SportaPro On-Ear Stereo Headphones, 3.5mm Plug, Lightweight, Unique Folding Design, Black

These headphone are great for jogging. The sound quality is superb for the price. The build quality is quite good as well. I was looking for a good headphone for running. I knew I didn't want in-ear monitors as they are very uncomfortable for me and I don't like the fact that with most models you can't hear your surroundings very well, which I believe is very important when you are running on a road. I also didn't want ear buds as the sound quality is very subpar. In fact, the bass response in ear buds are so bad that it forces you to turn up the volume to higher and the higher until the high frequencies end up damaging your hearing. The Koss SportaPro is an on-ear open headphone. This allows for you to hear your surroundings, while at the same time enjoy airy and dynamic music. Talking about sound quality, I am very impressed. These headphones sound well above their price range. If you were listening to Apple ear buds like I was before getting these, you will know what I mean when I say it's like getting a whole new set of ears. The bass is tight and accurate, but can get a little muddy when pushed to the limit. Where these cans shine is in the midrange. It is even, transparent, and dynamic. Unless you have had a great pair of speakers or headphones in the past you will be surprised at how many notes the Sportapros will dig up that you have never heard before when listening to your old favorite tracks. The highs aren't too shabby either. They hold their weight and were surprisingly clear and soft for this price bracket. The build quality of the SportaPro is solid while light weight, which makes for a very good exercise pair of headphones. They are built to last. The top band, believe it or not, is metal. There are also 2 metal clips that hold these cans together when you fold them up. They could have just put plastic clips on there, but Koss seems like they are serious about quality and went the extra mile on this one. The one caveat seems to be the cords that go into the drivers. They are very thin and have no bend protection. I'm not sure how well those cords would hold up if you got tangled and it got tugged or if bent the cord a certain way every time you folded them up. Overall, you truly can't beat these for the price. It's amazing what Koss has done with these to make them so affordable. I wasn't necessarily looking for great sound quality when getting a pair of exercise headphones. I just wanted something comfortable and sound quality that wouldn't necessarily make me want to throw up. Even after all the great reviews, I was surprised at the performance level of the SportaPros. These are an excellent buy.

Short version: sound great, design/construction is a little awkward, surprisingly durable. Great sound for the price. Long version: First off, let me say that my review is based on a pair of SportaPros that I've had for 6 years. These bad boys sound great--far better than anything else I've tried in the same price range. Most significant, in my opinion, is that they have what many headphones seriously lack: bass, and lots of it. Some reviewers say they have too much bass, and while this may be true, it's preferable having too little. It's easy to tweak EQ settings to tame heavy low frequencies, but if your headphones can't reproduce said frequencies, no amount of tweaking is going to help. Other than the bass, things generally sound really good. They don't compare to numerous $100+ studio headphones I have used for music and audio production over the years, but again, they knock everything else in the price range (that I know of) out of the park. The design is a bit odd. These headphones can be worn with the band over the head or behind the neck. You shift between the two "modes" by rotating the earphones ninety degrees relative to the band. I find behind-the-neck mode to be extremely uncomfortable and never wear them like that, but the ability to rotate the earphones helps to compact them when carrying in a bag/suitcase/etc. They are pretty comfortable when worn in the usual over-the-head position, and the small cushions on the inside of the band keep them from irritating the sides of your head. I've definitely worn more comfortable headphones, but in this mode, these ones aren't bad. The materials look and feel pretty cheap, and I'd not have been surprised if they had fallen apart after a few years of regular use. Surprisingly enough, however, I've had them for 6 years and they are still in great shape. I'm not too rough with them, but they do spend a lot of time unprotected in my backpack. The band has bent slightly, but not enough to be problematic. I've replaced the ear pads once, after the originals had worn down enough that they had become uncomfortable to wear--they never actually tore off, as is common with cheap headphones. You can buy a set of 6 replacement pads for about $4, so this isn't a big deal. All in all, this is a great product. Excellent for the price. It focuses on sound quality over build quality, but the build quality is pretty decent too. And yes, they are pretty ugly, so take a good look at the picture and make sure it that isn't going to bother you.

Sound quality: I directly compared this with the Sony MDR-ZX300AP Sound Monitoring Headphones (2x the price) and pair of Panasonic light weight headphones (1/2 the price). The Sony and this Koss had fantastic sound quality. Of the two the Koss was better, first it had greater clarity of sound and spoken word was more distinct and less muddy. Additionally this one was louder at he same volume setting. All else being equal a louder headphone indicates more money was put into the magnet and sound coupling efficiency-- hinting at the good engineering. The slightly cheaper panasonics were no match in sound quality, compactness, construction quality, though they get good marks for being the lightest (and thus highly comfortable for casual listening) ergonomics Unlike the typical modern style of headphones this one has a plain (adjustable) spring metal bar over the head. This was actually slightly more comfortable than the Sony for the simple reason it gripped my ears more firmly so the top bar did not have to sit on my head-- something I find to be very uncomfortable. Now I've have more comfortable over the ear cans with padded head bars and also even more comfortable on ear ones as well but these were quite satisfactory while being much less bulky or heavy than heavily padded cans portability The spring metal is not to make it cheap but is actually an engineering innovation. First, it's adjustable and heavy duty. This is to support the feature that when you fold this thing up you can compress then head bar. it becomes a tight coiled spring and there are two little hooks on the ear peice hinges that hold it tightly coiled. The ear peices then hinge into this folded state and the whole thing fits in a the tiniest space I've ever seen for headphones with only two hinge points. (your typical folding headphones either have more fiddly hinges to break or are novelty items with fragile plastic swivel joints that won't hold up to travel abuse in your backpack. others that use the same spring metal style are more flimsy and usualy cheap all over/) The only thing on these that looks flimsy is the foam ear coverings. They are thin, feel delicate and I expect I will tear them or they will oxidize and wear out. I see they actually sell new coverings so this is probably why. Styling Now the styling of these is definitely weird and combined with the metal head peice makes them look throwback if you set then next to a beefy Beats or Bose headphone. But I'd say the engineers defintiely triumphed here. It sounds good, it is rugged, it's compact and it's reasonably comfortable. The price is remarkably low for such quality. Conclusion: They put their money in these were it counted. They stole design styles from cheaper headphones but toughened them up and paired them with quality components. I really wasn't expecting these to be better than the Sony monitors but they were. these of course can't match the audio isolation of a quality branded over-the-ear noise canceling headphone but for $20 these are as good as you can get.

The more I wear these headphones, the more I appreciate them. **Sound Quality** The sound quality for the money is pretty fantastic (we're talking $20 headphones here). If you compare them to a pair of over-ear cans at a higher price range, prepare to be disappointed. For a good pair of cheap all around headphones with good bass, these fit the bill. They definitely lack in clarity, and there is mid-range detail you just won't hear. **Comfort** The more I wear them, the more I like to wear them and forget they're on my head. Clamping force with a pair of over-ear cans is usually an issue for me, and causes headaches. With this on-ear design I don't have that issue (the strategically placed pads above the drivers tend to help). **Build Quality** God awful. I transport them in a hard case as I do any other pair of headphones I own, and I wrap them up tight as they were designed. Paint is already coming off the headband, and I'm always afraid I'll break them every time I put them away. Again, overall they're supremely good for the price. For a *cheap* pair of on-ear headphones, they fit the bill. I actually like these better than my PortaPros, because they don't pull all my hair out constantly. But they don't compare to any of my serious headphones (night and day difference). They're convenient and cheap though, so I'm happy with the purchase.

I recently purchased a pair of the Koss PortaPro and the Koss KPH30iW as potential replacements for my broken Sennheiser PX-100s. I love the Sennheisers, but I didn't want to spend $150 to replace them. So I tried these inexpensive phones on the outside chance they'd meet my needs. I was pleasantly surprised by the sound of both. I ended up keeping the KPH30iWs and returning the PortaPros. While I think the ProtaPros may have a bit better sound (more clarity and separation across all frequencies) than the KPH30iWs, I found them very uncomfortable. If the phones slip at all, the wire band cuts into your scalp. It only took a couple minutes of wearing them to decide that they wouldn't meet my needs. Great sound. Poor comfort. I kept the KPH30iWs and really like them. I've read they have the same drivers as the PortaPros. I'm not sure if that's true since I think there is a small drop in sound quality from the PortaPros. But the comfort level is exponentially better with the KPH30iWs.

The SportaPro has a dirty little secret. The Sportaro literally uses the same exact drivers and housing as the KSC35, but instead of attaching the KSC35's clips, they attached the SportaPro headband. Here's my head-fi review 'snippet' of the KSC-35 which IS the same as the Sportapro: KSC-35, the more mature Koss clip-on that was discontinued and then brought back (only on the Koss website), for a pretty hefty $45. I'd say it's hefty because it honestly should cost just slightly above the KSC75 range, not 3x as much. They sound very similar to the KSC75. However, they are fuller sounding, with fuller bass approaching full-sized type bass, and the mids/vocals are very rich and forward. Treble is also quite neutral for me, not being too smooth, and not too sparkly. I actually am quite fond of their treble. The KSC75's treble is harsher, grainier, and more fatiguing. The mids on the KSC75 are slightly laid back, while the KSC35 presents them up front and more fleshed out. In all honesty, you can say the difference between the KSC75 and KSC35 is like the difference between the K701 and Q701. One is brighter, drier, and thinner sounding, while the other is more natural, and fleshed out. All in all, it's a solid sounding headphone, that does work very well. Bass was strong but quick due to the open nature of the headphones, but slower than the KSC75. Based on sound alone, I'd say the KSC35 is a headphone you could use for hours without fatigue. Kind of like a smaller, more bassy HD650. Nice tonal balance that I don't think anyone would dislike. The Koss Sportapro houses the same drivers as the KSC35, for less than half the price. You can literally buy the Sportapro, snap off the drivers, and snap the KSC75/35 clips on to the Sportapro drivers, and you have a cheaper KSC35. Ideal solution is getting the Sportapro and KSC75, putting the KSC75 clips onto the Sportapro drivers. This will save you $10, give you BOTH the KSC35 and KSC75 as a spare, and give the most comfort, IMHO. Just make sure to bend the KSC75 clips to place the drivers closer to the ears, as stock form may place the drivers too far, losing bass and overall sound quality. The more popular alternative, is to buy the cheap Parts express headphone (http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Stereo-Lightweight-Headphones-feet/dp/B0002KQZJS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1371458925&sr=1-1&keywords=parts+express+headphones), taking off the crappy drivers, and using the headband for the Koss drivers. I prefer the Koss clips rather than the Parts Express headband, but I'm in the minority.

For the price, heck, for 3 times the price, these sound great to me. If I were to rate these on sound alone I would put them in a class with $120 to $170 headphones. They have great bass, nice high highs and are clear and undistorted in most of the situations in which I use them. I could go on for pages about how much I like the sound and how they sound, to me, like much more expensive headphones. They are open style, which is not in vogue now with people who are discovering high fidelity headphones for use with a portable player, but they are very practical when you want to be able to hear your surroundings. The fit is good. But the headband is awkward. It consists of a pair of tightly curved metal bands that are bound by two plastic slide clips. You push the clips together to extend the bands apart from each other, thereby expanding the space between the earpieces. The system works and feels pretty durable to me, but it is clumsy. Or I am clumsy. Either way it is unusual. But when they are on, they stay in place, and for on-the-ear style headphones, they are quite comfortable to me. They are also very light as they are very thin, not padded (except on the earpieces) and small. These are actually really good on-ear headphones for someone who wants to jump in their headphones. I think their great advantage is their sound quality. They look and feel a little flimsy, but I think they aren't as flimsy as they look. But I don't think anyone is buying these for the look, unless they are doing it ironically. The quality of sound is the star here. I don't think they sound as good as $200 headphones, but that isn't bad, considering the fact they usually sell for around $24. For identical sound (as far as I am concerned) with a simpler and less expensive headband, I suggest the Koss KTXPRO1 at about $18. It is technically a different driver (titanium coated), but I cannot hear a difference and I find the headband easier to deal with.

Having used and enjoyed the PortaPros for many years (I'm on my second set. I've also used AKG 403s and B&O Form 1 in this role). I was looking for another set of lightweight headphones to take with me to gigs to use with my warm up bass amplug. I ran across the SportaPros at a very low price point and thought they would have many uses. I am very pleased with their sound and comfort as well as portability. The upper mids highs are not as clear as the PortaPros, but just fine for my application.

Bargain price. Great sound.

Buenos auriculares a precio asequible, un sonido correcto y los uso para todo, incluso los llevo para correr y están aguantando bien el paso del tiempo. Se pliegan para guardarlo con la bolsa que viene, el cable es largo, la diadema es ajustable y abatible. Como pega las almohadillas podrían ser un poco más cómodas.

Hatte bereits zweimal den Porta Pro, welcher leider beide male durch Kabelbruch nach ca einem Jahr Wackelkontakte aufwies. Nun versuche ich es mal mit dem Sporta Pro in Kombination mit dem Bluetooth Headset BH-111 von Nokia und meinem HTC One X+. Der Kopfhörer wirkt zwar leicht aber trotzdem robust verarbeitet! Kurz und knapp: Der Sound ist über alle Zweifel erhaben und der Tragekomfort super! Ein Wort um den Sound zu beschreiben? DEFINIERT! Ausgeprägter druckvoller Bass, insgesamt transparente Mitten und klare Höhen. Trage sie u.a. beim Joggen, beim Workout und im Kraftraum. Perfekt, da sie im Gegensatz zu InEars nicht rausfallen beim Sport und sich durch das headset ein Kabelbruch hoffewntlich vermeiden lässt. Kann sie nur empfehlen!

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Le acquistai nel lontano 2013 a 20,95 euro, nel frattempo ho acquistato cuffie della Sony, Philips, Beats, Shenaiser ma quando voglio ascoltare della musica al volo oppure devo portare con me delle cuffie poco ingombranti utilizzo sempre queste sporta pro della Koss. Sono molto pratiche, leggere e versatili il tutto con un ottimo audio sia per volume che per profondità del suono, insomma, il suono è davvero molto equilibrato. E’ possibile utilizzarle anche dietro alla nuca ad archetto, io le riacquisterei ad occhi chiusi, peccato che dopo 6 anni il loro prezzo sia raddoppiato.