Cons: Watery and inaccurate sound (especially in vocals), too big
The Bottom Line: Unless you don't care about sound quality at all, don't get these phones. The $15 Koss TD-61 sound more natural despite their decreased frequency range.
orulz's Full Review: Koss UR-20 Consumer Headphones
I consider myself to be fairly discerning when it comes to sound quality, but not an audiophile because my checkbook won't let me. As a result I don't expect the world from my audio equipment, but I do expect decent, listenable, reasonably accurate sound.
I have a pair of Koss SB/20's (around $55, muff style headphones with a boom mic) and find their audio quality to be fine (though far from perfect). Unfortunately, they're probably the least comfortable pair of muff headphones built since the 1970's (the headband squeezes too hard and the plastic over the speaker comes directly in contact with your ear (it's not padded at all!) After living with these headphones for about 2 years, using them for 5 or so hours daily, I decided I didn't want to cause permanent damage to the cartilage of my ear, so I asked for a new pair for Christmas. Since the audio quality of these phones was good, I suggested Koss as the brand to get.
Well, I received a pair of UR-20's as a Christmas gift. I eagerly opened the package and tried them out. They seemed too big, but they were pretty comfortable so I was willing to overlook the size. But from the very moment I started listening to them, my impression was negative. Bass is too loud, vocals and midrange sound watery and unnatural, and highs from percussion sound weak and painfully forced. The sound on the whole is unnatural and unbalanced. Even with tweaking the EQ, I can't get sound quality that matches the SB-20s. The only thing that helped at all was pressing the phones uncomfortably back on my ears and firmly to my head with my hands.
After listening to these phones for several minutes, my ears grow accustomed to them, but if I take them off for a few minutes and put them back on, I'm again struck with their poor quality.
I'm going to return these headphones and try a different pair tomorrow. I'll probably end up buying something a little higher end. Considering how much I use them, I can honestly see myself spending as much as $80 or so. Sigh, I guess my tastes are getting more discriminating. First on my list of sets to try are the Sennheiser HD500's. Unfortunately it seems to me ALL epinions.com headphone reviews are too glowing so they haven't been of much help to me...
Whether you're on the stage or in the studio, enjoy a lush soundscape with these headphones that feature neodymium magnets and a 16-micron mylar eleme...More at Best Buy ®
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