KPH40 Utility On-Ear Headphones, Detachable Interchangeable Cord System, Retro Style, Ultra Lightweight Design (Stealth Black)

I feel like I cheated Koss - genuinely. Price to performance comparison just doesn’t tally. Backstory to my purchase decision: My last DAP was well over two decades ago, I’ve been streaming music since then and cycled through most of the music streaming platforms pairing with popular comfort bluetooth headphones and earbuds. It was recently I thought I’d break the cycle of music subscription and actually own my music once again (and forever) and I invested in a DAP for that purpose. Since audiophile headphones brings out the best in Hi-Res DAPs, I wanted to ease myself in and use a reference headphone first instead of outrightly purchasing a headphone like the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro. I read reviews about this particular headphone and thought I’d give it a go. I’m no audiophile with technical sonic knowledge but like a lot of people, I enjoy decent music and strive to hear every single detail as they were recorded in the studio and intended to be heard. Wow! This small, unassuming weightless thing weighs a lot in raw output. it’s not perfect, neither is it in the same rank as a higher end audiophile headphones but at £41.99 price point? If the exact drivers in this headphones were to be in a premium housing and there’s a £150 - 200 price tag on it, I’d still think it’s a decent buy. Vocals are clear and crisp, detail retrieval is decent and sound stage is wide. In some live recordings, it actually feels like I’m in the midst of the performance. There’s no way I won’t own more than one of this unit. They’re passive as passive can get - no DAC, amp or DSP and will retain its value for a very long time for this reason. I’d even gift them to friends and family. The only niggle is - cable is short but for me personally? that's negligible and won't receive a star less because of that. You may forget this thing is on your head, it's that light in weight. You can do other activities, work-out etc with this on as it clamps on your head without compromising on comfort. Something to bear in mind is - it's an open-back headphone which means it relies on air for sound to travel freely, that means sounds from your surroundings will bleed into your music and people around you will hear your music, so it's not the type to use on public transport, on a plane or on a busy street. Finally, if you’re on the fence, just pick one up! Your ears will be happy and your wallet will approve.

I pair these with a Qudelix 5k, and use oratory1990 eq. They are absolutely unbeatable for price to performance. They outclass headphones costing several hundreds of £. It’s actually mind blowing how good they are when you factor in their price. I’m already a fan of the ksc75, but the bass and subbass isn’t their strong point. The kph40 fix this, and are just better in every way. If you want hifi quality audio, but you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg then look no further. You absolutely WILL NOT find better audio quality at such a low price. Honestly these are good enough for 99% of the population. My HD600 aren’t even getting much use since getting these as the bass is just so much better on the kph40.

Superb sounding portable open backs.I have a pair of Sennheiser 599s which are not high end but are very good. The KPH40s are just as pleasurable to listen to.4.5 stars because the cable sucks.

I was dubious about paying £40 for a cheap looking pair of headphones, but they're the best headphones I've tried to date, even compared to much more expensive ones from big brands. I have the Koss KSC75 and while the sound was good the comfort wasn't there. These are light, comfortable and have the perfect amount of pressure against the ear for me. They also don't trap heat and get sweaty like over ear headphones do. I'm not the best at describing sound but they're punchy and have surprisingly good bass.

Bought these years ago and was impressed but long ago stopped using them in favour of more expensive and wireless alternatives. Recently happened upon them while looking for something else in the flat and decided to give them another go.....what a revelation!!! The balanced sound on these is so impressive. These are matching iems and headphones that I own for sound that are way more expensive. Obviously, sub bass fans will be disappointed, but if cash is tight , and you don't mind the whole retro , wired vibe , you are in for a very pleasant , sibilant free sound experience! These are cheap , but they don't sound it!

I have had several Koss headphones, including Porta Pros...which I always thought were incredible. But these KPH40 Headphones are even better They make you want to listen to all your favourite music again just to hear what you have been missing. They look very minimal.......you don't know you are even wearing them.... but their performance is breathtaking. If you want to hear sounds as they were meant to be heard...treat yourself to a pair of these and prepare to be blown away.

Not sure if I just had unfortunate QC with my unit, but it seemed like the cable connection to the left driver was slightly loose, meaning whenever I moved it, it produced an audible click sound (like tapping the cable with your nail)

That’s the headphones I was looking for ages. Fantastic sound, weight like nothing, metal frame. Perfect for my everyday after work walking. Bought also utility lightning cord for my IPhone. Previously used Koss Porta Pro, Koss KPH30. All sounds fantastic. But KPH40 are and looks the best. “Now the walking make sense” ;)

I had insanely high expectations for these and they surpassed them 10 fold. At such a low cost you literally have nothing to lose

So good are these, and for travelling they are just perfect

Doskonałe słuchawki dla ludzi, którzy słuchawek a uszach specjalnie nie lubią.Nie przeszkadzają, nie uwierają, a grają doskonale. Lepsze od Porta Pro. I ładniejsze. Jedne z najlepszych słuchawek jakich słuchałem i w stosunku do tej jakości rewelacyjnie tanie. Choć widzę, że już powoli drożeją, a dodatkowe wymienne kable (np. usb-c) są koszmarnie drogie.

bought this to replace my short lived kph40 that was bought a year ago. This time bought 2 pairs just incase if tariff hike changes again.

As a forever fan of Koss and specially Porta pro, I was looking forward to finally try the KPH40. 10 seconds into the first listening sesh, I couldn't believe the power of these headphones. I can almost guarantee you, you'll not find this quality of sound and ergonomy for this price anywhere else. They're better than the Porta pro, because slightly less muddy/bassy, more balanced, more light and more discreet (but still looking cool af) If like me, you like very good sound and hidden gems of technology, you'll need it in your life. Also, for culture, I think it's good to know that Koss invented the first Hi-Fi headphones EVER