dlstewart's Full Review: Koss KTXPRO1 Consumer Headphones
I hate the ear buds that came with my MP3 player. My ears just weren’t the right shape, and those ear buds hurt whenever I used them. There had to be a better way to comfortably listen to music. That’s when I discovered Koss KTXPro1 Headphones.
Description
These headphones are the typical U-shape that fits over the top of the head. The headset is adjustable. Measuring from the bottom of the earpiece, around the headset to the bottom of the other earpiece ... the smallest setting measures 18 1/2", and the largest setting measures 20 1/4". Each earpiece has a 1 7/8" diameter.
The headphones are constructed from plastic in a silver and gray color combination. At the top of the headphones is a blue-purple piece of rubberized material that fits over the top of the head beneath the band. Each earpiece is covered with foam and has open hear-through sound. The manufacturer uses a titanium-coated high polymer diaphragm to produce accurate sound. Each earpiece is discretely marked with an "L" for left and an "R" for right.
The four-foot cord has an attached volume control with a slide button. The volume control measures 1 7/8" long and has a rounded area where a thumb can comfortably fit when adjusting the volume. The end of the cord has an L-plug. Since these headphones are designed for either in-home use or portability, they come with 1/8" and 1/4" stereo plugs. The larger plug fits over the smaller plug, almost like an adapter.
My Experiences
During the summer, I joined a summer walking program. Most of the time, I walk during lunch. I found that when listening to music, I walked faster and longer. The MP3 player works great for this, but those ear buds actually started to hurt my ears whenever I wore them. So I needed headphones that were portable, comfortable, had good sound, and didn’t break the bank to buy.
These Koss headphones are just about perfect for me. At first they took a bit of getting used to. I wear them at the smallest setting and wished they could adjust a bit smaller. Anyone with a small head might not find these headphones comfortable. The headband sits tipped toward the back of the head so that the earpieces sit over my ears. The blue-purple rubberized piece acts as non-skid padding to keep the headphones in place.
The earpieces sit forward on the ends of the headband. Abstractly speaking, they resemble a small letter "b" in shape. The sound is good from these headphones. No static or distortion. If you like pounding bass, these headphones are not for you. They deliver an even sound. Granted they will not produce the sound that a pair of more expensive headphones will generate. However, for portable headphones, these are great.
The earpieces are comfortable, covering my entire ear. Since I walk outside, I like that I can hear traffic noise and even my footsteps as I walk while wearing the headset. I once asked those around me if they could hear my music, and they said no. I never blast my music, playing it at low volume.
I love the volume control on the cord. Some songs are softer or louder than others, and this volume control is easier to adjust than the volume on the MP3 player. The cord is very long (perhaps too long). I keep the excess cord tied together with a wire twist-tie and tucked in my pocket.
I like the foam padding on these earpieces, too. I have worn the headset during 80-degree weather and cooler autumn temps in the 50's and 60's. The foam is not hot over my ears in the warmer temperatures, yet the headphones almost act like mini earmuffs during cooler weather.
These headphones are lightweight and easy to carry. I wouldn’t want to bash them around, too much, though, as they don’t appear study enough to withstand a lot of abuse. They don’t fold into a smaller configuration as some headphones do. However they tuck into a large bag, and I keep them in a drawer at work during the week.
Purchasing
I bought these headphones from Amazon.com for $13.99. Since my order totaled over $25.00 (with other purchases), these headphones shipped for free. I figured I couldn’t go wrong for the price. (The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $19.99.)
Update -- November 10, 2007
I thought you would like to know that these headphones are still working fine and have not broken. The sound quality is still good, but they won't compete with higher-end headphones. Still, for the money ... I've definitely received good value.
Summary
The Koss KTXPro1 Headphones fit my needs. They are portable, have good sound with no static, and were certainly affordable. It’s great that a volume control is located on the cord. I can see where these headphones might not be comfortable for everyone, though, so you might want to make sure the headphones are returnable if they aren’t right for you.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Specifications
Frequency Response – 15-25,000 Hz
Impedance – 60 ohms
Sensitivity – 103 dB SPL/1mW
Distortion – less than 0.2%
Cord Length – straight, dual entry, 4 feet with L-plug
Plugs – includes 1/8" and 1/4" stereo plugs
Additional Information
Koss
4129 N. Port Washington Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Frequency response: 15-25,000 Hz Titanium-coated high-polymer titanium diaphragm for accurate sound Reproduction Foam ear cushions for open "hear thro...More at Amazon
Adjustable headband for a comfortable secure fitVolume control on cord for easy level adjustmentTitanium layered diaphragm for accurate sound reproduc...More at Buy.com
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