The Koss Porta Pro KTC are decent-sounding and portable on-ear headphones for critical listening and mixed usage. They're lightweight, comfortable, and have a compact, retro design that will work for some. They also have a decently balanced and open sound for an on-ear device although they won't be the best sounding headphones for more serious critical listeners. Unfortunately, they also feel flimsy and cheap and don't block any noise so they'll struggle a little in noisy conditions.
Our Verdict
The Koss Porta Pro aren't the most versatile headphones. They don't isolate much and leak due to their open design. They're also flimsy and lacking in features; however, they produce a well-balanced sound on par with much more expensive headphones. This makes them a good, budget recommendation for critical listening but they might not be well-suited for other uses.
- Lightweight and comfortable design
- Above-average audio reproduction.
- No isolation from ambient noise, by design.
- Weak and flimsy build quality.
- Leaky at higher volumes, by design.
The Koss Porta Pro have decent sound with a deep and rich bass, good instruments and vocals, and tapered highs that do not sound too sharp. The open design gives them a decent soundstage, and although they won't sound as clear or detailed as some expensive neutral listening headphones, their sound quality is more than sufficient for most listeners.
The Koss Porta Pro aren't ideal for commuting. These headphones barely isolate listeners from ambient noise and won't perform well in loud environments.
The Koss Porta Pro are average at best for sports. They're lightweight, compact and have a moderately decent control scheme. The open design also allows you to monitor your environment. However, they won't be stable enough for intense exercise, and they have a lot of moving parts that can get caught on your hair or clothing.
The Koss Porta Pro are subpar for office use. They leak at higher volumes and don't prevent the chatter of a lively office from seeping into your audio.
The Koss Porta Pro are average for gaming. They have a wired connection, so they have negligible latency which is suitable for gaming. They also have a decent microphone that's compatible with some consoles. Unfortunately, they lack a good app to customize their sound profile like most gaming headsets, and they're a bit too tight on the head to wear for really long gaming sessions.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Feb 16, 2018: Converted to Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Oct 02, 2017: The microphone has been tested with our new methodology, as explained here
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Koss Porta Pro are a good option if you're looking for budget critical listening headphones. They're one of the best on-ear headphones we've tested in this price range. They're comfortable, lightweight, and have a decent open sound that caters well to most tracks. They sound sufficiently good for casual and more critical listeners but have a fragile build quality and don't block any noise due to their open design, so they won't be the most suitable for commuting especially when compared to some other on-ears. See our recommendations for the best headphones under $50 and the best closed-back headphones.
The Koss Porta Pro are a slightly better headphone overall when compared to the Koss KSC75. The Porta Pro have a better-balanced sound and a more comfortable on-ear fit that you can wear for longer than the KSC75. The Porta Pro also have a better more durable design, although not by much. On the upside, the KSC75 are bit more portable and have a slightly more stable design if you plan to use them for sports.
The Koss Porta Pro KTC are slightly better headphones than the Grado SR80e/SR80. The Grado have a better build quality and a more open sound for critical listening with a larger soundstage than the Koss. The Koss, on the other hand, have a more outdoor-friendly design despite being open thanks to their portable on-ear format and in-line remote if you get the KTC variant. They also deliver more bass than the Grado, which some listeners will prefer, and they are compact enough to carry around on your person without much hassle, unlike the Grado.
The Koss Porta Pro Wireless are a wireless variant of the regular Koss Porta Pro with a similar performance overall. The wireless variant of the Porta Pro are a bit more practical for everyday use. They also have a bit more range so you can leave your device on a table and still listen to your audio. The wired Porta Pro, on the other hand, have zero latency when watching videos. They also do not have a battery since they are completely passive, so you will never be without music.
The Audio Technica ATH-M60x are a much better critical listening on-ear than the Koss Porta Pro KTC. The Audio Technica have a better build quality, a better-balanced sound, and look much more premium and durable than the Koss. They also have replaceable cables and a closed-back design that isolate a little better in noise conditions. On the other hand, because the Koss are open, they deliver a larger soundstage than the Audio Technica. They're also more portable and come with an in-line remote variant that you can use with your phone, unlike the Audio Technica.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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