Koss The Plug Headphone Reviews

Manufacturer Koss Model The Plug
Headphone Type Canal Headband Type None
Weight (g) 7 Driver Type Dynamic
Enclosure Material Plastic Isolation (dB) 20
Impedance (ohms) 16 Cable Length (cm) 122
Frequency Response (Hz) 10 - 20000  
Connector 3.5mm Street Price US$10
Buy from Amazon.com  
Average reviewer scores
Bass Extension 5.0 Bass Impact 6.0
Bass Quality 4.0 Mids Quality 5.0
Highs Quality 5.0 Soundstage 7.0
Detail 7.0 Portability 7.0
Isolation 5.0 Comfort 7.0
Durability 0.0 Improvement With Amplification 0.0
Value for Money 7.0    
Overall Score 4.8 Total Reviews 1

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Reviews by our members

Review by Member Rapier84 on 27 Sep 06  02:43
Individual review
Bass Extension5
Bass Impact6
Bass Quality4
Mids Quality5
Highs Quality5
Detail7
Comfort7
Durability0
Value7

The PLUG is a rather affordable cananphone that I'd say is in the typical KOSS mould, which is tuning towards a greater bass response (versus clarity and treble favoured by Audio Technica for example) As per any canalphones, the fit of the supplied foam cushions will greatly affect the quality of sound you get. A very tight fit (having big ear canals, I reversed the cushions as recommended...) will produce a very 'full' sound with strong bass, whilst a less than tight seal will shift the sound to a more 'brighter' sound. The main gripe I had with the phones is that the supplied ear foams are nowhere near a good fit, apparently a well known thing with the PLUG. As recommended by many users (Google PLUG modifications) I had replaced the foams with a much better and tighter fit foam earplugs that yielded a much better isolation. Compared to the Audio Technica ATH-CK32s (my only other reference point), the KOSS PLUG has a much fuller soundstage, though the treble response at the higher ends may get a little muddy due to the stronger than average bass response(for the price range that is). Overall, a decent set of canalphones for this price that has potential to rival costlier rivals, if only the higher end response is clearer. But nonetheless, good for this price level.

After a 2 month burn in period something happened that changed the sound of the phones. It seems that the bass has been softened and clarity of treble actually increased. The phones now sound brighter and I hadn't done anything else to the phones except modifying the foam. Now, I ended up with Shure grey flex sleeves and that solved the problem of too much bass, as the sleeves now place the drivers further away from the ear drums and seemed to improve the treble somewhat, so now the PLUGs feel more balanced.