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dmt1 · 10-10-2003, 02:39 PM

My Shure's are in for repair, so I needed a quick fix for a headphone for the gym. I was going to use my old EX's, but this gave me an excuse to buy a new pair of phones...

The Koss KSC 35 have achieved mythlike status at headfi.org for a portable, semi open headphone--and they were cheap. They are also no longer available; the KSC 55 is their replacement,and are very similar. It uses a behind the head band, (The KSC 50 is the same thing, but uses earclips instead of the behind the head band, but I can't stand earclips). These things are great!! Don't get me wrong, I like my Shure's better, they sound better (I'd expect them to for the price), and isolate MUCH better, but KSC 55's have fantastic sound. Their specs: 30mm drivers (freq: 15,000-25,000, sensitivity 101db, impedance 60 ohm, distortion <.2 %); but they sound great--very clear, and accurate highs and mids, bass is a little too heavy, but it's still crisp. The music is alive, it sounds "fun", not dead, like in the Sony MDR G52, which I'll get to in a minute. They are comfortable to boot--fit me better than the Sony MDR G52's...They are semi open, so they leak sound like you wouldn't believe, and subsequently aren't nearly as good as the Shure's for isolation, but if you don't like in the ear phones, these are a fantastic choice for activity in loud places ( you wouldn't want to wear these in a library, you'd get kicked out). I got them for $20.00 online including delivery; I've seen posts of people getting them for $15.00 from stores that carry them (none in my area though that carry the KSC 55; the 50's are easier to find). After I get my Shure's back, these suckers are still going to be in my headphone rotation--mainly for outside, when I don't want total isolation...

I also bought a pair of Sony MDR G52's, as I had to order the Koss's, and I really wanted something other than the EX's (Don't get me wrong, I like the EX's, but it's hard to go back to them after the Shure's) while I was waiting for the Koss's. And I really wanted to like them--(106 Db sensitivity, frequency respone 16,000 to 20,000 Hz, 30 mm drivers) but they're not nearly as good as the Koss's, IMHO. Not as crisp or accurate; the music sounds dead. The neck band is too tight--it also has these awful earclip things which are fortunately removable--if not they'd be unusable for me. Incredibly dissapointing; I paid the same for them as the Koss's. Should have just used the EX's for a day, and waited on the Koss's, but there they were, right in front of my eyes, begging to be purchased...

Bottom line: If you're looking for an reasonably priced alternative
to canal earphones or earbuds for activity, the Koss's are fantastic. They are semi open, so they don't isolate nearly as well as the other choices, but if this isn't critical to you, this things are a great bargain at $15.00 to $20.00. They're comfortable, and you can get them in the earclip (KSC 50) version with the same drivers if you prefer.

orl2222 · 11-01-2003, 04:19 AM

KSC 35's are still available on the Koss websight..I ordered three pairs. And yes they are legendary for a good reason. I also own e4p ety's, I like the sound better. so get them there while they are still available!!! They pair up with the ipod alot better.

AptMunich · 11-03-2003, 11:48 AM

so which ones are the best? The 50's or the 35's?

Not to sure about the ear-clip design on the 35's...anyone tried it yet?

dmt1 · 11-03-2003, 12:22 PM

I personally hate clip ons, so for me, it's the 55's. If I was going to do the clip ons though, I'd go with the 35's over the 50's. The 35's are intermittently available, so if they're available now, I'd get them if that's the way you're leaning before Koss quits selling them again.

The 55's and 35's have the same drivers, but the 55's are built a bit differently and are a little larger. Some folks feel the 35's sound marginally better than the 55's, although there is some dispute over that... But it does seem that the consensus is that the 35's are much better than the 50's; the 50's are just big enough that people have a hard time keeping them on. (The KSC 50's are the earclip version, the KSC 55s use the neckband, and give a better fit, and there are no problems with them falling off..).

shottagyal · 11-03-2003, 12:47 PM

I'm so glad I happened on this thread, I've never neen to this part of the forum before but I was looking for a pair of decent sounding cheap clip ons. I love them, particularly b/c they don't mess up my hair. I had a question for those of you w/ the Koss clip ons: some clip ons have one wire to the earphone longer than the other so you can wrap it around the back of your head before clipping it on the right ear...does the Koss have this feature or are both wires to the ears the same length?

10-10-2003, 02:39 PM	#1
dmt1 Dismember Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Third Rock From The Sun Posts: 2,544	Koss KSC 55 My Shure's are in for repair, so I needed a quick fix for a headphone for the gym. I was going to use my old EX's, but this gave me an excuse to buy a new pair of phones... The Koss KSC 35 have achieved mythlike status at headfi.org for a portable, semi open headphone--and they were cheap. They are also no longer available; the KSC 55 is their replacement,and are very similar. It uses a behind the head band, (The KSC 50 is the same thing, but uses earclips instead of the behind the head band, but I can't stand earclips). These things are great!! Don't get me wrong, I like my Shure's better, they sound better (I'd expect them to for the price), and isolate MUCH better, but KSC 55's have fantastic sound. Their specs: 30mm drivers (freq: 15,000-25,000, sensitivity 101db, impedance 60 ohm, distortion <.2 %); but they sound great--very clear, and accurate highs and mids, bass is a little too heavy, but it's still crisp. The music is alive, it sounds "fun", not dead, like in the Sony MDR G52, which I'll get to in a minute. They are comfortable to boot--fit me better than the Sony MDR G52's...They are semi open, so they leak sound like you wouldn't believe, and subsequently aren't nearly as good as the Shure's for isolation, but if you don't like in the ear phones, these are a fantastic choice for activity in loud places ( you wouldn't want to wear these in a library, you'd get kicked out). I got them for $20.00 online including delivery; I've seen posts of people getting them for $15.00 from stores that carry them (none in my area though that carry the KSC 55; the 50's are easier to find). After I get my Shure's back, these suckers are still going to be in my headphone rotation--mainly for outside, when I don't want total isolation... I also bought a pair of Sony MDR G52's, as I had to order the Koss's, and I really wanted something other than the EX's (Don't get me wrong, I like the EX's, but it's hard to go back to them after the Shure's) while I was waiting for the Koss's. And I really wanted to like them--(106 Db sensitivity, frequency respone 16,000 to 20,000 Hz, 30 mm drivers) but they're not nearly as good as the Koss's, IMHO. Not as crisp or accurate; the music sounds dead. The neck band is too tight--it also has these awful earclip things which are fortunately removable--if not they'd be unusable for me. Incredibly dissapointing; I paid the same for them as the Koss's. Should have just used the EX's for a day, and waited on the Koss's, but there they were, right in front of my eyes, begging to be purchased... Bottom line: If you're looking for an reasonably priced alternative to canal earphones or earbuds for activity, the Koss's are fantastic. They are semi open, so they don't isolate nearly as well as the other choices, but if this isn't critical to you, this things are a great bargain at $15.00 to $20.00. They're comfortable, and you can get them in the earclip (KSC 50) version with the same drivers if you prefer. __________________ Chris and his infamous clipped Calvinpod

11-03-2003, 11:48 AM	#3
AptMunich Amplioholic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 453	so which ones are the best? The 50's or the 35's? Not to sure about the ear-clip design on the 35's...anyone tried it yet? __________________ 20GB 4th Gen iPod Team College Budget! iBook G4

11-03-2003, 12:22 PM	#4
dmt1 Dismember Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Third Rock From The Sun Posts: 2,544	I personally hate clip ons, so for me, it's the 55's. If I was going to do the clip ons though, I'd go with the 35's over the 50's. The 35's are intermittently available, so if they're available now, I'd get them if that's the way you're leaning before Koss quits selling them again. The 55's and 35's have the same drivers, but the 55's are built a bit differently and are a little larger. Some folks feel the 35's sound marginally better than the 55's, although there is some dispute over that... But it does seem that the consensus is that the 35's are much better than the 50's; the 50's are just big enough that people have a hard time keeping them on. (The KSC 50's are the earclip version, the KSC 55s use the neckband, and give a better fit, and there are no problems with them falling off..). __________________ Chris and his infamous clipped Calvinpod

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Topic: Koss KSC 55

Topic: Koss KSC 55

		iLounge Forums » Accessories for iPod, iPhone + iPad » Ear/Headphones
Koss KSC 55

11-01-2003, 04:19 AM	#2
orl2222 Freshman Lounger Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 7	KSC 35's are still available on the Koss websight..I ordered three pairs. And yes they are legendary for a good reason. I also own e4p ety's, I like the sound better. so get them there while they are still available!!! They pair up with the ipod alot better.

11-03-2003, 12:47 PM	#5
shottagyal Senior Lounger Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 118	I'm so glad I happened on this thread, I've never neen to this part of the forum before but I was looking for a pair of decent sounding cheap clip ons. I love them, particularly b/c they don't mess up my hair. I had a question for those of you w/ the Koss clip ons: some clip ons have one wire to the earphone longer than the other so you can wrap it around the back of your head before clipping it on the right ear...does the Koss have this feature or are both wires to the ears the same length?