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Author Topic: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements  (Read 11977 times)

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jerg

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2012, 12:49:39 AM »

Does the KSC35 have the same front plate as the KSC75s? I'm contemplating getting a pair of these and just swapping my kramer-modded koss front plate onto the 35's.

Also, rumours on the internet say Sportapro has the same driver as KSC35s, is that true?
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wilzc

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #11 on: October 26, 2012, 01:51:30 AM »

The treble region... reminds me of....







 headbang headbang headbang headbang
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dBel84

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2012, 01:52:52 AM »

I was chatting to the KOSS folk at RMAF and they were telling me that KSC35, KSC75 and sportapro all use the same driver - no idea if this is true but this is what they said..dB

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Deep Funk

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2012, 03:21:41 AM »

I'm impressed. I can live with a bit of brightness and extra mid-bass. Want...
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jerg

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2012, 04:50:31 AM »

I was chatting to the KOSS folk at RMAF and they were telling me that KSC35, KSC75 and sportapro all use the same driver - no idea if this is true but this is what they said..dB

We all know KSC75s are at least special in that they use titanium-coated diaphragms on the drivers, while the other Koss's use clear plastic diaphragms. So based on that material difference alone it seems those Koss guys at RMAF don't know their stuff. Old posts of people dissecting KSC35s and SportaPros seem to indicate that at least in the past, they use the same S/N drivers that were visually identical as well.

I don't think it'd be possible to really know for sure unless a SportaPro is measured too, under the same conditions (if KSC35s were measured with the earclips, then the SportaPro drivers need to be transplanted onto those clips too before measurement).



The main reason why I'm wondering about the ksc35 vs sportapro is because the latter is about half the price of the former, and heck if they do indeed use the same drivers then suddenly sportapros might overtake ksc75's as the value king.
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Solderdude

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #15 on: October 26, 2012, 05:38:11 AM »

I have the KSC35, KSC75 and KSC50 (the one before the KSC75) and also owned the PortaPro and SportaPro in the same period as when I owned the 35/50/75.
Don't care for all the other Koss HP's to be honest but admit I did not hear most of them and also not the ESP950  :(.
Price range differs a bit as well... ;)
I started my search with the KTX-Pro1 which sounded boomy but got me curious about Koss portable HP's.

On some of those when you hold it against the light you can see a coating vaporized on the diaphragm and the plastic frame also differs from color.
I found the Sportapro to sound bad comparatively and mostly in the lows and top end.

Could not discern much difference beteen the 35 and 75 though many say the differences are noticeable.
production spread or other cause ?

For me the 35 and 75 worked 'best', followed by the 50 and PortaPro the SportaPro was sounding worst.
I did notice that if you press them against your ear with about the same 'force' they started to sound more similar though.
This prompted me to experiment a little.
Since they all (except the KSC50) have the same mechanmism for holding the earcups in place you can unclip them and mount them on another holder.
After swapping drivers around and some listening tests all on the KSC35 holder I could not tell the difference between the drivers and the 35 driver in the SportaPro frame sounded bad.
It was as if the drivers hadn't been switched at all.
For me it is quite clear the spread in SQ is not caused by different drivers and think they all are closely the same.
I couldn't tell any obvious differences between the coated and uncoated drivers personally but that might just be my unability or unwillingness to hear.

I could clearly hear differences between the frames though and think this is because of the differences in swivel action (SportaPro) and the pressure with which they 'seal' the ear.
PortaPro rests on the head KSC35 brace is 'fixed' by the compliance of the thin plastic ring and the 50/75 have more comfortable and 'adjustable' silicone clamps with metal wire in it.
Also ear shape has a LOT of influence on the sound.
The KSC50 was too heavy in weight and 'hung' too much on the ears, also the ear clamp was too thick and less comfortable as the KSC35 and KSC75.

These differences are MUCH bigger than the (to me marginal) differences between the coated and uncoated drivers.

I like those headphones certainly when you do not copmpare them directly with better ones.
To me they are very 'convincing' eventhough they have their deficiences they do not seem to bother me as much as other headphones can.
I can wear them for many hours in a row.
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jerg

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #16 on: October 26, 2012, 06:33:21 AM »

I have the KSC35, KSC75 and KSC50 (the one before the KSC75) and also owned the PortaPro and SportaPro in the same period as when I owned the 35/50/75.
Don't care for all the other Koss HP's to be honest but admit I did not hear most of them and also not the ESP950  :(.
Price range differs a bit as well... ;)
I started my search with the KTX-Pro1 which sounded boomy but got me curious about Koss portable HP's.

On some of those when you hold it against the light you can see a coating vaporized on the diaphragm and the plastic frame also differs from color.
I found the Sportapro to sound bad comparatively and mostly in the lows and top end.

Could not discern much difference beteen the 35 and 75 though many say the differences are noticeable.
production spread or other cause ?

For me the 35 and 75 worked 'best', followed by the 50 and PortaPro the SportaPro was sounding worst.
I did notice that if you press them against your ear with about the same 'force' they started to sound more similar though.
This prompted me to experiment a little.
Since they all (except the KSC50) have the same mechanmism for holding the earcups in place you can unclip them and mount them on another holder.
After swapping drivers around and some listening tests all on the KSC35 holder I could not tell the difference between the drivers and the 35 driver in the SportaPro frame sounded bad.
It was as if the drivers hadn't been switched at all.
For me it is quite clear the spread in SQ is not caused by different drivers and think they all are closely the same.
I couldn't tell any obvious differences between the coated and uncoated drivers personally but that might just be my unability or unwillingness to hear.

I could clearly hear differences between the frames though and think this is because of the differences in swivel action (SportaPro) and the pressure with which they 'seal' the ear.
PortaPro rests on the head KSC35 brace is 'fixed' by the compliance of the thin plastic ring and the 50/75 have more comfortable and 'adjustable' silicone clamps with metal wire in it.
Also ear shape has a LOT of influence on the sound.
The KSC50 was too heavy in weight and 'hung' too much on the ears, also the ear clamp was too thick and less comfortable as the KSC35 and KSC75.

These differences are MUCH bigger than the (to me marginal) differences between the coated and uncoated drivers.

I like those headphones certainly when you do not copmpare them directly with better ones.
To me they are very 'convincing' eventhough they have their deficiences they do not seem to bother me as much as other headphones can.
I can wear them for many hours in a row.

Ironically I find KSC75s to sound much better when mounted on a headband (e.g. portapro headband); the lower end gets boosted and the mids clear up because the driver gets pushed much closer to the ears, resulting in a more balanced sound. The StratoKOSSer is basically that, plus a cup with foam.
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Solderdude

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #17 on: October 26, 2012, 07:10:40 AM »

I think the biggest debate about which one sounds best to who is mostly about the ear shape and fit of the earpad against the ears.
For one person the clip type may work best, for another the headband type, with or without the headrest-pads.

Also taste may have something to do with it as well as preference with how they are connected to the  ears (clip or headband) for comfort.
When a headphone is uncomfortable, even if they sound excellent, it still won't get much headtime and is rated lower in general.

The drivers themselves do not seem to cause the relatively large differences in perceived SQ.
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jerg

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2013, 09:43:04 PM »

The SportaPro uses the exact same drivers as the Ksc35; they are just mounted on the crappy SportaPro headband, instead of the Ksc35 clips.

Got myself a pair of SportaPros for $17, and indeed the sound signature mirrored the measurements here, with the distinct "demon horns" colouration in the treble region, and smoothness throughout everywhere else.

I threw away the SportaPro headbands (which due to the amount of plastic, negatively impacted the back venting of the drivers and the resulting sound) and instead mounted these on the much less acoustically intrusive PartsExpress headband and man, the sound quality gets ridiculous. By having the drivers pressed against your ears helps bring the midrange out also, which makes the sound all the more tonally balanced.

It is indeed smoother-sounding, and fuller-sounding, than my Ksc75s. Also notable was the fact that it sounded best without any cover-grill mods; my kramer modded cover-grill made these sound atrocious.

Really think that SportaPros (aka Ksc35s without clips) + PartsExpress headband is by far the best SQ:$ ratio deal out there atm.
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jerg

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Re: Koss KSC-35 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements
« Reply #19 on: May 02, 2013, 05:05:28 PM »

How the end product (Ksc35/SportaPro drivers + PartsExpress headband) looks.



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