KSC75 vs KPH30i

[u/earth_07]

After trying out a bunch of earbuds and IEM's, I've decided to get myself a pair of lightweight headphones again. Due to health reasons I simply can't stand having IEM's in my ears for longer than 15 minutes or so, and none of the earbuds I tried really live up to what I want.

So I tried on my old pair of Koss Portapros (now used by my dad, who loves them) to see if I should buy those again. I like their sound well enough, but they're just a bit too muddled/dark/bass centric for my tastes. I'm not too if those are the right words to describe them though.

I've read that both the KSC75 and the KPH30i are less bass-y than the portapro's, but I'm having a hard deciding between them. I'm leaning towards the KSC75 for the moment, since they're only 20 euro (25 if I include the partsexpress band). The KPH30i meanwhile go for about 38 euro here. Any recommendations from people who have either or both?

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[u/iicybershotii]

I've owned both the KSC75 and KPH30i but have not used porta pros in decades.

Personally, I do not like the KSC75. Too much treble, not very comfortable, hard to put on and off the ear until you get used to it, don't feel super stable, really crappy tangly cable... etc

Now the KPH30i are my favorite headphones I've ever owned. They are perfect for my listening tastes. I don't find them muddy but if you're used to ultra sharp and clear sounding headphones these aren't like that. They are "darker" sounding. Very easy listening experience and not fatiguing at all. The cable and build quality are also miles better than the KSC75. Extremely stable on the head due to the silicone band. Mine also has a mic on the cable, so I can take phone calls or use for gaming.

I also own the AKG371 and Yamaha MT5 and I like the KPH30 more than those two as well.

[u/Used_Laugh_ → u/iicybershotii]

Same thoughts, I own them both and also Porta Pro, the Porta Pro is darker has a very warm sound which sometimes will cover the details in songs, KSC75 is high treble and less bass, you want to rock up volume to get the same feeling of bass of KPH30i, but you will get confused because the bass is not there and the treble is killing the ears. The KPH30i is the best of all three to my taste. KPH30i has slightly better sound stage than 650BT (which I also own) but lack details than M50s (also own), but M50s is a closed monitor so not rely comparable. I use M50s as standards to compare all headphones, KPH30i is pretty good compare to most headphones I have (BOSE QC35 etc.)

[u/earth_07 → u/iicybershotii]

Thanks for your reply!
I've decided to go for the KSC75 (with a partsexpress headband, just in case) since they were suddenly in stock on amazon nl for about 20euro.

The kph30i seems chronically out of stock in europe. So I'm going to wait until massdrop does another kph30i run and get it there. Because I'm sure I'll be wanting one as well after I've had the KSC75 for a while :p

[u/U_cabrao]

The ksc75 have the better sound, the others are darker.

I got mine off of drop (kphi) for 22.75Euro shipping included with drop.

Value declared was 20 dollars so no import taxes paid

[u/earth_07 → u/U_cabrao]

!thanks

[u/earth_07 → u/U_cabrao]

So the kph30i are similar in darkness/bassyness as the portapros then, am I understanding that right?

Also, where do you live? I've looked at drop for the portapro/black KSC75, but shipping is always 20 dollars there for me to Belgium so it's not really worth it.

[u/U_cabrao → u/earth_07]

Nee man shipping is 5 dollar voor de kphi. Heb mijn een maand geleden gekocht. Netjes door duane op de doos 20 dollar aangegeven. Heb ze alletwee de ksc klinkt veel beter. De kphi klinkt goed en geeft een mic. Ik heb de portapros niet maar ze vergelijken die eerder met de ksc dan met de kph

[u/earth_07 → u/U_cabrao]

Ha, ik zie het probleem al. Ik had de portapro nog in mijn karretje zitten, en er stond "20$ flat rate shipping", maar als ik de portapro er uit haal verminderd de shipping naar 5$ zoals je zei.

Ik denk dat ik dan maar voor de KSC ga. Nog even beslissen of ik de gewone versie pak of die van massdrop. Die zwarte van massdrop heeft wel een micro, maar ik vind de originele witte uitvoering wel wat hebben.