Review on Limited Edition Black Gold On-Ear Headphones with In-Line Microphone, Volume Control and Touch Remote Control by Koss Porta Pro. Includes Hard Carrying Case, Wired with 3.5mm Plug in Black and Gold. by Todd Fernandez

In the mid 80's I had a pair of Porta Pro headphones which I bought mainly for their unusual design, but I soon fell in love with them for their amazing sound quality, especially given the ridiculously loud price. I enjoyed these little suckers for many years, maybe 15, until they finally decided to get off my desk and go home with someone else. Windy Bastards. So it's been at least 15 years since we broke up and I almost forgot my old pair of Porta Pros, but when I was recently looking for a new pair of headphones to replace my last set I settled on one too acceptance decided. Stumbling across this Revain page as a stranger, I was reminded of the wonderful times I shared with this long-established couple. A true Hollywood romance in the making, right? The Koss Porta Pro I just received has better sound quality than my long-lost originals, even before they were properly cracked. The critical midrange is where vocals, guitar and piano are most present. really wonderful; rich, full, clear and detailed. Hiss and other anomalies are virtually nonexistent, and the setting, atmosphere, and soundstage are impressive. The highs are also well developed, giving enough shimmer and shine without being brittle. As pleasant as the upper frequencies are, they should only improve after 50 or 100 hours of break-in. Now the bass is a mixed bag. It definitely packs a punch if that's what you expect from your skull speakers. I prefer less bass than is fashionable now, although a few cans, which can create a brain-rattling subsound, doesn't go against my spirit. I just don't need it as badly as young ears. However, I could have hoped for better bass resolution with these Porta Pros. Big drums and the low frequencies of the cello sound a bit dull and soft, they lack natural acoustics. I hope that can change as well when they break in. The bass isn't BAD or even disappointing, it just isn't as well executed as the rest of the audio spectrum. I'm only doing this to help those of you in the bass monster market, which isn't the case. They are so light that their weight does not matter even after several hours of continuous use. However, the thin foam ear pads provide the bare minimum of cushioning, and after 30 minutes of use I started to feel a very dull ache in various places in my ears. The headset pressure can be adjusted and set to 'Light', they fit a little less around the head and ears but I may have to try to ease the pressure by gently bending the metal headband and stretching it a few times open I'll wait to try this delicate operation just in case they grow weak from use itself. If I need to adjust them, I'll be careful not to crease them; thin metal bands can lose their elasticity if overstressed. The cable is very thin but feels solid enough, not cheap, and transmits zero noise to the headphones. The end of the plug is well reinforced with a 45 degree cord which I think is the best shape to reduce wear and tear at this critical point. The built-in volume control works very well and doesn't change settings on its own, as I initially feared. The microphone is, um, adequate. Not good. This is actually very bad if you're speaking with any wind or background noise. Holding the mic directly to your mouth and speaking softer is understandable and tolerable. I left a few messages on my home answering machine, tested various conditions, and when I hold the mic close to my lips I get the least distracting and clearest sound. Her looks are as distinctive and unusual as they used to be, which I like right now. with sophisticated styling in shiny gold and matt black. The included zipped semi-hard case is a very nice and useful addition, and the soft faux leather case is a nice bonus. So far I'm more than happy with this latest version of this trusted long-lost friend, and I guess they're just as happy to be reunited with the old, better version of me. Of course they are.