Quote from: Out Of Your Head on October 29, 2014, 04:56:55 PM

Sorry to derail this thread further into a general Koss thread, but they should just permanently lower the price of the ESP950 to $699 or lower. For that price, I think they're very competitive. Maybe the channel imbalance and squeal issues would kill any profits with warranty repairs or maybe their margins would be too low.

Yes. So they did 699 ESP950 on last black friday sale. I guess it will be same this year.

Yes, I forgot that they used to be between $600 and $700 up until late 2012:
http://camelcamelcamel.com/Koss-160416-ESP-950-Electrostatic-Stereophone/product/B000056ULH?context=browse

They seem to have 20% off coupons pretty regularly and then Black Friday. Not sure why they aren't more popular? Or maybe they are and no one mentions them anymore?

Too many competitions. The fact that ESP950 cannot be used on anything but electrostatic amplifiers, and a lot of options on 500~1000 dollar range, etc. It is not really an appealing to even semi-serious audiophiles anymore.

I think that's the wrong way to look at it.  I still love mine and it's an e-stat with a lifetime warranty (unlike Stax or anyone else) on everything and you can transport it with you for listening at the airport if you want when using batteries.  Consider the price is for the headphone and amp together.  Not to mention the ESP950 still sounds better than many $400-$1000 headphones that have come out the past few years.

The ESP950 has a great case for itself and a future replacement if Koss is listening.

How's the isolation? Some of the better-sounding cheap closed headphones, such as the Noontec Zoro and Creative Aurvana Live, don't have good isolation, which defeats the purpose of a closed phone. If they don't isolate, why not just go with open phones? (Well, there's the bass extension, I suppose.)

If Koss were to release a K518/81-like headphone with isolation and better sound that rivals the HD25 and Beats by  for 60 to 100 Dollars/Euros with a sturdy folding mechanism and good build quality, yes Koss has a winner. I love the design of the K518/81 but its sound was "meh".

A closed KSC75 with sub-bass, yup I would be tempted...

How's the isolation? Some of the better-sounding cheap closed headphones, such as the Noontec Zoro and Creative Aurvana Live, don't have good isolation, which defeats the purpose of a closed phone. If they don't isolate, why not just go with open phones? (Well, there's the bass extension, I suppose.)

I have not heard any of two. The isolation of SP540 is quite average.


The measurement for SP540 came out among with Pro4AA.

http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/KossSP540.pdf


I guess it's ok enough.

Hmm..  that's quite a resonance there at 3kHz.
And a lot of bass north of neutral.
For the money .... who's complaining.

Yes, and Koss frequently do 20% sales. Currently those new headphones are not included in sale, but they will be surely good deal when they are included.