Home Open Back Headphone Reviews Before You Buy A Koss Porta Pro, Read This

Before You Buy A Koss Porta Pro, Read This

by Stuart Charles Black
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This is Part III of the Koss Mini-Series!!

 

Greetings mate 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…

in this Koss Porta Pro review, we’ll take a hard look and determine whether or not it’s worth a purchase in today’s overcrowded headphone landscape. We’ll discuss things like build, comfort, overall sound, and more.

By the end of this article, you’ll certainly know whether or not these headphones are for you. So stick around like masking tape and let’s talk about it.

At A Glance

Table could not be displayed.

In The Box

Koss Porta Pro headphones

Warranty Card

Carrying Bag

Koss Porta Pro Review

Specs/Graph

Graph: Crinacle

  • Price: Check Amazon!
  • 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: Beige, White/Blue, Grey/Black.
  • Cable: Non-Detachable 3.5mm.
  • Weight: 12.5 Oz. (75g)

Like the 30i, the Porta Pro is one of the most talked about and beloved headphones in the audiophile community.

In fact, it’s arguably more popular in that many people outside of the community are aware of it.

But does that mean it’s a better headphone?

Let’s take a gander.

One of the first things that will likely jump out at you is their meager size. Despite stock images online making it seem rather large, the Porta Pro is fairly tiny. This was something that I didn’t anticipate, so I’m sharing it with you in case you thought they were big. They aren’t.

For being so light, they’re built pretty well all things considered. Unlike the 30i, the Porta Pro folds up for easy transport and comes with a carrying bag which was a nice added touch; especially for the asking price of around $35 (what I paid).

The plastic feels rather solid for $30, and the retro design has held up for decades without a single revision.

You’re also getting a limited LIFETIME warranty, which is unheard of nowadays.

I don’t think I’ve come across a single company offering anything close. Samson backs up their C01 with a 3-year, and

Rode does a 10-year, but a lifetime warranty is incredibly rare.

Like both the 30i and KSC75, the cable isn’t detachable and terminates in a 3.5mm jack.

Comfort

Koss KSC75 vs. KPH30i vs. Porta Pro

To start, the headband adjustment pieces are rather interesting.

You’ll simply put your thumbs on either side and push up to create more space for your head.

Because I have a big head, I’m maxed out.

I worry about this simply because there are people out there who have big heads that look sort of like this:

I’m not sure these headphones would comfortably accommodate that size, but I digress.

Even so, I love the compact nature of the Porta Potty Pro, as I can easily fold them up for on-the-go use and use them with my phone on road trips if I want.

The same cheap foamy pads are present, so you may want to snag some Yaxi pads if you’re at all particular about comfort.

Spoiler alert: you should be.

Still, for On-Ear headphones, I wasn’t finding myself adjusting them much at all, despite going into it feeling like I would be making frequent alterations and taking lots of breaks.

The pads are pretty soft, the clamping force strikes a nice balance between loose and tight, and they don’t dig all that much; so I never really feel like they’re hugging my head or ears.

There are also 2 soft foamy pads right above the main ear pads for some added cushioning.

Simply adjust the settings on the side which dictate how much pressure will be exerted from the pads to your melon head.

All in all, comfort is surprisingly good for an On-Ear, and I will say that while not the beacon of comfort by any stretch, these are certainly more comfortable than the majority of Supra-Aural headphones out there. 

Sound

Koss KSC75 vs. KPH30i vs. Porta Pro

This is where things get a bit dicey, so bear with me.

In no way is the Porta Pro a bad-sounding headphone. From an objective standpoint, that’s just not true.

I think it’s wise for companies to roll off most of the sub-bass frequencies since you can’t actually hear anything below 40Hz, but the real issue in most consumer headphones is always the mid-bass; specifically the area around 200-300Hz.

Before we get into that, I’ll just say that I like where they decided to elevate the bass, but maybe not the amount. The regions around 60-90 are always ideal for a little bit of a boost, and, as someone who produces hip-hop music, these are certainly the areas to do it if you want to avoid the slop fest that is consumer audio; while making tracks sound like they have some life.

All of the weight, slam, and relevant information of the low end is concentrated mostly in these general regions. Anything below (sub-bass) and above (mid to high bass) are secondary and.. third-dary? and should be treated accordingly.

That said, a 10dB shelf is certainly too much here, and it’s obvious when you’re listening that it’s bordering on sloppy. Most tracks tend to have this layer of haze/fuzz/hum over top, and overall, it’s starting to sound a bit bloated and muddy.

Despite that, the low end still sounds pretty decent overall, and the general trajectory of the graph is mostly correct though I think 200-300 should be scooped out more.

Overall? Still too elevated if we take all of the frequencies into account.

With certain tracks, you’ll most certainly hear that things sound a bit off. Elton John’s Live version of “Benny and the Jets” from 1995 sounds kind of bad with it, honestly.

All in all, because I’m a producer I may sound like I’m nitpicking at these especially given their dirty cheap price tag. To an extent, yes. But I’ve heard so many headphones at this point that I know exactly the sound I like and the Porta Pro, while close-ish, still isn’t quite there.

Mid-Range

Koss KSC75 vs. KPH30i vs. Porta Pro

Even though the bass isn’t quite ideal, it still mostly avoids the pitfall of completely obliterating vocals and instruments.

What usually happens in consumer products is the bass is boosted higher than Saturn and then everything else sounds like it’s drowning in a sea of chocolate pudding.

That isn’t the case here.

The bump at 2kHz kind of balances out that mid-bass rise, so vocals are still going to sound lively, forward, and engaging.

All in all, I think the Porta Pro is what those crappy drugstore headphones from the 90s should have sounded like.

As in, you don’t need to consider anything else if this is the type of signature you’re after – in this price range of course.

I’d go so far as to say that the Porta Pro nails the consumer “i-love-my-bass-and-i’ll-shout-it-from-the-rooftops” demographic and does so quite admirably even though I ultimately sold my pair and don’t plan on buying another one.

Before I go off on a tangent…

Treble

It’s not sibilant, essy, or overly bright as a lot of other headphones tend to be.

What you’ll find in the Audiophile hobby is that a lot of companies put unnecessary emphasis on the treble to appease the masses and perhaps mask some inherent flaws within the headphones.

This isn’t always the case, but the treble is one of those things that can sometimes artificially make a headphone sound better than it actually is.

In the case of mixing and mastering, it’s an asset simply because you can indeed hear more going on due to the amount of air present in the mix.

Even so, a lot of times it simply becomes fatiguing and irritating (producing tracks or otherwise) – something the Porta Pro thankfully bypasses in favor of an almost perfect treble response for general music listening.

Remember: if the above graph measures at a baseline of 90dB, then the treble is mostly where it should be.

For me, it has just the right amount of crispness without being overdone like your mom’s meatloaf and comfortably sits in the mix with ease.

I think if the bass and mid-range were brought down by 5-7dB collectively, the Porta Pro would be the most perfect representation of the consumer bass head sound that ever existed.

As it stands now, and if I’m being fair, this is a B- sound. Much better than 99% of consumer trash, but not quite audiophile enough for me to do cartwheels naked in my living room. 

And who wants to see that?

You know you do. Don’t lie.

Amplification

Koss KSC75 vs. KPH30i vs. Porta Pro

I’d say no, but it can benefit.

At 60 Ohm Impedance, and 101dB/mW Sensitivity, you won’t find them hard to drive out of a phone with a good DAC, and most modern phones provide just that.

I used a FiiO BTR3K and I think that’s about all you’d ever need if you wanted to get your feet wet with these. Do keep in mind I do recommend the BTR5 nowadays since it works for a wider variety of more demanding headphones, but the 3K is a perfect match for the 30i too.

You can use the 3K wireless via Bluetooth or wired on your desktop.

FiiO BTR3K Review

Pictured: DragonFly Red, BTR3K

Genre Pairing

I listen mostly to Hip-Hop, Jazz, Classical, and Indie Pop, with some Rock, Ambient, Soul, Motown, etc. thrown in for good measure.

I think the Porta Pro handles most genres well and certainly does well with slammier genres.

This is a pop fan’s wet dream.

I’m also finding that even though the mid-bass can come through too much with certain genres like Hip-Hop, with Jazz it settles into the mix nicely and doesn’t sound out of place or too weighty.

Do keep in mind this isn’t always the case.

You’ll notice that certain Jazz tracks like John Coltrane’s “Mister Knight” sound a bit off in that both the bass and his sax sound too forward.

Gaming & Film

For gaming these regain some momentum as they sound pretty excellent; also something I wasn’t expecting.

This goes hand in hand with my impressions of the Soundstage and how good it is for a headphone at this price point.

As mentioned on Instagram, I simply wanted to get back to basics.

No Amp, No DAC, nothing.

Just plug into my PS4 controller like old times. And I loved every second of it.

One of the Porta Pro’s main strengths is its ability to deliver a good soundscape and kind of make you feel a little more immersed in the environment than you otherwise would.

Again, for $30-35, this is pretty astounding and something I wasn’t expecting aT aLlL.

I was taken aback at just how open and spacious it was; feeling like sounds were happening outside of my head rather than through the device.

This is something that caught me off guard and is just another reason why the Porta Pro, despite not being a perfect headphone, is still worth a try. You owe it to yourself to buy all 3 (KSC75, Porta Pro, 30i) and decide which one YOU like the best. 

Speaking of, the button below whisks you away into a faraway land, to the final shootout between the 3. I’ll see you there bye.

 

Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Koss Porta Pro Review and came away with some valuable insight.

If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

What are your experiences with the Porta Pro? If you haven’t heard it, would you purchase one? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

Be sure to also check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

Photo Gallery

Koss Porta Pro

4.7

Build

4.6/5

Comfort

4.9/5

Sound Quality

4.4/5

Imaging/Soundstage

4.9/5

Value

4.9/5

Pros

  • Fantastic build at the price
  • Surprisingly comfortable
  • Sound is hard to beat even at double or triple this price
  • Soundstage is pretty exemplary
  • Perfect portable headphone/included case

Cons

  • Mid-bass can be problematic

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2 comments

Stale July 17, 2021 - 10:43 pm

Thanks for the article. I do notice that the PortaPro has better sound stage than the KPH30i. However I was never quite sure whether I didn’t get a fake Porta Pro many years ago and I used to read sites that explained how you can tell the difference, but I Was never sure, because I couldn’t remember where I bought it from (ebay or Koss.com). I’ll be sure to buy it from the official site next time I get one, if I get one I mean.

Also I wish I knew what Koss’ other headphones sounded like in comparison to this venerable classic. Do they have some higher quality (~$100) phones that are better built but provide more of the house sound? that would be cool to know. I was kind of interested in the Pro 4S, but I figure those are monitors that sound like MDR-V6 or something.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black July 19, 2021 - 1:44 pm

Hey man, you’re welcome! I’ll be doing a giveaway here in the next couple of days so if you’re in the U.S., definitely enter in! I will have a link to it on my YouTube channel in the community tab as well as the sidebar here so you won’t miss it. The Porta Pro that I have is definitely genuine.

Pro 4S I remember being good from my elementary/middle school days in the lab lol. MDR V6 was one of my favorites before they discontinued it. 7506 is still in production though. https://homestudiobasics.com/the-sony-mdr-7506-will-change-your-life/

As far as higher-end, that’s a great question. I don’t actually know of any, but it would be interesting to research for sure. I will do that. Pro 4S is over $100 but the graph looks terrible lol: https://crinacle.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Pro4S.jpg

This is one I’d def like to try: https://www.koss.com/headphones/over-ear-headphones/esp950

Check out their page. There are some others as well. https://www.koss.com/headphones/over-ear-headphones

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