This is Part I of the Koss Mini-Series!!
What’s the deal with the KSC75? Who is it for? How does it sound? Is it overrated? It’s like a pothead? Huh?
All of these answers and more, comin’ up in this Koss KSC75 Review!
Greetings bass head and Welcome aboard. Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music (not gear), all over again, so…
At A Glance
Koss KSC75
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Drop!
In The Box
Koss KSC75 Clip-On Stereo Headphones
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Specs/Graph
Graph: Crinacle
- Type: Semi-Open back, Dynamic
- Fit: Supra-Aural (On-Ear)
- Frequency response: 15Hz – 25kHz.
- Impedance: 60 Ohms. What is Headphone Impedance?
- Sensitivity: 101dB/mW.
- Material: Plastic, Foam.
- Color: Black/Silver.
- Cable: Non-detachable 3.5mm.
- Cable Length: 3.9′
- Weight: 0.17 lb.
- Key Features: Titanium-coated diaphragms, NdFeB Magnets, OFC Voice Coils
Who is this headphone for?
Anyone with a $20 bill on hand who wants some extra MACKdonald’s lunch money left over.
Dolla dolla bill y’all!
Seriously, just buy it.
There’s no reason not to. I bought one on a whim and don’t regret it.
Plus if you buy it I’ll get like a $0.17c kickback. WOO BOY. Gotta pay them BILLZ.
Aside from the next headphones in the series, this is one of the easiest purchases you’ll ever make.
I mean darn, you can always return it and if you don’t, who cares? It was $20.
If you desire a more laid-back experience, I think the KSC75 is the perfect headphone.
Nothing about its sound signature is particularly noteworthy, but it’s pure and natural even despite being incredibly flat.
If you’re a bass head, you’ll probably want to consider other options.
The bass here rolls off ferociously below around 100 Hz, and it sounds exactly like the above graph would indicate.
Even so, you may love the articulation and detail of said bass; it sits just right in the mix and doesn’t sound overpowering. It is however missing some slam that many will inevitably desire.
If you listen to Ambient, Jazz, Classical, Acoustic/Folk, and generally lighter genres, the KSC75 is for you.
Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, etc. are also good, but perhaps secondary to the former.
Don’t plug these in and expect them to perform like an HD25. You’ll be sorely disappointed. They don’t like to be pushed.
Don’t push them. They just want to be liberated.
Classical is a genre that can quickly become overpowering and fairly fatiguing.
It tends to go from quiet to loud very fast.
The KSC75 handles these fluctuations with relative ease because it doesn’t highlight any particular frequency.
It’s almost flat to a fault but is still somehow immensely enjoyable when you want to just be a kickback and relax typa homie.
Speaking of kick back and relax typa homies, check out my kick back and relax typa homie t-shirt.
Listen to music in style while you kick back and relax, homie.
Shameless plug aside…
Are they overrated?
A lot has been said about this little guy.
I don’t think it’s overrated, but it’s certainly not for everyone.
Still,
for $20, you owe it to yourself to make that decision.
It does feel and look like something you’d find in your local drugstore, but it’s a cut above like Jersey Mike’s, sound-wise anyway.
I WANT IT MIKE’S WAY!!
Lol.
The non-detachable cable looks and feels cheap, and the box it comes in echoes a similar sentiment.
Again, it was $20. I think I paid even less than that.
Like the 30i, you get the headphones and some documentation in the box, and that’s it.
What makes the KSC75 so good?
Simply put, the resolution, as well as the overall tonality. It portrays the subtleties and nuances in audio incredibly well. Things like the delicate harmonics, subtle background noises, or the nuances of a singer’s voice. The list goes on.
Anything you might not typically hear with a real trashy headphone comes through effortlessly with the KSC75.
The reason this is so impressive is that you’ll typically find these discrepancies only start to manifest in higher-priced gear.
That is, the resolution, which is arguably the most important aspect of a headphone, really starts to improve above the $300-500 mid-fi range, but does eventually fall prey to diminishing returns the more money you spend.
The fact that the 75 provides excellent resolution for such a dirt cheap price should have you raising a brow, or 2.
Because the sound is free from strange peaks and valleys in the overall frequency response – a problem that plagues a lot of entry-level gear – the headphone ends up sounding incredibly natural and effortless; almost to a fault.
In other words, the KSC75 is like a pothead with no ambition or drive.
He may drive around and smoke pot, but he doesn’t actually have any drive.
He just smokes pot and plays SSX tricky all day, and smokes pot and has no ambition or drive. He also smokes pot and has no drive.
Smoke Up, Johnny!!
Kidding aside, this actually works in its favor for the most part. Relaxed and effortless is something you mostly want out of a headphone, and the KSC75 certainly delivers.
That said, it’s not exactly a headphone per se. He’s a clip-on tie (i.e. a FAKE), and sometimes rather annoying to put around your ears.
Comfort
Comfort is decent, but you’ll start to notice the pieces of plastic around your ear after a while.
These will need somewhat frequent adjustment as they do tend to dig into the spot where your ear meets your head.
I would say comfort is about average.
Amplification
They don’t need amplification, but I’m currently running them out of a DragonFly Red.
Something like a BTR5 is also a perfect match for these.
Final Word
These have just enough air to not become boring, but you’ll want to adjust your expectations accordingly.
Don’t expect to be blown away by the sound; rather, allow it to grow on you over time, sort of like that annoying reviewer who’s really loud and obnoxious but his heart is in the right place.
I’m not referring to myself, heh heh. *Pulls collar nervously*
Heh. Dummy thicc?
Still, the KSC75 is a headphone I enjoy because I can just kick back and relax with it. Speaking of, check out my t-shir… just kidding.
Learn More:
Ready for the next article in the series?
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Koss KSC75 Review & Discussion, and came away with some valuable insight.
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Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
What do YOU think about the KSC75? Would you buy it? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
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2 comments
Nice review, please check out the headband mod and Yaxi pads for the KSC75. I still prefer the KPH30i, but the modded KSC75 is more detailed for sure and their bass has improved due to the camping force from the headband mod. You may want to check out the new Kph30i clear version as well, they sound different and more clear, because they have removed the foam behind the drivers.
Def going to do that man! Thanks for the love. And yes, I will likely get a clear 30i for myself after the Koss giveaway. Definitely enter into that!!