Koss KSC75 vs Porta Pro vs KPH40 Utility

Today we are talking about three legendary budget headphones – the Koss KSC75 with a headband mod, the Koss Porta Pro and the Koss KPH40 Utility.

Now, if you’re into budget audiophile gear, you’ve definitely heard about these three. They’re often compared, and for good reason: they all share the same Koss DNA, the same general sound philosophy, and they’re all very affordable, even with small modifications. And in this video we will compare their build, comfort and sound.

All three of these headphones fall into what I’d call the “accessible audiophile” category. They’re cheap, they’re relatively easy to drive and they all deliver an absurd amount of sound quality for the money.

Another reason they’re in the same category: they’re all on-ear, open-back headphones. That means they don’t isolate very well, they leak sound, but they give you that airy, spacious feel that’s usually missing from budget closed-back headphones.

And they’re also all incredibly lightweight. So in a way, these three are like siblings—similar DNA, different personalities.

The price

First let’s talk about the price, because it’s one of the biggest selling points.

• The KSC75 costs around $20. The headband swap will cost you $8 and about $12 for Yaxi pads, and you’re looking at around $40 total.
  
• The Porta Pro is usually around $50, plus another $12 for Yaxi pads, so about $62 total.
  
• The KPH40 Utility is $40 for the headphone itself, plus $12 for Yaxi pads, which makes it $52 total

The Yaxi ear pads increase the base cost, but the comfort and sonic improvement are absolutely worth it. Overall, we’re in the $40-60 range and I will leave all the links to the products, including discount codes in the description of this video.

Build

Talking about the build, let’s be real: none of these headphones are built like tanks. They’re all plastic-heavy and feel cheap compared to premium headphones. But for their price, they’re fine.

• The KSC75 feels the flimsiest, especially because of the modded headband and thin cable and you don’t want to throw these in a backpack without protection.
• The Porta Pro feels the most durable, despite its folding headband design and adjusting mechanism. The cable on PortaPros is also the best out of the three.
• The KPH40 Utility feels the most modern. The headband is sturdy, the cable is detachable (unfortunately not in a way we all wanted it), but overall it just inspires more confidence than the other two.
  

Comfort

Comfort is also another huge factor, especially for on-ear designs but it’s very subjective.

• The KSC75 with a headband mod and Yaxi pads is surprisingly comfortable. The lightweight design basically disappears on your head, and the Yaxi pads add softness. But the clamping force of the headband can vary depending on the modification, though with this exact mod as you see in the video, the KSC75 has the least clamping force out of the three.
• The Porta Pro has that classic comfort slider, which helps adjust clamping force. With Yaxi pads, it’s quite comfy, but the metal headband can feel a bit old-school and less secure and it’s also famous for grabbing hair. Also for me the PortaPros have the most clamp force compared to the other two, even when the comfort slider is in Light position.
• The KPH40 Utility headband design is modern, light, and sits perfectly on my head without hotspots. The clamping force is between modded KSC75 and PortaPros.

With the Yaxi pads, personally for me the modded KSC75 is by far the most comfortable of the three for long listening sessions.

Subjective sound impressions

Before we talk about the sound, please note that all sound impressions in my reviews are completely subjective. You should take them with a grain of salt.

Also, as I installed Yaxi pads on all of the three pairs, I think this will be a fair comparison

Let’s start with bass, because that’s where these headphones differ the most.

• The KSC75 has the lightest bass of the three. It’s clean, quick, and punchy, but not the most satisfying if you’re into pop, EDM, or hip-hop. Great for acoustic and rock, though.
• The Porta Pro is famous for its bass. It hits hard, it’s warm, it’s fun. But it bleeds into midrange giving it a slightly muddy character.
• The KPH40 Utility sits in a sweet spot. It has more bass than the KSC75 and less than PortaPro, but it’s tighter and more controlled than the bass on Porta Pro and It’s fun without being overwhelming. For me, this is the most balanced bass presentation of the three.

Midrange is where a lot of the Koss charm lives.

• The KSC75 pushes mids forward with clarity. Vocals sound crisp and energetic, guitars shine and have a good bite, and the music feels lively. But at times it can come across a bit thin and upper midrange can sound slightly harsh to some people.
  
• The midrange on Porta Pro is warm and lush, the vocals are smooth, but sometimes slightly veiled compared to the KSC75. Overall the midrange here is cozy, but not the most clean and well-defined.
  
• The KPH40 Utility nails the middle ground. Vocals sound natural, instruments feel accurate, and you don’t lose either warmth or detail. Its midrange is balanced without leaning too far into warm or bright territory. 

 Now, let’s talk about the treble.

• The KSC75 has the brightest treble out of the three. It’s sparkly, energetic, and brings out a lot of detail. But for some listeners, it can feel a bit sharp or fatiguing, especially on poor recordings.
  
• The Porta Pro sits on the opposite side of the spectrum. Its treble is rolled off, smooth, and very forgiving. The downside is you lose some detail and air.
  
• The KPH40 Utility again finds a balance. Its treble is smoother than the KSC75 but more extended than the treble on Porta Pro. You get more details without the treble being harsh or grainy. And for long listening sessions I’d be choosing between these and PortaPros.

The soundstage comparison will not be very accurate and is also very subjective, but I still want to say a few words about it.

The KSC75 with parts express headband mod (as seen in this video) has the widest soundstage out of the three. Followed by KPH40 Utility. The PortaPros have the most narrow sound stage out of the three.

The soundstage depth and height is average among all three headphones, so there is nothing to write home about. Still, as the headphones are a semi-open back, they provide a natural and airy sound presentation and this will be especially noticeable if you are coming from a budget closed back headphones.

Conclusions

So which one should you choose? 

• If you want sparkle, detail, and energy on a budget and are willing to do a headband modification – then the KSC75 is an amazing choice. Plus it’s the least expensive, even with the mods.
  
• If you love warmth, want more bass, and have 80’s nostalgia, the Porta Pro delivers a fun, classic sound, that is lush and forgiving, especially with not so well recorded music
  
• KPH40 Utility strikes the best balance. So if you’ve been on the fence about which Koss headphone to grab and mod with Yaxi pads, I’d say KPH40 Utility makes a good middle ground,and it just feels to me like the best evolution of that legendary Koss sound. 

And that concludes my review for today. If you want to see more content like this, consider subscribing to my YouTube channel. Thank you for joining me, and until next time, goodbye!