( 10 reviews )
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Posted: Aug 5 2009
I'm no audiophile, and it's been awhile since I bought over-the-ear phones. But I was very surprised to find that these phones actually seem to amplify background noises by virtue of their mechanical design! Even when not plugged in, certain background sounds (like air circulation system, lower frequencies of voices, and the like) actually get louder when I put these phones over my ears, and I don't believe it's just a perceived sensation due to other sounds being attenuated. This may be analogous to the "boxy" sound referenced in another review. And of course since these cans don't have ANR (or much passive NR for that matter) the noise remains noticeably in the background while I'm actually using them to listen to music. Part of the problem seems to be that the ports are pointed straight up, and I'm working in a commercial space/cube farm where most of the ambient noise comes from overhead. Placing scotch tape over the ports does seem to have helped. So although the actual quality of reproduction for music seems to be very good for the money, I can't recommend these for use in anything but a very quiet environment.
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Posted: Apr 8 2009
I must disagree with the other reviews. I have had this pair of headphones for years now, and I wear them often, for long periods of time. They're the most comfy ones I've had on my fat head. I was shocked when I saw the bad reviews here. Don't hesitate to give them a try.
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Posted: Jan 29 2009
The GOOD: These headphones sound great. They have excellent bass response and the mid/high frequencies are just fine. I did not experience too much bass while listening with my friend's IPOD or my 10 year old portable CD player. When I tried them through my pioneer stereo amp, I could crank the bass up all the way without getting any distortion. So they can handle bass very nicely which is great for bass lovers out there! They also sound great when listening to DVD's or when playing games. I play CSS. Explosions feel like you are right there! I must say I have not listened to their higher end headphones like the PRO 4AA's, so I can't compare the sound quality with that. I did however compare them to the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7's and the TD85's does not sound bad for less than half the price. The TD85 has better bass response, but the ANC7's highs are better. The BAD: I must agree with the other reviewers that the fit is just terrible. Those hard plastic headband ends are like daggers in your skull. I could not stand them for longer than 5 minutes. I contacted KOSS and asked them if I could bend the headband and the metal adjusters on the side, without violating the warranty. They said I could go ahead, so I did! I bent the metal adjusters inward at the ends to remove the dagger feel. Then I also bent the headband more open so that they don't fit too tight. Man, now I am happy. I can wear them all day without any problems. I just love them now...
