The Koss KSC-75 Headphone is not a particularly glamorous set of headphones. These little clip on headphones reside near the bottom end of the headphone price spectrum. However, with a mere list price of $19.99, I think these headphones represent a huge value to anyone out there wanting to upgrade the headphones that came with their iPod or other portable media player.

Now, I’m not the first one to discover these little gems. In fact you’ll find a large group of people that praise the high bang-for-the-buck that these headphones represent. A google search yields many positive reviews. These headphones are so popular, that there is even a common modification people do to these headphones called the Kramer-Mod.

Despite the overwhelming praise of these headphones, don’t be misled into thinking these are the be-all and end-all of heaphones. I wouldn’t call these audiophile headphones. However, I would call these headphones a lot of fun!

The first thing most people think about when getting audio products is the bass. So how is the bass on these headphones? The bass extends pretty deep, and is present in a nice way. It’s not quite as clear and articulate as higher end headphones, however it does a good job of playing bass without being overly boomy or bloated sounding. Koss claims a frequency response down to 15Hz, which is probably a stretch (20Hz is on average the limit of human hearing). It may be my ears, but I don’t hear much coming out of these headphones below 33Hz or so, which is still below most musical content. Even if it doesn’t live up to it’s published spec, that’s not too shabby for a $20 headphone!

While the bass is half of what makes this headphone such a great value, in my opinion where this headphone really shines is the treble. Listening to Mediterranean Sundance on Al Di Meola’s Elegant Gypsy through these headphones is really a pleasant experience filled with detail and a sound that just makes you grin. The high end of these headphones really sparkles and gives significantly more expensive headphones a run for their money.

So in summary, I think these are a great pair of headphones. They aren’t the best headphones in the world, but did I mention enough that they only cost $20! They are lightweight and good for working out or other activities. While I have several other (significantly more expensive) headphones, these sounds these headphones produce always put a smile on my face. They are perfect for those of you haven’t ever listened to anything but the earbuds that come with the iPod. If those white buds are the only thing you’ve ever listened to before, be prepared to hear a whole new side to your music! They are also perfect for those that have nicer headphones, but are looking for something cheaper for portable use that you won’t worry about.

If I had to pick out some problems with these headphones, I guess they don’t look the best. Also, these headphones are open, so they leak sound and may not be appropriate for library like situations.

You can pick up these little gems at Amazon.com for $16.28 last time I checked. And if your one of those instant gratification types you can even buy these at most local Radio Shacks for around $25.

Filed under: Gadgets | Technology,Portable Audio,Reviews | Guides — Santi @ 7:19 pm