timdunn's Full Review: Koss The Plug Earbuds Consumer Headphones
My introduction to The Plug came by way of a web page about The Boosteroo, an in-line headphone amplifier. The author of the web page amended the page to say that he switched over to The Plug and did not need the amplifier anymore.
Given my nit about the Aiwa XD-DW1's low maximum volume, this caught my interest. The same page also detailed a way to make replacement cushions for these earbuds using earplugs. ( Basically, find cylindrical foam earplugs, cut the length so the sound tube is slightly longer than the earplug, heat a nail and melt a hole down the center of the plug.)
After looking at Best Buy, Circuit City and Good Guys for these, I was almost resigned to buying them online when I spied them at Radio Shack. The sound tube was unmistakable. While the earbuds themselves said "Radio Shack", the headphone plug said "Koss". So, two disclaimers:
1) I knew the cushions were a source of annoyance - they were either too small, or prone to loss.
2) I bought the Radio Shack version of the headphones.
They sound wonderful. In fact, they bring out instruments and bass tracks I was not aware existed on some songs, such as Enya's "Evening Falls", the eighth track on her Watermark album. As a result, I'm going through my collection anew, searching for hidden snippets.
Mind you, they don't distort the rest of the sound - the tracks sounds much the same as I remember them, with other headphones or with speakers. The headphones bring out sounds that were present, just inaudible because of the limitation of the other equipment.
Hits and Nits
Hit: Small size. They're earbuds - they roll up into a small pouch, and vanish. They're lightweight - I can't say, "I don't feel them on," but I do wear them for 2 hours a day while commuting, and my ears don't hurt the way other earbuds do.
Nit: The mute button is useful, but annoying, and in two ways. Firstly, it's all too easy to accidentally push it. Secondly, given the design of these earbuds, the little mass it adds to the line causes the wires to tug when it sways. Adding a clip behind it would have helped in both areas.
Nit: The cushions were too small, and did slip off (one did) in a very unscientific trial. I wore it around my neck for a few hours and went about my day. After a bit, I looked down, and one of the cushions was gone.
Hit: Bass on these is fantastic. The mids and highs are clear too.
Hit: Short cord. I don't like having to deal with yards of unused headphone cord. 4 feet is perfect.
Nit: (Updated) After a week of play most of my instrumental CDs again, I have to revise the review. The high can be too 'bright', but only at certain specific frequencies. A few tracks on Vangelis' _Themes_ are nearly painful to listen to at moderate-high volume because of this.
Nit: The "L" and "R" indicators are painted (silkscreened?) on, but don't last. I've had to make my own indicators to differentiate the earbuds.
Hit: They are powerful. I've rarely had to turn my player up past '4', and my daily commute is by train!
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