Koss KTXPRO1 Titanium Portable Headphones with Volume Control Reviews

• Terrific portable headphones

  
  By A1QTIQP307ERN3 on 2002-11-19
  Recently purchased an MP3 player with low output, and wanted a pair of on-- not IN-- ear 'phones. These have been a more than pleasant surprise! As a classical music listener, portable phones are plagued with shrill highs, boomy bass; these have a smooth, fairly neutral quality. The headband design is very comfortable, the volume control convenient and they are efficient enough for my MP3 player. At this price (and even if much more), a great find and great value.
  
  

• These are wonderful headphones

  
  By A2032LF6FWWK8E on 2004-08-31
  At home I had been using the larger type headphones (Sony) that fit over the ear completely. They are heavy but I had no intention of changing. I was looking through different ones for work and had saved these in my shopping cart, but had decided on a different pair. I accidently purchased these and it wasn't worth sending them back for a refund so I kept them and now I use these instead of my Sonys. The sound is fantastic. They are much lighter and the volume control make these one of the best mistakes I've made. There are better headphones out there, but for this price, these deserve a 5 star rating.
  
  

• AWESOME set of headphones at a great price!!!

  
  By A29R3O02O0PON4 on 2007-03-09
  I'll admit, I haven't been into using headphones now for nearly 10 years, but with the advent of the iPod and other MP3 players, I decided that it'd probably be a good time to look for and invest in a good pair of headphones. I'll also admit that I don't yet have a portable MP3 player, but I' probably get one sooner or later. However, with that said, I do listen to MP3s that I've transferred from my purchased CDs on my PC. I have boomy 5.1 surround speaker system for the PC that literally shakes the house, so for me to listen to my tunes at adequate volume without disturbing the other occupants, I figure a good set of headphones was in order.
  
  So what is it that I, or anyone should look for in a good set of phones? Well, clarity of sound for one. That includes several aspects. One being bass response. Most [cheap] headphones can't replicate solid deep bass. Because lets face it, good bass (in loudspeakers) require huge magnets and a large cone and lots of power. A headphone has none of that, but apparently, technology in headphones have come a long way in the past 15 years. Another aspect of clear sound is a phone's ability to replicate the high and mid-range frequencies. What good does a lot of bass do if it drowns out the rest of the frequencies? None. And of course the last thing a set of phones need to do is not crackle and distort at high volume. This is a MAJOR problem with a lot of cheap headphones. Well, even some higher priced ones I'd imagine.
  
  Well, going back to 10 years ago, I had a pair or two of KOSS headphones that could replicate good bass, but this was way before digital music media and from old style cassette walkman-type devices, so the full range of sound fidelity was limited due to the medium used. I remembered and liked the KOSS headphones, which lead me to check out these after they were pointed to by a reviewer for a similar set of Sony headphones.
  
  So how does the KOSS KTX-PRO1 Titaniums perform? EXCELLENT! I must admit though, I was at first confused at why I wasn't getting good bass. Like I said, I use these on my PC, so I have several different software players with different enhancement "plug-ins", one having a "headphone setting", nonetheless, giving a slightly tinnier sound than I was expecting. Turns out that all it took to boost the bass, was to increase the main soundcard mixer's bass level, rather than the plug-in's "hyperbass" level. And what I got was the deep solid, supposedly 15Hz bass response that this product advertises. And it doesn't drown out the other frequencies either. The grill mess on the outside of the ear piece, I suspect, may help with the bass response, but don't quote me on that. And the most important thing with these phones is that they do not distort at all. Crystal clear sound at practically any volume.
  
  The set itself is very comfortable to wear. Some reviewers here may have mentioned that there's only ome pivot point on the ear piece, but it's at the correct angle that it should be adequate for most people's ears.
  
  The bottom line is that if you want a good, sounding set of headpones, you're gonna have to pay more than $5. Let's face it, you get what you pay for. From what others have said here, this exact set sells for over $45 at places like Radioshack under a different model name. So getting this set at Amazon for under $20 is a hellava deal.
  
  Oh, one more thing...over the ear phones rather than these "new" air-bud things.... for one I can't stand sticking anything into my ear. They usually don't stay in cause my ear canals are strangely shaped and two they are just downright uncomfortable. I can't even wear earplugs for the same reason. So this was a nice find to get a excellent pair of over-the-ear headphones at a great price.
  
  You can't go wrong with the KTX-PRO1s. I listen to heavy metal mainly and they do a great job in replicating all the intricrate sounds in probably one of the most sophisticated forms of music outside philharmonic orchestrations.
  
  
  

• Best lightweight open-air headphones for your money

  
  By A2RT6EGZH94FK6 on 2004-12-03
  Hi all, I have been a user of the Radio Shack Pro 25/35 series of headphones for years. The Pro 25s have been replaced by the Pro 35s, which have been replaced by the Pro 35As in the past couple years or so. You may ask "what relevance is that to me?"
  because the Pro 35As are rebranded versions of the KOSS KTXPRO1s
  (Just as the Pro25s were rebranded versions of the KTXPRO)!! They are equivalent right down to the last response spec, they even look almost identical (go look yourself!). The only real difference worth noting is the 1/8" plug on the Radio Shack verion is gold plated. Radio Shack will charge you twice the price if they are not on sale, so you can save serious dough here.
  
  Now, down to the sound and comfort which is what (i hope) all of you want to know. Of most importance to me is sound. I tell you these deliver overall sound equivalent or better than budget Sennheisers! (i have listened to the HD-220 and HD-457, the HD-457 i use for backup and extended listening). The KOSS KTXPRO1s are far superior to every lightweight headphone i have ever listened to, better than budget headphones (under $50) of just about any kind! The only sub $50 headphones that sounded even close are the Sennheiser HD-457s and i believe the Sony Street Style MDR-G73LPs of all things. Sound is rich, clear, and true, clean highs which are not harsh at all (unless your source sucks) and bass is amazingly powerful for such lightweight things. The bass is not muddy like the HD-220s nor is it unable to handle the very low bass found in music like Dance, House, Drum & Bass, Rap and Hip Hop. It is not overly punchy either, the bass in my opinion is very balanced. Midrange is true, balanced, and clear as well. Beware of the inline volume control, only use it in moderation, you may realise your CD player is turned up, and sound is not loud but there is distortion (your in-line volume is low) It is great though of people who dont like to touch the CD player for volume often or need a quick abbreviated adjustment.
  
  Comfort with these is better than 95% of all lightweights. The drivers usually make full conact with your ear ( if you have a particularly large head it may not, i wear a fitted size 7 5/8 (XL) hat and it barely makes complete contact), but over very long periods of time (over 3 hours) may make your ears hurt a bit (this was a larger problem with the Pro 25s/KTXPro but with the redesign, spring pressure of the drivers to the ears has been reduced). The rubber headband is a welcome feature, as the top of your head stays comfortable, don't worry, the rubber wont grip your hair at all. They also manage to stay on your head well enough, well, maybe not if you are running, you'll have to readjust them every now and then. For staying on your head, the Pro25/KTXPro does a better job,and will make full even contact with your ear, but they are poorer for extended listening.
  
  My one issue is that you may notice a vibrating/buzzing of the foil diaphram if you listen to high volumes with heavy backup guitar and bass a lot. I have noticed this thoroughout this line of headphones. I think that the foil diaphram becomes detached slightly over time and heavy use. As i test them now they are reproducing only very very slight vibration/buzz in the right ear (Test song: VAST - Here) and i've had these for about 7-8 months, you wouldnt hear it unless you were listening for it. But then again you get a litetime warranty so all is well.
  
  These nitpicky things cannot overshadow the outstanding sound in a lightweight headphone for the price. Even if you have to possibly buy a new pair (or have Koss give you new ones) every 6 months due to diaphram vibration/buzz (if you have good ears :) ) they are so cheap and sound so excellent for their size it's well worth the purchase.
  
  

• 5 stars is not enough!!!

  
  By AJO9MIULW76H8 on 2004-04-24
  It is a truly incredible mystery how a $15 pair of headphones could possibly sound better than Sennheisers into the $100-200 range! But they do. In fact, these headphones sound much better than most big, full headphones. And NO, I am NOT exhagurating. And I do know what I am talking about. I ought to point out that I am not someone who up to now listened to their discman with the headphones it came with and who has now just discovered the KOSS KTX-PRO1. For someone like that, these headphones would definitely seem like light years ahead. But I am not that person. I have had experience with MANY different kinds of headphones in all price ranges. In fact I own a pair of Sennheiser HD 600 (Now I do not mean to compare the KTX with the hd 600-this would be like comparing a Porsche 911 to a Mercedes S600. Different things, both amazing in their own rights).
  Power requirements: The KTX Pro-1's low impedance and high sensitivity allow you to easily drive them with any portable device. You do not need to plug them in to a headphone amplifier or to your stereo.
  Comfort: They are very comfortable even after long-play and they stay in place-unless you are into extreme headbanging ;)
  Isolation: Note that these are open-type headphones and isolation is very poor. Personally I don't care about this since the background where I listen to music is quiet anyway, and I don't disturb anyone.
  Construction Quality: The quality of construction is not breathtaking, just good.
  Sound quality: What sets these headphones to the pinnacle annals of hi-fidelity is their sound quality. They are extremely clear with unnoticeable distortion (even when heavily driven). Low frequency response is excellent and highs are very slightly bright. Mid frequencies are thereby slightly recessed. If you notice how most people set their equalizers is that they increase the bass and treble while leaving the midrange in the 0db level. This makes the input signal (spectral) look like concaved upward (smiling) . The reason people do this is partly because they like bass and treble to be accentuated but more importantly to compensate for the speakers' or headphones' natural inability to reproduce low and high frequencies at the same level as mid frequencies. These KTX are very good at reproducing frequencies in the whole 20-20000hz range very well (as they SHOULD), without droppoffs at the low and high ranges, and therefore artificial compensation (like all those bass-boosters on your discman that distort the signal) are not really necessary.

  In plain words: these headphones "kick ass." There is not pair of headphones that I could recommend more. What amazes me is that they only cost $15. If I were to rate them compared to all headphones I have tried throughout my life irrespective of price I would rate them 4.5 out of 5. If I were to also consider that they can be driven by any portable device without the need of additional amplification (the one or two pairs of headphones I would give a perfect score require a headphone amplifier to be driven adequately), I would give them a 6 out of 5!!!

  Negatives?
  The quality of the cable is poor! In fact, driving these headphones with high current after a period of time causes damage to the cable (like electrical "Low-Cycle Fatigue"). This is why most people have to change these headphones every year or so. But who cares if Amazon sells them for a miserly $14???
  
  

• I'm a believer
  By A1PSVZBM894R5H on 2006-09-19
  Update - This product ties with the "best product" I purchased in 2006. Thank you Koss for helping me hear sounds I never quite noted before.
  
  I actually put an order for these phones as a "filler" so I wouldn't have to pay for shipping on another item I was ordering.
  
  And the instant I put the headphones on I knew I was listening to sounds that would muddy into the background with my other headphones. It also happened that the first track that sang through these headphones was Neil Diamond's "I'm a believer" - not that I am a great Neil Diamond fan - but all those sound bits I seemed to have missed had me listen to the whole track.
  
  In addition to headphones that come with the gizmos, my earlier pair of headphones (Sony MDR-V200) were purchased when I used to think that all things "Sony" were reasonably good. It turns out that there is no comparison between the sound of the crappy Sony's and the Koss. I thought of consigning the Sony's to the trash pile, but now I'm saving them so that the Sony believers can hear the difference for themselves when they step my way.
  
  It seems that these headphones have a wide frequency stage with very little coloration. The sound appears very clear - compared to the muddy sound of my Sony's - which I attribute to very good transient response. Probably a stiff and light diaphragm that does not flex at high frequencies. Get these headphones - and you too will be a believer.
  
  PS - if you have recordings that are distorted - you will hear the distortions too rather clearly. You've been warned.
  
  
• Didn't work out
  By AB4MB7S796GNJ on 2006-03-19
  Sorry to be contrary to most of the opinions here, but my personal experience is that these portable 'phones are dulling to the ears and should be avoided by anyone who loves music and is looking to use them on a heavy basis. The upside is that they seem to eliminate the tape hiss on some recordings--a good attribute--but the bass is indeed normally dull, delayed, unresponsive, muddy and exaggerated; and if your ears try to compensate for the dullness, you'll undo your normal openness and sensitivity to hearing your favorite music and perhaps give yourself a nice headache like I did.
  
  In addition, instead of being drawn closer to the music--as mentioned by another reviewer--I found it true that you are distanced from it, as if you were listening from 5 to 10 rows back. Who needs that? So I sent my set back after four days of steady listening and decided to turn my back on taking a chance with these types of inexpensive (but occasionally good by chance) 'phones.
  
  Shopping for headphones isn't like what it used to be because of the iPod craze. Manufacturers are trying to make the headsets do double duty on both low and high input devices, and they haven't figured it out yet on all of them. After doing a great deal of research on all brands, I wanted great sound *and* comfort, and settled on a $50 pair of heavier but still lightweight Yamahas (but there are many other alternative brands out there). Minus the refund of the money and S&H I spent on the Koss's, I feel like I got the Yamahas for much better sound at a $15 discount, and I encourage others to do more research before expecting too much from any headphones in this prices range if you're not on a tight budget. On the other hand, if your money is tight, I'd still look at other Koss models or to another brand. It may only be a few dollars for these things, but if it doesn't work out, you have to repackage the whole shebang and this is inconvenient and time consuming. Maybe I just got a bad pair, but I don't think so. There was no obvious distortion or cracking of the sound, but the deadening dullness was not something I was willing to live with. It's too bad, because I liked the design and look of them very much.
  
  
• Compare, Save and Be Happy
  By A297MY8QTKGXW4 on 2006-12-11
  Once there was a DUMMY (that would be me) who purchased an MP3 Player (ipod type), but used a very heavy (albeight decent) headset. He wanted something lighter; one that sounded better than the one he had, with a volume control.
  
  Living in the island of Kauai (Hawaii) there really aren't many places to check out and purchase electronic equipment. After checking Walmart, K-mart, Long's Drugs and Sears and with a bit of apprehension, he went into Radio Shack .. Knowing that their prices tend to be high.
  
  Walla, there was a KOSS PRO35A Titanium. After trying out the unit and LOVING IT, the purchase was made. Cost prior to tax: $49.95 (OUCH!), but after justifying the cost, he decided it was worth it. WAS IT?
  
  Radio Shack only had one in stock, but he wanted two. *** A BLESSING IN DISGUISE!***
  So, ok ... had to do a search in google and Amazon. NO such thing as KOSS PRO35A. Maybe the Model Number is only manufactured for Radio Shack?
  
  But there was this Koss KTXPRO1 Titanium at Amazon for around $15.00 and the picture looked strangely alike the PRO35. After enlarging the picture and showing it to wife and neighbor, we decided that it was the same thing. UGGH! $15.00 versus $50.00 + incl tax. Did I just get ripped off?
  
  Bottom Line: Ordered two at Amazon ... and YUP ... it's the same thing. Problem is I've since lost the receipt for Radio Shack and the plastic (??) container that it comes in has been ripped to shreds, so I couldn't return the item. HOW THE HECK DOES ONE OPEN THESE WITHOUT TEARING THEM APART?
  
  *** I would gladly pay $25.00 for a set of these without blinking an eye ***
  
  Outstanding price and quality! In fact, I just bought another one!
  
  BTW: For the person that said they don't last long. Doesn't KOSS have a lifetime warranty on all their headsets? Besides, what do you want for 17 bucks?
  
  
  
  
• Be cool be Koss U can
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2008-06-11
  Features:
  
  1. Frequency Response: 15-25,000 Hz
  2. Impedance: 60 ohms
  3. Weight: 2.4 ounces
  4. Sensitivity: 103 dB SPL/1mW
  5. Distortion: Less than 0.2 percent
  6. Cord: Straight, Dual Entry, 4feet
  7. L plug (for computers) plus audio plug adapter (for stereos)
  8. Titanium-coated high-polymer diaphragm
  9. Foam ear cushions for open "hear through" sound
  10. Volume control on cord
  11. Flexible headband sling
  12. Lifetime warranty
  (Okay, I don't have a clue what items 2 and 4 signify, but I thought I'd include them here for those of you who do)
  
  Pros:
  
  1. Very light and comfortable.
  2. Ear cushions pivot back and forth for a comfortable fit
  3. Ear cushions are replaceable
  4. Headband adjusts for head size, both width and height
  5. Flexible headband sling holds it in place, unlike other models that keep sliding off your head
  6. Titanium is way cool
  7. The sound is excellent, especially given the price. It is much, much better than the one I was using before. Heavy bass ROX!!!
  8. Volume control slider on the cord puts volume adjustment at your fingertips
  9. Aesthetically pleasing
  10. Clearly marked for left and right ears
  
  
  Cons:
  
  1. Four foot cord is rather limiting
  2. This model doesn't include a microphone for those who like to chat on-line
  3. I'm spending more time listening to music when I should be doing something else
  
  
  Overall: Great value for the price
  
  Rated: 4.5 stars
  
  
  
  
  Amanda Richards, June 10, 2008
  
  
  
  
• Koss is still Boss!
  By A1YF0SKMGV2BIL on 2006-10-04
  Like some of the other reviewers, my goal in purchasing a new set of headphones is that my MP3/CD player had terribly low out-put and simply didn't play well with most other headphones than the ones provided. Now I love my MP3 player so I had to find a way around this and after reading many reviews, I decided that I would give Koss, which has always had a great name, backs up their product for life and owing to the fact that I have one of the "ear muff" kind of Koss headphones that works great with my regular stereo or television, I decided to give these KTXPRO1 headphones a try.
  I was not disappointed! They worked better with my MP3/CD player than the headphones that came with it and the sound quality is absolutely out of this world! And the volume control is great too! I had just recently purchased a boosteroo portable device amplifier and I don't even need it with these headphones! They are absolutely wonderful and the in-line volume control is wonderful as well. The bottom line is that just because something is inexpensive doesn't mean it is going to be of poor quality. I had also just received a pair of Sennheiser PX-100's and though they were rated just as well, if not better in some cases, the KTXPRO1 beats them hands down! Both are excellent headphones by great companies but Sennheiser only gives you a two year warranty whereas Koss backs up their products for life, so in my opinion you can't go wrong with these headphones and as I wrote in my title, "Koss is still Boss!"
  
  
• Very listenable and neutral -- not for the boom-and-sizzle crowd
  By A218HVJJ88XQ9F on 2006-11-01
  As a certifiable headphone fanatic (I own at least a dozen pairs of decent ones, from <$20 to >$250 in price), these nonetheless took me pleasantly by surprise. At first listen, I thought these seemed muffled a bit, or at least very, very reserved in the midrange. Good highs, and the bass does exist, but nothing is overdone here. What's different about these "cans" is the level of midbass that contributes to a fullness of sound without being at all boomy. The very bottom end is also quite a nice surprise (try listening to Seal's "Crazy" toward the end, to find notes that are more felt than heard, alongside Trevor Horn's crystalline production); low bass is palpable, but again not pushed too far -- this is high praise for an open-ear design, which usually tend toward rolling off the bass response (e.g., Sennheiser in the old days) or simply being way too forward on the high end.
  
  The overall effect of these (at least on the light-to-hard rock I've thrown at them so far) is that they are very easy to listen to for extended periods. I will post an update after some serious jazz and classical auditioning as well, but I expect that experience to be even better, given these 'phones neutrality.
  
  Comfort is excellent, and noise leakage is pretty low for an over-the-ear design. The soft (blue) rubber across and below the headband makes the whole thing seem weightless on the ears.
  
  It's hard to get a 5-star review from me. 4.5 stars might have been more appropriate, but frankly I cannot find anything to gripe about at all. At this price point, especially, these are a no-brainer purchase. They compare well with headphones costing literally 10 times as much.
  
  
• OK, with some real weaknesses...
  By A1IEGPT1Q5D3R2 on 2005-04-14
  These do not sound as good as Portapro2's -- the sound is more constricted, with less treble extension and a poorer soundstage (bass is just as strong). They have the same Koss house sound, but are a step down -- I am disappointed. They do sound better than freebies included with portable CD players, and you'll certainly notice the improvement.
  
  The cord is the real weakness -- it's just horrible, awful cheap plastic and I predict will not last anytime at all with active portable use. The volume control slider is also cheap and guarantee will get scratchy sounding fast. OK they're only $15, but I've come to expect a better level of quality from Koss... shame on them.
  
  Verdict -- if you're really poor, or you can't stand the look of the Portapro/Portapro2's then get these. Otherwise avoid them, as they are just too cheaply made to be durable.
  
  ** Update (ten days later) -- I ordered a pair of these for myself and a pair for my brother. Mine seem to be fine (although the volume control is already getting scratchy as I predicted), but one of the earpieces on my brother's pair died within 24 hours of opening the package. Luckily Amazon has an excellent return policy, and they even shipped the replacement immediately, so they arrived two days after I notified them about the return.
  
  It should also be noted that Koss has a lifetime warranty on these, so for six bucks shipping you can get a replacement anytime. Of course Koss still comes out ahead, since it probably costs them fifty cents to make these and less than a buck to ship them back.
  
  
• The Best Headphones I've Ever Owned
  By A21I4PSA0OD8U3 on 2003-10-19
  ...And that is saying alot. My most prized possession is my Discman and good sound quality is something I consider one of the most worthy things to spend money on. So, needless to say, I have sampled everything that is out right now, I've listened to them all (except maybe some that are like hundreds of dollars and are all big on your head so i wouldn't want those anyway). And my conclusion is this: THESE HEADPHONES HAVE THE BEST SOUND. And also, they are the loudest. Or I should say, can be the loudest... if you put them on full volume. Take it from me, I'm an expert on headphones. These ones are the best. And, this part I dont understand, They are among the cheapest! Only 15 bucks! Or, only 20 bucks at some radio shacks. The only problem is, the "life" of the headphone isnt terribly long. So you will probably have to get new ones eventually (im on my 4th pair). But yea, to me, its worth getting new pairs as the old ones wear out. Because there just isnt any headphone out there right now to match these in Sound quality.
  
  
• Everything great except...
  By A1VS6RVNWY218P on 2006-07-07
  I bought these headphones 6 months ago and have loved everything about them: the light weight, excellent sound quality and especially the price. But there is one thing wrong with them: for a few weeks now they've tended to play only in one ear or the other. This is caused by a problem with the volume control on the cord. If I adjust it up or down, I lose one of the ears. If I jiggle it 'just so', and the headphones are in a good mood, I might have a chance to get sound in both ears. Most of the time now, it just plays on one ear. I unplug and carry them around a lot so maybe if you were just to leave them at home in one spot on your desk, things would be OK.
  
  
• Great Sounding Headphones for the Price!
  By AFL0YL28FRR1U on 2003-06-12
  I recently purchased the Koss KTX Pro1 headphones for use with my MPIO MP3 player and Iriver CD/MP3 player, let me tell you, these phones sound great! The sound is very crisp with excellent bass and are a big step up from my old Philips HS500's which I thought were great. I especially like the on-cord volume control which allows easy access to the volume if you need to turn it down without fumbling for the player controls. Again, I am really impressed with sound from these headphones, for the buck you can't lose! They look pretty cool too!
  
  
• Certainly worth the money
  By A1HW942ZWKF663 on 2005-03-25
  I just purchased an ipod and really enjoy music so I wanted something much better than the earbuds that come with it. I began my research and read a number of reviews on various headphones. I also wanted to be able to use them on my home stereo. I read a number of reviews on Sennheiser, Grado, Koss, etc. There were pros and cons to all of them. However the Senn PX100 and Koss Portapro rated consistently well. While reading a review on the Koss Portapro, one reviewer also commented that the KTXPRO1 was very good. So I decided to go with the Koss KTXPRO1 AND the Portapro. I was not disappointed by the KTXPRO1 however compared to the Portapro, they are not in the same league. So if you're looking for a good set of phones and can't afford the $37 go with these; you won't be disappointed. However, if you can spend the $37, get the Portapro as they sound much fuller.
  
  
• Great sound! Terrible fit.
  By A2PPYT1OMC6C9I on 2006-02-17
  Headphones usually come in 2 kinds: wimpy and tinny with no bass, or a terrible muddy sound. These Koss headphones were the first pair I`ve ever used that had REAL bass without sacrificing clarity, but there`s just one problem: They do NOT FIT. AT ALL. If you are bald, or just a small person with a small head, forget about using these things if you plan on doing alot of moving around, the headphones just keep sliding off your head. So excersize is out of the question. They`re good for sitting in front of the PC when you play your games or music though.
  
  
• Worth More Than You Pay For Them
  By AP8ZY1UNYQP1P on 2007-05-18
  You can get these headphones for as little as 13.00 from some of the amazon partners. Even at $19, these are easily comparable to high end headphones costing 5 times as much. You hear everything, all the highs and quite a bit of the lows.
  
  Buy them. You will not be sorry.
  
  
• Great sound for the price...
  By A11H4UCM9XPP17 on 2007-05-31
  I bought the Koss KTXPRO1 after reading the reviews on Amazon. I have to say the reviews are pretty much spot-on. These phones do sound excellent for the price, and they don't hurt or overheat my ears.
  The headband adjustment hasn't been a major problem, but the way it's designed, the size adjustment doesn't lock into place very securely.
  
  I agree the overall look of the headset is cheesy and dated, especially with the rubber flap thing.
  
  I also have a pair of Sennheiser PX 100 headphones. The sound is very similar between the two, but the bass is a bit richer/deeper on the PX 100. The styling and headband design on the PX 100 blows away the KTX design, but you'll pay for that difference.
  
  Bottom line: If you want an inexpensive pair of phones that sound great, the KTXPRO1 will do the job quite well. What you'll lose in the bargain is styling and a well designed headband.
  
  
• Great sound with my AXIM Pocket PC
  By A366OY2KB0U2YZ on 2003-05-13
  I use the Koss Titanium Portable Headphones with my Axim 5, and the range of sound produced by these headphones is excellent. Using these headphones, I was able to hear sounds especially in the low frequency range that I could not hear with other headphones.
  
  
• Excellent Headphones for the Price
  By A3BHKLSNG4KSP8 on 2004-01-10
  For the price, these headphones can't be beat! The bass response is incredible. I know that's a big problem with a lot of portable headphones, they never have any bass (especially the ones you get when you buy a Walkman). I use these with a Sony MP3 Walkman, which has the little "sound" button on it with 2 boost settings. I tried listening to several songs with both boost settings and it actually made it sound worse with the boost (too boomy, that's the Walkman, not the headphones). Long story sort, I don't need bass boost because there's plenty of tight, clean bass without it. The highs and mids are very detailed as well. Overall, there is a very smooth response, not overly harsh.

  I also really like the volume control on the cord, which makes adjusting the volume easer. I just turn the volume on the Walkman all the way up and use the cord control as my volume. Works like a charm.

  These headphones of course are not perfect. They start to hurt my ears after wearing them for several hours, but I suppose that's to be expected. The ear padding isn't the best either. One more note on the bass response, I notice that I doesn't reproduce the really, really deep bass frequencies very well, but they are still somewhat auditable. Keep in mind I don't use any bass boost.

  I've noticed that some people complain about these not lasting long, but I've had a pair of the KTX PRO (slightly older model, not KTX PRO 1) for about 2 years or so and they still work fine. I do take good care of them though, but I sometimes shove them in my bag to and from work and they've stood up fairly well. It would be nice if there were a case for them, but I can live without that.

  Overall these are an excellent replacement for those cheep stock headphones that come with portable players and you can't go wrong with the price.
  
  

• ktxpro1=radio shack pro 35 A
  By A25J3GOIY65VXS on 2004-03-01
  i recently bought the radioshack pro35A headphones on sale for 19.99, regular $40 something. good deal for a decent cheap headphone right? i just read on the site tidbits.com (music to your ears 2003, scrool down a bit) that they are rebranded koss ktxpro1 cans with the normal price we see above. obviously not such a deal afterall. i like these phones a lot except for outside disturbances on the bus or traffic noise. so i researched a bit and found an amazing site, headphone.com (note, not headphones.com) all u ever wanted to know about headphones and more. simple to the point,quick,with pictures and reviews, and highly rated with their customers. prices are good but u may find a better deal elsewhere, but you cannot match the the research anywhere. i now am looking at 2 pair of cans to replace my koss/radioshack brand. they are grado sr6 or the sennheiser hd497. each around $60 bucks and an amazing upgrade. do yourself a favor and go to headphone.com. radioshack carries the sennheiser, which i was able to listen to. WOW, and i'm reading where the grados are even better if you don't have an amplifier.
  
  
• Mildly obscure, yet good.
  By on 2004-05-25
  Simply the best over the head headphones at this price point. Unfortunately, the wires tend to work loose at the inline volume control - the only reason they didn't get five stars.
  
  
• Best Headphones I have ever owned
  By on 2004-06-03
  I am not an audiophile, I can't get into the technical aspects of these headphones.All I can say is with these headphones I hear sounds I did not know were on CDs I have been listening to for years.I can hardly believe they can sound as great as they do, considering the price. I like the volume control on the cord also. Believe me if you buy these you will be very happy with your purchase. I always search the internet for the best deals, and I think these headphones are one of the best purchases I have Made
  
  
• Best Feature - Lifetime Warranty
  By on 2004-06-21
  I am going to a little comparison between the KTX-Pro and the KTX-Pro1 headphones by KOSS. There's several things I like about the KTX-PRO1 headphone. 1) Style - I think these are one of Koss's best looking headphones that they offer. The titanium color makes them look more modern than the KTX-pro or the sportpro (which I definitely think are quite, uh, quirky looking). 2) Comfort - the sling they used on the PRO1 is much more comfortable than the sling found on the PRO. This one is made our of some soft gel-like plastic as opposed to the Pro's foam sling. The Pro1 is much more comfortable when sitting on you head or when hanging around your neck when not in use.

  Why I like the PRO's better - 1) Metal Headband - I think the PRO's metal headband gives it a more snug fit. I also think this produces a better sound. You notice that all headphones kind of sound better when you press them against your head? Well this is what the KOSS metal headband does. Gives you that extra volume and bass that many other's have discuss in these reviews. 2) Thicker wire - from what I can tell, the PRO1's wire is a thinner gauge compared to the Pro. Another reason why the PRO's sound is a little better. 3) Better construction - including the metal headband, the headphone brace, and even the stereo plug, the PRO just seems to stronger structurally. I have owned at least one pair of each, and found the PRO1's quality to degrade quicker. After one year of daily use, the volume control became "touchy" and the headphone braces became less effective (they would slip off the headband).

  Overall, these are much better than many other headphones on the market, especially given the price and lifetime warranty. I have sent these headphones back twice and only had to pay for shipping once ($6) and they were replaced no questions asked. Both times I received them back in less than 2 weeks (shipped to KOSS headquarters in Wisconson, not Japan), in one case they were replaced with a brand new pair of headphones! So, I would say go with the PRO's over the PRO1's, or even the Sporta-Pro's. But if you are comparing KOSS to some of the other brands out there, remember that the Pro1's have the lifetime warranty. This could the deal-breaker.
  
  

• best cost/quality ratio.
  By A2FTR68POF9BD5 on 2004-10-10
  Sound GREAT, and I use 'em for music production/ mastering. The guy who said they're cheap junk just doesn't know how to take care of his stuff. I've had 'em 2 years. Perfect shape. This guy says "Titanium plastic not very well made". WHAT?!? It's not Titanium PLASTIC... the speakers have a "Titanium layered diaphragm for accurate sound reproduction". Can't you even read the product description? Plastic is Plastic. Get a clue before you post that nonsense.
  
  
• Excellent headphones, especially for the price
  By AWFD9HW78BUYF on 2005-01-25
  Most of the reviewers are spot on. These phones are phenomenal for the price - A Mere $14 bucks. I recently lost my $300 pair of Etymotic ER-4P's and at home I use Sennheiser HD-600's with Cardas Cable. These headphones, while they are not quite at the level of refinement and clarity of those phones, are not embarrassed by comparison to them. First of all, KOSS ensures that these phones accentuate the BASS - consequently, they seem to be more rhythmic, and toe-tapping than most other phones, they are solid and have great mid-bass slam and clarity. They actually seem to also have a little low-bass extension as well, much more so than other "ear-buds" and other fare in this price category. To some extent, the frequency response is tilted downward (towards the bass); but actually the KTXPRO1 handles the midrange and highs quite well and are generally smooth and pleasing - although not as detailed as my more expensive phones. Very good midrange interpretation of voice - and the equalization abilities of your portable gear can make them even more rewarding (I like the "Trance" setting on my Rio Karma, really opens the phones up). Way better than the about 10 other cheaper phones I have tried so far, and VERY COMFORTABLE on ear (supra-aural).
  
  
• Didn't believeit, but now I do
  By A2MML4TOL6Q7BG on 2005-03-08
  I recently bought a Sony walkman radio to use on my daily walks. The headphones that came with it were O.K., but a bit uncomfortable. I swapped those headphones with Sony headphones that I use on my discman, but they didn't sound much different. Just for the heck of it, I tried headphones that several friends use but, again, didn't hear much difference among them. The thing that they all lacked was the bass frequency, which I happen to like whether it is real or exaggerated. It doesn't matter what kind of bass it is, as long as I can hear it. After reading many reviews about many different headphones, I realized that even though some the expensive ones were probably better, I didn't want to spend more on headphones than I did on the radio itself. After reading the reviews about these headphones and how great the bass was, I was dubious that a $14 pair could produce decent bass. I believe it now, and would highly recommend these to anyone who likes bass, the bass that I couldn't hear on the other headphones I tried. In fact, even though I'm not an audiophile, the total sound from these headphones is better than I heard from any of the other headphones. The bottom line is that you have to try these to believe how good they sound. The best $14 I've ever spent on any product.
  
  
• Almost Pro 35, but not quite
  By A3DW4KOR2E7M32 on 2005-11-05
  I bought these because, like many others, I was so blown away by the sound quality of the now discontinued Optimus Pro 35 and its Koss twin, the original KTX-Pro. These were assembled in the USA and featured a heavier headband with a leather inner band. Is this the same incredible bargain? Not quite. This Chinese-made model is lighter, somewhat flimsier (about average at this price range), and has a plastic inner headband. As for the sound...well those who say it's exactly the same as a Pro 35 haven't A-B'd carefully from SACD source. Very close, but just a tad edgier and less spacious. (Granted, the old Pro 35s are more broken in, so I'll have to compare again in a few months.) That said, it still kicks the you-know-what out of any other headphone selling for $15. Or $30 or even $50 for that matter. It's a worthy backup to my last pair of Pro 35s (I should have stocked up the last time they sold for $20) but not the phenomenal deal of the, well, "real deal."
  
  
• Great sound -- strange fit
  By A2CJ7M06U9BLU1 on 2006-03-14
  I purchased these headphones and was a bit confused by the blue rubbery plastic thing that goes across the top. At first I thought it was something added just for shipping, but I couldn't easily remove it so thought twice about continuing to yank on it. So I came back to this product description to find out what it was. Turns out it is an "adjustable headband with a sling for a comfortable and secure fit." So the sound is fantastic, I love the volume control, but being a grown woman I'm surprised that the headband (even with the "sling") is too loose. Even with the strange blue rubbery sling that pulls slightly on my hair, I can't get the headband to feel tight and secure since the headband part feels lose when I'm exercising. Such a huge improvement though over earbuds -- those things hurt my ears!
  
  

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