Mastodawn

Jan Wildeboer 😷

Dear young folks, rediscovering the power of personal MP3 players like iPod Classic. Know that retro gives you more. My personal favourite headphones for an iPod or similar device: AKG K92 (closed back) and, of course, the Koss Porta Pro (open back). Both still being made, both in the €50 sweet spot of really good sound at an affordable price. And as both are passive headphones, they last forever. No battery problems, no codec shit. Just sound. Good sound :) You're welcome.

Jan Wildeboer 😷

The Koss Porta Pro is known to have cheap cables, so they might break or be ripped off (I never had that problem). So they also serve as a good way to learn basic soldering ;) Replacing the cable to get many more years of Sound is rewarding. Trust me on that.

Jan Wildeboer 😷

And, trivia section, the Koss Porta Pro was introduced in 1984, the AKG K92 was introduced around 1989, as far as I can see. They both have earned their reputation for good reasons. Sure, the audiophiles will disagree, but in my opinion and experience, both are superior and reliable sets of cans for cable-based music consumption. You can't go wrong with either.

Jan Wildeboer 😷

I have clarified in my post that the K92 is a closed back headphone, while the Porta Pro is open back. What's the difference? In short, close back insulates more from the outer world, both for the listener and the people surrounding you. Open back "leaks" sound in both directions. You hear more of what is happening around you and your music is audible to people close to you. Open is often perceived to give "better" sound, though I personally disagree and prefer closed back. Try them both :)

God Emperor of Mastodon 15h ago

@jwildeboer also, one thing to notice: there people with sensitive ears. ANC gives me car sickness and closed-back phones increase the in-ear pressure in annoying levels. Moreover, sweat. I, for one, can't use IEM nor closed backs. I've read the the sound signature of those is great, but it's Sennheiser 6xx for my pleasure ;-)

Jan Wildeboer 😷

@mms I personally am an AKG guy, for both microphones and headphones. The K240 is my default for mastering and analysing sound but too valuable to take out in the open. I love the K92 when out and about and the Porta Pro is a good solution when traveling, as it can be folded and stowed away. And I fully agree, IEMs (In Ear Monitors) are also not my thing.

Kirtai 🏳️‍⚧️7h ago

@jwildeboer @mms
I love my K240 Studios but they're definitely not the ones to take outside.

Paul_IPv6 1d ago

as you put it, there is definitely a sweet spot of quality/performance/price. haven't used the koss personally but i've had good luck with the brand and concur on the AKGs.

both will be much better than sub-$250 ear buds, comfortable, and won't need charging.

i love the retro tech trends.

J. Jacoby (gender explorer)1d ago

@jwildeboer Just remember the difference between open back and closed back ear cups. Open back are known to sound better, however, you will also hear all the ambient sound around you. And, as mentioned in another comment, other people will hear your music.

Don't forget about Grado's too. SR80 is a good value for the cost.

Pedro Quixote ‽ aka MultiVax 1d ago

@jwildeboer Yer see I read that as portapotti (a type of Elsan) and wondered where the cables could be? I really should read more carefully.. Always a good idea to learn new skills. Had another go at welding today. Much better than 1st attempt earlier in the week.

And in case passive is a dealbreaker, at least the Koss headphones are available as a bluetooth version, with option for wire.

Bernie the Wordsmith 1d ago

@jwildeboer The comfort button 🫶

Lockheed/tc2142 1d ago

@jwildeboer Woahh, that second one is a cool-looking design!

@jwildeboer koss Porta pro ftw!

@jwildeboer And if you put Rockbox on your player, you get a ton of extras, games, and open source goodness! I just re-purchased a compatible player for this exact purpose. https://www.rockbox.org

Rockbox - Free Music Player Firmware

Jan Wildeboer 😷

@eivind My post was about headphones, not alternative operating systems for iPods. But I guess the "yes, but" crowd will never accept such minor things. Le sigh.

@jwildeboer I couldn't agree more. After too much time buying ANC BT earphones every other year I've recently rediscovered the joy of listening to music on a dedicated device with an old fashioned wired headset. I've reconnected with the music, now I listen with more attention without constant interruptions from my phone and there is a whole world of Chi-Fi options with great sound for a fraction of the price point of a big tech airpod-like device.

@jwildeboer Faszinierende Teile, den AKG nehme ich auf meine Liste. Wenn du die auch für unterwegs nimmst, wie sind die 3m Kabel so im Alltag? Das schreckt mich noch etwas ab.

Jan Wildeboer 😷

@sibbe Klettband to the rescue ;) Oder Lötkolben und Spiralkabel dranmachen.

@jwildeboer Zu einfach, danke!

Arne Dehli Halvorsen 1d ago

@jwildeboer if you use the Koss in public, you will get some angry looks, the sound leaks out - and you have to turn them up because sound leaks in

Jan Wildeboer 😷

@arne_d_h If you run your Koss at volume levels that causes angry looks, you are first and foremost destroying your own ears :) I never got angry looks in my 20+ years of using them.

Syl (Sylvia Bun) :enby_inside:

@jwildeboer The Koss Porta Pros are also handy for the metal band, you can harvest that and mount better drivers on it if you’re comfortable doing your own wiring

God Emperor of Mastodon 15h ago

@jwildeboer Personally, while I love the design, I found Porta Pros to be uncomfortable. Therefore, In now own KPH30, but they break very quickly due to plastic design. Guess when mine break even more (they are 60% scotch tape at this point), I'll try KPH40 - but they are staid to be warmer.

But, in short: Koss is great.