Just purchased Koss Pro4AA headphones

[fredcohiba]

Since I am a Milwaukee native, I always wanted these but couldn't afford them when they were considered cool and want to support a local business icon, I took the plunge this past Tuesday.
Koss Pro4AA cans are in the house. I listened to them at the Koss outlet store and compared them to many other Koss cans there, including the Pro4AAT. They sounded the best albeit I was already hoping they would going into this. So, mentally, I may have been biased.
I got them home, played them a bit and tried to do some comparison listening between some other cans I have, Sennheiser HD202 and Sony MDR-XD200. Trying my best to do subjective listening, the Koss did seem to sound better. The Sennheiser's always had good sound but were like a vise on my head. I could only wear them of a half or or so before going nuts. The Sony rattled and creaked with every movement from the plastic and metal mechanical interfaces, but other than that also sounded good. The Koss are quiet, no mechanical noises, isolate the outside world very well, are comfortable even though they have some heft to them and sound very flat and uncolored.
I will now begin the burn-in period, about 40 hours of on time over the next week or so. They can only get better and that, right now, is saying a lot.
Just my two cents worth.....

 

[atarione]

nice ... i always want a pair of those when they get mentioned.. I have many headphones however I'm kinda hoping to stumble on a used pair at a thrift sometime.

 

[fredcohiba]

nice ... i always want a pair of those when they get mentioned.. I have many headphones however I'm kinda hoping to stumble on a used pair at a thrift sometime.

And when you do, you can send them back to Koss and for, I think $9, they will refurbish them like new. Great customer service.

 

[Smwilli]

Got mine from goodwill for 1.99, sent them into koss for 10 bucks, and now have my best pair of headphones that I will never get rid of!

 

[Jeff K]

Great sound, and after a while your neck will look like this.

 

[fredcohiba]

Great sound, and after a while your neck will look like this.

Or I will be able to do this!

 

[beatcomber]

And when you do, you can send them back to Koss and for, I think $9, they will refurbish them like new. Great customer service.

That's exactly what I did... I bought a pair of beaters for $25 shipped on eBay and sent them off to Koss last week.

 

[atarione]

anyone know how the newly produced 4AA's compare to vintage /older pairs?

considering the level of customer service Koss has been giving refurbing them for $10 ~ i'm wondering about buying a new pair to support their company...

 

[specialone53]

I owned a new pair of Pro4AA's bought in the 70's.
Sweet headphones for sure, but heavy on the head.

I've also heard mixed reviews on the "re-issued" ones, so being tempted, I just gave up.

 

[markdi]

Do. They charge 9 or 10 bucks to refurb a pair ?

I have 2 pairs i need to fix

 

[drumminor2nd]

Do. They charge 9 or 10 bucks to refurb a pair ?

I have 2 pairs i need to fix

$9. Here's the relevant page with mailing address: Koss warranty info

 

[beatcomber]

I just got the package yesterday from Koss. They sent me a brand new pair instead of repairing the beat-to-hell vintage ones I sent them, which is what I expected.

I never really had a chance to listen to the vintage ones, but the new ones are quite a bit lighter, and therefore more comfortable. The fit is tight, but not uncomfortably so.

They didn't sound so great at first, but they're starting to break in and are improving. From what I've read, they will require a long break-in period.

Last night, while listening to an LP through the 4aa's, I heard a low-pitched thump-thump-thump. I thought there was a problem with either the platter or drive system and started getting concerned, before I realized that I was hearing my own heartbeat! That just goes to show you just how well these headphones shut out the outside world!

 

[zebra03]

I always thought you had to be the original owner with a sales receipt to get the lifetime warrenty work ?

 

[beatcomber]

I always thought you had to be the original owner with a sales receipt to get the lifetime warrenty work ?

Nope, Koss doesn't seem to care. Just mail it in with $9 and you're all set.

 

[fredcohiba]

I have had mine breaking in now for about 40 hours. I can tell you the bass has improved greatly. I don't really notice any other changes but then again they sounded good when I first turned them on. I will let them burn in for another 40 hours over the next week or so and report back.

 

[drumminor2nd]

This seems to be the least-dead of the three Pro-4AA threads on page 2.

I just got my set — 22 days door to door (and they didn't cash my check until late last week), and they aren't refurbs. The packing slip just called them "Pro-4AA Bulk," and they're brand-new headphones. I think I'll live

 

[fredcohiba]

That's great.
I till love mine. No further changes in sound during the additional break in time. Still sound good.I have to confess, I listened to a pair of Pioneer SE-A1000 at a local in fi store on Sunday. They were $129 marked down from $199. They sounded awesome. So, I looked them up online when I got home and found them for $59 including shipping. They have some very good reviews. I get them on Wed. I will report what I hear in comparison to the Koss 4AA.

 

[EfeTe]

Congrats fredcohiba -what a bargain at 59 shipping included!

 

[gbroot]

I have had the 4AA's, both vintage and newer and I'd have to say the vintage were better. That said, could just be the difference in newer ears and older ears. My HV/1a's best any modern or vintage koss that I have heard except for the old electrostats.

 

[fredcohiba]

Update - I got the Pioneer SE-A1000 cans today. All I can say is wow! Blows the Koss PRO4/AA's away. Almost like removing a curtain from in front of the ear pieces. Mids and highs very revealing and nice bass. Switched back and forth a number of times and the Koss seem lifeless in comparison Also, they are super comfy as well.