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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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Vintage KOSS earphones PRO-4AA buying decision.
Hi fellow techs,
Would you buy these earphones?They are 25 years old. A friend of mine is asking $20. They seem OK but I wonder about the speaker cones versus the sound quality. Any feedback would be very much appreciated. Jacques |
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Jacques Carrier wrote:
Hi fellow techs, Would you buy these earphones?They are 25 years old. A friend of mine is asking $20. They seem OK but I wonder about the speaker cones versus the sound quality. Any feedback would be very much appreciated. Jacques These are still highly prized in the audiophile (some say 'audiophool') community. I wish I still had mine. I sold them when I bought my Pro4AAA's back when I was a dealer in the 70's. FWIW, Koss has a very good program (or did, it's been years) for repairing/reconditioning their headphones. For a flat fee, you can send them to Koss, and they fix *everything* that might be wrong with them. In addition, they replace any parts which might have been improved from the time yours was manufactured. jak |
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"Asimov" ) writes: "Jacques Carrier" bravely wrote to "All" (22 Sep 04 12:10:35) --- on the heady topic of "Vintage KOSS earphones PRO-4AA buying decision." JC From: (Jacques Carrier) JC Hi fellow techs, JC Would you buy these earphones?They are 25 years old. JC A friend of mine is asking $20. JC They seem OK but I wonder about the speaker cones JC versus the sound quality. JC Any feedback would be very much appreciated. JC Jacques Test them by having at least a 20 minute listening session. The reason is that in my experience with some headphones their coils may become thermal intermittant over the years. Dropping headphones is one cause. This hidden problem may show up as the phones gradually warm up from contact with the head/ears. Of course, it also depends on useage, and even model. I used to use headphones a lot, and the cord would tend to break. I retired my good pair of Koss, I forget the exact model number, because I couldn't figure out how to pen them to change the cord. Or maybe it was because the pads covered the screws, and I couldn't figure out how to get them off without ruining the pads. In the model I had, the pads were just open foam. I bought them in '78 and when I eventually scrapped them some years back, they'd been out of use for some years, the foam had disintegrated. Micahel |
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(Michael Black) wrote in message ...
"Asimov" ) writes: "Jacques Carrier" bravely wrote to "All" (22 Sep 04 12:10:35) --- on the heady topic of "Vintage KOSS earphones PRO-4AA buying decision." JC From: (Jacques Carrier) JC Hi fellow techs, JC Would you buy these earphones?They are 25 years old. JC A friend of mine is asking $20. JC They seem OK but I wonder about the speaker cones JC versus the sound quality. JC Any feedback would be very much appreciated. JC Jacques Test them by having at least a 20 minute listening session. The reason is that in my experience with some headphones their coils may become thermal intermittant over the years. Dropping headphones is one cause. This hidden problem may show up as the phones gradually warm up from contact with the head/ears. Of course, it also depends on useage, and even model. I used to use headphones a lot, and the cord would tend to break. I retired my good pair of Koss, I forget the exact model number, because I couldn't figure out how to pen them to change the cord. Or maybe it was because the pads covered the screws, and I couldn't figure out how to get them off without ruining the pads. In the model I had, the pads were just open foam. I bought them in '78 and when I eventually scrapped them some years back, they'd been out of use for some years, the foam had disintegrated. Micahel The Pro4AA were the standard of the professional sound industry when I was in the biz along with the Sennheiser. The seals were fluid filled plastic of some sort and yes they did cover the screws to take the headphones apart. As I remember it you removed the ear seal by pulling it out of the groove around the ear piece. This revealed 4 screws that you removed and the phones could be opened. Personally I never liked the open foam because when I was monitoring sound I liked a complete seal to reduce ambient noise as much as possible. I still miss mine and have seen them at garage sales for as little as $1. Richard |
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Richard wrote:
(Michael Black) wrote in message ... "Asimov" ) writes: "Jacques Carrier" bravely wrote to "All" (22 Sep 04 12:10:35) --- on the heady topic of "Vintage KOSS earphones PRO-4AA buying decision." From: (Jacques Carrier) Hi fellow techs, Would you buy these earphones?They are 25 years old. A friend of mine is asking $20. They seem OK but I wonder about the speaker cones versus the sound quality. Any feedback would be very much appreciated. Jacques Test them by having at least a 20 minute listening session. The reason is that in my experience with some headphones their coils may become thermal intermittant over the years. Dropping headphones is one cause. This hidden problem may show up as the phones gradually warm up from contact with the head/ears. Of course, it also depends on useage, and even model. I used to use headphones a lot, and the cord would tend to break. I retired my good pair of Koss, I forget the exact model number, because I couldn't figure out how to pen them to change the cord. Or maybe it was because the pads covered the screws, and I couldn't figure out how to get them off without ruining the pads. In the model I had, the pads were just open foam. I bought them in '78 and when I eventually scrapped them some years back, they'd been out of use for some years, the foam had disintegrated. Micahel The Pro4AA were the standard of the professional sound industry when I was in the biz along with the Sennheiser. The seals were fluid filled plastic of some sort and yes they did cover the screws to take the headphones apart. As I remember it you removed the ear seal by pulling it out of the groove around the ear piece. This revealed 4 screws that you removed and the phones could be opened. Personally I never liked the open foam because when I was monitoring sound I liked a complete seal to reduce ambient noise as much as possible. I still miss mine and have seen them at garage sales for as little as $1. One of the 'improvements' of the AAA's, over the AA's, was the incorporation of air-filled pads. They sealed up against the head quite nicely--when new--but 'popped' like balloons at the slightest mistreatment. I did replace the pads on my AA's...in fact they had just come back from the factory when I unloaded them in favor of the newer model. For the (then) $25 flat fee (including return shipping), they replaced both drivers (only one was bad, but there had been an upgrade since mine were new), both pads, and the cord. Wish I'd kept them.... jak Richard |
#7
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On Wednesday, 22 Sep 2004 23:37:40 -500, "Asimov"
wrote: "Jacques Carrier" bravely wrote to "All" (22 Sep 04 12:10:35) --- on the heady topic of "Vintage KOSS earphones PRO-4AA buying decision." JC From: (Jacques Carrier) JC Hi fellow techs, JC Would you buy these earphones?They are 25 years old. JC A friend of mine is asking $20. JC They seem OK but I wonder about the speaker cones JC versus the sound quality. JC Any feedback would be very much appreciated. JC Jacques Test them by having at least a 20 minute listening session. The reason is that in my experience with some headphones their coils may become thermal intermittant over the years. Dropping headphones is one cause. This hidden problem may show up as the phones gradually warm up from contact with the head/ears. A*s*i*m*o*v ... A stereo system is the altar to the god of music. Koss is and always has been TRASH. If you want a decent brand try Sennheiser or AKG for starters. |
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"gothika" bravely wrote to "All" (24 Sep 04 01:59:17)
--- on the heady topic of " Vintage KOSS earphones PRO-4AA buying decision." go From: gothika go Koss is and always has been TRASH. go If you want a decent brand try Sennheiser or AKG for starters. And you work for...? All kidding aside, some people rave about some brands just like they do a football team. It is all quite subjective. For example I like some Sony headphones for their clarity and definition. A*s*i*m*o*v .... A stereo system is the altar to the god of music. |
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On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 15:15:58 -0500 "jakdedert"
wrote: One of the 'improvements' of the AAA's, over the AA's, was the incorporation of air-filled pads. They sealed up against the head quite nicely--when new--but 'popped' like balloons at the slightest mistreatment. I did replace the pads on my AA's...in fact they had just come back from the factory when I unloaded them in favor of the newer model. For the (then) $25 flat fee (including return shipping), they replaced both drivers (only one was bad, but there had been an upgrade since mine were new), both pads, and the cord. I still have the Pro4As that I bought in the mid to late 60s. To me now, they seem excessively heavy and I haven't used them in years. One of the main reasons they never get used, however, is that the Green Pads are now "flat." They seemed to have been filled with something at one time but that has all either leaked out or dried up. I've often wondered if I could just buy new pads. That would make them useful again. Are replacement pads for these (of equal or better quality) still available from Koss? What do you people think of the Pro4As? - ----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney Madison, WI 53711 USA ----------------------------------------------- |
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On Friday, 24 Sep 2004 09:50:48 -500, "Asimov"
wrote: "gothika" bravely wrote to "All" (24 Sep 04 01:59:17) --- on the heady topic of " Vintage KOSS earphones PRO-4AA buying decision." go From: gothika go Koss is and always has been TRASH. go If you want a decent brand try Sennheiser or AKG for starters. And you work for...? Nobody, I'm retired. No, I never worked for either companies, just found their headphones to be the best for the bucks. BTW I do have a pair of Sony's(mda 5a's) amd yes they do have fairly good clairity and definition in the mids and highs, good transients and smooth frequency response in that range as well. Just very thin on the bass and only marginal imaging. They do make for a good headset for field recording though.(I modded mine by making them closed air to keep out unwanted exterior noise.) All that said in my day I liked the Sennheiser's for studio work and the AKG's for field work.(The AKG's were good lightweight fairly durable headphones with very flat response, a desirable trait when all you had in the field was a Nagra and if lucky a small mixer.) For more finnicky work I have an old pair of Beyer dynamics electrostatic's(discrete quad) for doing detailed imaging on 5.1 audio tracks. Still I DO stand by my original statement that Koss is junk. Absolutely the worst frequency response of ANY headphones I've ever tested.(I have an old waldo rig that I use for specing out any set I buy.) The last set of Koss's I tested barely eeked out 12,000hz of audible highs and the bass was so ragged/fuzzy as to make the user WANT to cut anything below 80hz. Imaging was non-existent as well. If the original poster's budget doesn't allow for even the low end models of the brands I mentioned try something in the Panasonic line. They have good bass, fairly clean highs and very good imaging.(For the money) All kidding aside, some people rave about some brands just like they do a football team. It is all quite subjective. For example I like some Sony headphones for their clarity and definition. A*s*i*m*o*v ... A stereo system is the altar to the god of music. |
#11
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From: gothika
snip A long time ago I had a pair of Sansui SS10s. I had to modify them with a razor, but I did get them where I wanted them. Killer. Later I discovered Sony MDR-CD5s, which were a bit pricey, but I had them. At 45 ohms the dropping resistor in the reciever dropped alot less. I would equalize etc, but the thing is these things boasted response down to 2Hz. This was back in album days and indeed when you put the needle in the groove you could feel it. Rated 128Db@100mW and a max of 500mW they were LOUD ! Just another bunch of stuff I wish I still had. JURB |
#12
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#13
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gothika wrote:
unfortunately I have a wife now so most of it just sits.(That spousal factor can be a real bitch.) snip Plan to fire them up the first day the old lady is out of the house. If you are young and love messing around with audio gear you might want to take a bit of advice from an old timer, DON'T get married. How sad for you. How very, very sad for you. -- Noah Married for 35 years to an audio-loving lady. |
#14
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On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 12:00:01 GMT, Noah Little wrote:
gothika wrote: unfortunately I have a wife now so most of it just sits.(That spousal factor can be a real bitch.) snip Plan to fire them up the first day the old lady is out of the house. If you are young and love messing around with audio gear you might want to take a bit of advice from an old timer, DON'T get married. How sad for you. How very, very sad for you. Yes I guess I should have checked her allowable SPL before commiting. She's one of these types that can't stand any audible levels above that produced by old hand held AM radios. |
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