Price Paid:  $20.00 from RadioShack

Summary:
I've been using these headphones for about 10 years now. They have the best sound you can possibly find for under $50. I recommend them to everyone, and they also end up loving them. Watch RadioShack, they have them for 50% several times a year and end up at $20.

Strengths:
Perfect highs, rich lows, you will hear details that you may have never noticed, even on CD's you've listened to over and over. The titanium drivers deliver crisp music that NEVER wears out.

Weaknesses:
Yes, weaknesses. The foam pads wear out in about 6 months (with daily use) but are easily replaced at RadioShack. The wires can come loose at the speaker terminal, but are fixed with a quick solder. BUT YES, they sound so good that they are still well worth the drawbacks!!!

Price Paid:  $20.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
I had been looking for a new set of headphones I could leave on my desk at work and not have to worry too much about having them disappear, so under $50.00, open air, and comfort were almost as important as the sound. I auditioned a set of Sennheiser HD-212s and found them to be a little too bass dominant, and started auditioning others. On a whim, I decided to try these decidedly less expensive Koss headphones and I was immediately pleasantly surprised. They are clear enough to catch subtle details other headphones miss. Also, they are fairly well balanced with what sounds to be a tolerable 1-2dB boost in the 50-200Hz spectrum and perhaps 1db of attenuation in the 500-2k range and mostly flat beyond that. I think this combination works well because they do not completely surround the ear and since they are an open-back design, and a bit of bass is lost from wave cancellation and the midrange gets a little bright on a lot of their competitors' models. They sound quite good on most music genres and they are easy for most portables' amps to drive since they are extremely efficient headphones. On the downside, my first pair biodegraded within the first week, but the new pair seems to be holding up ok so far - but they have a lifetime warranty, so I guess I don't care so much. Also, they can make your ears feel a little smashed after a while, but that may improve over time as the band loosens up a bit.

Strengths:
Efficient - anemically amped portables should shine with these headphones Better sound quality than many sets costing $50 or more Inline volume control is nice to have, especially on such efficient headphones Lifetime warranty Clarity far beyond expected from a $20.00 set of headphones

Weaknesses:
First pair died in a week, second pair seems to be much better so far Uncomfortable for me after about 2-3 hours of listening A little strange looking and that gel band can be irritating

Similar Products Used:
Bang & Olufsen Form 2 Koss KTX-Pro-1 Koss KG-4 Sennheiser HD-570 Sennheiser HD-212 RS Nova 42

Price Paid:  $20.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
an excellent sounding pair of headphones. My previous headphones(JVC) were the massively cushioned, closed-ear type, and getting back to open-ear listening was ezee-pezee with these Koss titanium-driver bad boys. The fit is pleasantly comfortable, snug, but not too tight. Then again, I don't have a fat head. I think they should fit most sized heads okay. I've used them for up to four hours straight with zero earlobe-pain. I listen to a wide variety of music, alt-rock to hip hop, and these Koss headphones handle every music I can throw at them. I first attempted to buy these from Amazon.com, where the headphones are still listed as "usually ships in 24 hours". Well after a month, they send me an email to say that they were "unable to aqcuire the product". So they don't even really sell them there. I then went and bought a pair from Circuit City with no problems.

Strengths:
Tremendous range of clarity. This is probably the closest thing you can get to Sennheiser-level quality sound for under $30

Weaknesses:
Not excellent bass. But keep in mind I'm look hard for a weakness here.

Similar Products Used:
JVC, Sony MDR series.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I demoed the RadioShack Pro-35 headphones - which are identical to the Koss KTX-PRO headphones - several months ago, and I am sorry to say that I was disappointed with their sound quality. Even compared to my Koss KSC-35's and my Koss Porta Pros, the KTX-PRO's delivered way too much mid-bass that almost completely overpowered whatever midrange and treble that they delivered. (No, I didn't have any bass boost switched on at all on the portable player that I demoed the KTX-PRO's on.) And that's partly because of the overly tight and terribly uncomfortable fit that the KTX-PRO's delivered. However, they are a big improvement over whatever came bundled for free with a portable player, which is why these are a decent choice for a first headphone upgrade. But you'll get tired of their sound rather quickly.

Strengths:
Bass response

Weaknesses:
Too much bass response, terribly uncomfortable, severely overpriced at RadioShack's "regular price"

Similar Products Used:
Koss KSC-35, KSC-50, Porta Pro

Price Paid:  $20.00 from koss.com

Summary:
After purchasing a CD/MP3 player with low output, I decided to shop for a pair of on-- not in-- ear 'phones that were highly efficient. The reviews here were helpful and I've been very pleased with the KTX Pro's. I got a "PRO1" model which looks to be the same thing only silver in color (isn't everything these days). The sound is well balanced, with ample bass and smooth top end; my listening is mostly classical, so the latter was critical (and left much to be desired in every other portable headphone I own; Senneheiser(s), Sony Fontopia). They are light, comfortable and a tremendous value. The customer service at koss.com was terrific, and they do have a lifetime guarantee. I don't think you can miss with these..

Strengths:
Well balanced sound, efficient, comfortable

Weaknesses:
Flasy, silver styling with blue headband

Similar Products Used:
Sennheiser HD 56 Sennheiser MX 400 Sennheiser HD 433 Sony Fontopia Sony MDR A44L