Our Verdict
The Koss Porta Pro are average-at-best mixed usage headphones. They are best used for critical listening or sports thanks to their well-balanced sound and lightweight, open design. They look identical to the old model but have a much greater range since they are wireless. However, their wireless implementation feels a bit lazy and they're now Bluetooth-only headphones so you cannot reduce the latency when watching movies by using an audio cable.
- 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.
Average for neutral listening. The Porta Pro Wireless have a decent sound with an above-average bass and an open soundstage. They're also comfortable enough to wear for hours of listening. Unfortunately, their bass somewhat extends into the mid-range which makes them sound a bit cluttered and muddy and their treble range is a little recessed, so instruments do not sound as detailed. Overall though, they should sound good enough for most.
Below-average for commuting. They have an open design that does not block any ambient noise which is not suitable for the loud environments involved in commuting.
Average for sports. They're lightweight comfortable and wireless with a decent control scheme. They're also very breathable and compact. However, they are not the most stable headphones for more intense workout routines.
Mediocre-at-best for office use. They're comfortable to wear for hours and have a long battery life but unless you work in an isolated environment the leakage level of the open ear cups will be bothersome to those around you and they do not block any noise.
Below-average for gaming. They have a mediocre microphone, and way too much latency to be suitable for gaming. They also do not have a companion app, which means they won't be as customizable as most gaming headsets and they're Bluetooth-only headphones that will not work with your consoles.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated May 10, 2018: Review published.
- Updated May 08, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Porta Pro wireless are lightweight and compact headphones with a good enough sound for critical listening. They are pretty much identical to the old model except that they are wireless. They're compact enough to fit into some pockets and the breathable design makes them a decent option for sports. Unfortunately, their build quality feels very flimsy and they do not block any noise so they won't be as versatile as some of the other on-ears compared below.
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 JBL T450BT are slightly better headphones and offer a better value for your money when compared to the Koss Porta Pro Wireless. The Porta Pro Wireless have a more comfortable, portable, and breathable design than the JBLs. They also have a well-balanced and open sound that does not sound as sharp as the T450BT. They also have a slightly longer battery life, although not by much. On the other hand, the JBL T450BT have better noise isolation and leak a little less thanks to their closed design. They also have an easier to use control scheme and a slightly sturdier build quality, although not by much since they are mostly plastic.
The Koss Porta Pro Wireless are better headphones than the Grado GW100 Wireless. They are more portable since they can fold into a more compact format, are very lightweight, are more comfortable, and leak less. However, the Grado can be used wired too, which is very convenient if the battery is dead. They support aptX-LL and are better-built headphones.
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