Koss Porta Pro Classic Review

The Koss Porta Pro Classic is one of those rare headphones with an almost cult-like following.  While it will never be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s much to be said about a $50 on-ear headphone that does so many things this well.

Koss Porta Pro Classic Review

The Porta Pro Classic is very bare bones.  In the box, there’s some warranty info and a carrying pouch, and the headphones themselves.

Design on the Porta Pro is good, with a very lightweight plastic build reinforced by a nice aluminum headband with sliding tabs to accommodate even the most disproportionately large heads (like that of yours truly).  The earpads are soft foam, and just above the earpieces proper are two more foam pads for additional comfort.  On the earpieces themselves, there are plastic tabs to adjust the pressure of the earpieces, so suffice to say no matter what your preference is for pressure, these headphones will remain comfortable for even the longest of listening sessions.

Specs

Frequency Range:  15-25,000 Hz
Impedance:  60 ohms
Sensitivity:  101 dB SPL/1mW
Cable:  Straight, Dual Entry, 4ft
Warranty:  Limited Lifetime Warranty

As we can see from the specifications, it’s sporting a wider-than-average frequency range, and higher-than-usual nominal impedance, and a fairly normal sensitivity.

While they could possibly benefit from an amp, they’d still work great with a portable device like a phone or tablet, while also offering a pretty good amount of detail at decent volume levels.

Low End

With the Porta Pro Classic’s low end you’re liable to pick up a good amount of detail, giving one the impression of a richer, fuller sound.  The bass, while not quite booming, is still powerful – enough so to lend real impact to bassy EDM, Hip Hop, or Rock.

Mids

Mids are great, squeezing plenty of detail out of these small headphones.  There’s some amazing definition there, too.  Whether it’s high-frequency male vocals, or huskier female ones, or just instruments filling that part of the frequency range, rest assured that you will hear it.

High End

The high end detail on the Koss Porta Pro Classic is through the roof, with rich detail that transcends what I thought good audio could sound like.  Keep in mind, the highs can get a little piercing sometimes, but in general the high end of the frequency range is accurate with good control and excellent contrast.

Soundstage

There’s a real sense of soundstage here – it’s like you’re falling through a well of sound, and the space around you is dark and infinite – only punctuated by the sounds of individual instruments as they float through the void.

Okay, so maybe that was a bit crazy-sounding, a little too eloquent.  They’re just headphones, right?  Put on some classical music and plug these babies in and tell me you don’t feel the exact same way as I do.

Portability

The hallmark of the Porta Pro is professional audio quality in a portable package.  I know what you’re thinking – who knew, right?  Well, these things are lightweight, they fold up pretty small, come with that leatherette carrying pouch, and they sound totally awesome.  And sound aside, there’s reason enough to recommend them on their portability alone.

Overall Impressions

Lightweight and portable, with tons of definition and soundstage…there are few reasons not to love this headphone.  As evidenced by its enduring and unwavering popularity, the Koss Porta Pro Classic is clearly a great headphone.  While some could miss the lack of a mic and remote, the KTC version of the Porta Pro offers one that is compatible with iOS devices.

Recommendations

If you’re a basshead – and you need the kind of bass that rattles your teeth – these may not be the headphones for you.  Or, if you’re looking for a full-size over-ear headphone, these will also disappoint by virtue of their design.  But, if you’re looking to a portable headphone, or a headphone with tons of detail, or a headphone with good bass and good treble, or one of the best headphones you can get for under $50, well, then meet your future headphone, the Koss Porta Pro Classic.

You can find these headphones for the best price here:

Audio 46 (Use our promo code, “majorhifi” to get 10% off)