AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Headphone Mania => Topic started by: ajzepp on 19 Jul 2019, 09:21 pm
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I have a few nicer headphones that I've enjoyed for the past several years, namely the Audeze LCD-X, Grado RS-2e, and Beyer T1. But I enjoy picking up a budget headphone from time to time for non-critical listening. My favorite to date has been the JVC nanotube headphone, which was round $25. Well even though that Z Reviews guy on youtube is pretty annoying, he had a review of some Koss KPH30i headphones recently.
I saw they were only $30 on Amazon, and since I needed a new pair of headphones that were really light but would also stay put when Im sleeping, I ordered a pair.
These things are fantastic. They are super light, I can't even tell they're on my head. Crystal clear, respectable low end for their size, and just a really nicely balanced presentation overall. As much as I love the JVCs, these are the clear winner. Koss really hit it out of the park with these.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075FBRYM1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Great these look like a great addition for my new Galaxy S9 I picked up during the Amazon Prime Day for $349!....
This is also a candidate for the < $100 discussion as well!!
I am going to order in the next budget cycle...reminds me of those old Senn HD414 (I think)…
Alex
:D
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I just ordered a set from Koss directly......got a 15% discount!!! lol
Looking forward to playing with these!!
Alex
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Well here they are!!
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=197299)
Alex
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First Impressions:
For $27 delivered!! Koss has a discount for first time buyers if you order direct from them, which I did....three days shipping FREE as well.
Gosh for this money these are indeed wonderful.
I tired them in a variety of my 10+ amps and some they sound like crap and others they sound really nice!
Clear, open, transparent...very light weight...good bass....overall really nice for most anything.
I dont have an adapter that will allow me to use with most of my amps, but they worked in my Desktop ODA and Inverting O2 amps designed by my friend AGDR.
They did not work well with the inverting O2, but work very well with the Desktop ODA.
A bit muddy on the inverting one.
I called Koss and they are sending me a 1/4 to their 3.5 mm RCA adapter so I can use them with my other Class A amps....will report back.
..and Koss is sending this adapter at no charge!
Not much profit margin for a $30 headphone!
Alex
:lol: 8) :o
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I just ordered a set from Koss directly......got a 15% discount!!! lol
Looking forward to playing with these!!
Alex
Do you have to call for the 15% discount?
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I registered onlne to become a "Koss" suscribed member and they sent me a email to verify and it had the discount code in it.
Alex
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Nice catch.
My first ever set of phones was a Koss porta pro set. Had to be around 1985 or so.
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Waiting for the TRRS to TRS adapter to arrive to try these with my amps...
Sure wish Senn would bring back the HD414's!
:>)
Alex
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ajzepp!
I can't thank you enough for telling us about these Koss lightweight KPH30i's !
I just got the TRRS to 1/4 adapter at no cost from Koss and am listening with them with my Burson FUN amp with Sparkos SS3601 op amps...
Its really a great fun set of headphones.....gosh its really a great buy for these for sure!!
Listening to Acoustic Alchemy, Blue Chip CD , Catalaina Kiss and its marvelous!
They are really very comforatble and you hardly know they are on your head!!
Norah Jones piano, bass, vocals are so nice!! Very intimate presentation, she's like in my head!
The kick drum is fast, with the right amount of boominess, not boomy bad, but like a chest felt pounding or sensation!
Thanks Again!
Amazing..
You folks out there owe it to yourself to treat your self to a set of these!!
Alex
:D
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Whadaya know, my daughter is going back to school & needs some headphones, soooooo..... order placed. I'll check them out when they arrive this week.
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Great....
Just an fyi, the included wired plug is a TRRS, and it works with a smartphone and my laptops, but would not work with any of my existing mini to 1/4"
amp female jack...
I had a hard time finding a TRRS to 1/4, but when I spoke to Koss no problem...
So if you try to plug into a stereo jack with the 1/4 phone plug it may not work correctly.
Alex
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Been rotating the KPH30i's thru my amp collection and stumbled on a VERY nice paring with the Pete Millett's Butte headphone amp!
I was not toatlly enamored with the amp with high impedance cans and the very high gain of it, but there is some magic with the 60 ohm 30i's and this amp...
Wonderful mellow sound, Patricia Barbers "Call Me" is so like being in a small cafe listening to her sitting on a chair 10 feet from you! LIVE!
Wonderfully nice!
Alex
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Been listening back and forth between HD600 and these 30i's all morning....4+ hours now!
Amazing how well the 30i's do in a wonderful overall presentation of music...very enjoyable...and
a few times even more so than my great 600's...
The soundstage is wide compared to the 600's...
This am I am using the Burson FUN amp with Sparkos SS3361's for the op amps...truly a wonderful match.
Before was using Pete Milletts Butte, but the FUN has taken the lead for now!!
Crisp and accurate overall....
:D
Alex
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I bought one on amazon and loved it so much that i bought another one on drop.com (It sells for $20 there).
Comfort is on a whole another level. I've owned several audiophile grade headphones, but when i have these on, i don't have any desire to swap. To me, when it comes to headphones, comfort has to be at least as important as sound quality.
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Just ordered a pair from Drop. What prompted me was the talk of how comfortable they are. Normally, on ear headphones of this design don't work for me. The pads rub the cartilage on my ear and I have to take them off around the 30 minute mark. At $20, worth a try.
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it's great when such enjoyment can come from spending so little !
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Steve Guttenberg liked them but said, There's a fuzziness to the sound to be sure
Thoughts on this?
https://www.cnet.com/news/koss-all-new-30-kph30i-headphone-is-a-winner/
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As far as my ears go, i didn't notice any fuzziness. Its a bit soft, but that's actually a plus to me as i tend to have these on for hours at a time.
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Just ordered a pair from Drop. What prompted me was the talk of how comfortable they are. Normally, on ear headphones of this design don't work for me. The pads rub the cartilage on my ear and I have to take them off around the 30 minute mark. At $20, worth a try.
I've yaxi pads though ... They provide a lot more cushion, and takes the comfort level up a notch without sacrificing any performance.
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I dont hear this fuzziness...there are times i listen for hours with these little gems, and then put on my other High dollar cans...listen for a few songs and find myself putting on these $30 wonders!!
Ha!
..and I really like my HD600's and others....
Finding these el cheapo open air "earphones" really can provide you a very nice musical experience, even if they dont articulate as well as a mega dollar hp does.
Bass on these are astounding...for what they are...
Alex
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For 20 bucks, why not? I will be using these with the Dayton Audio Hybrid tube inr. I paid $105 at parts express. :thumb:
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An over the top review from Z review :lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twPEt6pFJk4
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An over the top review from Z review :lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twPEt6pFJk4
Too long to sit through it start to finish so I jumped forward frequently. It did though make me anxious to get the pair I ordered.
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Gosh that guy has a real potty mouth for sure...
But....I feel the same way about these KPH30i's...indeed the best price performer hp's I have ever heard...since my HD 414's way back!!
Alex
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I got mine thru drop, i managed to enjoy them for about 2 hours when suddenly my girlfriend saw them and squealed, “OMG, those white headphones are soooo cute and match my computer baby, can i please have them?” My pair should be here in a few more days... They sounded really swell for something that costs under $30 delivered to my door. I found them to be very comfortable and when played within their operating range provided sound that was unbelievable for what they look like and cost. I’m not setting aside any of my nicer headphones for them but I sure as heck don’t feel I’m missing much when using them.
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I guess thats what girlfriends are for!!
:D :D :D
Thats a funny story !
Feel the same way the high dollar cans are great, but these arent that bad at all!!
Alex
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Mahalo for tip on the KPH30i.
Great value.
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That's awesome some of you guys and gals are enjoying these. I have been using my pair far more often than I ever expected. Still cannot believe how good these sound for such little money.
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These little Koss wonders makes me want to audition their electrostatics!!
:>)
Alex
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These little Koss wonders makes me want to audition their electrostatics!!
:>)
Alex
Has anyone listened to the electrostatics?
I checked them, but don't like the SMPS.
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I just picked up a seet of the KPH30iW to use with my laptop. For some reason my little dog loves to chew off the rubber pieces of the IEM's I typically use. She has ruined a number of pairs of IEM's that I've had. These Koss sound great for what they are and will hopefully allow me to keep a set of headphones on the table without them getting chewed up. Recommended for cheap fun cans.
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Can these be run right from an iPhone ?
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Its a TRRS male plug. so if your Iphone supports this your good to go..
From a reviewn on cnet:
The headphone's impedance is rated at a slightly high-ish 60 ohms, but my iPhone 6S had no trouble making the KPH30i sing.
Alex
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Received the little Koss the other day and plugged them in to my Nuforce HDP immediately. First thing I noticed was how much more efficient they are than my Beyerdynamic DT990 premiums. Had to turn them down a bunch. I run my ipod on shuffle and the first song was Oh Darling from Abbey Road. McCartney's bass was amazing on these little guys; not overpowering, but clean, punchy and super easy to follow. Very promising right out of the box.
I didn't have time to listen so I turned the volume up just a bit, took them off my head, and let it shuffle away all day to burn in a bit. It's too early to address the sound from the KPH30i just yet, but I can address a couple other things. First is comfort, and yes they seem like they will be very comfortable for extended periods. Back in the day I owned both the Sennheiser HD410 and the HD420. Both of those would rub my outer ear and had to come off after 45 minutes or so. I don't think that will be the case with the Koss.
The other issue mentioned by Alex is the 1/4 inch adapter. My HDP has a 1/4 inch jack and maybe I was lucky, because when I reached in the drawer and grabbed the first adapter I saw, it worked fine. Haven't tried it with my phone, and probably never will.
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Cool glad you got them and first impressions are pretty good....
I only use the adapter Koss sent me with the amps that only have 1/4 phone plugs.
Some TRS to 1/4 adapters can short out and cause amp issues....
Great on yours working!!
Alex