I don't know what I'm impressed with the most: the amazing bass, the excellent stereo division, or how loud they can get! These things are just as amazing as most of the reviews show them to be and then a lot more... I was worried about the eighties styling, but in person they don't look bad at all. I hate headphones that scream for attention, but these don't look like that when you have them on and I have already been wearing them in public (something I didn't think I would do after only seeing the picture of them online). And even if they're a bit outdated in appearance, the design is so functional you won't even give looks a second thought after you put them on.

One thing is for sure: these things have plenty of bass! Not too much (not "boomy"), but they seem properly tuned for listening to things without "bass booster" turned on, which I like. Even with the bass settings adjusted high, the bass remains clear and crisp. I'm not sure how much power these can handle without damaging them, but I listen to them very loud and they do not sound distorted or stressed at all. After a few days my left speaker began making some weird noises and it ended up being a hair stuck inside the headphones that I cleared out with canned air. Something important to consider is that these are very open and airy headphones and the treble carries very well outside the headphones (so someone nearby could definitely hear what you're listening to if you have the volume up loud).

Others have mentioned that they felt the headphones were too tight feeling, but I have a very large head and they fit me without a problem. However, if I will be wearing them for an extended period of time I always set them to the "Light" setting on the comfortZone control (which divides the side pressure of the headphones with your temples rather than just on your ears).

I already had headphones I was pleased with (Sony MDR-G52s and Koss UR-20s) but I wanted a set of small, portable headphones for use with my laptop and these are perfect. The folding design isn't something I necessarily wanted, but it is nice. The carrying case they come with (a leatherette bag) is a slightly tight fit and I probably won't end up using it much since it is not a hard case that would protect them from shock or crushing. Some others have mentioned that they feel delicate or are easily broken, but compared to other small headphones I have had they seem very well built and equally strong considering their light weight.

While I wouldn't say these are bad things about the PortaPros, it is worth mentioning that the headband is metal and will occasionally snag a hair as you adjust it on your head, and that they don't fold down as small as you might think they would so don't expect to put them in your pants pocket or something. Considering these are the worst things I can come up with to say about the PortaPros, they are nearly perfect in my book.

I can't say enough good things about these PortaPros! They're simply amazing. These are the first headphones (or speakers) I've had that sound absolutely awesome without adjusting the equalizer or pumping up the bass. They sound good on everything from R&B to Country and everything in-between. I've been especially impressed that they pull the bass and highs out of a song without getting that shrill, tinny treble that plagues so many headphones. If there ever was a question about the quality of Koss stereophones in my mind, these PortaPros have put it to rest and made me into a lifetime customer! If you're like me you'll wish you had discovered these legendary headphones (haha! how often is that said?) years ago...


Koss qz2000   June 10, 2001
 13 out of 18 found this review helpful

The QZ-2000 combines Koss's PortaPro headphones (a $50 pair of folding headphones, which are small and comfortable for long wear) with electronics that cancel low-frequency noise, making it easier to hear your music on airplanes or in other noisy places. The open-backed transducers and foam ear pads help give the headphones a nice, open sound, but they also let in high-frequency noise.

On an airplane, the headphones do a good job of subduing the low rumble of the engines, but high-frequency sounds--even nearby conversations--are relatively easy to hear. Luckily, the phones also work with the noise reduction off, so you can let the drone of the engines obscure the chatter of the folks sitting behind you. And if the batteries die in midflight, you can still listen to music. The sound is good but not outstanding. The low bass is soft (a common flaw in small open-air phones), and the treble lacks sparkle. We slightly preferred the sound quality of music when the noise cancellation was turned off.

Soft pads on the temples take some of the load off of your ears, so wearing the QZ-2000 for the duration of a long flight is no problem. And the removable cord is short, so you don't have a lap full of wire when plugged into an airline seat or a Walkman. The Koss comes with a folding, zippered case and the two-pronged adapter you'll need in some airliners.


Rinky-Dink   April 29, 2001
 12 out of 24 found this review helpful

I gave these headphones 2 stars because they do have a pretty good sound and they do collapse into a compact size. The reasons I don't like them are: 1) Because they are collapsable, the headset needs to be adjusted for fit each time you wear the headphones, and it is not easy to adjust. 2) The phones fit very snuggly against the ears, and have pads at the temples. You can adjust the phones for 3 "comfort" settings--firm to light, but if you want to change from one setting to another, you must fold the phones up to disengage them from the current setting. Plus, the device to change the setting is probably easy to break. Also, if you set the phones to a medium or light setting, they become positioned slightly away from the ears, putting pressure on the temple pads, which is uncomfortable and becomes more so the longer you wear them. When the phones are set at the firm setting, they fit too tightly on the ears, but this removes some of the pressure from the temple pads. Overall, I think these phones are poorly designed and cheaply made.


Great Headphones!   July 4, 2000
 10 out of 11 found this review helpful

These headphones have the best sound I have ever heard from any set I've ever tried. When I ordered them I was a little worried about how they would look when they got here because to me the shape of them seemed odd from the extra stress pads, but they are amazingly comfortable, and they look pretty cool! The sound is rich and they have awesome bass. You can actually feel it kicking. A must buy for anyone looking for a new set of headphones that are in a good price range.