasize the treble slightly while having the full sound you get from a good headphone. My Sony's are also more efficient--they're louder. PS, I wish I could find the cans that came with aiwa portable tape players a few years ago. They were great, and you could hear the cymbals dancing clearly.

  The LOOK: somewhat ugly plastic form.

  The HEADBAND: can be bent down to go behind your head to keep your gel in style. Still stays on. I liked the Sonys for this and their great look, but their sound was atrocious and they were less comfortable.

  The PRESSURE: the extra pads just above your ears take most of the pressure holding them on your head, so they stay on and don't press your ears too much.

  The BUTTON: yes, it has a mute button on the cord, but it's too low, at the waistband if you're 5'-6" and sitting in your chair, and when you cross your arms the music cuts out.

  The PLUG: has a quick-connect regular and mini combo plug.

  The BAG: You get a leatherette bag to put them in.

  The SIZE: They close up flat into a 6" x 4" area for storage.
  
  

• Quality headphones with an excellent warranty!
  By AACM7F3Y5FRGC on 2005-01-22
  I bought the previous version of these headphones (minus the mute button) on Amazon just over three years ago. They have been my daily use headphones at work since then. I bought them on the strength of the reviews at that time and have not been disappointed.
  
  Recently the foam earpieces and temple cushions began to disintegrate (the headphones still functioned without incident; they were just no longer comfortable to wear). I decided to put Koss's lifetime warranty to the test and sent in the headphones along with $6 to cover shipping and handling. Within two weeks I received a replacement with no hassle aside from being without headphones for that time.
  
  Koss won a lifetime customer with this product and their customer service.
  
  
• Great Sound, Good Fit
  By on 2000-07-30
  I've compared the SportaPro Headphones with some very good lightweight models, the SportaPro has wonderful sound (Great bass response for a lightweight model). The price is very good...but the fit is a little awkward and designed for a relatively small head. I believe the size is relative to the portable/compactable nature of this model. All things considered, I would recommend this headphone to anyone who wants to get the best sound out of their portable audio player, Koss SportaPro offers a lot of bang for the buck!
  
  
• High quality product
  By A2DB6S5O3UUVMJ on 2001-02-11
  I recently purchased a pair of these headphones and found the quality to be top notch. They sound excellent and can handle pretty high levels of bass without distorting it. I have had two pairs of Sony heaphones and one pair of Aiwas(which are trash.) I was truly surprised at the comfort of these headphones, especially in the behind the head positon. The fold-up function is nice and the leather bag is an added bonus. Also included is a gold plug that allows you to use these headphones with larger jack systems(such as home theaters.) Overall, these headphones produce high sound quality without the size and weight of other models.
  
  
• Good stuff
  By A1PW7TQL858WPS on 2004-04-05
  These admittedly dinky-looking headphones give surprisingly good sound. Bass is full and the rest of the frequency spectrum is nothing to sneeze at. Since statistically speaking you are like most people, you'll be plugging these into either an MP3 player full of badly-ripped, low-bitrate compressed audio tracks or else a crummy portable CD player with an extremely noisy potentiometer for a volume control. Buying better than these perfectly respectable headphones would be a waste of money.

  The Sportapros fold up too, which makes them great for a coat pocket. Also, the headband can fold in such a way that the headphones look like "street-style" headphones that are oh-so-popular these days. This makes them clamp on your head a bit more, but it can't possibly be any less comfortable than any other headphones in such a configuration. I think it looks stupid that way, but hey, if that's your cup of tea so be it.

  As for noise isolation, these don't offer much. If you really don't want to hear the subway along with your gangsta rap, you should be looking at a pair of noise-cancelling phones or better yet in-ear headphones such as those made by Etymotics. (The latter are a few times the price of the Sportapros on the bottom end, mind you.)

  It even comes with a fake leather bag that I keep laundry money in. (Keeping a set of headphones this inexpensive in such a bag is just screaming "I have OCD!") Bottom line, this is the best pair of portable headphones you can buy for the price. They don't sound worse than the low-end Sennheisers in this price range, for example, and they are quite a bit smaller.
  
  

• Great headphones, warm big sound. SUPERB WARRANTY.
  By A2ZP7WQ71NVPYW on 2005-10-18
  Comfortable, compact, and with a warm, big sound. I listen to these for everything from my work-out playlist to the Goldberg Variations and I'm always happy.
  
  After about a year of use and abuse at the gym, they finally gave out when one of the earphones got detached from the headband (though the music still sounded fine!) I discovered that these headphones had a LIFETIME warranty, so I found Koss's address and return instructions on the web, sent them back with proof of purchase (keep those receipts!), and had a brand new pair within two weeks. Now THAT's standing behind your product.
  
  In the meantime, I'd bought a pair of highly rated Sennheiser PX100's for more than double what I'd paid for the SportaPros because I really didn't expect to get a replacement pair from Koss any time soon. The Sennheisers are excellent too, and probably a little more sonically faithful. Slightly flatter, truer, and less weighted toward the bottom end. But you'd have to listen hard to hear a difference. Go to Headroom.com for useful reviews of both.
  
  
• A Great Product for a Great Price
  By ARTA78TP6H73D on 2002-01-19
  I did lots of research before I purchased these headphones. Many of the reviews said the SportaPro offered great sound, deep bass, and wide range. Well, I have not been disappointed.
  Although I'm not an audio expert, I am impressed with the range of these headphones; the sound is as good or better than headphones costing $60 or more. They're pretty small, comfortable, and they're collapsible, so they're easy to carry when on the road.
  Some reviewers have remarked that they're ugly. I don't wear headphones to make a fashion statement, and frankly, although these aren't great looking, I don't think they're that bad either. Also, there's no longer a mute switch on these headphones. Apparently, they were causing problems (a short) so Koss removed this feature. Overall, I'm very satisfied with this purchase.
  
  
• Absolutely Great Sound
  By A6IPIX202QM9J on 2006-03-21
  These headphones have absolutely amazing sound. They handle bass really well. Practically the only ones that have exceptional sound with my iPod. The only reason I gave 4 instead of 5 is because of the design. I'm gonna check the "Koss KSC75" which seem to have the same power with better ergonomics. Good luck to you all! Koss Rocks!
  
  
• Awesome Sound & Pretty Good Fit
  By A3VIQIGCO4AHR6 on 2006-02-04
  I bought these on sale and took a chance after reading some reviews on them. They really sound great for their size. My main headphones are a set of Grado SR-60 which sound amazing but these sound very close.
  
  The headband is adjustable. The fit is good if you use the band over your head. The behind the head use seems to not fit too comfortably for me and when I put it on that way the bad ripped a hair out of my head.
  
  I use these with my 40GB Fourth Generation iPod. They have a lifetime warranty and I use my headphones for working out and go through a new pair every 6 months. Save your receipt!
  
  They can sound a little bassy but I like that in a work out headphone especially since iPods really lack good bass. Excellent for almost any kind of music except classical.
  
  
• Headphones perform well
  By A2TUQMWV186OQ6 on 2006-02-18
  I purchased the Koss Sportapro headphones to use with my IPod Nano. I was surprised with the overall sound quality. The sound responsiveness is very good. The main reason I did not rate them a 5 is they are not quite as comfortable as I would like. I use them while I exercise, and I find that I have to adjust them for comfort long before I am done.
  
  
• Excellent sound for the price and great for excercising.
  By AIAB2NII0NX3D on 2002-02-17
  I just brought a Apple Ipod and found that the headphones that came with it had great highs and no bass. Don't get me wrong, I really like highs a lot. I have two studio Sony's that are $...+ and I love highs more than bass. When I first put these on, it was really comfortable to wear. When I talk about comfort, I mean the option of using it behind the head option or fold down option. I have a Sony behind the head one and it is not really comfortable. I have read a lot of reviews about many types of headphones and even brought the Sony mdr-268lp (49.95). It was good if you want earbuds with bass, but they were really uncomfortable. I use these when I run and bike, with no hitch. For the price there is a lot of bass, more than any of my higher end Sony's, (that's if you like bass), and the highs are alright too. If the highs were a little more richer and fuller, it would be one of the best headphones I have ever owned. But, overall it is really good and it won't disappoint.
  
  
• Would be good.. if it worked
  By on 2002-06-03
  I bought these headphones about 4 months ago. I liked them but didn't find that much of a difference with the sound quality. Also the folding headband function didn't work that well, the thing kept falling off of the back of my head. Then a few weeks ago the real problems started. The headphones would start only working out of only one side, I would spend twenty seconds twisting the jack, trying to fix just to have it stop working again as soon as I moved. Then the headphones stopped working altogether. My reccomendation, take your 25 dollars and by some quality headphones instead of these ones
  
  
• Very nice, however...
  By A1LQ958DFSSIZM on 2002-08-02
  I bought these phones for my MP3 player (iPod) and haven't been disappointed. They sound great, the bass is full and rich and the high end has surprising clarity. They do an excellant job of masking environmental noise and are quite comfortable. A feature I most looked forward to was the kill switch that was described in the write-up and appears in the picture. My problem is that the phones I received, although the same model number and identical in all respects to the described product, had NO SWITCH. This [is bad] but the sound quality and price value of these phones make them too good to return. I give them 4 stars, they'd get a five if I had my switch. Hopefully the description will be fixed to present a more accurate representation of the product.
  
  
• Probably the best in its price class
  By A1MIXY59EXC90L on 2003-02-01
  I have bought 3 pairs of sporta pros during the last 3 years. (Nothing wrong with the quality, just I like to have one pair at home, one pair at office and another pair stuffed in my backpack)

  It looks fragile and sometimes ugly. But what really counts is the sound. The characteristics of the sound are: clean, warm, dynamic (overs a wide range from low to high), very good sensitivity (very loud at normal volume setting), lots of bass (although a little boomy at times). The first time when you hear it you will be surprise for its powerful bass. I hate the mute button but I heard recently Koss had taken it off. For protable use it's probably the best in its price class. Some people complain about the comfortability issue, I have no problem wearing it for hours though.

  For more serious listening, I would highly recommend a pair of Grado SR60 (open style). It's about $70 and I couldn't believe how much pleasure I had taken from listening to it. The highs are crystal clear, the bass is good but not boomy at all (you can feel it), the warm, open mid range is simply seductive. The transparency and spacious of the sound stage is amazing. It stirs up your feelings and emotions when listening to most vocal, classic and pop music. It's pity that Amazon.com doesn't carry this headphone, truely a gem in the protable headphone family.

  Another pair (closed style, around $70-80) I could recommend is Sony's MDR-V6. Good frequency range, very good bass, very clean sound and very little coloration of sound. However unlike the grado, the sound is flat although maybe more accurate. I will describe the sound as "scientific" comparing with grado's "emotional" and "liveness".
  
  

• Almost as good as its big brother.
  By A2RWNI9V1R1A3L on 2003-02-25
  This headphone is very similar to its big brother, Koss PortaPro, and cost less. This looks good but when you compare them sound wise, the SportaPro just dont sound the same. Sadly! A little less punch in the lower end and not so open.
  But for its price and compared to other headphones, except the PortaPro, its great. But, if you like that killer punch and near Hi-Fi sound, go for the PortaPro.

  In this review I have only focused on the sound quality, and tested the headphones on portable CD players of high quality, not MP3 players (hate the sound).
  
  

• The best headphones for the money.
  By on 2003-05-03
  I use the Koss SportaPro for the gym. I have nothing but positive things to say about these headphones. The sound quality is supurb. I was using some earbuds that kept falling out while I was running, but these stay in place. You can wear them over or behind the head. A nice product.
  
  
• Excellent sound, terrible looks
  By AJQD7OGBWGI07 on 2003-05-04
  Recently I was looking for a good pair of headphones for under $. After doing extensive research, I came to the conclusion that the Koss Sporta Pro headphones could not be beaten in that price range, I would even spend $ for them they are so good. The bass is the best I have ever heard from headphones, and the mid and high notes are also clear and well defined. Some people say that these headphones are uncomfortable. I personnally can only feel them for about 5 mins before my head gets used to them and they become very comfortable. The headphones have gold plated connection plug, as well as an adapter to plug them into your older stereo, which is also gold plated. The headphones even come with a carry case. In conclusion, the Sporta Pro's are the best value for headphones under $, and have a lifetime warranty to boot.
  
  
• Unbeatable Value
  By AXXM0A5GD0I56 on 2004-10-11
  Unbeatable Value
  I've had these wonderful headphones for more than 4 years. I've dropped them countless times and the foam earpieces are long gone. But every time I put them on (with the plastic transducer housings directly over my ears-still comfortable enough), they sound just as sweet as ever. I listen to a pair of $200 Bose Quiet Comport at work, but sonically they are not even close to the Sportapro. The Koss cans may look cheap (ok, let's face it, they do) but they are extremely well constructed, no matter how badly I treat them they just won't quit - now that's what I call a quality product. Every once in a while you run into a product that just keeps performing and performing and performing and performing - call them life's little pleasant surprises - these little cans are perfect examples.
  
  
• Great
  By on 2000-03-20
  This was an excellent purchase. I have lost many pairs since they have broken in my pocket / backpack. These fold so that they can be compressed flat. The sound quality is great for this price range. After having lost over $100 to broken headphones, I am glad that I have a pair to stay.
  
  

• Memorex 700MB/80-Minute 52x CD-R Media (100-Pack Spindle)
• KHypermedia 80-Minute/700 MB 48x Blank CD-Rs (200-Pack Spindle)
• Xtreme TB264DKO 264-Disc CD/DVD Case
• Sony PC-234S Audio Plug Adaptor

• Koss PORTABLE Replacement Cushions
• Koss PortaPro Headphones with Case
• Koss Headphone Carrying Case for PortaPro, SportaPro, QZ2000, KTX8, KSC17, P14, P16, and Pop Gloss
• Koss KSC75 Portable Stereophone Headphones
• Sennheiser PX 100 Collapsible Headphones