Headphones
Koss KSC 75
We've long loved the Koss KSC models; they simply sound great for the money. The Koss KSC75 is a "clip-on" style headphone for applications where a headphone with a headband just won't work. Whether it's Mom not wanting to muss her hair, a skateboarder who's wearing a helmet, or you just liking to wear a hat, these little headphone won't fail to surprise with a great listening experience.
Product Features:
- Excellent sound at this price range.
- Open design let's you remain aware of your surroundings.
- Clips securely to ears with good comfort and stability.
- Comes with Koss' killer life-time warranty.
Applications:
The sound is good and the comfort is too on these handy-dandy little earphones. We've been recommending this line from Koss for years now, and they've always been amongst the best-sounding things on the market at the pricepoint. They're perfect for the active listener needing an inexpensive pair of headphones that you don't have to worry about sweating up in the gym or sticking under your sport helmet or groovy skullcap. And because their open-design earpiece does not completely seal the ear canal, you can maintain your situational awareness as you deftly dodge traffic on your latest multi-wheeled aggro-toy.
With silver plastic spaceship earpieces and frost-clear ear clips that look rather like 1950s wire-rims, these headphones--like most other 'ear-clip' category of 'phones--are pretty darn unique looking and may feel a bit weird on a few extra-sensitive earlobes. The KSC75 come with a 4-ft cable terminated in a easy-on-the-jack 90-degree right-angled 1/8" (3.5mm) mini-plug. The standard Koss lifetime warranty is sweet; Break 'em and Koss fixes or replaces for life!
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 101 dB/mW
- Cord Type: Straight Y
- Coupler Size: Small
- Cord Length: 4 ft. (1.2 m)
- Weight: 1.5
- Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime warranty
- Microphone: No
- Driver Type: Dynamic
- Detachable Cable: No
- Isolation: 0
- Connector Type: 1/8"
- Ear Coupler Type: Earpad
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 60
- Wireless: No
- Headphone Type: Clip-on
- Noise Cancelling: No
- Warranty: LIFETIME
- Acoustic Seal: Open
Additional Resources:
- Manufacturer's Website
- Koss
- Product Reviews
- Playlist Review
Average Customer Rating: by st.even from montpelier, oh on 2010-02-04
Pros: Sound, Bass, iPod style headphone gold plated plug
Cons: sometime can slip looks and feels cheap
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Those headphone sound really good and is $20 dollars only, good bass sounds good with my iPod. The clip that goes around your ear may not be comfy for big ears and looks cheap a bit. over all the sound is great is durable so I can throw these headphones around it won't be damage. If you are using iPod headphones these headphones beat those hands down.
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by Rocket Richard from San Diego, CA on 2010-01-30
Pros: surprisingly good
Cons: fiddly to put on
Would you recommend this product: Yes
A friend of mine has these and swears by them. I have a Sennheiser PX 100 so I don't need these: the headband is not an issue. They sound amazing at this price, and if you've only ever heard the stock apple ipod buds or other stock lower quality headphones, you will be astonished. I had trouble getting the hang of putting them on, but I imagine with practice I would develop some skill. I much prefer the sound of an earpad style like this to most in-ear headphones, even far more expensive ones.
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by Asr from CO on 2010-01-27
Pros: Price, sound quality, portability
Cons: Aesthetics & durability
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Toss the throwaway headphones that came with your digital audio player and get the KSC75 instead - for a mere $20 the KSC75 is THE best gateway into good-sounding headphones period! You can easily use these out of any portable player and in fact they work great for exercise too, indoor or outdoor. Of course there are plenty of headphones that sound better than the KSC75 (most of them a lot more expensive), but for the price there are no complaints - this has ample bass, mid-range, and treble to properly convey just about any type of music from electronica to industrial/metal to classical to jazz, et al. While there are certainly some sonic drawbacks to these, I think to address any of them for a $20 clip-on would be overly picky. If you're looking at these, price is probably the bigger concern over sound quality anyway, and this is about as cheap as it gets without devolving into something that'd be awful-sounding.
The only real drawbacks to the KSC75 are the retro aesthetics that make it look clunky, and it's not the most durable clip-on either - the clips can fall off and the cheap plastic housing could be an issue if you throw these into a bag where hard objects might impact it.
No need to think twice about buying these if you're looking for a prime portable headphone though - they're the most economical solution available and they sound good too, what else do you need?
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by Rei Yano from Clovis, CA on 2010-01-27
Pros: CHEAP
Cons: not the best sounding
Would you recommend this product: Yes
These headphones give you a lot of bang for your buck. For being so cheap these headphones really stand out and work well. The design is utterly perfect because you can adjust the clip to fit your ear with the thin metal bar. I tend to have them a bit tight fitting on my ear because if I move a lot I do not want to have to keep moving them back onto my ears or possible fall right off. Only problem is that the clips come right off and although this is generally great (replacement clips can be bought directly from koss) it also causes a lot of accidental snapping off of the clips while you are trying to put them on your ears. The sound quality is not the greatest but for the price I think you know what you are getting into and believe me they stand up to other cheap headphones just fine. Just get these. If you are buying some other headphones from this site you might as well dish out a few more bucks for a cool little pair of clip ons. Definitely worth it.
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by abc123 from az on 2010-01-26
Pros: Great sound, practical, inexpensive
Cons: Clips snap off ocassionally
Would you recommend this product: Yes
I love these for portable use. In my opinion clip-ons are the best portable headphone. They take the best characteristics of earbuds (compact, won't mess with your hair) and on-ear headphones (sound, comfort). The sound quality is not just good enough but excellent for an inexpensive portable headphone. Rich bass and very clean sound across the spectrum. My only gripe is that the clips pop off the headphone when taking them out of a bag and I have to snap them back on.
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by VinnieVidi from NYC on 2010-01-25
Pros: Cheap Cheap Cheap, Sound Quality
Cons: Comfort
Would you recommend this product: Yes
For $20, you can't go wrong with these; even if they are just for the gym.
The only downside that comes to mind is that they become uncomfortable after 20 minutes or so. This can be rectified by a bit of surgical tape.
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by reydequeso from OH on 2010-01-24
Pros: Incredible value, portable, comfortable, lifetime warranty
Cons: A lot harder to put on than simple earbuds, open
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Need portable phones for an iPod or Sansa Clip? Hate headbands with a burning passion? Don't care about a little sound leakage? Happen to have $20 in stolen lunch money wasting away on your dresser? Look no further than this surprise from Koss.
The sound is surprisingly good for $20. The highs are clear and detailed if a little hollow-sounding, the mids are worth twice the price, the bass is loud but not overbearing and detailed enough. It won't turn heads on a listen alone, but when paired with the price tag jaws will drop.
Very light and small, too. They can be a tight fit for some pants pockets, but are a perfect pair with a laptop bag, player carrying case, or backpack. Do you wear cargo pants? Then you were made for these. Some rumors have circulated about their durability, especially the clips. Mine have been in and out of my pockets for half a year now and I've had no problems. One clip did come off during a particularly aggressive adjustment session, but it snapped right back in. And for $6 you can get a replacement shipped from Koss. For the rest of your life.
Comfort, once the obligatory adjustment session is completed, is great. They're light enough that even the frailest ears will have no trouble holding them up. The pads are thin and not too soft, but they don't move around on the ear enough to be a bother. Getting them on can be a timely process with a player in one hand and books in another, but once on they're on for good.
Customizable, too. There are tons of DIY modifications that can bring these out more. Cut a hole in the middle of the pad, drill extra holes in the grill below, mount them on a headband if you're into that sort of thing, etc. Experiment. It's only $20. If you royally screw them up, $6 can net you another.
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by dwf_n_ca from Mountain View, CA on 2010-01-17
Pros: Sounds good, comfy
Cons: can't think of any
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Hey their twenty bucks.
They sound good, and comfy.
Case closed.
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by Nick At Night from Springfield, VA on 2010-01-15
Pros: Excellent sound for money, lifetime guarantee
Cons: Strain reliefs would be most welcome
Would you recommend this product: Yes
I was surprised at how much better these sound than ALL the other cheap headphones I've purchased. Some may not like the clip-on style here. I use these while sleeping, and I find them much more comfortable against my head while lying in bed than the others I've tried. If Koss started putting better strain reliefs on the end of the cords, by the drivers, longevity would be increased significantly. Nevertheless, the lifetime guarantee can't be beat. I just returned a pair, and received a replacement today. A minor quibble is that the two cords do become tangled frequently and easily. Overall, though, exceptional value for the money.
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by Jam from Australia on 2010-01-15
Pros: Amazing sound, replacable cable, unbelievable value
Cons: Can get uncomfortable, clips fall off easily
Would you recommend this product: Yes
For a $20 headphone, I've not heard another headphone under $100 sound anywhere near the quality of these unsuspecting headphones.
The sound is very fun and engaging, with a round, deep bass and crisp, detailed treble. You can listen to any sort of music through these headphones and you will not be able to get the smile off your face.
These headphones are great for home and on the go, and the sports clips stay secure during the most vigorous activity. Fantastic for running or bike riding! They will leak sound like a mini speaker, so not the best choice for the office, and the clips may interfere with thicker glasses frames.
The clips like to fall off in your bag, and the cable is hard to wrap up without making it a tangled mess, but there isn't much more than that to complain about. The cable is easy to replace due to the backs being easy to pull off, and comfort is pretty good.
For $20, you can't go wrong! Easily beats hundreds of other similarly priced headphones!
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by iHelp from head-fi.org on 2009-12-31
Pros: Adjustable, price, lifetime warranty, secure
Cons: none
Would you recommend this product: Yes
Not much to say. If you don't have them, buy them. They are completely open, which is why I use them for running. It costs 6 USD to repair by Koss (shipping). They look a little bit dorky, but at least you are getting good sound. One of the best values for headphones around. Durability is mediocre. Can be worn for hours and is adjustable. The foam pads are replaceable. Sound quality: great for the price, little soundstage, and warm. A great upgrade from those Apple buds.
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